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The Back Page: A Video Games Podcast

The Back Page: A Video Games Podcast

By: Samuel Roberts and Matthew Castle
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About this listen

 Games media writers Matthew Castle (NGamer, Rock Paper Shotgun) and Samuel Roberts (PC Gamer, gamesTM, TechRadar) talk about video games and their years covering them professionally. Our logo is by John Strike, and our theme tune is by Barry 'Epoch' Topping (@nostoppingepoch on Twitter).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

© 2022 The Back Page: A Video Games Podcast Science Fiction
Episodes
  • Game Design Crimes (with Jamie Smith)

    Game Design Crimes (with Jamie Smith)
    Apr 17 2026

    New podcast format time! 10 of our listeners' biggest gripes with games get litigated in a Room 101-style format (except legally distinct), from tailing missions in open world games to mandatory stealth sections in non-stealth games.


    Joining us once again is designer Jamie Smith!


    The very last entry was provided by SAFC_Jack91, which Samuel forgot to write down in the original episode plan.

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    2 hrs and 4 mins
  • What We've Been Playing (Crimson Desert, PS5 Pro, Tomodachi Life, Raccoin, Returnal, The Ratline)

    What We've Been Playing (Crimson Desert, PS5 Pro, Tomodachi Life, Raccoin, Returnal, The Ratline)
    Apr 10 2026

    Is Crimson Desert good? It's complicated, but not quite, according to Matthew Castle. Plus: Samuel apologises profusely for buying a PS5 Pro.


    Samuel's games: PS5 Pro (Spider-Man 2, Alan Wake 2, Rebirth), Returnal, Raccoin

    Matthew's games: Crimson Desert, Tomodachi Life, The Ratline

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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • Mailbag

    Mailbag
    Apr 3 2026

    What Matthew thinks of Crimson Desert, new DLC for old games, how 360-era classics would score now in reviews, dream Helldivers 2 warbonds and more nonsense in the latest mailbag episode.


    This week's music is from the Deadly Premonition soundtrack by Riyou Kinugasa, Takuya Kobayashi and Hiromi Mizutani.


    This is the From Russia With Love PS2 clip mentioned in the episode.

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    1 hr and 31 mins
All stars
Most relevant
This is a must listen podcast if you enjoy gaming. 2 veteran games journalists talking about games. Just joyous. Plenty of content to get stuck into.

Fantastic.

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