Patient Gamers

Continuing Metaphor: ReFantazio. It's the most consistently polished game Atlus made (that I played) in years, though maybe SMT VV has a chance once I get to it. The only ones that come to mind are Persona 5/Royal (however much I prefer P3 and P4), and Etrian Odyssey V. Both of which had longer development times compared to their series, who knew?

My only complaint is that it doesn't have any 10/10 aspect that I'd love, most of my favourite games are somewhat flawed anyway, as long as they have that special aspect that clicks. But then, Persona 3 had nothing like that until the endgame, so there's still time for it to surprise me.

Pokémon Crystal and Red Ded Redemption 2

Just started Disgaea 1. For whatever reason I've bounced off this game half a dozen times since first trying it all the way back at release, but I've more or less settled into a groove with it now.

Having a good time with it, though I'm wondering if I should pick up a manual or something somewhere. Kind of obtuse systems and details I'd normally be able to get out of the UI, but not here.

Playing through the entire Dragon Age series, then Pillars of Eternity and Sea of Stars.

Yakuza 3. Probably for the 3rd time as well because there was too much time since I played and lost track of the plot.

I am currently playing ORAS, BOTW and Rayman Legends, after finishing at least one of them I'll start with Metroid Zero Mission for once, to break that nightmare deal I did to myself of not playing more metroidvanias until I get to finish Super Metroid and SOTN!

I've been playing Sonic Frontiers, which has been surprisingly fun. It has a similar vibe to what "Mario Odyssey" did for mario, the mixture of 3D, camera controlled, and 2D segments was done well in my opinion.

Finally grabbed a copy of Sekiro, and though I’ve never been much of a fan of uncompromisingly punishing games, I’m optimistic that this will be the one that gets me there.

Haven’t started it yet, so it’s possible, if not likely that it’s going to kick my ass.

I’m going to try getting back into RDR2, and start on Undertale and Prey. Maybe Shadowrun: Hong Kong and Fallout 4?

Started Grim Dawn (ARPG) and Genesis Order (AVN, although I suppose that one is fairly recent).

Return to Moria has been really fun! Playing online with my buddy all day the last two days.

Pretty slow moving for a survival/crafting game, but we're both big Tolkien fans and the fan service is pretty great.

Boss fights have been quite interesting and when progression finally happens it feels really satisfying.

Elden Ring’s expansion! I failed the tree boss multiple times, with help.

Noe, Class of ‘09: the Re-Up!

Resident Evil Village and Sniper Elite 4

The first has some really cool environments and storytelling. I heard it was "like a shooter" and so I put it to maximum difficulty right away. I have to say I am not a fan of having to empty several pistol magazines into the head of the first enemy I encounter and they... survive. When murder becomes a chore, it kinda takes the fun out of it. So I lowered the difficulty setting.

The second... is as bad as the one before it. Just put it to maximum difficulty and yolo your way trough all levels. Or don't, it doesn't matter. Enemies are insanely slow. You can always walk up to some nazi's, sip your tea, then remember you should find cover because one enemy just finished their tiktok doom scrolling and decides to aim their gun at you.

Finishing up Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (not patient, I know), Hogwarts Legacy, and A Hat in Time.

After that, I'm excited to play some games I got in the Steam sale:

• Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
• Firewatch
• South Park: The Stick of Truth

I'm going to try holding off buying more games this year to get through a bunch of games I have that I haven't played.

I'm working my way through Valheim. I started last year and then stopped shortly before fighting the second boss and never got around to picking it back up. Now I'm back at it and working through the third biome. I still have a long way to go and hope that I can continue to sink at least 100 more hours into it.

I also got Metro 2033 and Last Light on the Steam winter sale. I started Metro Exodus a few years ago and also stopped pretty early, so I'm hoping that this time I can stick with it through the whole series. I also got Grim Dawn and it doesn't play great on the Deck, but hopefully I'll be able to get used to it with a bit of effort.

Outside of those, Wildermyth and Brotato are my main chillout games and I'm pretty sure they'll also get 50-100 hours each this year.

Continuing my replay of Red Dead Redemption 1, probably followed by 2. Probably going to finish my replay of Subnautica. Not sure what new games will slot in after that.

Psychonauts 2. I picked it up for 80% off during the autumn Steam sale and just getting around to playing it.

I also picked up It Takes Two and have been playing that with my wife.

Replaying ranked Mario kart and seeing the meta evolve has been cool. There are so many yoshis now.

I'm gonna be booting up Pathologic 2 once my new computer comes in.

Hopped back into Octopath (the first one) after finishing Sea of Stars. It's a honker of a game haha I feel like it's going to take me a while.