Started another run of Monster Sanctuary - one of my all time favorites. It’s a mix of Metroidvania and monster tamer and both parts work really well. Monster combat is teams of 3v3 and is pretty deep with individual skill trees for each monster and tons of synergies. Metroidvania elements also work really well - there is defo quite a bit openness to which area to explore first and there are also some optional and post game areas to find.
They also included some cool features for replayability - randomizer, permadeath for monsters, and a “bravery mode” giving you 1 random monster per area only for a cool challenge to come up with a build. I have over 10 playthroughs of it :D
There is also online pvp - not sure if the scene is still active, but there was an interesting tournament scene. I’m more about the single player though
CIV V
I am new to it and I like it.
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc. I played it years ago on Vita. It’s been kind of a funny experience playing it again probably close to ten years later on a completely different handheld device(Steam Deck). I never actually finished it on Vita and it’s been long enough that I’ve forgotten a lot of the details of each of the trials.
The trilogy plus Ultra Despair Girls was on sale on Steam in November. Got all of it for $16 CAD when the bundle is normally $91.
Ultra Despair Girls and V3 seem to have somewhat mixed reviews but most everyone who reviewed 1 and 2 seems to really like those two.
Guild Wars 2! It’s been improved quite a bit since I last played it over 12 years ago.
Finished Skate Story and now I’m working through Hi-Fi Rush.
I have wasted so much of my time already in Europa Universalis V (cracked) just with Hungary and I’m still only in the 1450s
Carmageddon Max Damage. I used to live for the original Carmageddon, back when I was in high school. Between me and my old man, we annihilated that game and all the add on packs. This version is a pleasant return to a simpler time, but it’s a nice shake up of the classic too, it’s actually a bit challenging. I’m really enjoying it, about 55% done. I pick away at it here and there, and have been doing that this week. Probably going to replay Modern Warfare 2 (the 2009 version) on the weekend, as I just finished Modern Warfare 1 last weekend.
I just wrapped up my first NG+ run of Elden Ring, which also included my first playthrough of Shadow of the Erdtree. I enjoy the base game quite a bit, and while I think it loses a bit of steam during the last third or so of the game (in regards to the environments; the bosses are cool), I intend to do a second NG+ playthrough to try to get the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending as well as the legendary achievements. I’m not an achievement hunter or anything, but 100%ing Elden Ring sounds like a fun goal to have. It’s a toss up if I’ll revisit Shadow of the Erdtree, because I’m pretty neutral on it.
In the meantime, I’ve returned to my first save file of Dark Souls that I put down at Sen’s Fortress a year or so ago. I just wasn’t having it, but this time everything clicked, the snake dudes caused me no trouble, and I made it to Anor Londo. But now I’m dealing with the AL archers and they are a real pain. I wouldn’t be surprised if I put it down again and revisit it at the end of 2026.
