Introduction:
Yup...the yearly tradition no one's waiting for is upon us again: my yearly rundown of my favorite games I've played this year.
Despite this weird year, I really haven't played more games than otherwise. Three reasons compensate for my extra free time:
1) since 17th of January I'm a father, and man do babies need attention.
2) house renovation has left the critical stage, but my father-in-law and me did A LOT in this year.
3) because of those (and mostly the first), my girlfriend needed far more hugs, compassion, talks and all sorts of tasks done around the house.
Nonetheless, I've lined up 30 games I've really played this year. Partially on the 3DS XL, which I've bought just because it allows to quickly get in and out of a game.
That said...the runners-up (in no particular order)
doppelt so clever
Railways
Automachef
Adjacency
Swords & soldiers 2
Hexroller
A glider's journey
Gunhouse
Eloh
Naboki
Gardens inc: from rakes to riches
Links to previous years: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016,2015,2014
The list:
30. Love letter (linux)
This short card game has gained quite a following. There are versions of Lord of the rings, batman, star wars and even Lovecraft (I swear these are all real games). Upon first trying this digital version, I almost dismissed it. You have two cards, play one, keep the other and draw another card. This goes on until the deck runs out, after which the one with the highest card wins. Erm...okay? Sure, it has twists and some bluffing, but still...? But then it dawned on me that this is the sort of lighthearted game that's mostly about luck and meant to play round after round with drunk friends. So...I can see it being popular in that regard, but I'm not a fan. And the original theme (bring a love letter to the queen) is just so very NOT my thing.
29. Kirby: planet robobot (3DS)
Yeah...so it's a Kirby game. You know what that means: easy as heck, beautiful as candy and copyable abilities. This one has front- and background action up on its sleeve, as well as actual mech action. It's very good at what it does, but I really had to force myself playing. I wanted to enjoy it, but I just couldn't get into it.
28. She remembers caterpillars (linux)
a pleasant humble bundle puzzle surprise. You get some meeples in different colors, a board with some bridges and gates, and a destination for each meeple. You can combine the meeples into mixed colors if needed...but the bridges only allows its own color while the gates prevents exactly those colors from passing. In a way, it plays both as a mobile game and a blast from the past. But at least the screen constantly and clearly shows what it wants from you, and the level design is good. I'm just bad at these kinds of actual puzzle games.
27. Captain Toad (3DS)
Ranked it pretty good a few years ago on the wiiu. The 3DS version is about as nice. This isn't one I aim to complete as just to relax. Just slowly replay level after level until I've got everything. The gameplay is good like that...except a pity that there are enemies all over the place (I want to puzzle and explore, damnit! Get your nintendo pedigree out of my game!).
26. Molek-Syntez (linux)
My guess is Zachtronics pissed off his animators, graphical department and screenwriter after opus magnum (one of the previous games), because this game is so minimalistic in all these fields it's almost ridiculous. However, opus magnum is an absolute, absolute gem of a game. And at least the gameplay is smooth and challenging in the same way. So...here it is: a sequel-of-some-sort that's inferior in almost every way.
25. Hive time (linux)
One of the many games of itch.io's absurdly large racial injustice bundle. It is somewhat a mix between a city builder and a clicker game, and it revolves - you guessed it - around a bee hive. Get your bees out for resources, increase the hive departments, increase bees...increase the numbers, really. It lacks both gameplay depth as technical optimization (jeez...this game stutters more than anno 2070, and it's MILES away in graphical power). But it's a damn cute time waster. :-)
24. Terraforming Mars (android)
...this one's probably on me. The initial release was marred with bugs, but by the time the android version came out, most (all?) of these were fixed. But while being one of the most popular board games on the planet, I just don't get the appeal. It's just trying to get numbers to go up. I've got the idea that if I keep up, I'll see how great it really is, but for now I'm always avoiding to start it.
23. Zelda: oracle of seasons (GBC/android)
I was playing this (again) on commute early march. All off the sudden everyone was ordered to stay home, and I just lost interest. Just as well: I've played through it already. Nothing bad about it's quality...I just didn't feel the need to continue.
22. Luxor evolved (linux)
Shout out to fanatical here: for one dollar I got a bundle that's filled with luxor games, a couple match 3 gem ones and a ranch rush clone (garden inc...would've been on the list if they only KEPT their core gameplay loop instead of introducing all sorts of stupid shit). Luxor's just about shooting balls into a pool, attempting to line up colors. It's mindless and (for some reason) Egyptian themed. But I can't deny I loved playing it.
21. Forager (linux)
Huh...another timewaster. And a good one at that: you craft and unlock, gather, fight enemies...the only remarkable is perhaps in how it all neatly fits together without any of potential downtime like "a story". Liked it, didn't love it.
20. Picross 3D: round 2 (3DS)
Picross, griddler, nonograms...I've played them all. The 3D one of the original DS was sort of cute but gimmicky. At first I thought this'd be a repeat, but the two colors make all the difference while also (surprisingly) keeping the complexity within check. If "zen-like" was the only criteria, this'd be on top of the year.
19. Baba is you (linux)
Programming meets block pushing. A great concept and executed rather well...I think (the graphics are just so intentially bad that everything else might look good by comparison ). There is, however, a very large but: the learning curve is so steep it's unfair. When you resort to youtube for the solution, you should feel stupid when a solution was just outside your grasp. Here, I've had moments I thought I had tried every nonsensical solution, but the true one was a random one I apparently hadn't tried in the process. It's a puzzle game for puzzle gamers and programmers who are better in their field than I am.
18. UnpuzzleR (android)
...great follow-up, Taleweaver. Real classy. Because this is a more mindless puzzler: you start with a completed puzzle, but one by one you remove all the pieces. But which piece can you move? This one's mostly escapism after relationship arguments have died down (but the mood isn't back to normal).
17. The sequence 2 (android)
The first sequence put the developer (one man band) on my radar, and the sequel is better in every way. The hexagonal grid allows for more freedom, so this should be easier, right? Well...as it turns out, the dev is still way too smart and is also good at puzzle creation. I've been stumbling with this one as well, but solving it really makes you feel smart, and peaking on youtube has that needed "of COURSE! " moments. Now if only the 3rd one had a more sandbox approach rather than the bare minimum, we'd have an even GREATER game!
16. Horizon chasers (linux)
I never realised I missed the old arcade game outrun until I loaded up this racer. It's unfair in the sense that you start at the rear and have to pass all other cars by racing flawlessly, but the atmosphere is where it's at. It's nothing too special in the racing genre, but I prefer it over probably all racers that go for realism these days.
15. Hob (linux)
One from the tail end of the year: a mix between Zelda and Journey. You're a silent protagonist in a nature overgrown cyberpunk world, armed with a measily sword. Sound familiar? Well...it's mostly the exploration that steals the show. Wide open landscapes and platforming really put this on the map. Haven't decided on its final place in this ranking, but this place'll do for now.
14. Manifold garden (windows)
Damn you epic store! What's the bloody point of valve's efforts to play everything on linux when you steal gems like this? I don't WANT to boot into windows! But really: I did. Why? Because manifold garden takes the concept of antichamber and the graphics from the graphic novel "Obscure cities" (go on: picture google it: the images are mindblowing) and runs with it. It's a mesmerizing experience, and is a classic in the making. But I'm thinking of boycotting epic stores for my very own personal reasons that has nothing to do with steam fanboy'ism (note: this was somewhere in the midst of the year. It's available on steam right now).
13. cut it down (android)
I didn't play much games on my phone this year. Not really a reason to when I was mostly at home. Still: this one's a nice (and free) gem. It might look like a stupid "cut the rope" clone, but if you stick with it it slowly unfolds to be something like the incredible machine. That is to say, you've got to cut in the right spot so it activates a contraption. It's more basic than I make it out to be, but regardless nailing a level just feels very satisfying. And that has become a rare trait for mobile games for me.
12. Factorio (linux)
I should really give this one more of a chance. I love zachtronic games, and this is like an insanely overblown contraption machine. The thing is: I'm not in a situation where I can devote enough time to properly learn it. So don't take this position as a definite...It's just how I currently rate it.
11. Virtue's last reward (3DS)
It's about freaking TIME I settled down to play 999's sequel. The first and second acts are very good: the characters are great, there's plenty of mysteries to solve, the escape rooms are brimming with atmosphere and the story really sucked me in. And what really is the center stage (being able to keep parts of your conscience between timelines) is a good choice. Just as the two prisoner dilemma, by the way (do you trust that person or not? Do they trust you?). And kind of hilarious that the characters are taking a pandemic with "nearly 100'000 worldwide deaths" seriously when reality has since proven that even basic protection's too much to ask sometimes . It's just a shame that things really start falling apart in the last act. I mean...what the hell were the writers smoking when they had to explain all the mysteries they threw around in the game?
Spoiler (note: ONLY REVEAL IF YOU ALREADY PLAYED OR NEVER WANT TO PLAY IT!!!)
10. Yellow & Yangtze (android)
Reiner Knizia is to board games what Miyamoto is to video games. Or at least would have been if he didn't release so much games that the overall quality generally can't keep up. But Y&Y, a sequel-of-sorts of his earlier Tigris & Euphrates, is what kubism meant for Picasso: eternal fucking glory. It's a downright brilliant mix of city/civilization building and a wargame. It is also a game that intimidates me, because what you build up can so easily be thwarted. But the app works flawlessly, looks fantastic, has a great tutorial and the enemies wipe the floor with you. Erm...yeeey?
09. Yoku's island express (linux)
Welp...move over, rolling realms: here comes an ACTUAL pinball metroidvania. Yoku's island express has you playing as a beetle carrying an oversized marble around an island, meeting funny characters and unlocking all the arcade flippers in the place. It's (luckily) not as difficult as real pinball games and the game is downright BEAUTIFUL. I won't deny that my lists are quirky personal ones, but this one I'd recommend to anyone who doesn't want to stray too much from the beaten path.
08. campfire cooking (linux)
another gem from itch.io's bundle. A puzzle game where you have sticks in the fire and want to cook the meat at the end. Or both pieces. Or heat water. Or similar. Like many good puzzles, you can guess the intention almost immediately. You can never just pick up the sticks, but have to rotate them around. It's weird and hilariously ineffective (I'd punch anyone in the face who tries to play this game IRL ), but pretty deep and keeps you coming back for more. I beat it...and now have Stephen's sausage roll on my wishlist.
07. cook, serve, delicious 3 (linux)
*sigh* I had no idea this one was coming, but I instantly bought and played it (this was in early access). It's good, and even better than the second one...but I can't lose myself in it anymore as I could before. It's just as good...but I have changed. And okay: the games higher on the list are just very strong hitters.
06. my time at Portia (linux)
the game I played in my first daddy-ish weeks (months?). Our baby was fine, but my girlfriend had all sorts of hormonal issues post-pregnancy. This game was my way to relax when tasks were over. Well...you should probably cut the steam gaming time (73 hours) in half: I was interrupted A LOT while gaming. For obvious reasons.
05. Zelda: Link between worlds (3DS)
The first game I tried after getting my 3DS XL. I liked snes's 'link to the past' but not to the point I really cared. And I had bad expectations for the way you got weapons here. But man, was I wrong. And man, is this game GOOD! Once I could turn into a 2D statue, it immediately shot up to my favorite Zelda club of games. You can BET I'll play this one again!
04. C&C remake (linux)
If 2020 wasn't the year of the pandemic, then it probably would have been the year that EA released a good game. Yeah...it feels unreal to write, but the C&C remaster (containing the original tiberian dawn and red alert) isn't good. It's GOOD! It's FANTASTIC! It's anything I ever wanted and more (well...aside containing a red alert 2 remake). All the levels, updated graphics, polished cutscenes (so they'll at least look like polished crap on today's monitors )...and the wonky pathfinding everyone forgot about.
Ahem...but seriously: this is a childhood's dream. I had to buy it. I do NOT regret paying EA. They're not redeemed...but they now at least have an exception to their rule of evil.
03. Dead cells (android)
I had given up hope getting this to work properly on my PC. That is: I had workarounds, but couldn't get all shoulder buttons on the controller working (which you really need).
...and then I found out this existed. On android of all operating systems! When it was on sale, no less! I immediately bought it, installed it on my GPD XD+...and the rest is history. Well...if you want to count hours of delays in our house renovation because I was playing dead cells on the couch, that is.
(baby was to the daycare at this point...I'm not THAT bad at daddy-stuff)
02. Tabletop simulator (linux)
Avid followers might recall I ditched this very same game in last place some years ago. What happened? Why the pandemic, of course. Our house and childcare had JUST reached a point where I could start inviting friends and family again for board games (no kidding: we held one on my March 8th birthday)...when everyone was ordered to stay at home. It took some months, but I then remembered this game. Started playing solo games at first, then convinced one colleague to get it, then a second one. Now we play the endless amounts of recent board games through this game/front end. I'm still no fan of the interface (heck...even with all the updates through the years, they still at best have managed "less ugly"), but it's functional and works. So...TTS is back, bitches!
01. Roll for the galaxy (android)
I don't exaggerate in any way that I've waited for this game for 1.5 years. That's a long time for a virtual board game, but it has been worth it. I'm a temple gates fanboy in a world that barely knows who they are. But all their virtual board games are polished, highly replayable and a blast to play. Roll was no different. The only problem I have with it is that I now need to wait until they get around releasing the board game expansions for it.
And okay: it has been a very close call with number two (which, as you could guess, ALSO has a roll for the galaxy mod. With the expansion. But TTS has you doing everything manually, whereas all the bookkeeping and AI make a much faster and pleasant experience). But I've found myself mindlessly starting plays of this game all the time, so it truly deserves its place here.
Yup...the yearly tradition no one's waiting for is upon us again: my yearly rundown of my favorite games I've played this year.
Despite this weird year, I really haven't played more games than otherwise. Three reasons compensate for my extra free time:
1) since 17th of January I'm a father, and man do babies need attention.
2) house renovation has left the critical stage, but my father-in-law and me did A LOT in this year.
3) because of those (and mostly the first), my girlfriend needed far more hugs, compassion, talks and all sorts of tasks done around the house.
Nonetheless, I've lined up 30 games I've really played this year. Partially on the 3DS XL, which I've bought just because it allows to quickly get in and out of a game.
That said...the runners-up (in no particular order)
doppelt so clever
Railways
Automachef
Adjacency
Swords & soldiers 2
Hexroller
A glider's journey
Gunhouse
Eloh
Naboki
Gardens inc: from rakes to riches
Links to previous years: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016,2015,2014
The list:
30. Love letter (linux)
This short card game has gained quite a following. There are versions of Lord of the rings, batman, star wars and even Lovecraft (I swear these are all real games). Upon first trying this digital version, I almost dismissed it. You have two cards, play one, keep the other and draw another card. This goes on until the deck runs out, after which the one with the highest card wins. Erm...okay? Sure, it has twists and some bluffing, but still...? But then it dawned on me that this is the sort of lighthearted game that's mostly about luck and meant to play round after round with drunk friends. So...I can see it being popular in that regard, but I'm not a fan. And the original theme (bring a love letter to the queen) is just so very NOT my thing.
29. Kirby: planet robobot (3DS)
Yeah...so it's a Kirby game. You know what that means: easy as heck, beautiful as candy and copyable abilities. This one has front- and background action up on its sleeve, as well as actual mech action. It's very good at what it does, but I really had to force myself playing. I wanted to enjoy it, but I just couldn't get into it.
28. She remembers caterpillars (linux)
a pleasant humble bundle puzzle surprise. You get some meeples in different colors, a board with some bridges and gates, and a destination for each meeple. You can combine the meeples into mixed colors if needed...but the bridges only allows its own color while the gates prevents exactly those colors from passing. In a way, it plays both as a mobile game and a blast from the past. But at least the screen constantly and clearly shows what it wants from you, and the level design is good. I'm just bad at these kinds of actual puzzle games.
27. Captain Toad (3DS)
Ranked it pretty good a few years ago on the wiiu. The 3DS version is about as nice. This isn't one I aim to complete as just to relax. Just slowly replay level after level until I've got everything. The gameplay is good like that...except a pity that there are enemies all over the place (I want to puzzle and explore, damnit! Get your nintendo pedigree out of my game!).
26. Molek-Syntez (linux)
My guess is Zachtronics pissed off his animators, graphical department and screenwriter after opus magnum (one of the previous games), because this game is so minimalistic in all these fields it's almost ridiculous. However, opus magnum is an absolute, absolute gem of a game. And at least the gameplay is smooth and challenging in the same way. So...here it is: a sequel-of-some-sort that's inferior in almost every way.
25. Hive time (linux)
One of the many games of itch.io's absurdly large racial injustice bundle. It is somewhat a mix between a city builder and a clicker game, and it revolves - you guessed it - around a bee hive. Get your bees out for resources, increase the hive departments, increase bees...increase the numbers, really. It lacks both gameplay depth as technical optimization (jeez...this game stutters more than anno 2070, and it's MILES away in graphical power). But it's a damn cute time waster. :-)
24. Terraforming Mars (android)
...this one's probably on me. The initial release was marred with bugs, but by the time the android version came out, most (all?) of these were fixed. But while being one of the most popular board games on the planet, I just don't get the appeal. It's just trying to get numbers to go up. I've got the idea that if I keep up, I'll see how great it really is, but for now I'm always avoiding to start it.
23. Zelda: oracle of seasons (GBC/android)
I was playing this (again) on commute early march. All off the sudden everyone was ordered to stay home, and I just lost interest. Just as well: I've played through it already. Nothing bad about it's quality...I just didn't feel the need to continue.
22. Luxor evolved (linux)
Shout out to fanatical here: for one dollar I got a bundle that's filled with luxor games, a couple match 3 gem ones and a ranch rush clone (garden inc...would've been on the list if they only KEPT their core gameplay loop instead of introducing all sorts of stupid shit). Luxor's just about shooting balls into a pool, attempting to line up colors. It's mindless and (for some reason) Egyptian themed. But I can't deny I loved playing it.
21. Forager (linux)
Huh...another timewaster. And a good one at that: you craft and unlock, gather, fight enemies...the only remarkable is perhaps in how it all neatly fits together without any of potential downtime like "a story". Liked it, didn't love it.
20. Picross 3D: round 2 (3DS)
Picross, griddler, nonograms...I've played them all. The 3D one of the original DS was sort of cute but gimmicky. At first I thought this'd be a repeat, but the two colors make all the difference while also (surprisingly) keeping the complexity within check. If "zen-like" was the only criteria, this'd be on top of the year.
19. Baba is you (linux)
Programming meets block pushing. A great concept and executed rather well...I think (the graphics are just so intentially bad that everything else might look good by comparison
). There is, however, a very large but: the learning curve is so steep it's unfair. When you resort to youtube for the solution, you should feel stupid when a solution was just outside your grasp. Here, I've had moments I thought I had tried every nonsensical solution, but the true one was a random one I apparently hadn't tried in the process. It's a puzzle game for puzzle gamers and programmers who are better in their field than I am.18. UnpuzzleR (android)
...great follow-up, Taleweaver. Real classy. Because this is a more mindless puzzler: you start with a completed puzzle, but one by one you remove all the pieces. But which piece can you move? This one's mostly escapism after relationship arguments have died down (but the mood isn't back to normal).
17. The sequence 2 (android)
The first sequence put the developer (one man band) on my radar, and the sequel is better in every way. The hexagonal grid allows for more freedom, so this should be easier, right? Well...as it turns out, the dev is still way too smart and is also good at puzzle creation. I've been stumbling with this one as well, but solving it really makes you feel smart, and peaking on youtube has that needed "of COURSE!
" moments. Now if only the 3rd one had a more sandbox approach rather than the bare minimum, we'd have an even GREATER game! 16. Horizon chasers (linux)
I never realised I missed the old arcade game outrun until I loaded up this racer. It's unfair in the sense that you start at the rear and have to pass all other cars by racing flawlessly, but the atmosphere is where it's at. It's nothing too special in the racing genre, but I prefer it over probably all racers that go for realism these days.
15. Hob (linux)
One from the tail end of the year: a mix between Zelda and Journey. You're a silent protagonist in a nature overgrown cyberpunk world, armed with a measily sword. Sound familiar? Well...it's mostly the exploration that steals the show. Wide open landscapes and platforming really put this on the map. Haven't decided on its final place in this ranking, but this place'll do for now.
14. Manifold garden (windows)
Damn you epic store! What's the bloody point of valve's efforts to play everything on linux when you steal gems like this? I don't WANT to boot into windows! But really: I did. Why? Because manifold garden takes the concept of antichamber and the graphics from the graphic novel "Obscure cities" (go on: picture google it: the images are mindblowing) and runs with it. It's a mesmerizing experience, and is a classic in the making. But I'm thinking of boycotting epic stores for my very own personal reasons that has nothing to do with steam fanboy'ism
(note: this was somewhere in the midst of the year. It's available on steam right now).13. cut it down (android)
I didn't play much games on my phone this year. Not really a reason to when I was mostly at home. Still: this one's a nice (and free) gem. It might look like a stupid "cut the rope" clone, but if you stick with it it slowly unfolds to be something like the incredible machine. That is to say, you've got to cut in the right spot so it activates a contraption. It's more basic than I make it out to be, but regardless nailing a level just feels very satisfying. And that has become a rare trait for mobile games for me.
12. Factorio (linux)
I should really give this one more of a chance. I love zachtronic games, and this is like an insanely overblown contraption machine. The thing is: I'm not in a situation where I can devote enough time to properly learn it. So don't take this position as a definite...It's just how I currently rate it.
11. Virtue's last reward (3DS)
It's about freaking TIME I settled down to play 999's sequel. The first and second acts are very good: the characters are great, there's plenty of mysteries to solve, the escape rooms are brimming with atmosphere and the story really sucked me in. And what really is the center stage (being able to keep parts of your conscience between timelines) is a good choice. Just as the two prisoner dilemma, by the way (do you trust that person or not? Do they trust you?). And kind of hilarious that the characters are taking a pandemic with "nearly 100'000 worldwide deaths" seriously when reality has since proven that even basic protection's too much to ask sometimes
. It's just a shame that things really start falling apart in the last act. I mean...what the hell were the writers smoking when they had to explain all the mysteries they threw around in the game?Spoiler (note: ONLY REVEAL IF YOU ALREADY PLAYED OR NEVER WANT TO PLAY IT!!!)
So this strange solar eclipse is turning the EARTH red because this all takes place ON THE MOON. This timing is crucial because I can't remember. But because everyone's infected with the virus that slows down brain activity, nobody notices. Oh, and your character is about 30 years older than you think you are because your young consciousness has jumped to this point because your older consciousness has jumped to THAT situation so STUFF could happen (or have happened?) so that it could then, together with Phi's consciousness, jump(ed) further back in time before the pandemic where older consciousness you tried and failed to stop the death cult from either releasing the virus or sync-explode all nuclear reactors (or was it both? ), which is where YOU LOST BOTH ARMS AND AN EYE (which isn't something anyone - including yourself - noticed). I'd also tell how the old lady turns into the K armor if she isn't in the timeline where she is killed by Dio (and therefore K is replaced by Kyle), but my mind was too busy going wwwwwhhhhhaaaaaa?????
at this point.
), which is where YOU LOST BOTH ARMS AND AN EYE (which isn't something anyone - including yourself - noticed). I'd also tell how the old lady turns into the K armor if she isn't in the timeline where she is killed by Dio (and therefore K is replaced by Kyle), but my mind was too busy going wwwwwhhhhhaaaaaa????? at this point.10. Yellow & Yangtze (android)
Reiner Knizia is to board games what Miyamoto is to video games. Or at least would have been if he didn't release so much games that the overall quality generally can't keep up. But Y&Y, a sequel-of-sorts of his earlier Tigris & Euphrates, is what kubism meant for Picasso: eternal fucking glory. It's a downright brilliant mix of city/civilization building and a wargame. It is also a game that intimidates me, because what you build up can so easily be thwarted. But the app works flawlessly, looks fantastic, has a great tutorial and the enemies wipe the floor with you. Erm...yeeey?
09. Yoku's island express (linux)
Welp...move over, rolling realms: here comes an ACTUAL pinball metroidvania. Yoku's island express has you playing as a beetle carrying an oversized marble around an island, meeting funny characters and unlocking all the arcade flippers in the place. It's (luckily) not as difficult as real pinball games and the game is downright BEAUTIFUL. I won't deny that my lists are quirky personal ones, but this one I'd recommend to anyone who doesn't want to stray too much from the beaten path.
08. campfire cooking (linux)
another gem from itch.io's bundle. A puzzle game where you have sticks in the fire and want to cook the meat at the end. Or both pieces. Or heat water. Or similar. Like many good puzzles, you can guess the intention almost immediately. You can never just pick up the sticks, but have to rotate them around. It's weird and hilariously ineffective (I'd punch anyone in the face who tries to play this game IRL
), but pretty deep and keeps you coming back for more. I beat it...and now have Stephen's sausage roll on my wishlist. 07. cook, serve, delicious 3 (linux)
*sigh* I had no idea this one was coming, but I instantly bought and played it (this was in early access). It's good, and even better than the second one...but I can't lose myself in it anymore as I could before. It's just as good...but I have changed. And okay: the games higher on the list are just very strong hitters.
06. my time at Portia (linux)
the game I played in my first daddy-ish weeks (months?). Our baby was fine, but my girlfriend had all sorts of hormonal issues post-pregnancy. This game was my way to relax when tasks were over. Well...you should probably cut the steam gaming time (73 hours) in half: I was interrupted A LOT while gaming. For obvious reasons.
05. Zelda: Link between worlds (3DS)
The first game I tried after getting my 3DS XL. I liked snes's 'link to the past' but not to the point I really cared. And I had bad expectations for the way you got weapons here. But man, was I wrong. And man, is this game GOOD! Once I could turn into a 2D statue, it immediately shot up to my favorite Zelda club of games. You can BET I'll play this one again!
04. C&C remake (linux)
If 2020 wasn't the year of the pandemic, then it probably would have been the year that EA released a good game. Yeah...it feels unreal to write, but the C&C remaster (containing the original tiberian dawn and red alert) isn't good. It's GOOD! It's FANTASTIC! It's anything I ever wanted and more (well...aside containing a red alert 2 remake). All the levels, updated graphics, polished cutscenes (so they'll at least look like polished crap on today's monitors
)...and the wonky pathfinding everyone forgot about. Ahem...but seriously: this is a childhood's dream. I had to buy it. I do NOT regret paying EA. They're not redeemed...but they now at least have an exception to their rule of evil.
03. Dead cells (android)
I had given up hope getting this to work properly on my PC. That is: I had workarounds, but couldn't get all shoulder buttons on the controller working (which you really need).
...and then I found out this existed. On android of all operating systems! When it was on sale, no less! I immediately bought it, installed it on my GPD XD+...and the rest is history. Well...if you want to count hours of delays in our house renovation because I was playing dead cells on the couch, that is.
(baby was to the daycare at this point...I'm not THAT bad at daddy-stuff
)02. Tabletop simulator (linux)
Avid followers might recall I ditched this very same game in last place some years ago. What happened? Why the pandemic, of course. Our house and childcare had JUST reached a point where I could start inviting friends and family again for board games (no kidding: we held one on my March 8th birthday)...when everyone was ordered to stay at home. It took some months, but I then remembered this game. Started playing solo games at first, then convinced one colleague to get it, then a second one. Now we play the endless amounts of recent board games through this game/front end. I'm still no fan of the interface (heck...even with all the updates through the years, they still at best have managed "less ugly"), but it's functional and works. So...TTS is back, bitches!
01. Roll for the galaxy (android)
I don't exaggerate in any way that I've waited for this game for 1.5 years. That's a long time for a virtual board game, but it has been worth it. I'm a temple gates fanboy in a world that barely knows who they are. But all their virtual board games are polished, highly replayable and a blast to play. Roll was no different. The only problem I have with it is that I now need to wait until they get around releasing the board game expansions for it.
And okay: it has been a very close call with number two (which, as you could guess, ALSO has a roll for the galaxy mod. With the expansion. But TTS has you doing everything manually, whereas all the bookkeeping and AI make a much faster and pleasant experience). But I've found myself mindlessly starting plays of this game all the time, so it truly deserves its place here.
