What are you playing at the moment?

[Steel Icarus]

I'm on the Balatro bandwagon. Fuck me it's addictive. And brilliant. It looks like something from 1989 but it has pretty much the most one more go qualities I've ever experienced on a game.

So, ya know, try it at your peril.

Oh yeah, if you don't know, it's a poker-based roguelite, with lots of booster cards that do things to your hands; jokers which are "permanent" boosters, planet cards which change how powerful certain types of hands are, and tarot cards which do all sorts of daft things to individual cards. Strongly recommended if you have a LOT of time to spare.

 

[BristolEcho]

I'm on the Balatro bandwagon. Fuck me it's addictive. And brilliant. It looks like something from 1989 but it has pretty much the most one more go qualities I've ever experienced on a game.

So, ya know, try it at your peril.

Oh yeah, if you don't know, it's a poker-based roguelite, with lots of booster cards that do things to your hands; jokers which are "permanent" boosters, planet cards which change how powerful certain types of hands are, and tarot cards which do all sorts of daft things to individual cards. Strongly recommended if you have a LOT of time to spare.

I've been playing with buying this today, but I am exhausted so probably shouldn't just yet.

I'm still playing through Death Stranding and loving it.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

Microsoft Solitaire on my phone

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Having maxed out everything on Helldivers now looking for something new…what’s everyone enjoying on their
PS5’s?

 

[Private Storm]

I'm on the Balatro bandwagon. Fuck me it's addictive. And brilliant. It looks like something from 1989 but it has pretty much the most one more go qualities I've ever experienced on a game.

So, ya know, try it at your peril.

Oh yeah, if you don't know, it's a poker-based roguelite, with lots of booster cards that do things to your hands; jokers which are "permanent" boosters, planet cards which change how powerful certain types of hands are, and tarot cards which do all sorts of daft things to individual cards. Strongly recommended if you have a LOT of time to spare.

Holy mother of bejesus, that game is simply crack in digital form. My friend described it and it just didn't appeal to me at all - 8 bit looking made up poker with zero motivation to win 'cos you can just start again?

And then... I played it. And then... it was 4am and I had to be dragged away whimpering, "just one more game, I'll do it this time, you know I'm good for it". Once you get a basic grasp of things, it has layers and layers subtle complexity, which if you can stay on top of, you feel like a nerdy God thing. If you can't (which was a lot of the time - remembering 12 different things that all influenced each other, with one wrong move destroying everything is nerve racking and easy to mess up), the game spits you out with cold indifference. Shame there's no multiplayer option, and I also don't think you can get it on PS5 (thank goodness).

 

[Steel Icarus]

Holy mother of bejesus, that game is simply crack in digital form. My friend described it and it just didn't appeal to me at all - 8 bit looking made up poker with zero motivation to win 'cos you can just start again?

And then... I played it. And then... it was 4am and I had to be dragged away whimpering, "just one more game, I'll do it this time, you know I'm good for it". Once you get a basic grasp of things, it has layers and layers subtle complexity, which if you can stay on top of, you feel like a nerdy God thing. If you can't (which was a lot of the time - remembering 12 different things that all influenced each other, with one wrong move destroying everything is nerve racking and easy to mess up), the game spits you out with cold indifference. Shame there's no multiplayer option, and I also don't think you can get it on PS5 (thank goodness).

Yep. Innit.

I've had just one successful run but even on unsuccessful ones when you get the synergies going and things start multiplying out of all proportion it's a brilliant feeling. I played a hand consisting of a single Ace last night and got over 22,000 points. Currently on what might be another successful run; I have a joker that gives me a random tarot card for every hand played with $3 or under in the bank and another that adds 1 mult for every tarot card played in the run.

Etc

 

[Private Storm]

Yep. Innit.

I've had just one successful run but even on unsuccessful ones when you get the synergies going and things start multiplying out of all proportion it's a brilliant feeling. I played a hand consisting of a single Ace last night and got over 22,000 points. Currently on what might be another successful run; I have a joker that gives me a random tarot card for every hand played with $3 or under in the bank and another that adds 1 mult for every tarot card played in the run.

Etc

Yeah, there's some interesting cards that left me wondering if they were awesome or awful. I like/hated the feeling it gives you that your run is not quite going to ramp up enough to be successful....but with the right card coming out, there was aways a chance. Classic casino tactics. Best run I had was one that turned all the cards in your into only two suits. A few cards that added more of the same and had flushes coming out my ears. Just didn't level flushes up enough

 

[Steel Icarus]

Yeah, there's some interesting cards that left me wondering if they were awesome or awful. I like/hated the feeling it gives you that your run is not quite going to ramp up enough to be successful....but with the right card coming out, there was aways a chance. Classic casino tactics. Best run I had was one that turned all the cards in your into only two suits. A few cards that added more of the same and had flushes coming out my ears. Just didn't level flushes up enough

That run I thought was going to be my second win fell flat when a Boss Blind disabled clubs and I had like 35 in my pack

 

[BristolEcho]

I got Dredge instead which seems to be a little bit more mellow though I've played it for a few hours today.

I'll definitely get around to Beltaro at some point!

 

[Callum91]

Total War Warhammer 3, Thrones of Decay DLC. Grudges shall be settled...

 

[tommers]

Total War Warhammer 3, Thrones of Decay DLC. Grudges shall be settled...

Yes! Going to buy it this evening. Looking forward to dwarf zeppelins.

I think I've got about 500 hours in it so far. It's so good.

 

[tommers]

Slayer pirates.

LOL.

 

[tommers]

It's all a bit overpowered, but grapeshotting enemy infantry is hilarious. I haven't even tried those axe wagon things or the other two lords.

Thought this pretty much summed it up.

Malakai starts with Gotrek and Felix (broken) in his army, and immediately has access to his summonable airship that can bomb entire armies to dirt and drippings (broken). A few dozen turns in, and he’s able to field an army of disgustingly buffed slayer units for basically no money (broken), with so much replenishment you’ll never have to worry about it again (broken). I made plans to do other stuff with my evenings. I made promises! (broken) This stupid dwarf is just too much fun.

 

[BristolEcho]

I'm suspended from work at the moment so had a bit of time on my hands paid.

Dredge - Finished this in one weekend, but only about 12 hours. I really liked it after resisting for a long time. It's got a really nice style, the story is good and I like the mechanics. If I was inclined to play games again I'd give it a go. I think it's worth the £15 on a sale. Really good on the steam deck too.

Little Nightmares - Got this for £3. I'm about halfway through and quite like it. Atmospheric and creepy horror platform game. I'm currently stuck though and not sure I'll be able to figure it out. It's only 3 hours long apparently.

Dave the Diver - I wasn't sure on getting this but after liking dredge and Subnautica I figured this was worth a try. So far really good and great on the steam deck.

Death Stranding - Finished it last night. Made me cry a bit. It's fucking cheesy in places, but I'm definitely of the view the Kojima is amazing. I can see why some people hate it, but even the machenics of deliverys are really fun. Planning a route and then getting better equipment which makes it easier. I love the fact that other people's equipment appears in your game and vice versa giving it a multiplayer feel even though you're so alone. There were some downsides such as the driving and shooting machenics. I put it on very easy for the war flashbacks as they just felt out of place even though I loved the parts with Mads. I really like the art style too. Looking forward to two and the film.

Spoiler: Spoiler

I'm also adopted so I think it got under my skin a bit. Even before I figured out Sam was a BB I found the parts with Mads really interesting. I've learnt a lot about early bonding in recent years and even though it's totally different as depicted in the game... I dunno it kind of made me think a bit, but in a good way. The last scene where Sam is trying to save the baby too ..

I sunk about 65 hours into it and it's rare for me to do that with open world games these days. If I felt I had the time I'd definitely dive back in and do some more deliveries. Maybe I'll do a re-run in the 2024 deluxe super remaster.

I have cyberpunk lined up next.

 

[tommers]

I'm suspended from work at the moment so had a bit of time on my hands paid.

Dredge - Finished this in one weekend, but only about 12 hours. I really liked it after resisting for a long time. It's got a really nice style, the story is good and I like the mechanics. If I was inclined to play games again I'd give it a go. I think it's worth the £15 on a sale. Really good on the steam deck too.

Little Nightmares - Got this for £3. I'm about halfway through and quite like it. Atmospheric and creepy horror platform game. I'm currently stuck though and not sure I'll be able to figure it out. It's only 3 hours long apparently.

Dave the Diver - I wasn't sure on getting this but after liking dredge and Subnautica I figured this was worth a try. So far really good and great on the steam deck.

Death Stranding - Finished it last night. Made me cry a bit. It's fucking cheesy in places, but I'm definitely of the view the Kojima is amazing. I can see why some people hate it, but even the machenics of deliverys are really fun. Planning a route and then getting better equipment which makes it easier. I love the fact that other people's equipment appears in your game and vice versa giving it a multiplayer feel even though you're so alone. There were some downsides such as the driving and shooting machenics. I put it on very easy for the war flashbacks as they just felt out of place even though I loved the parts with Mads. I really like the art style too. Looking forward to two and the film.

Spoiler: Spoiler

I'm also adopted so I think it got under my skin a bit. Even before I figured out Sam was a BB I found the parts with Mads really interesting. I've learnt a lot about early bonding in recent years and even though it's totally different as depicted in the game... I dunno it kind of made me think a bit, but in a good way. The last scene where Sam is trying to save the baby too ..

I sunk about 65 hours into it and it's rare for me to do that with open world games these days. If I felt I had the time I'd definitely dive back in and do some more deliveries. Maybe I'll do a re-run in the 2024 deluxe super remaster.

I have cyberpunk lined up next.

Cyberpunk is absolutely amazing. Enjoy that.

I've been meaning to play Death Stranding again for so long. I had to stop before cos I had the PS version and my kids kept seeing people telling me to kill a baby.

 

[BristolEcho]

I definitely think it's worth it. I had the directors cut, but I appreciate why it is not for everyone.

 

[mojo pixy]

I've just acquired Skyrim, it was very cheap and because it's a PS4 game I can keep it on the flash drive instead of the console. No particular wish to play it right now, I'm just finishing the Into the Frozen Wilds expansion of Horizon Zero Dawn, which is really a lot like Skyrim anyway. I just saw it for a fiver and grabbed it.

I did discover that Baldur's Gate 3 can only really be bought on disc in Japan, so I bought one from Japan and it cost £46, which is quite reasonable considering PlayStation are still selling the digital version for £57.

I'm just waiting for it to arrive now.....

 

[BristolEcho]

Cyberpunk is absolutely amazing. Enjoy that.

I've been meaning to play Death Stranding again for so long. I had to stop before cos I had the PS version and my kids kept seeing people telling me to kill a baby.

I was already a couple of hours into cyberpunk after I picked it up a couple of months ago and then got hooked on DS. I just gave it another spin for a couple of hours. I do like it, but I find everything so hectic which is obviously part of the aesthetic. Even the attribute tree felt really overwhelming. I'm going to stick with it at least for a few more hours and see if it clicks once the story has set in.

 

[tommers]

I was already a couple of hours into cyberpunk after I picked it up a couple of months ago and then got hooked on DS. I just gave it another spin for a couple of hours. I do like it, but I find everything so hectic which is obviously part of the aesthetic. Even the attribute tree felt really overwhelming. I'm going to stick with it at least for a few more hours and see if it clicks once the story has set in.

Yeah, I found it to be a great role playing game. Like you can just be somebody else. I loved just riding my bike around the city and picking up the odd mission or something. And I thought all of the characters were great. Pop in to see Vince and get some cyber ware, pop over to the spooky lady for a bit of tarot and a chat. I normally hate these kind of games with all the icons and "collect 50 hidden saxophones" nonsense but I loved just being part of the world.

Don't worry too much about all the stats, you don't need to max everything, just pick things that are cool. I went total hacker (cos why wouldn't you) and by the end I could make people explode from about 100 yards.

And you can change the difficulty mid game. I had it on hard and then turned it down for the bosses.

It also probably has the most affecting story of anything I've played. The ending I got still makes me properly sad when I think about it. I dunno, something about it really got right in there.

 

[mojo pixy]

I was already a couple of hours into cyberpunk after I picked it up a couple of months ago and then got hooked on DS. I just gave it another spin for a couple of hours. I do like it, but I find everything so hectic which is obviously part of the aesthetic. Even the attribute tree felt really overwhelming. I'm going to stick with it at least for a few more hours and see if it clicks once the story has set in.

Yeah, I found it to be a great role playing game. Like you can just be somebody else. I loved just riding my bike around the city and picking up the odd mission or something. And I thought all of the characters were great. Pop in to see Vince and get some cyber ware, pop over to the spooky lady for a bit of tarot and a chat. I normally hate these kind of games with all the icons and "collect 50 hidden saxophones" nonsense but I loved just being part of the world.

Don't worry too much about all the stats, you don't need to max everything, just pick things that are cool. I went total hacker (cos why wouldn't you) and by the end I could make people explode from about 100 yards.

And you can change the difficulty mid game. I had it on hard and then turned it down for the bosses.

It also probably has the most affecting story of anything I've played. The ending I got still makes me properly sad when I think about it. I dunno, something about it really got right in there.

I played well over 1000 hours over the course of a year or so, for a long time it was the only game I played (still can't quite reach 100% though!) It's so well characterised and realised, it's just a joy to immerse into.

My favourite ending is the Aldecaldos one, but the Phantom Liberty ending is also really cool. And as for stats, it's worth maxing out either Body or Technical Ability ASAP because either can make accessing places far easier (also maxed out Body + Gorilla Arms makes you a fistfighting beast). Intelligence, 16 will do tbf, and Cool is errr cool, it affects sneaking and pistol use and occasionally gives a nice dialogue option. Reflexes does that too and maxing out Reflexes instead of Body also makes you a combat beast, though with Blades and Monowire instead of fists.

btw, there's a tunnel you can find to go in and out of Dogtown without using the main gate. It's a lot of fun to clear, and one day I realised you can actually motorcycle right through it. And also btw, you can use a blade to fight with while riding a motorbike

After a break I will definitely be back, especially if another expansion comes out. C2077 is IMO one of the best games ever made. In terms of the atmosphere, characters, storyline, combat system, weaponry, vehicles, the lot. Obviously not for anyone who doesn't enjoy cyberpunk stuff! But for anyone who does, it's pretty close to heaven

Oh, one last btw - in the north at the docks, there's a little market near a big ship. There's a monk there, talk to him as early as possible. He'll send you on a mission during which you can pick up a monster SMG that is one of the best weapons in the game. That's all, no further spoilers.

 

[tommers]

C2077 is IMO one of the best games ever made. In terms of the atmosphere, characters, storyline, combat system, weaponry, vehicles, the lot. Obviously not for anyone who doesn't enjoy cyberpunk stuff! But for anyone who does, it's pretty close to heaven

Yeah, couldn't agree more. I was really surprised how amazing it was.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Mainling Book of Hours constantly.

 

[Chz]

I think I really started to enjoy CP2077 when I realised it's not Baldur's Gate and you don't need to min/max yourself to death just to advance the story. Pick what seems cool, get the cooler weapon over the effective one, always have a katana. Before that, I kind of bounced off the complexity.

 

[Buddy Bradley]

Mainling Book of Hours constantly.

I was kind of interested in that before I realised it was just a reskinned Cultist Simulator.

 

[Artaxerxes]

I was kind of interested in that before I realised it was just a reskinned Cultist Simulator.

Its by the same team so yeah. Its not really competitive which I like, I've not much interest in CS or CRPG's in general but this is more like a point and click or a Tell Your Own Adventure

Your just there opening up the old house more and more and reading the Lore books to level skills. The house is a central character and gives a sense of place as you go through it.

 

[tommers]

Bought V Rising. I'm a bit disappointed so far but it is also very addictive. I thought it was going to be a dark, gothic role playing game where you enslave the local population and ascend to your ultimate power... I dunno maybe it is that but I've spent my time fighting wolves and chopping down trees to get enough wood to make a workbench. Not very evil really.

There's also PvP (I've setup my own server so I don't have randoms trashing my base, fuck that) and a weird thing where you have to feed blood to an altar to maintain your castle. Presumably if I don't play for a couple of days then everything starts to degrade. Not sure I like that either.

Anyway, probably got enough copper to get a copper mace so I can bash that big rock to make more copper to get that helmet or something. Back to it.

 

[Buddy Bradley]

Going to start Metro Exodus, which I discovered I have in my Steam library somehow - must have been a free giveaway at some point.

 

[Saul Goodman]

Going to start Metro Exodus, which I discovered I have in my Steam library somehow - must have been a free giveaway at some point.

A couple of weeks ago I remembered that I had a Steam account (how do you forget those things?) and decided to log in and see what games I had on there. Surprisingly, I remembered my login details but after entering the details I got a message, saying I had to enter a one time pass code that they would either send to the email address I used to sign up, which I no longer had, or the phone number that I no longer had . I contacted them and explained the situation, and their only solution was for me to find a physical copy of a game I may have registered on Steam, and provide them with the CD key, including a photograph of said key. I emptied pretty much every box in the house, and eventually found one game that I might have registered on Steam. It was Unreal Tournament 2004, and it turns out I had registered it with them, so they let me back in.
I was shocked to find I had over 100 games on there, and I'd have lost the lot if I hadn't found a 20 year old copy of Unreal Tournament, with the CD key.
Turns out the last time I'd logged in was 7 years ago, so I probably wouldn't have lost much sleep if I couldn't get back in, but I'd have been up in arms over it.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

A couple of weeks ago I remembered that I had a Steam account (how do you forget those things?) and decided to log in and see what games I had on there. Surprisingly, I remembered my login details but after entering the details I got a message, saying I had to enter a one time pass code that they would either send to the email address I used to sign up, which I no longer had, or the phone number that I no longer had . I contacted them and explained the situation, and their only solution was for me to find a physical copy of a game I may have registered on Steam, and provide them with the CD key, including a photograph of said key. I emptied pretty much every box in the house, and eventually found one game that I might have registered on Steam. It was Unreal Tournament 2004, and it turns out I had registered it with them, so they let me back in.
I was shocked to find I had over 100 games on there, and I'd have lost the lot if I hadn't found a 20 year old copy of Unreal Tournament, with the CD key.
Turns out the last time I'd logged in was 7 years ago, so I probably wouldn't have lost much sleep if I couldn't get back in, but I'd have been up in arms over it.

Wow!

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Back on Helldivers, new war bond just dropped and there's a weapon that's bloody great!