Since launching The Gaming Pub, I’ve always envisioned creating original content alongside our curated links. While this vision remained clear, transforming it into something tangible proved challenging. Despite numerous attempts to share my own gaming experiences and opinions, I often struggled to produce writing I felt confident publishing. This realization led me to a different approach — interviewing everyday gamers like us who embrace gaming as a passionate hobby. The inspiration came from a tech blog I followed that featured a segment called “What’s in my backpack,” where the author interviewed readers about their daily carry items. Those genuine conversations always resonated with me. Drawing from that concept, I’m excited to present you my first original content series.

Welcome to Unmuted, a new interview series from The Gaming Pub where I turn up the volume on the voices that often go unheard in gaming discussions – the everyday players.

While the industry’s spotlight typically shines on developers, critics, and content creators, I believe that regular gamers have equally valuable perspectives worth sharing. In Unmuted, I interview passionate players from all walks of life to explore their unique gaming journeys, preferences, and the personal significance games hold in their lives.

Each edition of Unmuted I’ll feature a new conversation that goes beyond high scores and achievement lists to uncover the authentic human experiences behind the controllers, keyboards, and screens. From nostalgic memories of first gaming encounters to thoughtful reflections on how games have shaped our identities, these interviews offer a genuine glimpse into gaming as a lived experience.

My inaugural guest is Leandro Monteiro, also known as Belmonteiro – a data analyst by day and gaming enthusiast by night, whose gaming philosophy and eclectic taste in games perfectly embodies the diverse perspectives I aim to showcase in this series.

So grab your favorite beverage, pull up a virtual barstool, and join me as I unmute the real voices of the gaming community.

Belmonteiro Interview Link to heading

Tell me a bit about yourself

Well, I’m Leandro Monteiro aka Belmonteiro, a small wordplay on my surname referencing the Belmont clan, and I’m a few months away from turning 32. Professionally speaking, I work as a data analyst by day and as a freelance copywriter when there’s time. Also, every now and then I write articles on my barely monetized blog, Backlogger.

What got you into gaming in the first place? Do you have any memories of the first time you played a game?

Yeah, because the first memory I have of my life is my third birthday when my father gave me my first console. It was one of those many NES clones we had here in Brazil, and I recall playing Hogan’s Alley on it. But what REALLY got me into gaming was my first computer my mother bought. I had a copy of Claw, an old platformer about a pirate cat developed by the former Monolith Productions. I often refer to Claw as my “first love” because I got obsessed with that game even though I never managed to beat it when I was a kid.

Can you describe your gaming setup? What equipment or accessories do you use, and how do they enhance your gaming experience? What platforms do you play?

The last console I had was a PlayStation 2; since then, I’ve been playing exclusively on my computers. But please don’t call me a PC gamer, I don’t want to be associated with those people!!! I don’t have a clue about my CPU, motherboard, or how much RAM it has, and I only know my GPU is a GeForce RTX 3060 because I can see the box up in my closet. I have a controller for PCs somewhere in this room because sometimes I like to emulate old PlayStation games, but usually I play with a keyboard and mouse.

What are some of your all-time favorite games and/or genres, and why do they stand out to you?

I’ve played so many games that I can’t really choose favorites anymore. The only exception is Fatal Frame II: Crimson Buttlerfly, my favorite survival horror game, because I love folk horror. Horror is one of my favorite genres and serves as a kind of therapy since I used to be extremely afraid of horror movies. I also enjoy RPGs—more JRPG-style than western ones, and adventure games because I’m drawn to narrative-focused experiences. Strangely, I never got into visual novels, and I’ve been playing a few roguelikes as well, although I consider myself the #1 enemy of roguelikes.

You mentioned you are the #1 enemy of roguelikes, curious to expand a bit on what that means?

Hahaha, I have a long-time grudge against roguelikes since Dead Cells. I dislike procedurally generated maps, the repetitive nature of their gameplay, and the feeling that I beat the game simply because I got lucky with an easier route and better items. Yet, I always go back to these games. This year alone, I’ve played Wizard of Legend, Dandy Ace, and Mana Spark, and I’m planning to play Darkest Dungeon. I still don’t like the genre, but somehow I enjoy the challenge. Maybe I’m just lying to myself and actually in love with roguelikes, though I’ll never admit it publicly!

How do you balance gaming with other aspects of your life, like work, family, or other hobbies?

That’s my secret: I don’t. Nowadays, I struggle to dedicate more than 1–2 hours to gaming, usually squeezing in a session at night between work, the gym, my personal life, and my blog. So I’ve been focusing on shorter games or ones that don’t demand too much time or effort.

Any short games from the recent past that you’d like to recommend for people reading?

A Game About Digging a Hole. It’s exactly what you’re thinking, a simple and fun concept, although you can smell its twist miles away. Months ago, I also played Lacuna, a nice side-scroller sci-fi noir adventure game, and DuckTales Remastered, a remake of the classic NES platformer. I also recommend Marsupilami: Hoobadventure for its gorgeous stages and direct 2D platforming. One last suggestion: Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth. I forgot to mention that I love metroidvanias, and this one is an obvious homage to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Its solid gameplay and beautiful art direction might feel too linear for some hardcore fans.

Can you share a memorable gaming moment or achievement that you’re particularly proud of?

Not so much about games, but rather something game-related: my blog. It started as a simple hobby of writing quick reviews in a thread format on Twitter and, years later, became a major part of my personality. I really enjoy writing about games and other media, and I’m very proud of many of my articles. One example is the piece I wrote about Vila do Nevoeiro, an almost forgotten Brazilian survival horror game made on RPG Maker XP. Few people know it, and even fewer have played it, so I’m glad to help preserve its memory. I also hope my blog can evoke the feel of those early, old-school internet websites.

What do you enjoy most about gaming? Is it the story, the competition, the social aspect, or something else?

I love it when game developers mix up mechanics to create new gameplay experiences that stray from the mainstream, even when the final product is questionable. For instance, the Czech game The Fifth Disciple blends point-and-click adventure with RPG mechanics. It’s not a great game and has aged terribly, but the concept itself amazed me. This shows the unlimited creative potential of the medium. I also appreciate when games use their structure to enhance their narratives—like how Hades uses the repetitive nature of a roguelike to deepen the lore of its characters with every run.

How do you think gaming has changed or influenced you as a person?

Not so much in a positive way, hahaha. I know I’m now a more ill-tempered person because of the video game discourse on social media. On a more uplifting note, though, I believe gaming pushed me toward exploring other media for storytelling. I also like to think I’ve developed a more critical view of things because of my relationship with video games.

Do you have any gaming rituals or habits that you follow before or during a gaming session?

Not that I’m aware of. I always keep a glass of water nearby when I’m playing—probably because I’m from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the sun really hits us hard.

How do you choose which games to play next? Do you have a specific genre or criteria you look for?

Many of the games I choose are based on my interest in writing about them or understanding their influence on a particular genre or on gaming in general. When I played Sweet Home, for example, I wanted to see how it established concepts that would later be popularized by Resident Evil. I’m also a man of phases—before I started posting content online, I went on a Castlevania-frenzy and played its titles in sequence. This is partly why I go by Belmonteiro on my social media profiles. A couple of years ago, I also started playing a few beat ’em up games made on OpenBOR, both to get to know the community and to write articles recommending those games.

Do you prefer single-player or multiplayer games, and why?

Exclusively single-player. I already have enough gamers shouting at each other on social media. As I grew older, I stopped enjoying competitive games or any sort of online play — plus, I don’t have much time to spend gaming, so I prefer focusing on single-player campaigns.

What role does nostalgia play in your gaming preferences? Are there any older games you still love to revisit?

I wouldn’t call it nostalgia. Many of the older games I play today I didn’t even experience as a kid or teenager. The Fatal Frame franchise that I love so much, I first played it a few years ago on a PlayStation 2 emulator, is more about curiosity and understanding video game history. That said, there are titles from my childhood I enjoy revisiting. Brave Fencer Musashi is one I keep returning to, and I also enjoy Phantasy Star IV, Batman Returns, The Secret of Monkey Island, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and Chrono Trigger.

Are there any upcoming games or releases that you’re particularly excited about?

There are two fangames I’m looking forward to playing, though I have no idea when they’ll be released. Both are being developed by different Brazilian indie developers I met on Twitter. One is an RPG based on Chapolin Colorado, heavily influenced by the Mother games and made on RPG Maker 2k3. The other is Mighty Morphin Power Rangers – It’s Morphing Time!, an OpenBOR beat ’em up. I’m also interested in several indie titles: Hell Clock, The Phantom, Zid Journey, SESSIONS, Street of Chaos, Mouse: P.I. For Hire, and Scarlet Deer Inn. Most are expected to release this year, while others still have no set date.

Based on your responses, it seems you enjoy games outside the “mainstream.” How do you find those more “obscure” games? Any hidden gems you’d recommend?

In my past, I participated in a few Brazilian RPG Maker communities. For those who don’t know, RPG Maker is a series of engines that help you create your own RPGs. People also use it to develop other types of games, like survival horrors and adventure games. The first version was launched in 1992, and new ones keep coming. I have a soft spot for RPG Maker projects, though many of those communities are long gone. Here in Brazil, we still have the Condado Braveheart, where you can find many completed projects, even older ones, thanks to users who managed to save several games. For those interested in this culture, I recommend checking out Legion Saga trilogy, Sunset Over Imdahl, 1-bit Explorer, Heart & Soul, Ahriman’s Prophecy, The Strange Men Anthology (made with Wolf RPG Editor, a “cousin” of RPG Maker), Grimm’s Hollow, OFF, Space Funeral, Rakuen, Inkey University, and Las Aventurietas del Robercleiton TURBO—and that’s plenty to start with, hahaha!

You have been writing gaming-related content for a while now - has this changed how you view games or play them?

I believe my current view of games is heavily influenced by my passion for writing about them. Sometimes I say it’s more a curse than a passion, because now I’m constantly thinking about games and potential topics to discuss, not just playing them. As we speak, I’m playing Virgo vs The Zodiac again to explore a new angle for an article about the challenges of games with multiple endings. See? It’s a curse!

Talking a bit more about your passion to write about games, how do you approach writing gaming related content? Do you have a list of topics that you go through? How long does it usually take from idea to being published on your blog? Do you have a goal of a text every week or every month? Tell me more about your process.

Usually I come up with a main topic for one of my texts when I’m playing or watching something. Like my review about Sifu discussing how the game begins as a frustrating experience and by the end is a rewarding journey. And this is basically how I construct all my articles, reviews, essays, etc; I think about a particular theme I’d like to approach with that particular IP and only then I start writing. And this process can take anything between a few days to several months. The one about Sifu, I think, took me 1-2 months to finish. More recently, I’m stuck in the initial paragraph for my article about Mana Spark and it could be a week or more until I manage to continue. Because of this my frequency of posting is very random. So to anyone planning to follow my blog, you’ve been warned: I don’t know when I’ll publish another text.

This marks the debut of Unmuted here at The Gaming Pub, and I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude to Leandro for accepting my invitation to be our inaugural guest. His openness and enthusiasm made this first interview easy to conduct and a pleasure. As you discovered through our conversation, Leandro is a prolific gaming writer whose blog, Backlogger, offers thoughtful perspectives on games both mainstream and obscure. Although his blog is in Portuguese, modern translation tools make it easily accessible, and I highly encourage everyone to explore his writing. His site represents exactly the kind of hidden gem we love to spotlight — quality gaming content that deserves wider recognition.

I’m actively seeking more gamers to get Unmuted in future editions. If you’re interested in sharing your gaming journey as part of this segment, please reach out by replying to the newsletter email that arrives in your inbox every Friday.