The older I get the fewer games I’m interested in playing.
My favorite genre is definitely RPGs but I don’t like most of the big names. I’ve never liked the Witcher series because the combat is very unsatisfying to me and I don’t care for Gerald (I deny the T in his name). Similarly, I don’t think Dragon Age or Mass Effect are fun for me. JRPGs where both sides line up and take turns hitting each other don’t do it for me anymore because I find that if you remove positioning from turn based combat then I’m not making enough interesting choices to engage me. Combat is either too easy or a slog with no middle ground. I respect the hell out of FromSoftware being a long time Armored Core fan, but I can’t get into Soulslike games either.
I like open world games where either the world is interesting to explore (Death Stranding, Breath of the Wild) or the way you move through the world is fun (Spider-Man, Gravity Rush 2).
I like turn based tactical games: XCom, Divinity:Original Sin, Fire Emblem, BG3.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Nier are some of my favorite action JRPGs.
Total War is probably my most played series over the last 15 years, but I’m completely burned out on that formula and need an extended break from them.
Games I’m very much looking forward to:
Baldur’s Gate 3 Death Stranding 2 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Final Fantasy 16 Fire Emblem Engage (just finally got a PS5 so I haven’t felt a need to play that yet) Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Spider-Man 2 Armored Core 6
Games I’m not sold on yet but am tracking:
Diablo 4 Starfield Rumored Final Fantasy 9 remake Assassin’s Creed Mirage (but knowing Ubisoft it will disappoint me)
So after a few years of just replaying the same handful of games it is nice that this will be a big year for me.
