We all have that one game or genre that never gets old and we return to time and time again.

What is it for you and why is that the case?

  • dhork@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Civilization. There is nothing quite as cathartic as subjugating the world under my iron fist…

  • Taako_Tuesday@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    Minecraft. I go through phases of not playing it, but once or twice a year I’ll start up a new world and just mindlessly build and mine while listening to a podcast or an audiobook, and will play every night for several weeks. I’ve started so many minecraft worlds over the years that I really don’t need to think about what to do next

  • InevitableCriticism@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Portal 1 followed immediately by 2 after I’ve completed the first. I own them on every console and also PC and I just love the feeling I get when I play them.

    I’ll never forget finding the Orange Box in a bargain bin at BestBuy and how much fun I had playing Portal. GLaDOS being cheeky then becoming full on sadistic and homicidal was something I’ve never experienced in a game before. I laughed a lot and remember my heart beating so fast in the final stages - the thrill I felt when I finally beat her and then starting all over in order to get all of the achievements. It was the most fun I’ve ever had in a game.

    Needless to say how excited I was when 2 was announced and I was not disappointed. They’ll never get old for me.

  • rustyricotta@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    A bit different from the question but

    Outer Wilds.

    I’ve spent a lot of time in it and have 100% it, so it’s hard to find a reason get back in, but even just booting to the title screen just completely transports me.

    Why? Outer Wilds was just an incredible experience, and the OST is astounding and the music completely soaked up the experience and can bring it all back just by listening.

      • Hadriscus@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Same, because I can’t seem to make any progress at all. I don’t really know what the goal is. I keep taking off and go fool around on planets until the time resets, and it’s pleasant enough. But I haven’t wrapped my head around the mystery so far

        • Asimov's Robot@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          I didn’t even get that far. Hopped on the ship, explored a bit of the starting planet, then the closest bodies and couldn’t figure out what I was supposed to be doing. I get that the idea is to research the mystery behind the ancient texts, but I wasn’t really feeling compelled to.

          • Hadriscus@lemm.ee
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            1 year ago

            Yea it’s really not holding your hand,… but to the point where there’s hardly any motivation except for the pleasure of exploration itself

    • Blubber28@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      To be honest, many games published by Annapurna Interactive are an incredible experience. So, if you want to experience some new things, check them out if you haven’t already! I can personally recommend Stray and What Remains of Edith Finch. Final note; if you play the latter for the first time, play it in a single sitting. It’s only 2 hours but man is it worth it!

  • marlowe221@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Morrowind!

    It’s such an amazing game and such a break from reality. There is tremendous depth there, if you go and look for it, but you can also just dungeon dive and smack monsters in the face with a sword if you want.

    Check out OpenMW for a great, easy to use, source port of the game engine.

  • catalyst@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Hades is one that I’ll still fire up now and again if I’m not sure what to do. Currently losing my mind at the lack of Hades 2 news.

    • secondaccountlemmy@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Seconded… I take roguelite breaks after every other game I play… Hades, Slay the Spire, Monster Train, Griftlands, and Little Noah have been sort of relaxing to me.

  • Deestan@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Factorio for me. There is always some old megafactory to pick up again or a new mod nightmare to try out.

  • currychaos@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    Hollow Knight for sure. Just load up a couple of randomizers and explore hallownest for the millionth time

      • simple@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        It allows you to randomise which enemies/bosses spawn where, and it randomises items. The world stays the same but the game plays out differently because it often changes how you progress.

  • Botree@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Binding of Isaac and Death Stranding. I just keep going back to these 2 even after I’ve 100% them.

    • all-knight-party@kbin.cafe
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      1 year ago

      Death Stranding is downright meditative. One of the most interesting and compelling games I’ve ever played. I just love delivering the packages and just soaking in that world.

    • TwilightVulpine@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It has been updated significantly over the years, and there’s a lot of cool mods to try. If I had to pick a single game to play forever it would be Minecraft.

  • JehovasThickness@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I always play a game of Stellaris every few months. The combination of roleplay and grand strategy massages my brain just right to make the happy chemicals.

  • LucidNightmare@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Red Dead Redemption 2, Chapter 2.

    Galloping around, taking in the hazy morning with a cup of coffee at a makeshift camp, the ambient music and noises as you travel. It gives me such wanderlust.

  • Cingul@feddit.uk
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    1 year ago

    Definitely Stardew Valley. It’s not necessarily like I could play it endlessly forever but whenever all other alternatives seem boring or like they require more energy than I feel like spending, I always turn to Stardew exactly for comfort.

    • ytsedude@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Yes! I’m genuinely surprised I had too scroll down so far for Stardew. It’s overflowing with charm and coziness! Perfect gaming comfort food.

  • BumpingFuglies@lemmy.zip
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    1 year ago

    Dynasty Warriors (and its many, many spinoffs). I know they’re not objectively good, but man does it feel great to kill 1,000 enemies just by mashing Square and Triangle.

    The older entries also had endearingly bad English voice acting.

    • Rhotisserie@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Oh man I used to be a major dynasty warriors fan. Specifically of the empires spinoffs. I wish they were more accessible on PC (specifically 7 empires, or the samurai warrior empires games).

      • ewe@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Yeah, I tried one after many years…I had fond memories of the old PS2 versions.

        PC port of Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends and janky everything was a barrier just too high to overcome.