2026 recap

Clair Obscure: Expedition 33

Game of the past few years... Music, Story, Gameplay. One of the first turn based games I have rolled credits on. The different party members abilities mixed with the parry and dodge system made for engaging gameplay. The story gets going fast in the prologue and keeps the pedal down the whole way. The game tells a beautiful story about grief and family. Each character is flushed out and meaningful. I hope to come back and 100% the side content. Really looking forward to what comes next from this studio and will be on the lookout for the soundtrack vinyl.

Dispatch

Banger start to the year. Wanted to get through this last year so it could make my rankings for 2025 but just didnt have time. This game rocks. Voice cast is so fun, story incredible, and the dispatching gameplay had me wanting more. Only reason the game isnt a 10 is becuase i think the dispatching could be a little more fleshed out but if they make a sequel they could really hit it out of the park. Its rare i finish a game and instantly want to start a fresh playthrough. Music also always hit whenever a song came on. Intstant classic and instant top game in the story choice making genre.

Resident Evil Requiem

Capcom does it again. I've loved the new era of RE games and 9 keeps that train moving. The dual protagonist as Grace and Leon was perfect for the pacing and gameplay loop. Graces sections were scary and Leon's are action packed. He is one badass motherfucker. The story was good overall and the nods back to RE2 racoon city were awesome. Only reason its not a 10 is some of the later levels weren't as deep as the start of the game but it was never dull or boring to play and kept me in it the entire time. Sound design also rocks its terrifying hearing a zombie creeping up behind you with the surround sound rear speakers.

Hollow knight

Stared on the deck but played primarly on pc with paddle controller. This game was really fun I got back into it right as silksong was releasing. It started slow but once you get the dash and double jump the world really opens up. Combat was great and not too challening and the lore of the wrold was really cool. Great exploration, music, and combat. Tranveral was difficult expesially the path of pain. Bosses were dope as well. Ill keep it installed on the deck to go back to the dlc and 100% the game.

Lies of P NG+

Damn this game is good. Hopped back in for new game plus to prep for the DLC and this game fucksss. The world is dark but cool and the gameplay plays just as good as the fromsoft games. Experiencing this game after beating a lot of the from games makes me appreciate this game even more. Really looking foward to the DLC. The wizard of oz sequel cannot come soon enough

Lies of P: Overture

They did the thing. Some of the coolest areas and bosses of the game are in this dlc. The zoo at the start may be one of the best areas in any souls game just based on vibes. The added weapons are also fun to play with and change up the gameplay a bit. The side quests and main story are gripping and add to the overall narative of the game in such a nice way. This game needs to be played by more people.

Citizen Sleeper

Wanted something to play in bed that wasn't super bright or loud. Did not expect for this game to suck me in but it has. The story of a corporate clone robot escaping and living on the run is really cool. The minimal gameplay elements are fun and the dice inventory management is somewhat stressful but also what makes the game addicting. The ambient spacecraft noise and music adds so much to the atmosphere and the art and graphics really pop on the deck. Characters and the story were so well written it felt like a good book I couldnt put down. Glad I gave it a try and will have to give the new one a try after this. This game also has me intertested in trying disco elysium since the reading didnt put me off this game.

Death Stranding

I decided to go back to it at the start of this year to play on the new shiny tv and because the new game was coming soon and thought I better give it a fair shot. The game picks up in chapter 3 and you really get to the meat of the gameplay. If youre not in the mood for some slow transversing of terrain than youre going to have a bad time with this game. Lucky me I came back with the correct expectations and really got into it. The story is weird but gripping and if youre optimizing your routes and equipment correctly the gameplay is fun and almsot like meditating. The themes of connection and isolation hit home and the combat is even good. The game kept me interested with its weird story and satisfying game play cant wait for pt 2

Death Stranding 2: on the beach

Some games are fun, others tell an amazing story, and some are just weird. I started the year going back to the first game and finially understood why people liked it. After finishing two I really hope we get a thrid. Kojima has improved some of the clunkyness of the first and made an overall amaizng experince with two. The story is still real weird and I think I liked the first story better but the gameplay here is so satisfying and relaxing. The combat is better and its addicting trying to build out all the roads and rails. Some of the best gameplay from the year is when you come over a hill or mountain top and low roar starts playing. Such a beautiful experience.

Hades 2