Video Game Recommendations

[Nemea]

I love Crusader Kings 3 and Stellaris. I prefer to play strategy games.

 

[Fırtına]

I've always loved souls-like games. Naturally I've always loved fromsoftware games, but sometimes I crave an FPS game. "Hunt: showdown" fulfilled that craving.
Souls-like online FPS game. It's got a little bit of horror in it. As hunters with psychic powers, you kill the main anomalies and try to claim your bounty. But there are other hunters, and they're often your main problem. It also received a graphics engine update this year and I think it's playable while it's constantly coming to the event. Give it a chance.

 

[Gentleman Whale]

League of Legends, Stardew Valley, Minecraft, Mount & Blade: Warband or Bannerlord, Counter Strike, God of War, Red Dead Redemption 2

 

[VanceViktori888]

I recently began playing a new game by a new studio called Expedition 33. It’s a mysterious game with combat and exploration similar to Final Fantasy, where the plot follows a group of special warriors called The Expedition who sails across the see in an attempt to stop a titanic being called “The Paintress” from a yearly routine of painting a number on a monolith which results in all the people of the same age as the number dying. Very intriguing thus far, and the gameplay has a really cool Rythym to it.

 

[PowerAMSS]

I know that the consensus of some members here (ones that I respect a lot, too) is that video games are bad and a waste of time. I disagree to some extent on that — mainly because I just see it as another hobby and art of expression. If someone does their duties as an Zevism and an adult, I don't see any problem in spending some time playing video games. After all, no one can meditate continuously, especially if they're not advanced.

I don't play them as often as I used to (and even then there were periods of time when I'd focus on games and then switch to another hobby). Nonetheless, I do have a relatively big list of games that I did enjoy a lot.

Disclaimer: many of these are not finished because, as I already mentioned, I tend to switch between hobbies. I'm also an adult with a job that strains my eyes a lot and a graphic design hobby that are taking all of my free time, so most days I just don't have the energy to finish them, regardless of how much I'd like to.

Why I'm writing this: I find it hard to surf through game recommendations and search for things that I will actually like. I also love to hear from other Zevism on their experiences and their own recommendations.

Personal favorites

Journey: Wonderful game, was mind-blowing to me. Maybe I just have low standards, but it deeply affected me. I always end up returning to it. Not for those that don't enjoy walking around with little actual action, but I think most Zevism would very much appreciate the theme it explores. The music is also incredible.

Stardew Valley: Farming simulator, yes. However, I have yet to find a game that brings as much comfort to me as this one. For me, it represents the idea of quiet solitude and life enjoyed in nature. The ideal of defeating capitalism in one way or another is also an attractive one. You can romance others, but I've never focused on that aspect of the game. [Have yet to finish it because I play with 300+ mods and each time the developer breaks said mods with an update I have to reinstall them all.]

Spiritfarer: There's Charon in it. And a cat. That makes it incredible. On a more serious note, the game is very pleasant to the eye and heavily targets the subject of grief.

Travelers Rest: You keep a tavern and hit unruly patrons with a broom. There's been a lot of additions lately that have expanded the game.


Other games

Crime Scene Cleaner: Surprisingly relaxing. Good story. Great sense of humor.

Cult of the Lamb: I'm unsure how other Zevism feel about this game. I usually take the least violent route, given that you can be as bad or as nice as you want with your play style. Enjoyed the aesthetics and music a lot. I did jump out of my seat when I saw Father Satan's symbol and the name of our Gods.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Great games, favorite was "House of Ashes". Relatively good for the horror genre.

Fields of Mistria | Sun Haven: Very similar to Stardew Valley.

House Flipper: Satisfying game. Might trigger your motion sickness.

Little Witch in the Woods: Similar to Stardew Valley, but you're a witch. Relaxing, easy-going, aesthetically pleasing.

Need for Speed Heat: I'm ashamed of having this game and enjoying this so much. But I did like it (car and motion sickness make it impossible for me to drive in real life).

Pools | Liminalcore: Incredible liminal games with a very strong atmosphere. Best played with someone to keep you company and laugh at you.

Sid Meier's Civilization V & VI: Can break friendships.

Beholder 1 | Beholder 2 | Beholder 3: "1984" + "Papers, please" = this. Interesting game. Can be quite depressing.

Not My Neighbor: Tests your sense of perception. Cheap, can be challenging on the nightmare mode.

Not Tonight: Game similar to Beholder but a bit more modern.

American Truck Simulator | Euro Truck Simulator: I very much enjoyed playing this game while listening to my podcasts. Beware of playing online if you get road rage. Spoiler: it's not pretty.

Buckshot Roulette: Russian Roulette but with a twist, up to 4 players. Might break some friendships.

Heart of Iron IV: Great game, could not get past the tutorial because I am illiterate with anything combat. I love watching gameplays for it though.

Chef RPG: Cute, futuristic, retro game that involves cooking. Pleasant aesthetic and relaxing.

Sticky Business: You make stickers. It's cute. That's it. That's the game.

Red Dead Redemption 2: I experienced huge surprises with this game [including being ran over by stags when I least expected it]. I appreciate the open world dynamic. Wish I could say more, but I was mainly distracted by the astounding scenery and random quests on the map. I personally thought it was overrated after hearing so many people constantly praise it, but it was mainly deserved in my opinion.

Death Stranding: Very heavy game due to the theme it explores. Might feel as boring to some people due to the "delivery man" dynamic. Got called a walking simulator by many. Checked it out because of Mads, kept on going because of the game itself.

Don't Starve Together: Not so relaxing. Got to Year 2, rage-quitted after my base got destroyed. The game itself is quite challenging and has a lot of content.

Content Warning | Lethal Company: Great to play with friends if you like the horror genre.

Tiny Glade: Relaxing builder simulator targeting medieval architecture.

Star Wars The Old Republic: A game that I've played for years on and off. Only MMO for Star Wars, as far as I can tell. Very well-made, if a bit outdated. As someone that's obsessed with space, I adore this one.

World of Warcraft: After playing SWTOR, this one fails on expectations a lot. Unless you like a heavy challenge, I don't recommend picking it up. It's not newcomer-friendly, people are assholes, the expansions are ridiculously complicated to complete and overpriced, and they somehow made the human race look like ogres.


Most of these games I play while listening to something and that I've added to my library since becoming an adult (I did not have the opportunity to play them as a child and teenager). I'd love to hear what others enjoy when they have the time for it.

Vail VR, Grimlord VR, Zero Caliber 1 and 2, Walking Dead Saints and Sinner VR and Retribution, Elden Ring, Skyrim VR(Heavily modded), blade and sorcery VR, Shinobi VR, Battle Talent VR, Arizona sunshine 1 and 2 VR

 

[Ol argedco luciftias]

Stray was an interesting game. About a cat going around in a world full of robots in the future when there was no humans. The cat looks and moves in a very realistic game. There is not some great message, but there is nothing bad in it.

 

[*&P->]

I prefer online games, and I usually play League of Legends.

 

[Lucifigus]

I know that the consensus of some members here (ones that I respect a lot, too) is that video games are bad and a waste of time. I disagree to some extent on that — mainly because I just see it as another hobby and art of expression. If someone does their duties as an Zevism and an adult, I don't see any problem in spending some time playing video games. After all, no one can meditate continuously, especially if they're not advanced.

I don't play them as often as I used to (and even then there were periods of time when I'd focus on games and then switch to another hobby). Nonetheless, I do have a relatively big list of games that I did enjoy a lot.

Disclaimer: many of these are not finished because, as I already mentioned, I tend to switch between hobbies. I'm also an adult with a job that strains my eyes a lot and a graphic design hobby that are taking all of my free time, so most days I just don't have the energy to finish them, regardless of how much I'd like to.

Why I'm writing this: I find it hard to surf through game recommendations and search for things that I will actually like. I also love to hear from other Zevism on their experiences and their own recommendations.

Personal favorites

Journey: Wonderful game, was mind-blowing to me. Maybe I just have low standards, but it deeply affected me. I always end up returning to it. Not for those that don't enjoy walking around with little actual action, but I think most Zevism would very much appreciate the theme it explores. The music is also incredible.

Stardew Valley: Farming simulator, yes. However, I have yet to find a game that brings as much comfort to me as this one. For me, it represents the idea of quiet solitude and life enjoyed in nature. The ideal of defeating capitalism in one way or another is also an attractive one. You can romance others, but I've never focused on that aspect of the game. [Have yet to finish it because I play with 300+ mods and each time the developer breaks said mods with an update I have to reinstall them all.]

Spiritfarer: There's Charon in it. And a cat. That makes it incredible. On a more serious note, the game is very pleasant to the eye and heavily targets the subject of grief.

Travelers Rest: You keep a tavern and hit unruly patrons with a broom. There's been a lot of additions lately that have expanded the game.


Other games

Crime Scene Cleaner: Surprisingly relaxing. Good story. Great sense of humor.

Cult of the Lamb: I'm unsure how other Zevism feel about this game. I usually take the least violent route, given that you can be as bad or as nice as you want with your play style. Enjoyed the aesthetics and music a lot. I did jump out of my seat when I saw Father Satan's symbol and the name of our Gods.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Great games, favorite was "House of Ashes". Relatively good for the horror genre.

Fields of Mistria | Sun Haven: Very similar to Stardew Valley.

House Flipper: Satisfying game. Might trigger your motion sickness.

Little Witch in the Woods: Similar to Stardew Valley, but you're a witch. Relaxing, easy-going, aesthetically pleasing.

Need for Speed Heat: I'm ashamed of having this game and enjoying this so much. But I did like it (car and motion sickness make it impossible for me to drive in real life).

Pools | Liminalcore: Incredible liminal games with a very strong atmosphere. Best played with someone to keep you company and laugh at you.

Sid Meier's Civilization V & VI: Can break friendships.

Beholder 1 | Beholder 2 | Beholder 3: "1984" + "Papers, please" = this. Interesting game. Can be quite depressing.

Not My Neighbor: Tests your sense of perception. Cheap, can be challenging on the nightmare mode.

Not Tonight: Game similar to Beholder but a bit more modern.

American Truck Simulator | Euro Truck Simulator: I very much enjoyed playing this game while listening to my podcasts. Beware of playing online if you get road rage. Spoiler: it's not pretty.

Buckshot Roulette: Russian Roulette but with a twist, up to 4 players. Might break some friendships.

Heart of Iron IV: Great game, could not get past the tutorial because I am illiterate with anything combat. I love watching gameplays for it though.

Chef RPG: Cute, futuristic, retro game that involves cooking. Pleasant aesthetic and relaxing.

Sticky Business: You make stickers. It's cute. That's it. That's the game.

Red Dead Redemption 2: I experienced huge surprises with this game [including being ran over by stags when I least expected it]. I appreciate the open world dynamic. Wish I could say more, but I was mainly distracted by the astounding scenery and random quests on the map. I personally thought it was overrated after hearing so many people constantly praise it, but it was mainly deserved in my opinion.

Death Stranding: Very heavy game due to the theme it explores. Might feel as boring to some people due to the "delivery man" dynamic. Got called a walking simulator by many. Checked it out because of Mads, kept on going because of the game itself.

Don't Starve Together: Not so relaxing. Got to Year 2, rage-quitted after my base got destroyed. The game itself is quite challenging and has a lot of content.

Content Warning | Lethal Company: Great to play with friends if you like the horror genre.

Tiny Glade: Relaxing builder simulator targeting medieval architecture.

Star Wars The Old Republic: A game that I've played for years on and off. Only MMO for Star Wars, as far as I can tell. Very well-made, if a bit outdated. As someone that's obsessed with space, I adore this one.

World of Warcraft: After playing SWTOR, this one fails on expectations a lot. Unless you like a heavy challenge, I don't recommend picking it up. It's not newcomer-friendly, people are assholes, the expansions are ridiculously complicated to complete and overpriced, and they somehow made the human race look like ogres.


Most of these games I play while listening to something and that I've added to my library since becoming an adult (I did not have the opportunity to play them as a child and teenager). I'd love to hear what others enjoy when they have the time for it.

Playing video games = lack of action. When you play games, you start to quit all your goals you have, and focus just on playing video games. It is not a good idea to play them too much.

 

[Daemontech [NG]]

One game that I will never waste my penny on or play it would be God of War, which is probably the most blasphemous slander of the Gods
...
but I wanted to show how such games might lead some people to become interested in occultism and the true Gods.

Funnily enough, as a kid, God of War, insulting as it is, pushed me even more into Greek mythology.
So yeah, your point absolutely makes sense.
I guess this is a case of "bad publicity is still publicity".
Although I have no doubts there's more harm than good done by this kind of portrayal.
For one people that get positively affected by the slanderous portrayal, there's at least 2 others that get further misled.

 

[Daemontech [NG]]

One person*

 

[Wisdom_Seeker]

Playing video games = lack of action. When you play games, you start to quit all your goals you have, and focus just on playing video games. It is not a good idea to play them too much.

Agreed!

Why level up in a game when you can level up in real life? I do not wish to be a spoil sport, but control and limitation is wanted when it comes to video games, otherwise you are sacrificing your time for something that will not yield much gain in your life.

 

[xlnt]

Upping this old thread to say it's very subjective once again, and that I really love old retro games myself. PS3, PS2, PSX, Snes, Nes, Genesis, NeoGeo, old adventure games etc. All perfectly playable on PS3. Chatgpt helped me do this image, as I'm apparently the "PS3 Retro King":

Better try to be more of a yoga king and not "waste" too much time in this chill corner here

But after yoga, it's even more chill, and that's hard to resist.

 

[serpentwalker666]

Upping this old thread to say it's very subjective once again, and that I really love old retro games myself. PS3, PS2, PSX, Snes, Nes, Genesis, NeoGeo, old adventure games etc. All perfectly playable on PS3. Chatgpt helped me do this image, as I'm apparently the "PS3 Retro King":

View attachment 7804

Better try to be more of a yoga king and not "waste" too much time in this chill corner here

But after yoga, it's even more chill, and that's hard to resist.

I've mainly turned to emulation for retro games and software, but I definitely have to say emulation on the PS3 and other consoles around that era is also a decent option.

All I can say is if you spend a little time playing games here and there, and you are otherwise a productive and strongly advancing being, there is no issue at all.

The issue only comes when people are far too into this like with excessive use and escapism.

I used to be a very heavy gamer in my teenage years and younger, to an extent I recommend everyone to remember moderation and just be responsible.

One day when I get the time I'd like to just generate significant income from a game development studio, but this is not high on the list at this point in time.

 

[xlnt]

I've mainly turned to emulation for retro games and software, but I definitely have to say emulation on the PS3 and other consoles around that era is also a decent option.

All I can say is if you spend a little time playing games here and there, and you are otherwise a productive and strongly advancing being, there is no issue at all.

The issue only comes when people are far too into this like with excessive use and escapism.

I used to be a very heavy gamer in my teenage years and younger, to an extent I recommend everyone to remember moderation and just be responsible.

One day when I get the time I'd like to just generate significant income from a game development studio, but this is not high on the list at this point in time.One can create games and 3D worlds even with a cheap computer. I use Unreal Engine

Yes with PS3 it's possible to play both PS3 games and also older snes games etc.
Many PS3 games like Ridge Racer 7 (my favorite racing game) has that kind of 90's arcade-like feel it. 3D graphics but still a bit pixelated. And you can also play older PS2 games etc.

As for gaming studio, I use Unreal Engine 4.7 as my computer cannot the latest handle 5.6.

But I can still create masterpieces with the right ideas.
My favorite game of all time is Dishonored.

That game was made in Unreal Engine 3.
Nuff said.

 

[xlnt]

 

[Henu the Great]

but how degenerate can they be considered?

How degenerate? Video games are an art form among others. The 'degeneracy' can be determined by the content, rather than the medium.

 

[Lucciola]

I've always believed that those who played video games, especially as children, tend to develop stronger problem-solving skills than those who never did. I've noticed that people who explored different types of games in childhood are more likely to identify strategic solutions to problems later in life. For this reason, I don't view video games negatively.

 

[Menis Therian]

No, I do not know what you mean. Because interactive media is media among others, whether you like it or not. Books are interactive as well, so is theathe, movies, and other plays, and so many more. However, you did not liken those to sports. Lol. Actually, video games are a product of Venus and Neptune first and foremost, then of Mercury and Uranus. However, certain competitive games have elements of competitiveness. sometimes, very intensely, where Mars and Pluto play a role, but this is only a fraction of video games.

No, you have missed my point on this one. Let me clarify.
1) Media is one thing, art is another thing. For something to be considered media (e.g. newspapers) is not the same as for something to be considered art (e.g. architecture). I did not write about media to avoid confusion.
2) When I mentioned about interactions, I meant interactions with the people involved in the creation of the art and the spectators, not just among the artists involved. Thus, literature and theater cannot be "interactive" by this definition, because you just consume them passively, whereas with video games you actually interact with and change the work itself. My point with this is that art is originally contemplated passively, but with video games this is not the case. The fact that video games have music, "painting" (graphics), and "literature" in a way, it does not mean that they are art themselves. It is actually much more complex than all of these things together. I prefer to classify video games as their own thing, if that makes sense.
3) To liken games to sports is a totally valid approach. Here is why, in both you have:
a. Competition. In the case of video games: either against the AI, other players or for the sake of records (e.g. leader boards).
b. Technical ability and dexterity.
c. Defined rules and measurable objectives.
d. Playful and overcoming aspect.
When you mention that "only a fraction of video games" have elements of competitiveness, it does not mean it is a small number. You can say that puzzle, simulation, interactive (e.g. drama), learning, and other niche games don't have that competitive aspect to them (even though they can have). However, most popular game genres (FPS, RPGs, TPS, RTS, racing, fighting, etc) you indeed end up having some sort of competition, as I mentioned above. This is even true if you are not consciously competing against the AI, and you just want to enjoy the story of a single-player campaign, for instance.
Nonetheless, your other remarks make sense.

 

[Eratessa]

alice: the madness returns. GODS İ LOVE THİS GAME! it's gothic and really personal for me even tho it's graphics sucks :')

 

[Hvítr Ormr]

Portal 2 is a great game where you need to solve the puzzles to pass to the next map. It was very difficult the first 2 or 3 times I played it. I wish I could forget it so I could solve them for the first time again.

I don't know if you're aware, but a team of modders made a massive expansion for Portal 2 recently, it's called Portal: Revolution. It's free, and has a different storyline, new maps & gameplay mechanics etc. I forgot all about it until recently.

 

[Sol Rei 666]

I love FromSoftware games, the Souls series, Bloodborne, Elden Ring, and specially Sekiro.

I enjoyed Resident Evil all the way from 1-4 but they get old real quickly, and are also just braindead fun. I like the puzzling structure of the 1st game (Remake), but still, it's a limited game imo.

I played a bit of Ghost of Tsushima and will come back at it or other games as soon as I have more time and money, as a thing besides making donation.

Imo Ghost of Tsushima succeeds as a historical open world RPG where Ubisoft games fail, although it was fun walking through Ancient Greece in AC Odyssey, the game was too big and worthless.

Posting in this thread after a while, but about Resident evil, i think Resident Evil 7 is the best, i love the characters and the story.