JVCIOM70

Skull and Bones! Somehow, just playing one day each weekend, and a snatched hour here and there during the weeks in January, and getting the weekly races in GT7 done, I've racked up 60 hours of pirating, and I feel like I've only just begun. I normally hate cut scenes, but I like the sweary ones in Skull and Bones, even if they do only point you towards another boat or boats you have to sink, or a settlement to plunder. The gameplay is simple, but it's great fun, and when you find yourself trying to take down a high level bounty and put out a call for help, actual people turn up, you can also see on the map how many people are joining in other attacks, and fast travel straight over to them.
Your cannons don't hurt your fellow bounty hunters, or players you meet on the seas, unless you specifically choose a mission or PVP mode where they do damage to fellow players, so it means that, unlike GTA online, you don't get idiot kids running around blowing you up when you are minding your own business.
I've been a gamer since having Space Invaders on a Compukit UK101 my dad built in 1980, and this is genuinely the first time I have enjoyed any game that has online interaction with other players.
For all the knocks Ubisoft get, they know how to entertain me.

I've reached Kingpin in Skull and Bones, so I shall be doing more plundering and treasure hunting

I'm just getting started in Skull and Bones, so I think I can wait, or actually I'm not sure I will need to play Black Flag a third time. I think I have Freedom Cry in a backlog somewhere if it feel a real need, but Skull and Bones offers me plenty of plundering. For me Ubisoft do the best games for pure entertainment, consistently and prolifically. Rockstar are great, but one game every 8 years isn't enough

I did have to do a double take, as I could have sworn it was already on PS5, turns out that was Forza 5. Anyway, I like Gran Turismo, i liked Project Cars, I like the Grid games, even dipped my toes into NFS when they were PS Essentials. I'm not sure I can be at all bothered with Forza, or anything Microsoft.

I will have an epic session on Skull and Bones. It is basically Elite or Elite Dangerous with sailing boats, but I've loved Elite for 40 years, plus a good pirate yarn, so there's not a lot wrong with Skull and Bones for me. It's broken my Balatro obsession 🙂

I'll be plundering my way through Skull and Bones today, after I only managed a sneaky 45 mins on GT7 yesterday.

I am looking forward to many hours of plundering, pillaging and smuggling in Skull and Bones. I am afraid that 6 hours of cutscenes and wobbly slow walking in Death Stranding was plenty enough for me. I'll not be going back. However, I do now have a pirate ship that fires torpedoes, after a similar amount of time. Happy New Year 😀

And the best game in all of the list, in my opinion, was Balatro. It's now my go to game if I have an hour to spare, 100+ hours played and definitely worth the Essential subscription by itself. I wouldn't have played it if it wasn't on the monthly list

That's made up my mind to buy Atomfall (at a suitable sale price), and I have the first Death Stranding lined up for my first open world game of 2026, so hopefully that will inspire me to get the 2nd game.....however after putting around 40 hours in the first Kingdom Come and not getting the hang of sword play and shooting arrows, I'm afraid it doesn't matter how pretty the second game is, I can't see myself ever playing it... abandoning the first game for Far Cry Primal was my best gaming decision of the year, much more accessible and fun 🙂

Been playing Stray, in between Balatro and finishing Far Cry Primal. Also bought Skull and Bones for £4.99 in the sale, that's lined up for new year, Untitled Goose Game for £7.50, I think...60odd GB vs 850odd MB, crazy price for Skull and Bones, and presumably the Goose Game justifies it's relatively pricey price.

It's been a few weeks, but I am still finishing up Far Cry Primal, one boss camp to go, and also, the inevitable, Balatro, where I conquered the Painted and Anaglyph decks this week, so it's the Plasma deck today. I might have been late to the party, because I only got it with the Essential monthly games, but Balatro is by far my 2025 game of the year, seemingly so simple but endlessly playable.

I'm still playing Far Cry Primal at the weekends, but during the week it's still Balatro, 90 hours spent so far, l think that's a successful PS Essential download

I've been away, but did manage to get some bargains in the latest sale, Timesplitters 1&2, Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry, and Sleeping Dogs. They will need to wait though as I crack on with Far Cry Primal, and the inevitable Balatro. I did finish a run last night that I started a week and a half ago, and managed to open another deck, that will therefore require some playing.

I will be following the hilarious google ai instructions for Far Cry Primal to ride a young mammoth, and I shall also play Balatro. I cracked the red stake this week, it took four weeks of trying, and the joy was immense.

Its more Far Cry Primal for me, I have my tamed Sabre Tooth now, I unlocked the riding ability as the last thing I did on Sunday, so today I will aim to impale the baddies onto trees, as I was informed I could 😀 I will, of course, also play Balatro.

Just give me Days Gone 2, I'd be happy with that.

Far Cry Primal, which is huge fun and Balatro, which remains massively addictive. I am now trying to unlock the decks by stakes, when you do get a good run, it is very very satisfying, as is seeing the flames appear when you play a great hand.

I have ordered a golden Commodore 64, and will probably get the Atari handheld. I quite like being able to get all the arcade games from my youth in convenient devices....I continue to search for one that has a decent version of Time Pilot. An if someone wanted to market an affordable pinball machine to me, with Attack from Mars on it, I'd be all over it.

I gave up for now on Kingdom Come Deliverance, and am playing Far Cry Primal, instantly more satisfying and less convoluted. Please forgive me, but games do need to be fun, escapist and accessible. The KCD grind was really too much. I'll also dip into Balatro, it continues to consume time 😯

I fired up GT7 for the first time in months yesterday, just need 500k credits more and I can get a Mercedes classic to add to the collection, so I'll do that. Then it's Kingdom Come Deliverance, Balatro and a tax return, probably not in that order, as I must use discipline! Balatro doesn't encourage discipline though.

I am on to the Nebula deck in Balatro, so no doubt I will give that a few tries, then it'll be a lengthy session on Kingdom Come Deliverance. It's not made me obsessive like Balatro, but it's ok for a £5 slow burn.

I have the chance for a 100% gaming weekend this week. So I will sink most of the time into Kingdom Come Deliverance and then Balatro. I finally beat the Black deck, so will see how many minutes I last in endless mode, before moving on to whatever deck I have unlocked that's next in line. Happy days 🙂

@armad11 The original, bought for £5, to see if I want the sequel. I think I will when it's on sale, and I've finished the first game.

Kingdom Come Deliverance is finally gelling after around 20 hours, and watching YouTube videos for tips, for things such as lock picking.
When it gets too frustrating, then I'll hop over to Balatro, I need to defeat the black deck.

Kingdom Come Deliverance, which is finally getting going after 10 hours or so, plus some Balatro, I completed a red deck run yesterday after weeks of trying, I'll go on to green and black now.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 1, considering it's age and peers, it ain't no RDR2, its very buggy and slow. But, I'll give it a fair chance to improve, and dip into Balatro for the real immersive escapism.

It's "start a new game" day. I have Kingdom Come Deliverance or 2 Sniper Ghost Contracts 1&2 to choose from, all bought in a sale last month for £15 total.
I will also probably lose some hours on Balatro, I have completed 2 runs so far, it is massively addictive and fun.

I'm on holiday, so it's only Auction City on the phone for me. I did get my first ever platinum trophy on Mindseye last Monday though, happy days 🙂

Can't wait, Wildlands was excellent

I got my first platinum trophy ever today on Mindseye, so I am happy as Larry. I've also been playing the side games, which are mindless fun, I think there's enough to keep me dropping in once in a while until the dlc arrives. There was another couple of gb of updates today. Honestly, when the credits went up at the end of the story, you see the hundreds of people involved and think how it must feel for them to be getting criticized by people who probably haven't played it. I enjoyed it, i treated it like a Kickstarter funding, I hope they go on to make Everywhere great, and expand on the Mindseye concept.

I don't know how many people commenting bought the game, but I did, I'm still playing and quite enjoying it. It's a linear shoot 'em up with an interesting storyline, a bit like TLOU, just not as long it seems and without the irritating teenager. I'm quite happy with the 50 quid I spent, I'll be even happier if the DLC gets delivered and it does eventually evolve into adult Roblox. I don't have a crystal ball though.

I paid £10 for it, I don't think I will ever play it. Episode 1 of season 2 on tv has made up my mind.

I will be continuing with Mindseye, with possibly some Balatro thrown in. GT7 will have to take a backseat, no time for weekly races until Mindseye is done, which might not take long but it's been enjoyable so far.

I've done 2 hours, it was ok, I couldn't quite work out what was happening with the background sometimes, but adjusting the screen settings helps. Generally speaking, I am enjoying shooting stuff, and driving fast chasing things. Given that this feels like part one of many installments, with different stories/characters, and as I should have the extra content coming, I'm quite happy, and will reserve final judgement. I've been playing Balatro, with it's 1980's vibe, so I think it's possible to forgive some graphics honkiness.

Two hours played last night, I'm quite enjoying it.

It won't be $80 when I buy it in 2 years time

I'll finish the GT7 weekly races, then play some Balatro. The serious gaming has taken a little rest after finishing the main story of Avatar, just a couple of weeks before Mindseye comes out. It's not long now

I've pre-ordered, I am excited for when it arrives, I don't care if it needs some patching, I am going to take my time and enjoy it, and I hope it does well enough to be able to support the long term plan. Elite Dangerous seems to still be going ten years on, this could be similar. I don't understand the "it's going to be awful" bandwagon jumping, give them a chance.

It's day 1, pre-ordered for me 🙂

I need to push on and finish Avatar, I've pre-ordered Mindseye, so I have a deadline. It's my first pre-order day one purchase since Far Cry 6 😀 I am quite excited and really hope Leslie Benzies is on form.

Yep, i'm hyped 😃 Can't wait next summer, hopefully Mindseye will fill one of the gaps in between.

I'm afraid I lasted one episode of season 2, the Ellie character does not appear to have any redeeming qualities in this season, and the actor is either brilliant at playing the character, or the exact opposite, so it'll be any thing but TLOU 2. White Lotus though does seem watchable.

I am 80 hours in and have 80% completed of Avatar Frontiers of Pandora, so I shall press on with that. There will be the expansions to do at the end, and for once I think I will do them. It's a great game, I do love a Ubisoft open world.

I pay on day one about once every two years, RDR2, Cyberpunk, Far Cry 6, GT7, and next will probably be GTA6. I'm happy with the backlog bought at a max of 40 quid each. Thank Goodness You're Here was a great weekend purchase, 9 months after release 🙂

I'll be getting it

I didn't play Metro because I thought I would be supporting a Russian developer. Was I wrong?

I need to get the GT7 weekly races ticked off today, then it's onto exploring more of Avatar Frontiers of Pandora, and blowing up bases with my bow and arrow

I'll be on Avatar for a few weeks yet. I do like a Ubisoft open world.

I shall push on with Avatar, it may be Far Cry on another planet, but it's a very nice place to be in, and good fun.

I finished RoboCop, it was not bad, did the GT7 weekly races last night, and I need something big to get my teeth into, Mad Max doesn't look like it will cut it, so I picked up Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, ultimate edition for £38, a bargain I think. That's downloaded overnight, and I shall start exploring that world today 🙂