2023 games wrap-up

The year isn't over yet but I don't think it's likely I'm going to get much progress done on my backlog. Lately I haven't had as much free time to spend on gaming as I used to, so I might end up buying a lot more games than I actually finish. Let's get to what I beat this year:

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Chained Echoes
Hades

I didn't acutally finish Tears of the Kingdom, since I didn't see the supposed "true" ending I guess, but I had fun with this game since release and still haven't finished the whole map. It's bit aimless in comparison to Breath of the While, and with a few too many mechanics layered on top of each other, but that's what makes it so interesting, if not mildly frustrating at times. Chained Echoes started off really promising, nailing the Chrono Trigger vibes while also subverting the expectations of a seemingly light-hearted jrpg adventure, but it suffers from having so much lore that isn't properly contextualized or doesn't even come into play at all that keeping track of its fantasy names and character motivations becomes a chore. Coupled with battle mechanics that lose steam midway through the adventure, it ends up a short-lived nostalgia trip.

Hades on Switch is the best thing I've experienced this year, and I can't even say I've seen the whole game yet despite playing it in long bursts over the course of 3 years now. Still pretty hyped for the sequel whenever it comes.

Resident Evil 4 Remake - bought on Halloween Steam sale, made very little progress on it due to being away from home and also feeling like Leon is somewhat heavy and difficult to move around in this game (definitely moreso than he did in RE2 Remake). Or maybe I'm just bad at the game, it's happened before.

Robotics;Notes ELITE - didn't even get through the prologue
Sea of Stars - loved its first hours, but planning on buying it on Switch eventually
Signalis - really striking, but I spent a whole day playing it and nver picked it back up again
Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII REUNION - played long enough to be reminded that missions suck
Castlevania Requiem: Symphony of the Night & Rondo of Blood - played for a day and forgot about it

Looking at my track record for 2022-2023, I'm kinda sad that I've played so little lately. For a moment I wondered if I just didn't enjoy games as much anymore, but what I did play was always enjoyable. Here's hoping 2024 lets me have some more fun.

2022 was a weird year for gaming! I focused heavily on work and personal growth, and games took a much smaller focus on my daily routine. I bought many games, but only managed to beat a couple of them, and had a great time with the more relaxed alternatives.

Tales of Berseria
Shin Megami Tensei V

There are a few fond memories of Tales of Berseria in my mind, but it mostly felt like a slog to go through and took me literally years to beat. Shin Megami Tensei V was highly anticipated, and was actually really engaging in its gameplay and aesthetically powerful, but was plagued with very uninteresting plot and characters. I still haven't beaten Demi-Fiend though.

This year was more about the games I played consistently than the ones I beat, though, so let's get to them in short reviews:

Switch
Animal Crossing New Horizons
I still find comfort in it every few weeks

Hades
the sequel announcement had me screaming, so I had to buy it again on the Switch this time and have been having a blast once again

Backbone
started on Xbox Game Pass, continued on Switch, really striking visuals but slightly buggy experience makes me a little annoyed

Eastward
fun for a few hours, and then lost interest but I'll pick it back up sometime

Little Nightmares
was a mistake to buy this on the Switch because the load times are infuriating

Triangle Strategy
it's okay??? i guess? God I wish I cared about these characters at all though

PS4
Yakuza: Like A Dragon:
made very little progress, but the characters are endearing

Judgment:
honestly I haven't really played much on the PS4, which is why my progress froze on Chapter 2 I think, but it seems promising

Catherine Full Body:
still fun, but 2022 was still not the year to commit

Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion:
beefcake Zack, that's all I can say at the moment

Steam
Rise of the Tomb Raider:
I have no idea where I left off in this game, but I remember having fun

Tales of Arise:
Probably the most fun I've had with an RPG this year, with incredibly fun battle systems and characters, but I dropped it for a good while (as I always do with Tales games). Personal GOTY as I can't really find a flaw in the game up to where I've played.

XGP
OMORI:
I'm probably gonna buy this on Switch eventually

Mobile
Hatsune Miku Colorful Stage:
playing semi-daily and always a lot of fun tbh

Dandara:
amazing game, hate playing it on mobile