Brok The Investigator. There are multiple endings, but each different ending has a linear enough progression, even if the first time you have no clue as to what ending you’ll get. The only thing you need to do for different endings is making different choices.
Simple enough game set in a world where the poor, slummers, live in the polluted, rundown slums while the rich, drummers, live under the high quality dome. You play as a crocodile (alligator?) who is a detective, a slummer named Brok who lives with his teenage cat son Graff. Not saying much more because spoilers, even though the drummer and slummer and the polluted world thing are kinda minor spoilers despite learning about them real quick in chapter 1.
The occasional puzzles aren’t too hard to figure out, at least I thought so for all but one. And if you don’t like the combat mode, I’m pretty sure there is a way to turn it off, though I’m not sure how it affects gameplay/choices. Though, the upcoming DLC (whenever it releases) doesn’t look like it’s gonna be linear since it’s all about the games combat system and adding bonus challenges to fights. So I’d probably avoid that if you aren’t playing the game for the combat.
I have a copy of the full Steins;Gate manga that I admit to not having read yet. I’ve seen the anime (movies(OVAs?) not included), alongside Zero. And I found something a long time ago that would allow me to download the app on my android device and play in English (not sure there was an official option for that back then or even now). Now I am absolutely thinking of getting back into visual novels of that style (the left click only gameplay style) and Steins;Gate is on my list. This also reminds me I need to finish Saya no Uta.
Looked through all of my games on Steam Deck and forgot I had a few. None of them I can’t say I’m really interested in right now, but I’m somewhat excited about Psychonauts because I’ve heard good things about it.
Got back into Yooka Laylee after a fairly long hiatus. Still on the first 2 levels because of the high amount of exploration and things to do, so I’m not far at all, but definitely having fun.
Just released 1.0 a month ago. Simple enough gameplay loop. Throw orbs at pegs on board to fight enemies. Go down different paths on a map until you reach the boss fight at the bottom, upgrading and getting new orbs and relics along the way to help. Repeat 2 more times and you win. Has 20 levels of increasing difficulty after beating your first run, but locked behind standard progression.
Dungoens and Degenerate Gamblers (Steam)
Released beginning of last month. Play Blackjack against opponents, but you each have a life bar. Score higher than opponent to deal damage equal to the difference in your scores to them. Various non-playing cards and other nonsensical cards will appear as playable cards. Things like a get well soon card, SD card, a flat out 21 card, a birthday card, and many more can be found. Go until you either lose all your health or beat the final boss on one of two different routes to be taken.
I personally don’t mind them, but I personally think the best kinds of random encounters are ones like pokemon randomizers where you step in the grass in a modded gen 3 game with every single pokemon in existence in it and it randomly pulls from the list of 1000+ mons in order to give you a feeling of true randomness in team building. Especially since you aren’t able to predict which creatures you will get.
Having a random table containing only a few different encounters isn’t anywhere near as fun and exciting as randomly having gods spawn as your enemy as a beginner in a randomized game followed by the weakest creatures in the game a moment later.
Sadly reaching the end of Pokemon Unbreakable Ties beta 4.
Also ended up downloading Frogatto recently because I’ve heard some good things about it and so far a couple levels in it’s fun enough. Not fun enough that I’d be giving it glowing reviews across the board, but fun enough to play on occasion.
I wish I knew my first ever Dead Money playthrough that I could spare Dean. Didn’t know that he’d get pissed off if you pass any skill checks with him. I was kinda surprised when he wanted to kill me because I clearly didn’t pick up on him wanting me dead.
The problem is they’re such a large and recognizable company that they could probably switch to making and selling malware and everyone would still buy it without thinking twice. Humanity is full of idiots.