Metaphor Refantazio, Oct 17 (Xbox Game Pass)-Phew this felt like a marathon I tried to sprint. 100 hours over 25 days but I got there eventually. The game is excellent with just a small low point at the end when you have already leveled up your friendships and completed all the quests you're going to do but still have several in game days of downtime. At that point I tried grinding for higher levels and it was a slog. Otherwise the voice acting was good, the story was interesting with some unexpected twists, and the combat and game mechanics were fun. I do think they introduced the last companion a little late but they can be pretty effective if you can master their Royal Archetype. One of the best games I've played this year.

Full List

Strange Brigade (Steam)

This was a Steam code that came with my old RX580 GPU purchase years ago. Finally got around to playing it. It's made by Rebellion of the Sniper Elite games and seems to use their usual in house engine. That means it runs extremely efficiently like all of their games, but maybe it doesn't look cutting edge. It's looks okay to me though- clear and sharp.

Gameplay is third person shooter, and you can tell it was made with co-op in mind and that manifests itself in the encounters tending to be "horde mode" survival affairs. The missions are well designed though. The theme is Indiana Jones style 30's pulp adventure novel stuff- raiding ancient tombs and the like. It nails that feel quite well, especially as the game has a snarky narrator that comments on how you're doing.

Overall, it's okay but I'm not a fan of the boss encounters which all fall into the gimmick variety- run around shooting stuff until you can make the boss vulnerable then target the one and only hard to hit damage spot. It's 15 hours long though, so not long enough for the annoying boss fights to drag it down too much.

Deus Ex: Revision

what a game. So much fun. do recommend it.

Shady Part Of Me, Oct 20 (Xbox Game Pass)-A short little puzzle game utilizing two characters (personalities?) to solve puzzles and progress. Its got some interesting use of light and perspective towards the end.

Full List