P1na: We live in times where we have huge backlogs and way more games than we can play. It's simply not possible for me to play everything I own or to check everything that comes out. As such, I developed a few ground rules when it comes to gaming, kinda like red lines I will not cross. They are:
-If the game is on console, it's out.
-If the game needs a controller, it's out.
-If the game has required online components, it's out.
-If the game doesn't have a single player campaign of some sort, it's out.
-If it mentions "competitive" on the description, it's pretty much out.
-If the game uses Uplay, it's out.
-If the game uses Origin... I haven't tried the service yet, so I'd be willing to give it one chance, but I need a game good enough for me to bother installing it and nothing has interested me just yet.
-If the game is on steam... I didn't use to mind too much. But with the recent retroactively applied region locking making me lose all trust and GOG getting a lot of ex-steam games, I'm basically ignoring the service these days. A steam game isn't out right away, but it strongly puts me off.
- I haven't yet, but I intend to jump to linux on my next computer (probably next year) and a new "no linux, no buy" rule.
Do others here have similar filters when browsing games?
I never really tried to codify it into a set of rules/filters before but here's a first stab at it:
- If the game requires any form of monthly or other recurring subscription/payment of any sort (ie: World of Warcraft), then it's off the list.
- If the game is from Ubisoft, EA, Rockstar, or Blizzard and is not DRM-free by my own definition (which I wont expand upon here), then I wont pay any amount of money for it knowingly, and it's off the list.
- If the game is on the "Big list of 3rd party DRM on Steam" list and I disapprove of that type of DRM or other conditions and there is no indication it is or can be disabled, then it's off the list.
- If the game has too much DLC to keep track of and some or all of the DLC is either necessary or highly desireable but it seems obvious the game company is just trying to nickel and dime their customers, then it's off the list unless they come out with an all-inclusive super-holy-shit-everything edition and do NOT release further DLC afterward. Even then I'll hesitate for a long time to make sure. (ie: Borderlands 2)
- If howlongtobeat.com shows the game as having too little dollars per hour of gameplay for the price being asked, then barring some other compelling feature or reason to buy it that overrides this - it's off the list.
- If the game's price is $10 or more and I'm not losing sleep (figuratively speaking) wishing I owned the game, then it's off the list.
- If the game is multi-player only and requires dedicating a large portion of your life/time committing to your guild/team/clan/whatever then it's off the list.
- If the game is known to be very broken, buggy as hell, never gets patched and I perceive it will be unplayable or a bad gaming experience to risk it, then it's off the list.
- With few exceptions, if it is a 2D platformer game it's off the list.
- If it has 80s/90s style graphics (low resolution/bit depth pixelated) or sound and it is not an actual nostalgic 80s/90s classic game but trying to pretend to be one, I'm not interested and it's off the list.
- If it has a Steam score of 55% or less and dominated by negative reviews and I have no personal curiousity about it, don't get a personal good vibe from it or see any compelling reason to want it, then it's off the list.
- If I distrust the developer, publisher and/or they have a past history of anti-consumer practices, it's off the list.
That's a few guidelines I use, and it is all according to my own personal subjective judgment which may vary over time or from game to game irregularly because I can. :)