Release Year: 2017
Reading Year: WI2023
Developer/Publisher: Arkane Studios/Bethesda Softworks
Time to Beat: 22 Hours

Thoughts: Prey is exactly the kind of game I hate. It’s a game with too many systems and too little guidance. It is too easy to feel stupid or lost in a game meant to “fit any play-style.” Prey is also difficult. Especially in the early game. You are meant to feel powerless and carefully plan your enemy engagements – which usually amounts to finding any way to not engage. However, you aren’t told this. Instead you will be stonewalled by a Voltaic Phantom or die one too many times to a household object. In either case, it can feel unforgiving, unfair, and directionless. If you end up finishing, you may feel that you didn’t play “correctly” and still don’t understand why people love this game so much.

Release Year: 2023
Reading Year: WI2023
Developer/Publisher: Avalanche Software/Portkey Games
Time to Beat: 28 Hours

Thoughts: So, this is obviously a controversial game. While that controversy has mostly died out, it is still important to make a measured decision on where your money goes. I will link a few articles that discuss the controversy and analyses so you may self-inform. My reasoning is two-fold: First, my dad plays one-two video games per year. Before Hogwarts Legacy it was Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, games I have no interest in. I want to stay connected with him and this game is the way. Second, I bought it through Humble Bundle (a charity game store), am within the targeted community, and realize there is no “right” decision concerning giving money to a bigot versus supporting a studio. Fuck J.K. Rowling and I played this game. Okay, here is the review!

Release Year: 2023
Reading Year: WI2023
Developer/Publisher: Visai Games
Time to Beat: 1 Hours

Thoughts: This game received a lot of critical praise in 2023. The closest I can come to understanding why that would be is the Green Book effect. The writing feels timid and the story safe. I appreciated the perspective of the mother as that is rare in any medium, but wish they had leaned into more complex dialogue. You can’t say that it’s too short for that, look at What Remains of Edith Finch or really any AnnaPurna game. The recipe book conceptually is a powerful and grounding object in the game, but it doesn’t pan out that way. I wish there was more heart and introspection from the act of reading and cooking.

Release Year: 2012
Play Year: WI2023
Developer/Publisher: Firaxis Games/2K Games & Feral Interactive
Time to Beat: 45 Hours

Thoughts: Huh, this is really fun.

I, like many folks, was intimidated by this franchise. An XCOM game always ends up on “top 100 games of all time” lists, but it feels like a niche pick. I mean, it’s in How Long to Beat’s top 50 most backlogged games. A game where everyone can agree that it’s amazing, but only if “you’re into it.” With a tradition coming from table-top RPGs, with slow, methodical movement and decision-making, my first thought was “must be boring until you’re 30 hours in and you finally ‘get it’.”

Release Year: 2018
Reading Year: WI2023
Developer/Publisher: Mountains/Anapurna
Time to Beat: 1 Hours

Thoughts: My god, this music. I would just stop at scenes to listen to it for a few minutes longer. I am leaving the game on in the background as I write to retain that feeling before I go to sleep. The story is predictable and bland, but it’s useful. It’s useful because it is so common and why not package it into something so effortlessly beautiful and hopeful. With small interactions that feel clever and keep you present, Florence is an hour well spent.