Best Backlog Review Game Club Podcasts (2025)

1
Super Mario Land Review - GameVerse Club – Book Club for Games 24:02

3d ago24:02

24:02

This is our very own book club for games, where we spin the wheel, pick a retro title, play it between episodes, and come back to share our thoughts, stories, and sometimes… our salt. This time, the OG4 reflect on our last pick from the wheel: 🍄 Super Mario Land – the tiny but mighty Game Boy launch title that sent Mario to the mysterious land of S…

1
What is gaming backlog? 59:39

9d ago59:39

59:39

In this episode, Shawn is joined by Gee, Piel, and Scotty to tackle a familiar beast for every gamer: the gaming backlog. What is it? Why does it grow? And most importantly—how the heck do we deal with it? We break down the reasons backlogs happen, swap stories about the games haunting our hard drives and shelves, and cheer each other on to finally…

1
Super Nostalgic Entertainment System 🎮 50:21

17d ago50:21

50:21

In this episode, Shawn and Piel crack open some beers and dig through Shawn’s personal SNES collection - the games that shaped his childhood, one cartridge at a time. From absolute legends like Super Mario World and Yoshi's Island, to underrated gems like Turn and Burn: No-Fly Zone and Captain America and the Avengers, it’s a nostalgic trip full of…

1
What Have You Been Playing Lately? PLUS gamers quiz! 24:30

1M ago24:30

24:30

In this laid-back episode, Shawn and Gee kick back with some beers and dive into a casual chat about the games they’ve been playing lately. From the epic storytelling of Baldur’s Gate 3 to the chaotic fun of Helldivers 2, we touch on a range of games and gaming topics including Warhammer, Dungeons & Dragons, and even the psychological side of gamin…

1
8️⃣ BONUS Player Profile – Gab's Sim Racing Journey 🎮🏎️ 10:38

1M ago10:38

10:38

In this special bonus episode, we dive into Gab's gaming history with a focus on his sim racing experiences! Gab asks us 3 multiple-choice questions that give us a closer look at his passion for racing games and what drives him on the track. Tune in to learn more about Gab’s sim racing profile in just 10 minutes! ⏱️ 🎮 GameVerse Pub is for everyone …

1
8️⃣ BONUS GameVerse Club – The Guardian Legend & New Game Reveal! 15:49

1M ago15:49

15:49

Welcome to the first bonus segment of Episode 8 — it’s time for another round of GameVerse Club, your retro gaming home! This is our very own book club for games, where we spin the wheel, pick a retro title, play it between episodes, and come back to share our thoughts, stories, and sometimes... our struggles. This time, the OG4 look back on the la…

1
Sim Racing – The OG4 Hit the Track! 🏎️🔥 53:46

2M ago53:46

53:46

The OG4 are back together, and this time we’re diving into the high-speed world of Sim Racing! 🚦🏁 Shawn (the Host), Gee (The Geek who loves to talk), Gab (Pretty Cowboy), and Piel (the Beer Guy) strap in for a deep dive into the best sim racing experiences, covering everything from hardware setups to the best racing games on the market today. 🏎️ St…

1
Super Mario World - Super Nintendo Entertainment System 37:54

2M ago37:54

37:54

Shawn (the Host) and Gee (The Geek who loves to talk) are diving into one of the greatest platformers of all time - Super Mario World on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System! From the first time we hopped on Yoshi to discovering hidden exits and mastering the Cape Feather, we’re breaking down what made this game so legendary. Was it the tight co…

1
📋 Player Profile: Scotty 🎮 46:54

2M ago46:54

46:54

Shawn (the Host) and Gee (The Geek who loves to talk) are back, and this time they’re joined by their good friend Scotty! But instead of just chatting, they’re putting him in the hot seat… with a gaming quiz BUT the questions come from him! Scotty challenges us with three multiple-choice questions about his gaming history: 1️⃣ What’s his favorite g…

1
Donkey Kong on Gameboy - Player Profile: Piel the Beer Guy - GameVerse Club 1:19:30

2M ago1:19:30

1:19:30

Bday DK & More! 🎉🍻 The OG4 are back to celebrate Piel the Beer Guy’s birthday in true GVP style! 🥳 First up, he kicks things off with a beer segment, featuring TIDLIDI, a Czech Pilsner from Sir John Brewing Co. a beer inspired by Ned Flanders himself! 🍺 Then, it's game talk time, as Piel challenges the crew with three multiple-choice questions abou…

1
Chess 29:21

3M ago29:21

29:21

In this special Chessisode, host Shawn is joined by Gab for a fun and nostalgic look at how chess made its way into their lives and eventually, into their friendship. They share their earliest chess memories, how they started playing against each other, and put their knowledge to the test with some entertaining quizzes. To top it off, Gab takes on …

1
Fallout 4 - Settlement building 40:24

3M ago40:24

40:24

Episode 3: Building a Fallout 4 Empire - Settlement Talk with Shawn and Piel the Beer Guy In this episode of GameVerse Pub, Shawn is joined by Piel, the Beer Guy, for a deep dive into one of Fallout 4’s most addictive features: settlement building. From scrapping old furniture to designing sprawling wastelands into thriving mini-cities, they share …

1
Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow - Kanto region Gen 1 55:49

4M ago55:49

55:49

Episode 2: Pokémon Gen 1 Throwback with the OG 4 The original four members of GameVerse Pub are back together for an episode packed with nostalgia and fun! In this officially published milestone, Shawn (GVP host), Piel (beer guy), Gee (the geek who loves to talk), and Gab (the pretty cowboy) dive deep into the iconic first generation of Pokémon gam…

1
To getting it started 48:35

4M ago48:35

48:35

In the debut episode of GameVerse Pub, host Shawn Marino and co-host Gee (aka The Geek Who Loves to Talk) pull back the curtain on how it all began. From the spark of an idea to building the brand, they share the journey of creating GVP and what inspired them to combine their love for gaming, beer, and conversation. Get to know the hosts, the visio…

1
Summer Break Special 2022 1:26:29

3y ago1:26:29

1:26:29

The crew is getting ready for some time off but not before a lot of chat about games and game shows. Chris, Paul, and Nora sit down to talk Taskmaster (U.K of course), yard work, books, disc golf, and of course games. It's the last pod before summer starts and the energy is all over the place. Support the show on Ko-fi! - https://ko-fi.com/backlogr…

1
Control 2:52:55

3y ago2:52:55

2:52:55

It's a mega-sized episode of the Review this month, the trio is back and it's all about Remedy's most recent work, Control. In a nearly 3-hour podcast, Chris, Paul, and Nora try to tackle the story of this tremendous game. Like Nora says, it's basically a Remedy fan podcast at this point and we can't help it. Support the show on Ko-Fi and help us m…

1
Donut County 1:22:30

3y ago1:22:30

1:22:30

Drones and Raccoons abound, it's time for a little trip into Donut County! Chris and Paul are joined once again by Nora to talk about this charming little indie title. Also on the docket, Elden Ring chat, being captivated by GT7's cafe, disappointing Publisher discussions, and another installment of the M*A*S*H-up! Show Notes: People Make Games Inv…

1
Superhot 1:42:00

3y ago1:42:00

1:42:00

SUPER. HOT. SUPER. HOT. Chris and Paul reconvene to discuss all things SUPERHOT. How does this indie-shooter puzzler hold up years later? Show Notes: Please support the Ukraine if you can - ukrainewar.carrd.co @BacklogReview on Twitter

1
Halo: Anniversary 1:46:13

3+ y ago1:46:13

1:46:13

Before the news dropped over Xbox buying up Activision Blizzard, Chris and Paul sat down to discuss the 2001 console defining game Halo: Combat Evolved. Paul does a thorough job recapping the plot and expressing his fond memories. Meanwhile Chris struggles with his feelings about the series as a whole and especially this game. And as a result, a lo…

1
2021 Games of the Year 1:40:49

3+ y ago1:40:49

1:40:49

It's the most wonderful time of the year! That's right, when everyone has to justify why the video games they played are better than yours. Don't worry there's no shouting matches in this year-in-review episode. Chris and Paul are joined by Paul's sister, Nora, for this lovey chat about the great games that they all played in 2021. Will there be a …

1
Alan Wake: Remastered 1:42:53

3+ y ago1:42:53

1:42:53

It's been months in the making but Paul and Chris finally sit down and talk about the 2010 classic from Remedy Entertainment, Alan Wake! Rediscover Bright Falls along with us and find out what makes this game one of Chris's all-time favorites. Show Notes: Find us on Twitter - @BacklogReview Gameplay audio taken from World of Longplays…

1
The Artful Escape 1:27:35

3+ y ago1:27:35

1:27:35

Did you ever feel like you don't belong? Like you wanted to travel through the galaxy on a ship powered by epic riffs but you were stuck in a small Northwestern US town? Then you probably already played this month's game, the Artful Escape. Chris and Paul take a look at this quirky game that's one part Wes Anderson, one part David Bowie, and for so…

1
Halo: Reach 1:30:23

3+ y ago1:30:23

1:30:23

Dust off those energy swords and make sure to pick up the sprint ability for your armor, it's time for Halo: Reach. Join Chris and Paul as Chris remembers why he had such a hard time getting into all things Master Chief (or Master Chief adjacent things in this case) and Paul guides us all though the lore of Reach as best as he can recall. Show Note…

1
Resident Evil 1:47:47

3+ y ago1:47:47

1:47:47

It's time to learn all about the T-Virus and S.T.A.R.S. as Chris and Paul take a look at the remake of a remake, Resident Evil. This month we discuss our runs through the PS4/Xbox One updates to the 2002 Gamecube classic remake and we try to keep track of which virus caused what infection and why there are so many keys to this one mansion. Show Not…

1
Minecraft 1:20:28

4y ago1:20:28

1:20:28

The global phenomenon is finally covered on the pod, it's Minecraft! This episode goes on some tangents as Chris and Paul eventually discuss how being forced inside their homes for a year made them turn to Minecraft for a bit of normalcy. It's our giddiest episode to date! Show Notes: Support our Extra Life campaign! We're on Twitter now!…

1
Metal Gear Solid 1:39:34

4y ago1:39:34

1:39:34

It's the 3D debut of Kojima! This month, Paul and Chris go back to 1998 to finally play the original Metal Gear Solid for the PlayStation 1. Has this game stood the test of time? Did Chris nearly break a controller in anger? Show Notes: The Twitch archive of Chris and Paul streaming MGS can be found here. Ashly and Anthony's retrospective on MGS fr…

1
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 1:30:56

4y ago1:30:56

1:30:56

We have returned! After a lengthy hiatus due to the pandemic, Chris and Paul are back with the next game in the Metal Gear saga, Snake Eater. Join them as they discuss this highly regarded entry while still acknowledging that Kojima sometimes just can't help himself. NOTE: Apologies for the techincal issue on Chris's mic, this was an ongoing issue …

1
A Quick Update on the Show 2:44

5y ago2:44

2:44

A quick update on the show going forward. We will be taking a bit of a break for a while. We will return but in the meantime here are some more important items to check out: Spawn on Me Podcast - A Lesson in Blackness NAACP Legal Defense Fund RAIIN - National Sexual Assault Hotline We love you all, please love, support, and empower each other.…

1
#5 Quarantine Pitch Special 1:28:35

5y ago1:28:35

1:28:35

In this special episode, Paul and Chris took some time to build their own lists of games they know the other one hasn't completed. Then they take turns pitching these games back and forth to see if they can convince the other they have been wrong all these years. Will this spawn new episodes? Maybe. Will this be a bit loosey-goosey? Oh you bet.…

1
#4 Oxenfree 56:34

5y ago56:34

56:34

Grab your radios and head to Edwards Island as this month Paul and Chris discuss the decorated indie game, Oxenfree. Note: This was our first remote recording so some of their are some minor anomalies with the recording.

1
#3 Inside 1:14:54

5y ago1:14:54

1:14:54

What timing to play this incredibly uplifting game... Chris and Paul return to discuss the 2016 title Inside. They discuss the origins of developer Playdead and their love of the black and white aesthetic. Then things get melancholy as they review the story and theories of the game. Please stay safe during this pandemic and please stay home - Chris…

1
#2 The Witness 1:04:23

5y ago1:04:23

1:04:23

This month Chris and Paul put on their thinking caps and head to the mysterious island in The Witness. Listen as they discuss lead designer Jonathon Blow's history in the game industry and his inspiration for making the puzzles, as well as the game's major secrets. Also the debut of a new segment linking The Witness to Metal Gear Solid 2!…

1
#1 Metal Gear Solid 2 2:27:06

5+ y ago2:27:06

2:27:06

For the first episode, Chris and Paul dive into the Konami and Hideo Kojima classic, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. What follows is recording of two people trying their best to sit down and explain what exactly happens during the events of MGS2. Nearly 2 and a half hours later, they might only have begun to understand. Note: We had to decreas…

1
The G-Fuel Review 1:39:20

5+ y ago1:39:20

1:39:20

The donors made it happen when we reached $3000 and it's finally arrived! The GFuel Review is here. Join Chris, Paul, and special guest Kristen as they review 11 different GFuel flavors and rank them against each other. We learn a lot about ourselves and one another...oh and esports, we learn way too much about esports.…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Backlog Review Game Club Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide