Actually fun and good games?

[Solomon]

So, I've been struggling for years to find games I genuinely enjoy.

Both portal games were fantastic. I really enjoyed L4D2, Diablo III and Overwatch. I still play them from time to time, but they're getting long in the tooth.

I've played PoE, but it's grown tedious.. Torchlight II was okay as well-ish.

The first two Borderlands games weren't bad. Warframe was good for a time. The Vermintide games were just okay. Same with Deep Rock Galactic.

Nothing I've played has really compared to Overwatch. Siege is meh (pixel peak advantage bs). Apex Legends is meh. Nothing else really appeals...

I played Titanfall 2 (great campaign) and both Doom games (2016 good, eternal yuck!).

Most recently I picked up Outriders and that is a dumpster fire of a game.

Any recommendations?

[gundy]

I’ve been enjoying the binding of issac recently

[Solomon]

Originally posted by clas1k:

I’ve been enjoying the binding of issac recently

Thanks for the suggestion, but I like neither the gameplay nor graphics of what I saw when I looked into it. I'm picky.

[crunchyfrog]

The best recommendation I'm going to give you is not a particular game, but a method.

You would be FAR better served long term by writing down what you TRULY like about games and what interests you, then researching accordingly. This is what has worked for me in the past. Let me explain.

I've old so I was around right from the very beginning of gaming in the 1970s. I got my first computer pretty damned quickly and never looked back. But during the mid 1980s to early 1990s I went off games as I had other businesses and interests to attend to (plus I didn't like beat em ups and a few other big genres of the time).

Then once the PS1 came out, I got back in a big way.

So with such a large gap between not playing and then, I had to quite literally start research from the very bottom again. I had no idea what was out there or what was good.

Back then I started with magazines and the full release lists. Nowadays a good starting point is Gamefaqs. You can list EVERY release for any system, and there are certain filters you can use to limit them from year of release to developer/publisher and more.

So the approach I use when I get a new console is to go to Gamefaqs, and list EVERYTHING. Anything that I have no clue over, or sounds interesting, I look up. If I don't like that sort of thing, I won't scribble it down. I will if it might even remotely interest me.

Then, I research by starting with somewhere like Metacritic, one by one. I ignore scores as they are completely useless and tell you nothing. I read a few reviews and use the reviews that I both agree with and disagree with (as they can be equally valid). If after this research the game no longer interests me, the list gets whittled down.

Lastly, after this I may choose to have a final nose on Youtube for some gameplay just to make sure.

You'll put in a couple of hours all told first time, but the beauty of it is you never need do it again. You'll have a list you can refer to, and any updates will just take seconds because you now know how to eaily research them.

I hope this helps, because judging from your tastes that you've shown you do seem to have a taste for what the majority agree with.

[Solomon]

Originally posted by crunchyfrog:

The best recommendation I'm going to give you is not a particular game, but a method.

You would be FAR better served long term by writing down what you TRULY like about games and what interests you, then researching accordingly. This is what has worked for me in the past. Let me explain.

I've old so I was around right from the very beginning of gaming in the 1970s. I got my first computer pretty damned quickly and never looked back. But during the mid 1980s to early 1990s I went off games as I had other businesses and interests to attend to (plus I didn't like beat em ups and a few other big genres of the time).

Then once the PS1 came out, I got back in a big way.

So with such a large gap between not playing and then, I had to quite literally start research from the very bottom again. I had no idea what was out there or what was good.

Back then I started with magazines and the full release lists. Nowadays a good starting point is Gamefaqs. You can list EVERY release for any system, and there are certain filters you can use to limit them from year of release to developer/publisher and more.

So the approach I use when I get a new console is to go to Gamefaqs, and list EVERYTHING. Anything that I have no clue over, or sounds interesting, I look up. If I don't like that sort of thing, I won't scribble it down. I will if it might even remotely interest me.

Then, I research by starting with somewhere like Metacritic, one by one. I ignore scores as they are completely useless and tell you nothing. I read a few reviews and use the reviews that I both agree with and disagree with (as they can be equally valid). If after this research the game no longer interests me, the list gets whittled down.

Lastly, after this I may choose to have a final nose on Youtube for some gameplay just to make sure.

You'll put in a couple of hours all told first time, but the beauty of it is you never need do it again. You'll have a list you can refer to, and any updates will just take seconds because you now know how to eaily research them.

I hope this helps, because judging from your tastes that you've shown you do seem to have a taste for what the majority agree with.

Very wise. I think over the years I've become increasingly picky. I loathe platforming for example. Couple that with the gameplay-breaking marauder enemy type in Doom: Eternal plus excellent, if not drainingly tedious combat, and you've got a fail for me. I want my $100 back.

The demo of Outriders really appealed to me, combining many things I love about games. That loot-driven diablo/borderlands incentive, coupled with powers and run-n-gun shooting, a short-mission type and L4D-style co-op really had so much going for it, BUT all the technical issues and the absolutely awful balance has made this game another fail for me. I want my $60 back.

That's $160 wasted. I could have bought a good string trimmer with that money...

The reality of all my evaluation has been wait for the following games:
40K: Darktide
Overwatch 2
Diablo 4

That's not a lot of games, but it is a lot of waiting. I played the Back 4 Blood beta, and hopes for a L4D3 were thoroughly dashed. It coupled a number of systems I just had no love for (limited in-level items, currency/vendor implementation, weapon-specific ammo, etc.). While somewhat more realistic, I got bored of and annoyed at the demo almost instantly.

Maybe I'm just getting older and losing interest in games? My tolerance for nonsense is extremely low.

[Crazy Tiger]

Might be worth it to try genres you never tried before.

One of the reasons I never run out of good games to play is because over the span of 30 years my gaming interests have become very broad. There aren't much genres I won't touch, though there are genres in which I simply such (timed based platformers, fighting games with lots of combo's to remember, for example).

Originally posted by Solomon:

That's $160 wasted.

Don't buy games full price, wait for sales. I rarely purchase games on release and the few I do never have let me down. Though the last two were on PS4 with trade-ins, so in the end I still only paid 20 bucks for Horizon ZD and RDR2.

[Solomon]

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

Might be worth it to try genres you never tried before.

One of the reasons I never run out of good games to play is because over the span of 30 years my gaming interests have become very broad. There aren't much genres I won't touch, though there are genres in which I simply such (timed based platformers, fighting games with lots of combo's to remember, for example).

Originally posted by Solomon:

That's $160 wasted.

Don't buy games full price, wait for sales. I rarely purchase games on release and the few I do never have let me down. Though the last two were on PS4 with trade-ins, so in the end I still only paid 20 bucks for Horizon ZD and RDR2.

Suggestions/recommendations? I have a 2-year old, house, etc. so not a lot of free time.

[Crazy Tiger]

Originally posted by Solomon:

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

Might be worth it to try genres you never tried before.

One of the reasons I never run out of good games to play is because over the span of 30 years my gaming interests have become very broad. There aren't much genres I won't touch, though there are genres in which I simply such (timed based platformers, fighting games with lots of combo's to remember, for example).


Don't buy games full price, wait for sales. I rarely purchase games on release and the few I do never have let me down. Though the last two were on PS4 with trade-ins, so in the end I still only paid 20 bucks for Horizon ZD and RDR2.

Suggestions/recommendations? I have a 2-year old, house, etc. so not a lot of free time.

I've become a major fan of card and board games. Stuff like Sentinels of the Multiverse, Slay the Spire, Monster Train, Armello, 100% Orange Juice, Ascension: Deckbuilding game, Star Realms, Solar Settlers, Talisman, Mystic Vale, Frost, Gem Rush, Through the Ages, Race for the Galaxy, etc. They offer great variety and depending on the game the length of matches (against AI) varies from 5 minutes tp 2-3 hours.

The Turn-Based tactics genre has games like Halcyon 6, Warhammer 40K Deatchwatch, Steam Tactics, Chroma Squad, Mordheim, Invisible Inc and the like.

RTS games are ideal for smaller time, since matches (either campaign or skirmish) last less than an hour. Grey Goo, the Dawn of War games (Dark Crusade is the best imo), Company of Heroes (the first, with Opposing fronts expansion is recommended), Command & Conquer games, Supreme Commander (the first and forged alliance), Homeworld Remastered (1 and 2 included).

My timewasters category includes roguelikes, tower defense and generally smaller games. Stuff like Renowned explorers, Crypt of the Necrodancer, Kingdom Classic, Streets of Rogue, Dungeon of the Endless, Rogue Legacy, Tales of Maj'Eyal, Dead Cells, Papers Please.

I like puzzle games. Games like Cosmic Express, A good snowman is hard to build, Gunpoint, Glass Masquerade, GNOG, Gorogoa, Talos Principle, Mars Power Industries.

I recently completed the Van Helsing trilogy, Tomb Raider 2013 and The Final Station, I can recommend those.

Supergiant Games always are recommended. Bastion, Transistor, Hades, Pyre.

Personally I also like isometric RPGs. Stuff like Pillars of Eternity (with the White Marsh DLCs), Masquerada: Songs and Shadows (really loved that one, is about 15 hours long), Baldurs Gate games and the like. Some of them take longer to complete, but have good stories.

The Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Batman Arkham and Dishonored games always are a recommendation.

I have two kids, a job and not always free time as well. I can easily do 3 months over a story based game, but I don't mind.

[Solomon]

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

Originally posted by Solomon:

Suggestions/recommendations? I have a 2-year old, house, etc. so not a lot of free time.

I've become a major fan of card and board games. Stuff like Sentinels of the Multiverse, Slay the Spire, Monster Train, Armello, 100% Orange Juice, Ascension: Deckbuilding game, Star Realms, Solar Settlers, Talisman, Mystic Vale, Frost, Gem Rush, Through the Ages, Race for the Galaxy, etc. They offer great variety and depending on the game the length of matches (against AI) varies from 5 minutes tp 2-3 hours.

The Turn-Based tactics genre has games like Halcyon 6, Warhammer 40K Deatchwatch, Steam Tactics, Chroma Squad, Mordheim, Invisible Inc and the like.

RTS games are ideal for smaller time, since matches (either campaign or skirmish) last less than an hour. Grey Goo, the Dawn of War games (Dark Crusade is the best imo), Company of Heroes (the first, with Opposing fronts expansion is recommended), Command & Conquer games, Supreme Commander (the first and forged alliance), Homeworld Remastered (1 and 2 included).

My timewasters category includes roguelikes, tower defense and generally smaller games. Stuff like Renowned explorers, Crypt of the Necrodancer, Kingdom Classic, Streets of Rogue, Dungeon of the Endless, Rogue Legacy, Tales of Maj'Eyal, Dead Cells, Papers Please.

I like puzzle games. Games like Cosmic Express, A good snowman is hard to build, Gunpoint, Glass Masquerade, GNOG, Gorogoa, Talos Principle, Mars Power Industries.

I recently completed the Van Helsing trilogy, Tomb Raider 2013 and The Final Station, I can recommend those.

Supergiant Games always are recommended. Bastion, Transistor, Hades, Pyre.

Personally I also like isometric RPGs. Stuff like Pillars of Eternity (with the White Marsh DLCs), Masquerada: Songs and Shadows (really loved that one, is about 15 hours long), Baldurs Gate games and the like. Some of them take longer to complete, but have good stories.

The Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Batman Arkham and Dishonored games always are a recommendation.

I have two kids, a job and not always free time as well. I can easily do 3 months over a story based game, but I don't mind.

Thanks for the suggestions! I've actually played a good few of the ones you've recommended. They've been hit & miss. I'm surprised you didn't mention the divinity original sin games. The second one was excellent.

I think the big problem is most games are just filler as I wait for those games I really truly want...

[Crazy Tiger]

There are so many game, it's hard to think of and list them all.

I always game in variety. A large storybased game ((J)RPGs of dozens of hours) and then besides it shorter games (like Tomb Raider 2013) and the inbetweeners (card/board games, runs in roguelikes, timewasters, matches in RTS and such).

I agree the shorter games and inbetweeners often are fillers, but they're important to not burn out on games and genres.

[natshely]

Dirty Bomb®

The Age of Decadence
ELEX
Witcher series
Stardew Valley :)

[Solomon]

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

There are so many game, it's hard to think of and list them all. :lunar2019grinningpig:

I always game in variety. A large storybased game ((J)RPGs of dozens of hours) and then besides it shorter games (like Tomb Raider 2013) and the inbetweeners (card/board games, runs in roguelikes, timewasters, matches in RTS and such).

I agree the shorter games and inbetweeners often are fillers, but they're important to not burn out on games and genres.

I never really liked JRPGs. I couldn't stand the 2013 tomb raider and never finished it.

[Solomon]

Originally posted by natshely:

Dirty Bomb®

The Age of Decadence
ELEX
Witcher series
Stardew Valley :)

I played the first witcher and was totally turned off (didn't like the setting nor open-worldness nor crafting/potion-whatever?).

Just to give you an idea of my personality I actually rage quit stardew valley and returned it at the start because it became nightfall and I couldn't figure out how to get back to my farm.

[natshely]

I see - you're a choosy gamer ))
Stardew Valley needs a lot of patience but it's a wonderful game.
Maybe try the last Witcher - it's an epic game to my opinion.
but all right

[kaibarnard]

If FTL hasn't come up - FTL

[Solomon]

Originally posted by natshely:

I see - you're a choosy gamer ))
Stardew Valley needs a lot of patience but it's a wonderful game.
Maybe try the last Witcher - it's an epic game to my opinion.
but all right

Choosy as hell. Looking over the recommendations here it looks like I'm just going to have to play the waiting game.

Really pissed about Doom: Eternal and Outriders...