Currently Playing
I'd like to eventually expand this page to include board games and card games, but for now here are the video games currently in rotation for me:
Balatro - I'll be honest I spent maybe 48 hours playing this over a 72 hour period, then took a break after beating a few decks on white stake. Card games are my favorite, so they can quickly turn into a huge timesink without me noticing. I've had to pace myself since then, but it's SO MUCH FUN.
Minecraft - Minecraft is my constant companion--the only game besides Webkinz that gets to live on my dock. Like most folks I take long breaks from playing for a few months at a time, but I've been building the site backgrounds on it, so it belongs here.
Webkinz - Did you know Webkinz Classic is free now? I love to check up on my pet and do the daily activities every few days, but other than that I mostly play the Webkinz versions of solitaire. Strangely, I can't get into the playstyle of games like Animal Crossing, but logging into Webkinz requires such minimal effort (since it's on my laptop instead of a console) that I actually keep up with it pretty regularly.
Favorites
Unlike with books, I can actually pick favorites here. You'll notice a bit of bias towards games that have been out for at least a few years, and that's just because I like to wait until something stands the test of time to declare it a favorite.
The Beginner's Guide - This is the game I think about every single day. Everything about it is pure perfection to me. If you haven't played it, I implore you to do so. Don't watch analysis videos or watch someone else play it-- just play it for yourself. If you're worried you won't enjoy it, you should know that you can complete it before the Steam refund runs out. It's worth the money, though.
Devotion - I think Red Candle Games really perfected what they started with Detention here. Devotion's story, artwork, and gameplay compliment each other so seamlessly, whereas with Detention, in my opinion, those pieces can feel more detatched. I might still prefer Detention's gameplay, but Devotion runs so slowly on my laptop that I can't really give it a fair comparison.
Minecraft - I love Minecraft :-]
Stardew Valley - This game STRESSES ME OUT. I really want to devote entire DAYS of my life to playing it at some point, because I think that's the only way I'll ever stop making a new farm every time I stop playing for a month. Regardless of my haphazard playstyle, this is the only game that comes close to Minecraft in terms of longevity, for me. I know all Stardew players are asking the usual question, and here are my answers: Harvey, Maru, Olivia from Stardew Expanded, and Marnie if I ever get the ability to steal her away from Lewis.
Tears of the Kingdom - Breath of the Wild but better. What else is there to say, really?
Breath of the Wild - 999+ hours played to 100% completion TWICE because my Switch got wiped when I sent it in for repairs. This is the closest a game has gotten to what I would come up with if someone asked me to describe my "perfect game". Picking it up for the first time, I felt like anything was possible, and the mechanics came like second nature. My partner really struggled with the logic of BOTW and TOTK, so I know it must not feel that way to everyone, but I love it. The main quest/story is definitely the weakest part of the game, especially on a replay, but how good it feels to explore more than makes up for it. The combat, as many have pointed out, isn't super strong, but as a turn-based combat enjoyer, I don't mind it being easy. My reaction time SUCKS. That's why you probably wont see me play platformers or fighting games.
Magical Starsign - I played this game when I was young and couldn't get it out of my head for years to come. It is now just a part of who I am.
