Gen X graphic designer here. I did not properly learn how to type on a QWERTY keyboard, but have been exposed to it for many years so I know how to type on it. Hasn’t ever been a problem not typing fast.

Looks amazing, like a whole new game with all new characters. The only DLC I’ve played was for Bloodborne, so I’m not familiar with FS’s approach, but if Old Hunters is any indication, this is going to be so good!

No need for flashlights anymore!

Let’s revolt and bring back web rings!

I would be onboard if I can kill Benny an infinite number of times

Has Sonoma broken anyone’s apps or workflows?

“Steve, your numbers are down. We have reason to believe you have not been viewing enough pornographic material at work.”

Being able to say this out loud is a big step. +1 emotional maturity. +1 admitting he’s got a problem.

I’ll not deny that he has passion, but someone really should have reigned him in. It only hurt the game when it inevitably never delivered. Who comes up with game features on the spot to the media? No respect for the people who actually have to make the game, sheesh.

Haha, how good? On my own, I can probably solve a Tuesday, maybe if lucky a Wednesday on my own with no cheating. The proper nouns get me all the time.

God mode. You can turn it on and every time you die, you get a little stronger. I remember the game asking me if I wanted to turn it on.

While I played and enjoyed it, I expected a lot more from Obsidian (makers of Fallout New Vegas). I loved going from planet to planet and exploring. Love the VATS system from Fallout, so that was nice to have here. The graphics are aces, but sometimes I think they spent too much of their time on buildings and textures vs designing levels. The planets themselves seem a little “shallow.” There are like 5 locations on a whole planet to check out, and there are roads the you need to stick to. The Obsidian sense of humor is here. I’m not trying to be a hater though, just an Asian dad.

I dropped off on Metal Gear after Guns of the Patriots. The convoluted story really had me confused. I’m not even sure I remember the gameplay. I had a TON of fun with Snake Eater and MGS though. I love stealth games, so maybe I’ll give it a try.

Highly recommend; it’s on my list. It’s a low-barrier roguelike to get into. Overall, the genre has some friction points, but this game is really smart about it. There is a story! It is advanced every time you die. You slowly get more stats each time also. However, If the game determines you are dying ‘a lot’, it will allow you to decrease the difficulty so you won’t abandon the game. The fun is in combining Greek god powers; you can ‘git gud’ if you want a challenge, but it’s not necessary to ‘have fun.’

Tetris GB

This game has occupied so many hours of my life. I play a ROMHack called “Rosy Retrospective,” where modern features have been added, like pressing up to drop and being able to save pieces. Probably don’t need to explain this game :D

Super Punch-Out!

Nostalgic pick because the SNES was my favorite system. I’m not really into boxing games, but this adds a puzzle element to it where you memorize patterns of ridiciulous over-the-top fighters (one of them kicks, so the boxing is loose here). I can easily pick this game up and play the time-attack mode to refight a boxer that I’ve defeated before. There is a lot of satisfaction completely owning a boxer. However, there are still boxers in this game that I can’t beat.

NYT Crosswords

Love doing a crossword with friends. I highly recommend their app screenshared to your TV; NYT has done a fantastic job optimizing the experience for screens. The grid and the clues are very visible, as if everyone was crowded around you on a table looking at the print version. NYT has quietly done a great job diversifying their games business. Spelling Bee and Werdle I don’t play as much, but I know a bunch of people who do. If you don’t have a sub, you can play on Downforacross with friends, the Google sheets of crosswords.

Solebon Solitaire (iOS)

An app that has many variants of single-player card games on there. My favorites include Klondike, Golf, Monte Carlo, Yukon, and La Belle Lucie, but FAR and away the game I play the most is FreeCell. There is a randomness to Solitare where some deals just aren’t winnable. However, with FreeCell, with the ability to have 4 reserve spaces to move cards around, the game is more forgiving and every deal is winnable.

868-HACK

A hacking roguelike on iOS. Love the graphics and concept. You play on a randomly generated grid of tiles and walls that you can hack. Hacking results in enemies appearing on the grid. You have to plan your way to the level exit, while also maximizing the rewards (abilities) you get from hacking.

Enyo (iOS)

A tactical roguelike on iOS. Grid based. You have to dispatch the enemies on the grid with your sword, hook, and shield. Enemies progressively have better abilities and become more numerous, so you really have to plan your route through the grid-based terrain. You can use your weapons in interesting ways, especially the hook and shield. The hook pulls most enemies toward you, so you can sometimes dispatch by pulling them into water. Other times you can swap places with them so you deploy your shield to push them.

Donkey Kong GB

Wonderful puzzle platformer originally released on the GameBoy. Nostalgic pick that I can easily pick up and play for a couple of minutes or a longer session if needed. Mario runs, jumps, and uses hammers to get through 50+ themed levels. Simple and very replayable. Very easy for kids to learn to play.

Hades

For longer sessions, Hades is my go-to roguelite. An isometric dungeon crawler that seemingly has almost endless replayability with your choices of random Greek god-powers and paths through the Underworld. All the things you dislike about roguelites are smartly dealt with. There is an actual storyline between deaths. I have never heard a single line of dialogue repeated. Ever. The game will give you options to make it easier if it notices you are dying a lot. So anybody can make it through this game and progress the story.

Bloodborne

The first FromSoftware game that clicked for me and forced me to ‘git gud.’ Something about the gothic horror environment and the weapon fighting is so satisfying to me. You can go through this game with different weapons and builds and have a completely different game experience (a staple of FromSsoftware games). I have this whole game memorized and have beaten it multiple times and yet, I can still get my ass kicked by a random enemy if I am not careful. Every March, a bunch of gamers on Reddit replay the game in celebration of it’s launch, but I like to play it around Halloween. Sounds like that is coming up soon!

This is my kind of list! Dwarf Fortress though…I haven’t played. Slightly intimidated by it. Sorta drawing from my experience with Rimworld. I really wanted to like it but I was so shit at the game.

Yeah, Minecraft is basically LEGO, you stop playing when you run out of ideas or run out of time.

Coincidentally, New Vegas was the first ‘resource-heavy’ game I played to test my new Steam Deck. Played great and still holds up. I try a different way to kill Benny every time! This time, he ended up as a slave for Caesar. Benny, vidi, vici!

Nice! in what order would you personally rank them?

My journey:

• abandoned Dark Souls. started in 2011, but I only played it for 2 hours because I didn’t understand the Fromsoft mechanics at the time. quickly dropped.
• beat Bloodborne. picked it up on a sale and…somehow this game clicked for me. Loved everything about it
• still trying on Sekiro. Love this game, but I can’t finish it. I’ve restarted numerous times, each time getting further and further. Currently stuck at the boss of Mibu Village.
• beat Elden Ring. LOVE IT. beat this twice. More approachable compared to other games and so very satisfying.

my ranking:

1. Bloodborne
2. Elden Ring
3. Sekiro (even though it kicks my butt)

LOL so I started the game last night after typing the comment. I stayed up pretty late… :D

I’m holding off on TotK too…I remember how much of a time-sink BotW was. I recently played through BotW and I can suggest you stick to shrines and main quest and you can do it. Then take your time messing around in TotK since it’s the same map.