What’s it all about
Welcome to the first issue—a weekly snapshot of the most interesting games and play experiences I’m exploring, from video games to escape rooms to anything in between.
This week leans heavily into RPGs—but that’s just how it goes sometimes.
Top story: Crimson Desert
Despite middling reviews from the likes of IGN, Crimson Desert has sold over 5 million copies.
I’ve been playing it, and it’s a strange one. A slow, slightly awkward start gives way to something much more compelling—a dense, systems-heavy sandbox that feels bigger in scope than Skyrim, and in places, even some MMOs. There’s a level of detail closer to Red Dead Redemption 2 than most RPGs attempt.
It’s such a slow burn that the original IGN reviewer reportedly pushed to revise their 6/10 after spending more time with it—which says a lot.
TL;DR: A huge, deeply immersive RPG that rewards patience. Well worth your time.
This week
London Games Festival is coming to a close. A busy week attending events across the city. Full debrief next issue, but early take—lots of interesting experimentation, especially from smaller teams.
What am I playing: Soulmask has just hit 1.0. It’s a survival crafting game with a strong focus on automation and tribe management, set against an ancient backdrop. A bit rough in places, but there’s something satisfying about building systems that run without you.
What’s doing well: Windrose has launched into early access and is already gaining serious traction—streamers are all over it.
Feels like another entry in the current wave of survival-heavy, systems-first RPGs.
The Stop Killing Games movement finally had its public hearing in the EU parliament. If you’ve been living under a rock and aren’t aware of it, the mission is to stop developers from ‘turning off’ their games when it no longer suits them. Examples include The Crew, and recently, Amazon’s New World. These studios are preventing customers from being able to use the products they have paid for. Watch the hearing here.
The BAFTA Games Awards took place last week, continuing to highlight the growing recognition of games as a serious creative medium. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won best game (another RPG!)
A big week for RPGs—especially survival and systems-driven ones.
More next time.