A gamer's life 🎮

I've been spending a lot of time playing PS5 here lately. It's always so enjoyable for me, but I often struggle to decide which game I will actually play. Usually, it is me playing solo, but sometimes I hop on with my brother and we game together. This leaves plenty of room for me to gather up a large library of games to keep in my now playing circle, both solo adventures and multiplayer games.

August 2022 has just come to a close, but during that time I managed to play many different games. Some were much better than others. I finished a few, played a lot of others, and then quickly put down a couple. I usually try to wait until games go on sale, but occasionally there are ones that I get at launch.

In today's post, I wanted to discuss which games I've enjoyed most/least during this past month. Then I also want to talk about which games I am most looking forward to this fall. Although most of 2022 is already over, there still are many huge releases coming before it is actually 2023.

1.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Kena has been out since September of 2021, but I had yet to finish it until recently. I loved the game a lot when I first played it, but eventually became distracted by other games. I'm so glad that I came back to this one since it somehow managed to get even better during the second half of the game. I can now say that I am finally done with this one and even managed to get the platinum trophy for 100% completion. I highly recommend it, but be aware that it's only on PlayStation and PC. It can usually be found for pretty cheap, so try to wait for a sale.

2.

Saints Row

Saints Row was something I probably got way too excited for. Of course, the game has let me down in many ways, you can tell by all of the negative reviews that I'm not the only one. It feels like a step back from all of the other Saints games, which is a total bummer. That's not to say that I didn't have fun finishing the main story and getting about 75% of the way through all of the game's content. However, something is just off about it. It feels half-baked and rushed. I definitely would not recommend this at full price, there are a lot of bugs they need to work out. I'm sure it'll be one of those games that go on sale quickly, it might be worth your time then. Even then, it's up to you if you like this type of open-world GTA-styled game.

3.

Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition

I've never played more than a short demo of any DMC game. Even that has been 10+ years. I have been curious about DMC5 ever since I first got my PS5. It was one of the first games to offer a 120 fps option. Plus it just looked really cool to me and I loved the music I was hearing in trailers. I somehow managed to wait nearly two years until I finally decided to buy this one. I got it for only $20 and I've actually been enjoying it. Usually, this style of game wouldn't be for me. It's a linear action game from the Japanese studio Capcom. Even with this being out of my normal genre of choice, it's still undeniably fun. The combat is very fast-paced and fun to look at. I'm slowly working my way through this game and it seems to have a lot of replayability with several different characters to choose from.

4.

Yakuza: Like A Dragon

This was a free PS Plus title during the month of August. I was somewhat intrigued by this since I love Japan, but I've never been a big fan of Yakuza games. There is always way too much dialogue and it is just too slow for me. I ran into the same problem with Like A Dragon. Even worse is that it's turn-based combat rather than real-time, which really isn't my thing outside of occasional Pokémon games. This seems like a great Yakuza game if you're into that, but I put it down after about an hour of playing it.

5.

Phantasty Star Universe Online 2: New Genesis

This free-to-play MMO was just released on PlayStation, although it's been out on other platforms for quite some time. I remember playing hours upon hours of Phantasy Star Universe demo on Xbox 360. I was excited to get my hands on a newer game from that series, but sadly it just was not for me. The graphics were dated and it was painful to look at. The gameplay was just not fun to me either. It takes a lot for me to get interested in an MMO and PSO2NG did not have what it takes to hold my attention.

6.

Tribes of Midgard

I got this game for free with PS Plus back in May, but I somehow waited until August to finally give it a try. I was into this when I first saw trailers because it is a Viking game centered around Nordic traditions. The graphics were unique too. The gameplay was questionable though. It is one of those games where you run out into the wild and gather supplies, then come home to defend your base every night. I didn't think I would like it, but something about it is just really enjoyable. It's a super chill, yet often stressful title. It seems ideal to be played with friends, but I've been enjoying playing solo too.

7.

Ghost Recon Breakpoint

My brother convinced me to try Breakpoint a few weeks ago. It is a pretty cool game, but it's got the same problem as other Ubisoft games do. The map is just so huge and there seems to be an endless list of repetitive content. There'd be almost no way I'd ever finish this game and after playing it for a few hours, I just got tired of it. There is nothing inherently wrong with it, but I just can't sink a ton of time into a game that I don't particularly love. If I'm being honest, I'd rather play The Division 2 than this.

8.

Anthem

This is a game most famous for being Bioware's biggest flop. It was promised to be such an amazing game and then it turned out that most people just didn't like it. That and microtransactions ruined it at launch. I ignored it for years but finally decided to pick it up for $5 while on sale recently. I must say, if you're looking for a game that allows you to fly around like Iron Man, this is it. Otherwise, it is just your average third-person shooter. It's great that it has co-op and I had some fun playing with my brother, but I've already deleted it from my hard drive and have moved on to better games.

9.

Far Cry 6

Another Ubisoft title with far too much content. This one is gorgeous at least and I did have a lot of fun for about 10 or so hours. Co-op is a blast too! However, I just don't see myself continuing to do the same things over and over for the dozens of hours that it would take to actually finish this. Don't get me wrong, Far Cry games have always been badass to me. However, there have been so many of them and I am just tired of it all at this point.

10.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2

Another free game for PS Plus gamers during the month of August. I have been dying to play this for months and finally, my patience paid off and I had it in my library. I binged this for a few days and managed to 100% every single location in both 1+2 while using my created skater. This is a feat I never managed playing the original versions of these games back when I was a child. Online guides were not really a thing back then and I could never figure out some secrets on my own. I was determined to beat this one. I loved every second of it, but after finishing it, the nostalgia kind of went away. Totally worth your time to play this game though, especially if you have been playing THPS your whole life like me.

11.

Assasain's Creed Valhalla: Forgotten Saga

The regular story mode of Valhalla just is not for me. I love anything Viking, but it again comes back to that Ubisoft formula being an issue to me. I just cannot stand having an infinite number of monotonous tasks to complete with cutscenes interrupting often too. I forced myself to play up to a certain point though. I was dying to try Valhalla's newest game mode called Forgotten Saga. This DLC is free to owners of the game and introduces a brand new roguelike mode totally separate from the regular game. For some reason, you still have to have gotten a decent bit through the regular story to be able to play it, but it's worth it because this mode is so much fun. If you know how games like Returnal work, then you can imagine what Forgotten Saga is like. You die and you lose all of your gear and must restart from the beginning.

12.

Grid Legends

I wanted to play this when it first came out, but Gran Turismo 7 was released around the same time and I went with that instead. Luckily, that means I was able to wait for Grid to go on sale, and now I finally have it. I was excited about this because I really loved Dirt 5 and they both are made by Codemasters. The 120 fps option is really great, but I just didn't enjoy this one quite as much as Dirt. I still really liked it, but I was expecting more I guess.

13.

Battlefield 2042: Master of Arms

I've spent a ton of time with 2042 and I have not ever fallen in love with it. They've made many changes and it is nowhere near as bad as it was at launch. I've even had some decent fun with it, but it is my least favorite BF game in years. I still give the new maps a chance once they are released. With Season 2 "Master of Arm", there is a new map called Stranded, which takes you to a parched desert lake in Panama with a massive ship in the middle of it. It's more about close-quarters combat than most of the 2042 maps, which is my preference. It was pretty fun, but I have only played it for a few hours and already am not as enthusiastic about it.

14.

Century: Age of Ashes

This free-to-play dragon fighting game has been on my radar for quite some time. It was supposed to have already been released on PlayStation, but the launch was delayed. It is said to be out sometime during September, but no exact date yet. I cannot wait to finally get a chance to experience this one. I mostly just hope I don't suck at the game.

15.

NBA 2K23

I haven't been obsessed with an NBA game since 2K15. It's been a while. It used to be one of my favorite sports games, but I just haven't been able to get into any of them for years. This is sad because I really do love basketball. My brother buys these games every year, so I have them all in my library since we game to share. I am looking to give this one a shot and maybe I will actually spend the time to get good at the game again. I sure would love to have a fun basketball game to play regularly. NBA 2K23 releases on Friday, September 9th.

16.

Deathloop

This is another game that I have wanted to play for quite some time, but have for some reason refused to purchase. I kept telling. myself that it would be a free PS Plus title at some point. My prediction has finally come true. Deathloop will be added to PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium on Tuesday, September 20th.

17.

Call of Duty Moderen Warfare II

COD is always one of my most anticipated games of the year. It's crazy to say this, but I have played every single COD game ever released. That means I go all the way back to the original Call of Duty, which came out in 2003. You already know I'll be playing Modern Warfare II. It's sort of confusing though since there was already a Modern Warfare 2. I think the main way they distinguish a difference between the two is by switching the 2 to II. The full game releases on Monday, October 28. You can also try out the multiplayer beta starting Thursday, September 22nd. If you preorder you will get access to the single-player campaign before release, some as early as Thursday, October 20th. More info on the dates/times that you can play Modern Warfare II early can be found here.

18.

Overwatch 2

Overwatch is transitioning into Overwatch 2 on Tuesday, October 4th and it is going free-to-play. This is my favorite hero shooter ever and I honestly cannot wait to play the updated version. The fact that it will be easily accessible to anybody since it'll be free makes it even better. I am about to get back into Overwatch heavily once this drops. I have spent so much time with the original, but I've been playing it since 2016 and am ready for some big changes.

19.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

I unexpectedly received A Plague Tale: Innocence for free with PS Plus in July of 2021. I fell in love with the game and thought that it was one of the best stories I've ever experienced in a game before. The gameplay was pretty fun too and I often found myself with an accelerated heart rate due to being chased by guards or even worse, hordes of rats. The sequel to this amazing game is Requiem and it releases on Tuesday, October 18. I won't be buying it at launch, but I most certainly will play it at some point.

20.

God of War Ragnarök

Last but not least, my most anticipated game of the year, is the new God of War title. I fell in love with you when I got my PS5 and played 2018's GoW for the first time. I spent about 40 hours with it and eventually got the platinum trophy for 100% completion. It was one of the best games that I've ever played in my life. It's all single-player, but damn is it good. Ragnarök is looking to be more of the same, with some upgrades to come along with it. I absolutely cannot wait for this to release on Wednesday, November 9th.

Which games will you be playing❓

I've listed quite a few out already, but this barely scratches the surface of what is out there waiting to be played. More great games are released before 2022 is over and then the cycle continues throughout 2023.

I'd love to hear which of these games you have played or which ones you are looking forward to playing. Leave a comment below and let me know.

Thanks for reading!

My NFTs: @daltono/nfts