You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
My second what should I buy thread of the evening!
I enjoy the odd spell of gaming, but am very casual about it.
Lockdown and the summer have been spent with New Vegas and Fallout 4, and previous to that I got into Borderlands and Borderlands 2.
I've just about exhausted Fallout 4 now, and am on the lookout for the next thing to spend 3 or 4 late night hours a week on. From the above, it's clear I like FPS/RPG hybrids and am after recommendations from the STW massive. I've not got a super high spec gaming machine (ASUS laptop) but it runs Fallout 4 on high detail settings with ease.
Ideally looking for stuff I can get through Steam.
Borderlands 3 is an obvious shout I guess? Fallout 76 likewise - it seems to have improved since its pretty dismal launch version but is it worth a try (I'm pretty invested in the franchise - could even go back to Fallout 3 I suppose)? RDR/RDR2 appeal as well.
Anything else to consider?
Elite: Dangerous.
It’ll take over your life.
Join the STW squadron
It’ll take over your life.
Not entirely my thing (although I am old enough to have played the original on a number of 80s platforms and tinkered with Oolite in my Linux period) but I'd considered it - the thread on here is always intriguing.
Not sure I have the willpower to avoid the complete time sink it would be though...
Not "The Last of Us 2".
So.
Many.
F#*%ing.
Cutscenes.
Edit - just noticed the bit about you having a PC so ignore the above.
It's not what you asked for at all but Frostpunk is bloody awesome.
If you can be arsed to do mods, Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl is still one of the best shooters ever. No RPG progression except in the weapons but the atmosphere of the Zone ought to make up for that.
RDR/RDR2
Can't go wrong with RDR, it's one of the finest games ever made. RDR2 is kinda Marmite.
Tomb Raider (rebooted) series? Sounds like you'd get on well with those.
It's a change of pace but have a look at "Deliver Us the Moon." I've been enjoying that of late.
If you like story-driven games rather than just run 'n' gun, it would be remiss of me not to mention Life Is Strange. It's one of the best things I've played in years. It's episodic and the first episode is free so you've no reason not to try it. It's a slow burn though, give it a chance.
If you haven't tried it, try Rocket League, now free to play since Epic bought them out this year. I love playing "Rumble" gamemode.
Dishonored and Dishonored 2. Should be available cheapish on Steam by now.
I played the second one first, doesn't matter really. Some of the levels are absolute works of art, so many ways to play it (fighting/stealth etc) - must have played it through at least half a dozen times.
Pretty sure that no-one on this thread, OP included, understands what the word "casual" means 😂
especially this guyElite: Dangerous.
Playing in a cardigan?
Oh, and Doom (2016). Perfect for working out the day's little frustrations.
If you liked fallout 4 and NV then maybe fallout 3 like you said
You could go full rpg and try out fallout 1 and 2, they're isometric rpgs that are brutal and brilliant - the storyline and cause and effect mechanic is so much better in them than in the first person versions in my opinion. They're currently £7.59 each on GoG.com.
You mention Steam, but sign up to Epic too. The free games alone can keep you occupied for months once you've had it a while. Currently I'm playing AssCreed Syndicate (the one in London) which was free; previous giveaways have also included GTA V, Total War Troy and Civilisation VI. Oh, and Footy Manager 2020.
I'd echo the points about Frostpunk and the new Tomb Raider series (Tomb Raider, the second one, and Shadow of the...) above. Control is also excellent, very engrossing.
And for all of these slightly less new games, check out Fanatical Games to see what coupons are available. Shadow of the Tomb Raider can be found for about 70% off at the moment at weekends, most of Frostpunk likewise, and so on.
Left 4 Dead 2 is great, it's 10 years old now so you can run it at max on pretty much anything and it's just had a massive update. There's still a huge online gaming following for it.
It's vintage PC gaming though, so bloody hard.
RDR2 is the boy for me though... it's not overly casual though, it's R* so it's easy to play, more 'experience' than challenge, a simple mission can take an hour because it's rarely a straight line and it's easy to get distracted by the environment. I've played through the story a few times, I like to go on long Huntin' and Fishin' treks through the wilderness now.
I have thoroughly been enjoying Far Cry 5 and before that Spiderman, RDR2 and Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order.
All bar spiderman (Playstation exclusive) are on steam.
I have one of the new Tomb Raiders, all of the Uncharted games and Tom Clancy's The Division amongst other stuff that's on the PS4 to crack on with once I have have finished/got bored with Far Cry 5.
I tend to buy games when they are very cheap or free on PS Plus, that being said I might well pay full price money for Ghosts of Tsushima...
Games need to have a decent story mode as I don't do online games as I'm old and to be frank rubbish.
Maybe too casual but Pinball Deluxe Reloaded on my phone is brilliant.
Dying Light is an absolute classic. First person open world single player RPGish game. Hit zombies with machetes and spiked bats and electrified swords, as well as regular guns. Also the best parkour ever included in a game (yes even better than you, Mirror's Edge).
Borderlands 3 is great, by far the game I've spent the most time play in the last year or so. Got really into playing it coop online with some mates over lockdown too. I enjoyed all the far cry series too. Can't quite put my finger on why but I just couldn't gel with RDR or RDR2. Conversely to a poster above I also loved "Last of us 2" and will replay it again soon.
Currently I’m playing AssCreed Syndicate (the one in London) which was free
That's a good shout. I enjoyed all the Assassin's Creed games (aside from the first one which is repetitive, tedious mince) and I think Syndicate has been my favourite so far. Once you've progessed sufficiently, remotely sending in your army of murderous bastards for a bit of the old ultraviolence never gets old.
oh .... So it's not just me then.
I got thoroughly bored of ASSCRD Odyssey, lovely looking but real shame they didn't make the most of greek Mythology.
Was thinking of the London one, but didn't want to be bored again.
OP ... I've really enjoyed the Tomb raider reboots... but do them in order, last one/latest one is rather good.
Witcher 3, or even better, buy 1 to 3 and get the full background to everything. Total War games can be good too.
RDR2, Assassin's Creed Odyssey are huge and beautiful open world games.
If you're interested in trying something away from that format a bit, I've just finished Subnautica which was amazing. It's a game about surviving a crash landing on an ocean planet, very unique with a detailed world to explore.
Fps and casual? Call of duty warzone is free and brill.
oh …. So it’s not just me then.
I got thoroughly bored of ASSCRD Odyssey, lovely looking but real shame they didn’t make the most of greek Mythology.
Was thinking of the London one, but didn’t want to be bored again.
Disclaimer: I've played and enjoyed the AC2 trilogy, AC3, AC4 and Syndicate. I've only played about an hour of Origins (Egypt) and neither of the later titles, so I can't compare to those.
If you liked Fallout maybe try the Elder Scrolls games. Morrowind is still the best one overall imo although the graphics haven’t aged well. Oblivion is basically field, the game and Skyrim isn’t bad if you just like pissing about in an open world environment.
The Witcher games are good, but the combat is bobbins. The latest Zelda has ruined most other open world games for me. Get annoyed now when I can’t just climb everything.
Love a FPS! Really enjoying Metro Exodus on PS4 at the moment, don't know if it's available on PC/steam.
Left 4 Dead 2 is great, it’s 10 years old now so you can run it at max on pretty much anything and it’s just had a massive update. There’s still a huge online gaming following for it.
Interesting!
Love a FPS! Really enjoying Metro Exodus on PS4 at the moment, don’t know if it’s available on PC/steam.
It was Epic exclusive for a while but I think it's on Steam now. I still need to get through 2033 but it's brilliant.
Oh, if you want a story shortcut for Witcher just read the books. Or if you can wait till November just get Cyberpunk 2077
If you are prepared to go the full swords and sorcery them Witcher 3 and Skyrim are the closest to Fallout 4 in feel.
I think Horizon Zero Dawn is on the PC now I think.
Another vote for Dishonored. I think I paid £2.39 on Steam. What an awesome game. I played it through twice, I could probably do it again. I'm usually more of a first person shooter fan, but this was superb.
Dishonored 1, 2, plus the entire Metro series. Metro Exodus was the last 'flat' game I played....
Although as a lifelong gamer I would spend £299 on the new Oculus Quest 2, if you don't mind using Facebook products. Gets Walking Dead Saints and Sinners at launch which I have been playing the last few months via PC.
Thanks all. Loads to think on there.
I started the first Tomb Raider reboot and was really enjoying it until I got to the temple fight and got totally stuck there so gave up on the whole thing. Maybe I'll go back to that and try again.
That aside, the shortlist feels like Borderlands 3 if my machine is up to it, RDR/RDR2, Fallout 3, with Dishonored coming in as a surprise new entry - looks intriguing.
(I know what casual gaming really is, but was abusing the phrase to mean 'serious' games you can dip in and out of - mission based I guess is what I should have said)
Batman Arkham series.
Who doesn’t want to be Batman?
Dark Souls 3 is a serious game you can dip in and out of, and the Soulsborne games are unique. DS3 is Casual Souls really but that makes it a good place to start to see if you like the style.