I’ve been enjoying dipping into Griftlands lately. It’s got a bunch of interesting ideas there, and I love that you build 2 decks rather than just 1 (a combat deck and a negotiation deck) and that they both function very differently. And the storytelling is light years ahead of Slay the Spire!
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I really disliked how in MW 5 enemies could spawn directly behind you. It destroyed all immersion for me. Loved MW4 and its addon, played that so often 
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I’ve started Griftlands too! I’m not sure how I feel about SO MUCH story, but it’s fairly easy to skip through while catching the gist. The assassin’s at night is brutal, especially if you get caught in a random fight on the way to the hotel! Two runs down now and really enjoying it. Still feels fairly limited in card play, but I’ve only unlocked two card packs so far and I don’t think this is going for Slay the Spire levels of jank
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I’m trying not to be over hyped, but I am somewhat overhyped. They dropped the original teaser for Elden Ring ages ago and then didn’t let out a single peep for over a year.
I think some people are going to complain that it isn’t next gen in graphics - but I’m actually not worried about that at all. I’m extremely satisfied with how good dark souls 3 looked - aside from how infernally difficult it was to get the player character to look not janky.
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I saw this thought the graphics looked good. I’m assuming it’s another souls live die repeat cycle?
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Been playing a ton of Monster Hunter Rise (160 hours and counting) since it released at the end of March. Basically sneak in some hunts anytime I can, either solo or with some friends. It’s the most I have played a video game in a long time. I love the game, even though at this point, outside of chasing “awards” aka achievements, don’t have much to do. Unless I try to learn another weapon.
Also playing Generation Zero with my wife and some friends, generally on Wednesdays, sometimes a couple other days a week. It’s fun, but such a flawed game. I hear it’s better than it used to be when it launched, but there are still a ton of bugs.
And playing through Borderlands 2 with some friends every Friday (been doing this through most of COVID. Started with three of us playing Legents of Runterra then just turned it into a weekly thing and played Divinity 2, then spent some time in Deep Rock Galactic and Valheim. A decent chunk of time in that one), though with all of us being vaccinated, and restrictions lifting this week, might shift some of those nights to in-person board game nights too.
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Has anyone played Sundered? Had not heard a single thing about it, but finding it really impressive! Metroidvania rogue-like blah blah blah, but the boss animations are AMAZING. Such a fluid cartoon, even more impressive than Cuphead.
Also love how every so often an alarm will go off and hoards of enemies will appear. It turns into a 2D Doom where no individual enemy is that dangerous, but they all have different move sets that will easily overwhelm you if you don’t keep them all trimmed down.
And it’s procedurally generated in a really nice way. The map is split into large blocks, each with a dungeon maze of smaller rooms within them. Each block size and location doesn’t change, but the room mazes within it do change. So it’s always different, but also paced like a non-procedurally generated game. It’s so seamless and clever! Each run you can see the general map of the blocks with icons indicating what’s inside (bosses, a locked door etc), but you only see the room maze map once you’ve explored it for that respective run.
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I did played this game ! I was also very impressed, especially since I picked it up for free from Epic. I was a bit over the random rooms toward the end, when I had to look around for stuff. But I really enjoyed my time with it !
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I recently picked up Shadow Empire, an intimidatingly complex 4x (leaning heavily towards tactics). I rarely play war games but this has enough else going on that I was tempted. I’ve played for 3 hours and have no idea if I’m enjoying it not, because that’s been 3 turns and has involved at least 3 hours worth of YouTube tutorial videos ( by the excellent DasTastic). I have no idea why I’m tempted by this game but something about just -how- complex and intimidating it is seems weirdly appealing to me right now, but that might say more about my current state of mind than anything.
I’ve also bought Half Life: Alyx to see if my computer could handle it. It can, and it’s great.
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Playing a mix of
Solasta (it’s good, but it’s very much not 5e D&D as it promised - it’s about half of it, with their own take on only a few classes. Definitely an admirable indie game instead of an A-lister)
Elder Scrolls Online (I have no idea why I’m still playing this, but it’s scratching my itch to be a wood elf with a longbow. Not paying for the Blackwood DLC until it’s on sale, but having a companion will be nice.)
and
No Man’s Sky (where I finally got a flying pet I can ride! This is considerably better than any of the Exocraft, faster and avoids terrain. The “Prisms” update is interesting.)
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I had never heard of Sundered but that looks gorgeous.
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Playing Empire Deluxe (Enhanced Edition), as is my wont between other games. Recently Rimworld and Fallout 3. Considering Valheim.
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I’ve been playing Half Life: Alyx when I’ve had the energy for VR. I avoided playing it for a little while, I’m not sure why; I suspect I was worried I would be disappointed.
I shouldn’t have. It is absolutely fantastic, immersive, terrifying, hilarious. It’s the next Half Life game by any measure. It has Rhys Darby (We’re not swearwolves, we’re werewolves) as your (largely audio) companion. I actually cried in terror trying to reload my pistol while being slowly approached by a headcrab zombie a few nights ago, and you actually hold your hand over your actual mouth to keep quiet. I have a game that had me squatting in my room with my hand over my mouth, desperately hoping I wouldn’t give myself away to the terrifying but blind beast a few feet away from me. If I haven’t sold you on this game by now, I won’t, so I’ll shut up.
Also, more Shadow Empire (I finally conquered a city!), some Demeo (VR board game, which is extremely good and feels almost like a board game in person), more MTG: Arena because… look, I have a problem, okay?
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Well, not playing, but I just got to order a PS5 with the Spider-Man: Miles Morales game. Supposedly with 1-2 day shipping. This could end up being a really good Father’s Day weekend.
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You don’t have to sell me on half life, but I still can’t imagine investing in VR gear yet. I don’t get to play games that aren’t turn-based or pausable as it is.
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Ah, well, life changes have made such things easier for me, but I have played some very curated VR with the kids too, although they’re generally less excited by it than Roblox
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Mile morales is very good if a bit short. I would advise returnal if you like bullet hell/dark souls/sci-fi horror (a very specific blend I’ll confess). I sank 14 hours into it to reach level 3 of 5(?). But some new frustrating enemies made me pause and now I fear if I start again I’ll have lost the knack.
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I played a few levels of Baba is You on my tablet. Fun puzzling, reminds me a bit of good old Sokoban.
Now it’s back to Dyson Sphere program. I rebuilt all my infrastructure and now I’ll expand to a second sphere.
Also: my partner finally managed to snag a PS5 and is currently being frustrated by the fact that he can only really start installing all his stuff once he has the external drive he needs and Ratchet and Clank is too much Jump and Run
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I’m playing Duskers again.
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Oh I have that and bounced off it. Maybe I’ll try it again. I’m deep into Xcom: Long War mod right now.
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