I don’t think there’s one. Still, I find it a bit funny thinking of myself and my partner sitting next to each other, each on our own gaming PC, once we’re old (or should I say older, yikes the 90s really were almost 30 years ago…)

Absolutely agree. WhatsApp is the default in my country and all across Europe. For instance, I was on holiday earlier this month and the hotel I was staying in just contacted me through WhatsApp with check-in info. They hadn’t replied to earlier emails but defaulted straight to WhatsApp for communication. It would be a nightmare to move away from it at this point. At least it still doesn’t feel like a Meta app.

I didn’t have any strong feeling about Steam but I do have to say the desktop performance is snappier.

With the caveat that I haven’t seen the trailer yet, I heard this is a first person game and initial feeling was slightly disappointed because I do prefer third person plus I want to see my Avatar dammit. But a chance to play in Pandora? Will definitely keep an eye on it.

Don’t crucify me but I’ve tried HZD and did not like it. I also tried God of War (2018) and I didn’t get very far. Maybe I was not in the right headspace but both of them felt the same to me like a game forcefully trying to make me feel something but I could not connect to either.

KOTOR and KOTOR 2, Mass Effect (Vigil, Leaving Earth, An End Once and For All), Hogwarts Legacy (very reminiscent of the movie scores but its own thing)

I’m hopeful Ninja Theory maintained, if not upped, the quality with Hellblade II. What an incredible experience the first game was. It was so impactful.

It Takes Two, Unravel 2, Divinity: Original Sin, Divinity: Original Sin 2. They’re the only split screen games I’ve played to be perfectly honest but they’re all fantastic.

I don’t particularly like the game, but the final mission in Mass Effect: Andromeda was wonderful and made me smile. It was gorgeous, great music, and gave me an adrenaline rush.

I love DAI but its open world is exhausting. DA2 gets even more hate yet I love it to bits! In a way DA2 is even more comforting/relaxing because of the rushed development leading to recycles environments. Just makes me focus on getting from one story beat to the next without wasting time finding my way out in a large open world.

I haven’t played Wasteland but I’ve played DOS2 and the original DOS so many times! Love them both, and DOS2 is the best game I’ve played in terms of build (I’m prone to going full Aerotheurge on most playthroughs). You should definitely give BioWare games a try. They’re more casual compared to DOS but the world building, characters and narrative are better than DOS.

P.S. I’ve never played Baldur’s Gate but I’m looking forward to Baldur’s Gate 3!

Probably strange to call them comfort games but I’ve played them so many times they’ve become comfort games: Mass Effect trilogy, Dragon Age games, KOTOR and KOTOR II, and even SWTOR.

Yes, I recognise I have a BioWare bias but honestly no games feel like theirs. I hope they stick around for a long time and manage to claw their way back to being a trusted RPG maker.

I think the familiar world building, the fantastic characters, the cinematic conversations, dialogue options all make it comforting to me. And they’re my happiest gaming memories.