Shows / The #Backlog Breakdown
The #Backlog Breakdown
A video game podcast from a Christian perspective endeavoring to encourage and equip the church to engage the medium wisely and responsibly.
Episodes
The #Backlog Breakdown197: Left Behind...by the ever-increasing cost of gaming w/ Alex
Why does it seem like we woke up one day and all the reasonably priced video games consoles had disappeared? How are we to find solace in the midst of all the…
The #Backlog Breakdownresting (again) with joe thorn
A few years ago, we had pastor and author Joe Thorn on the podcast to talk about rest and recreation with the backdrop of the spooky season. We thought it was…
The #Backlog Breakdown196: Dredge (w/ Josh)
This spooky season, our spooky game is dredge. the debut cozy fishing sim from Black Salt games. The mechanics are cozy, but the vibes are creepy, with…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: be not afraid
It's spooky season, but is it really a good idea to look at and engage with horror and dread head-on? How can it help us, and how can we do so in a way that is…
The #Backlog Breakdown195: Earth Defense Force 5 w/ Trash Turkey
Are you ready to defend the earth from giant invading monster ants, spiders, frogs, and...celestial beings? Well, buckle up because the Trash Turkey is on this…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: faithfulness
This week, Josh foregoes the usual talk about specific video games in favor of talking about how we game. If we agreed that video games can be a good gift from…
The #Backlog Breakdown194: Astral Chain
This week, the guys are talking about the Platinum Games developed Nintendo Switch exclusive, Astral Chain. Is it the pinnacle of Platinum's work, or is the…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: slay the spire mea culpa
Last week, we talked about the deck-building Roguelike, Slay the Spire. But there were some things about the game that we failed to address that actually…
The #Backlog Breakdown193: Slay the Spire
What is a Spire and how do you Slay it? Well, that question will not be answered on this episode, but "Why is Slay the Spire on our Top 100 Games list?" Yes…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: dragon quest builders
Nate likes Dragon Quest. But Nate does not like Minecraft. Does Nate like a Minecraft-styled Dragon Quest game? Or is it a Dragon Quest-style Minecraft game?…
The #Backlog Breakdown192: Book Club - Metal Gear Solid 3
You voted. We listened. We played Metal Gear Solid 3. Now it's time to talk about it as a Backlog Book Club game. Even if we didn't all actually play the game…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: best of the worst
We like to talk a lot about the best that the medium of video games has to offer. But what about the games that we enjoy that are, objectively, nowhere even…
The #Backlog Breakdown191: Myst (w/ the TechnoFunkBoy)
This week, we have another Patron on to discuss the game they picked for us to play. This time around, the game is the computer classic Myst, and the Patron is…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: art
This week, Nate gives a defense of video games as art: the good, the bad, and the ugly. We'd love to hear from you! Join us on our social media by checking out…
The #Backlog Breakdown190: 2 Months of Switch 2 w/ Parker & Mark
It's been (almost) 2 months since the Nintendo Switch 2 was released, so we invited on a couple of friends to talk about our experiences with it over the past…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: phoning it in
Josh talks about how he's using (and not using) his phone these days so he can play some more video games. We'd love to hear from you! Join us on our social…
The #Backlog Breakdown189: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 w/ Wes
Wesley Rea, The Henshin Dad Himself joins Josh to talk about one of his favorite games of all time: Xenoblade Chronicles 3. For those who may be new to the…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: the quest for $25
Every 6 months, we pick one of our question askers to win $25. Is it you this time? Are you the winner? Listen in as we reminisce and pick a winner! We'd love…
The #Backlog Breakdown188: Long Gone Days (w/ Josh)
This week, we're tackling another Patron pick: Long Gone Days, the indie sci-fi RPG about an evil conspiracy to take over Poland. Our patron, gracious Josh…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: take a breather
In this episode, Nate reflects on the often negative tone surrounding advancements in video games—especially when changes don’t meet players' expectations…
The #Backlog Breakdown187: Top 100 Mid-Year Refresh
We're halfway through 2025 and we've played some video games! Do any of them deserve to be on our Top 100 list? Is there anything current on the list that…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: gameboy hot takes
This week, Josh recounts his love (and possibly hatred) for the original GameBoy. We'd love to hear from you! Join us on our social media by checking out our…
The #Backlog Breakdown186: How Many A's Does It Take To Make A Hit?
The video game industry is in a tough place right now. On the one hand, there are a number of big budget releases that have failed to meet sales expectations…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: mega man lore (ft. wesley rea)
On our Mega Man X episode, we noted that we don't really understand the story of how Mega Man X is related to Mega Man and what connections there may or may…
The #Backlog Breakdown185: Dishonored (w/ Isaac)
This week, we're talking about another Patron pick: the 2012 immersive sim Dishonored. Isaac joins us to discuss what we think is special about the game and…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: critiquing a critique
On this bite sized episode, Nate addresses his concerns with Quick Play's 5-point rating scale. Check out the Quick Play episode where Mark breaks down his…
The #Backlog Breakdown184: The Banner Saga (w/ John McKelvey)
Our good friend and Patron, John, joins in to discuss his Patron Pick: The Banner Saga. Is it worth your time, or should it be left behind and forgotten? Are…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: switch two sentiments
The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct was only a couple of weeks ago. Let's talk about it between 2 bros! We'd love to hear from you! Join us on our social media by…
The #Backlog Breakdown183: The Stanley Parable
The Stanley Parable is an comedic walking sim indie game that's over 10 years old. It's also number 92 on our Top 100 games of all time. Does it still deserve…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: a mediocre league update
Arkone Lightwave joins Nate to talk about the league of mediocre brotato chaps, our fantasy critic league, and all the movers and shakers from the first…
The #Backlog Breakdown182: Mega Man X
Mega Man X is an SNES classic. But why? Is it really one of the greatest games ever made? Does it still hold up in 2025? We'd love to hear from you! Join us on…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: nate is locked and loaded
Watch out 2025, cause Nate is coming for you with his video games picks to play through this year! We'd love to hear from you! Join us on our social media by…
The #Backlog Breakdown181: The Backlog Report
The guys reconvene to give an extended talk on the state of their backlogs, what they've played in 2025, and how gaming has changed for them this year. Support…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized - evolution on emulation
This week, Josh uses a question posed in the discord as a jumping off point to discuss the current state of emulation and his thoughts on how it can be used to…
The #Backlog Breakdown180: Haunted Cosmos
This week, the books talk about one of the most mysterious video games of all: a book! Why? Well, I guess you'll have to check it out to find out! We'd love to…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: shin megami tensei devil survivor 2 record breaker
This week, Josh reviews the Nintendo 3DS game: Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker. What may be one of the longest and most cumbersome titles…
The #Backlog Breakdown179: The Talos Principle (w/ SPyKe)
This week, the boys are joined by SPyKe, A.K.A. the Alter-Nate, a patron who chose for them to play and discuss The Talos Principle. Can A.I. ever experience…
The #Backlog Breakdownbrain trust "bite sized": the state of the industry
The brain trust returns! Nate, Parker, and Micah reconvene to discuss the current state of the industry. A lot has happened in the recent past, including new…
The #Backlog Breakdown178: Oracle of Meles (w/ Jordan Leithart)
The last we talked with Jordan, he was setting out to create his first video game through his solo development house, LuxCor Studios. Well, now that game is…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: josh's 2025 game plan
This year, Josh is looking at being more intention in the games that he plays from his backlog. How did he determine what games to tackle? Tune in and find…
The #Backlog Breakdown177: Vanillaware
Unicorn Overlord was one of the highest reviewed games of last year, but did you know that the team who created that game have been around since the early…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: outer wilds: echoes of the eye (ft. quick play mark)
Mark from Quick Play, who was on last year to talk about Outer Wilds with the guys, has a bite sized episode on the game's DLC: The Echoes of the Eye. Check…
The #Backlog Breakdown176: Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
Last year, Nate and Josh both played through Edelweiss's Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin. And this year, they'd like to talk about it! Is it as delicious as a…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: The 2025 Backlog Beatdown Rule Set
Nate sits down to explain the 2025 Backlog Beatdown. While it's largely the same meta-game that we've held in previous years, this time there are a few new…
- The #Backlog Breakdown
175: A Look Ahead
We've made some New Year's resolutions here at the Backlog Breakdown, and we'd like to share them with you! We'd love to hear from you! Join us on our social…
The #Backlog Breakdownking sized: merry christmas
Merry Christmas! Our gifts to you include: answering a plethora of burning questions, a Christmas giveaway, and a Christmas roast from our friend, Wes. We're…
- The #Backlog Breakdown
174: That's All, Folks!
For our last episode of 2024, we have some awards to give out to various games; including being added to our prestigious Top 100 list! Check out the list here…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: the mediocrest chap
This week, Nate takes some time to run down the standings of our Fantasy Critic league and crown the winner of 2024! We're all over social media and we'd like…
- The #Backlog Breakdown
173: Backlog Breakdown No Densetsu: Zeruda III (w/ Paul & Wes)
It's another Patron Pick! This time around, Paul requested that we play The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. He jumped on, along with Wes, to talk about…
The #Backlog Breakdownking sized: giving thanks
Nate and Josh got together to talk about what they're thankful for...and it ended up taking a bit longer than expected. Go figure. We're all over social media…
- The #Backlog Breakdown
172: Thank You
With Thanksgiving coming up, we decided to talk about the concept of thankfulness and the benefits of cultivating gratitude in the midst of an industry that…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized - cozy gaming
Sometimes, you just want to cozy up with some comfort food. And video games are no exception. This week, Josh attempts to nail down the slippery moniker of…
- The #Backlog Breakdown
171: Outer Wilds (w/ Mark)
It's time for another Patron Pick, where our patrons get to pick a game for us to play and talk about. This time around, we have on Mark Erickson from the…
- The #Backlog Breakdown
170: The Evil Within (Spooptober 2024)
Every year, we play a spooky game in October. This year, we tackled Tango Gameworks' The Evil Within. And now, we have some thoughts: some good, some bad, and…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized: slumping it
On this week's bite sized episode, Nate talks about...what he wants to talk about. We're all over social media and we'd like to hear from you! Click Here to…
- The #Backlog Breakdown
bite sized: imperfect
This week, Josh addresses how we are to take Paul's charge to think on what is "pure and lovely" while also playing video games and engaging with media that…
- The #Backlog Breakdown
169: Genre Studies: Horror
It's October, which means that spooky things abound. And when it comes to video games, horror is a popular genre that stretches back to the earliest days of…
The #Backlog Breakdownbite sized? Snap Chatter - The After Years
Nate gets the gang back together as Logan Sharp joins the podcast to discuss the current state of Marvel Snap, and how the game has changed since he's been…
- The #Backlog Breakdown
168.2: Book Club - Death Stranding w/ Micah & Josh (Full Spoilers)
--This episode is the second half of the recording, covering thoughts that contain spoilers for Death Stranding.-- After his unceremonious ousting from Konami…
- The #Backlog Breakdown
168.1: Book Club - Death Stranding w/ Micah & Josh (Spoiler-Free)
After his unceremonious ousting from Konami, Hideo Kojima came back to make a video game that is like no other: Death Stranding. This quarter, we played the…