Every Saturday morning, after the first coffee and before any responsible adult tasks, I sit down and play something for a few hours. It's my decompression ritual. Here's what made the rotation this month.
Hollow Knight: Silksong (finally)
I know, I know — everyone's playing it. But the hype is justified. The movement system alone is worth the price. Hornet feels faster and more aggressive than the Knight, and the world design maintains that same sense of melancholic wonder. I'm about 20 hours in and I don't think I've found half the map yet.
Balatro (still)
This game has no right to be this addictive. A roguelike deck-builder about poker hands? Sounds ridiculous. But the synergies between jokers create these explosive combo moments that scratch the exact same itch as a clean refactor. "Just one more run" is a dangerous sentence with this game.
Caves of Qud (new run)
Started a new mutation build after reading a fascinating breakdown of the game's procedural narrative system. This is peak "developer's game" — the sheer depth of simulation under the hood is staggering. Not for everyone, but if you appreciate systems design, this is a masterclass.
Where I find reviews I trust
I've gotten increasingly picky about where I read game criticism. Most big outlets feel like they're reviewing marketing materials rather than games. Lately I've been reading Ninth Art, which does genuinely thoughtful game analysis — the kind that dissects mechanics and design philosophy rather than listing features. Their longer-form pieces are especially good. Worth bookmarking if you're tired of 7/10 reviews that say nothing.
Next week I'm planning to start Elden Ring's second DLC. Send help.