What I'm Playing and The Backlog (May 2025)
My friend Z often says that this is the best time for gaming. Usually, I'd nod in quiet agreement, but after the last few weeks, I'd have to agree, especially if you like RPGs. Here's what's in rotation and waiting in the backlog.
Avowed
I won't lie; when Z and I played this game during game night, I told him, "Nah, this ain't it ."I don't know what I was expecting, but what I saw on screen didn't match my expectations. But then I played the game for myself and fell in love. Avowed isn't Skyrim; in some ways, it's better. The combat is an evolution of older Elder Scrolls games. Enemies engage with various tactics, ensuring no two encounters play the same. Awoved also follows the steps of previous Obsidian games, focusing on dialogue and character choices. It's the game for people who enjoy Western RPGs but may not have the time to dedicate to one game for the year.
Oblivion Remaster
What can be said about this game that hasn't been said already? This was my first Elder Scrolls, and the game made me fall in love with Bethesda's design style. From the stories to managing equipment, Oblivion was a "true" RPG - a game I always wanted to revisit but never found the time. That and the game did not hold up well, especially compared to Skyrim. Someone heard our collective cries for another chance to play Oblivion on modern consoles because now there's a remastered version, and you already know it's installed on my Xbox Series X. The wildest thing about this game is learning how to play the game "correctly." It's less aimless wandering and more hitting points of interest to progress the main campaign and side quests.
South of Midnight
I've played a total of thirty minutes, but I know it's going to be fye. It's a single-player game with a story to tell, and I've always been a fan of those types of games. I'm not the biggest fan of the combat, as it felt stuck between soulslike and traditional adventure games, but I'm willing to push through to see how the story unfolds. This will be the perfect game to play between RPGs.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Full disclosure - my first Monster Hunter game was World. I don't know if that makes me a filthy casual, but I love hunting a monster to make a coat. Monster Hunter is more than just a game. It's a calling - or a job. Either way, I enjoy roaming around looking for tracks and kicking ass with the insect glaive. The only problem is hunting monsters is difficult when you're on Daddy duty. Especially when your child is smart enough to know the controller you gave her isn't the one that controls the people on screen. This might be the game I fall back on during the holiday season when life slows down and I have more time.
Bonus: Expedition 33
I love turned-based combat. I was raised on old-school JRPGs, so it's only right to line 'em up and let the best strategy win. So when my friend praised this game as one of the best to release in years and said it was possibly a GOTY candidate, I had to hop over to Twitch to catch the gameplay. I'll be honest, I don't know if I'm going to get around to this game because while I love the look, I'm not so sure I'm going to love having to depend on the parry and dodge system to win - it feels a little soulslike, and I am not a fan of those games. It's okay because there's always Octopath Traveler to substitute.