The #Backlog Breakdown

Welcome back to PWN Call, the podcast where friends from the Play Well Network get together to talk about the video games, music, movies, books, and other media they've been enjoying lately. Expect thoughtful conversations, unexpected rabbit trails, and plenty of friendly banter along the way! In this episode, Nate, Josh, and Paul explore some surprising intersections between Christian faith and p...

In Episode 220 of The Backlog Breakdown , Josh and Nate are joined by special guest SpYke to discuss Tunic , the acclaimed indie action-adventure game that has captivated players with its mysteries, puzzles, and sense of discovery. What begins as a seemingly simple Zelda-inspired adventure quickly reveals itself to be something far more ambitious. The hosts explore Tunic's unique instruction manua...

Sony's digital-only future may not be as inevitable as it once seemed. Kojima's mysterious new project Physint is no longer a PlayStation exclusive. Xbox continues reshaping its gaming business through major studio consolidation. And Nintendo once again reminds the industry how to make familiar franchises feel fresh. In this month's Headlines & Hot Takes, Nate breaks down some of the biggest g...

In this Bite Sized episode of The Backlog Breakdown, Nate takes a look at Know Thy Gamer by Drew Dixon, a book designed to help parents, grandparents, guardians, and church leaders better understand video games and the role they play in the lives of young people. While longtime gamers may already be familiar with much of the material, Nate argues that Know Thy Gamer shines as an accessible introdu...

Welcome back to PWN Call, the podcast where friends from across the Play Well Network gather around the digital phone line to share the games, movies, books, and other media they've been enjoying lately. In this episode, Josh, Nate, Paul, Mark, and Spyke catch up on life, swap recommendations, and wander down a few delightful rabbit trails along the way. Topics include: Thoughts on the latest Metr...

Sometimes you don't need a game to change your life. Sometimes you just want to make the screen explode. In Episode 219 of The Backlog Breakdown , Nate and Josh discuss the Top 10 Big Dumb Fun Games —games built around immediate enjoyment, spectacle, mechanical satisfaction, and gameplay that simply feels great. From arcade classics to modern action games, these are experiences where the fun is th...

In this episode of the PWN Call, Nate, Josh, and Paul catch up on life and talk about the media, hobbies, and experiences they've been enjoying lately. From reflections on Hebrews 9 and Christian fellowship to Dragon Ball toys at Burger King, Rurouni Kenshin live-action films, poetry projects, storms, friendships, and also some talk about video games, this episode is a celebration of enjoying good...

What are the most artistic video games ever made? In this episode of The Backlog Breakdown , Josh and Nate build their definitive list of games that demonstrate the artistic potential of the medium. Rather than focusing solely on visuals, they examine games that use interactivity, storytelling, game design, and player agency to create experiences that could only exist as video games. The discussio...

Welcome to another episode of The PWN Call , where members of the Play Well Network gather for a relaxed conversation about the media they've been enjoying recently. The discussion ranges across video games, books, movies, and music as the hosts share recommendations, reactions, and personal experiences. Topics include returning to challenging games like Bloodborne , adventures in Indiana Jones an...

🎮🔥 Headlines & Hot Takes | August 2026 Video Game News Roundup 🔥🎮 In this episode of Headlines & Hot Takes, Nate breaks down some of the biggest stories in gaming and digital media, examining them and sharing his opinion as a follower of Christ. This month's discussion includes: 🕹️ The Stop Killing Games Initiative and whether its use of the word "theft" helps or hurts the co...

Is Bravely Default A Flawed Masterpiece or Forgotten Classic? In this episode, Wes, Josh, and Nate dive deep into Bravely Default: Flying Fairy and its HD Remaster across Switch, Steam, and Xbox. We trace its origins from Final Fantasy: The Four Heroes of Light to the Octopath Traveler series, break down why the "Brave & Default" risk-reward combat system was ahead of its time, and s...

This week's a party! On the call this time around we have the Backlog Bros. Nate and Josh, Wes the HenshinDad, Paul the TechnoFunkBoy, and Mark from Quickplay all on to talk about some of their favorite things they've been in to lately, like the anime Haikyu!!, the Series of Unfortunate Events Netflix series, Kingdom Hearts, Okko's Inn, and Spiderman: Brand New Day. Join the conversation and check...

On the last episode we made the case that now is the time to focus on playing through your gaming backlog. Well, how exactly should you go about doing that? This week, the guys share their best tips and tricks to prioritize your backlog in a sustainable way. Join the conversation by checking out all our social media channels over on our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown And check out...

Have you ever been interested in dipping your toes into one of Nintendo's most beloved series, but quickly shied away due to its deep and expansive lore? Well, fear no more, because The TechnoFunkBoy is here to share the tales of the mysterious beginnings and ongoing saga of Pokeman! Join the conversation by checking out all our social media channels over on our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/theback...

The Techno Funk Boy joins the Backlog Bros. for another PWN Call, discussing Masters of the Universe, a so-bad-its-good movie Troll 2, and a look bad at the emergent church movement, among other things. Join the conversation and check out all of The Backlog Breakdown social media channels over on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown Learn more about the Play Well Network at playwellnetw...

July was a huge month for video game news, and Nate is here to give you his hot takes! In this episode, he addresses some pitfalls and suggestions with Sony's announcement of an all-digital future beginning in 2028, Microsoft's massive layoffs and network troubles, and Nintendo's...continuing to be Nintendo by quietly releasing good games. Join the conversation by checking out all our social media...

In the immortal words of Shia Lebeouf: "DO IT. JUST DO IT. Don't let your backlog dreams be dreams. Yesterday you said tomorrow. SO JUST DO IT. MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE." Okay, well he didn't actually say "backlog", but we did. With everything going on in the tech and gaming space, there is no better time than now to focus on playing what you already have. Now is the time to...

Paul, the Techno Funk Boy, and Mark from Quick Play join Nate and Josh to catch up a bit and talk about some of the media and games they've been playing lately, including a recommendation and dismissal of anime as a medium, and a diatribe on the pitfalls of using certain substances while creating art. Join the conversation and check out all our social media channels over on our Linktree: https://l...

Settle in for a cozy fireside chat between Nate and Trash Turkey as they discuss the merits and pitfalls of Sony's all-digital future. While it's called a "bite sized" episode, it's the spirit of the thing that counts. This episode was spurred on by a voice chat session that Nate opened up in our Discord. To join in, check out our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown And check...

Since the early days of the podcast, the guys have had on fellow PWN members Paul and Wes to discuss The Legend of Zelda series. And, true to form, this year our discussion is on the Gameboy classic (and now Switch remaster), Link's Awakening. Unfortunately, Wes was unable to join this time around, but perhaps we'll hear his thoughts on the game in a later installment. For now though, tune in to h...

This month, Nate flies solo to discuss some shakeups at Microsoft, including a high profile hire and some development studio divestitures. And, not to be excluded from the conversation, Sony spills some tea about Bungie while also re-commiting themselves to live service games. We'd love to hear from you! Join us on our social media by checking out our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdow...

Welcome to our inaugural episode of PWNCalls, the show where we get together to catch up, talk about what we've been playing, and share what we’ve been enjoying lately - with the occasional rabbit trail or 3. If you're familiar with The Backlog Breakdown, this is similar to what we'd discuss on the first half of the show--now with 50% more Play Well Network input! Join the conversation and check o...

Yes, we leaned into the "we need to talk" thing that is prevalent on Youtube, but don't worry--we actually have some exciting announcements for you! Join the conversation and check out all our social media channels over on our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown Learn more about the Play Well Network at playwellnetwork.com And check out our newsletter on Substack: https://the...

As followers of Christ, how shall we then play video games? This week, Nate shares his thoughts on whether the amount of time required to play through a video game is a helpful metric to judge if it's right for you. Join the conversation by checking out all our social media channels over on our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown And check out our newsletter on Substack: https://thebac...

Today we're setting out to teach noobs the language and landscape of gaming by forming a Top 10 list of games that do just that! What games do you think would be best for new players to play to understand the medium better? Join the conversation by checking out all our social media channels over on our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown And check out our newsletter on Substack: https:...