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July 2026 Progress Report
Technically, this “month’s” progress is actually two month’s worth of gaming. I did my last update at the beginning of June. But technically I posted in back-to-back months so I am feeling proud of myself anyway!
Steam Games
I bought this during the steam sale after playing the demo for around 7 hours. This is a remake but I was completely unfamiliar with the original game so I came into this with no expectations.
I really enjoyed my time with this one (as you can probably tell from my playtime) which is a bit odd because I also have a list of complaints a mile long. The characters annoyed me (very typically JRPG tropey), the plot was extremely predictable, and the cutscenes were way too long. Despite all that, the whole experience was incredibly addictive. I wishlisted the second installment long before I had finished playing this first one.
I still need to gather my thoughts into something more coherent before posting a steam review, but this is definitely a recommend.
I picked this game up for free via a Playtracker gift token after seeing it in the recent Humble Bundle. It is a story-driven, dice-based RPG which is my bread-and-butter of gaming. I haven't played the first entry yet which I have heard some people say is the better narrative, but it is on my wishlist to get to later because I really enjoyed my time with the sequel.
The game did a really good job of introducing new players to the universe in an easily understood and non-intrusive way. Based on some steam reviews, it seems like some of the NPCs were actually companions in the previous entry, which may impact my experience of that game but wasn't noticeable to someone playing them out-of-order. RNG could get a bit annoying at times, but otherwise the gameplay was easy, even playing on the hardest difficulty as I was.
Recommend for all RPG lovers but maybe not to anyone who gets easily annoyed by RNG.
An excellent sequel to an already very fun game. The gameplay is basically identical to what was in Strange Horticulture so anyone who played that and enjoyed it will enjoy this one too. Both games have what I would describe as "puzzle-light" gameplay. Nothing particularly mentally taxing, but just challenging enough to keep you engaged with the story. It is a short but sweet experience; it took me about 5 hours to 100% it, with one full playthrough and some strategic reloading to explore the different possible endings.
Recommended for a chill, low-stress game with an occult theme.
Copied from my steam review:
A strong return to form for the RE franchise, although it changes a few elements that existed in previous titles in an unexpected but effective way. Notably, CAPCOM switched the viewpoint from third to first person and the protagonist is completely unprepared for this situation rather than being a cop or some form of special forces. For fans of the classic series (or even the remakes of those classic games), the switch to first person might be a bit jarring. However, it actually works very well for enhancing the horror atmosphere especially given how unprepared our protagonist Ethan is.
It isn't my favorite of the modern titles--that probably either goes to Requiem or the remake of 2-- but it excellently executes what it sets out to do. The DLC was a bit more hit-or-miss but overall were nice additions to the game. They are also quite varied, so players should be able to find at least one that they enjoy. There are stealth/puzzles ones very like the main game, survival modes where you face off against hordes of enemies, and even a horror-themed blackjack simulator.
If you are new to the series, 7 is a decent starting point. If you are a returning fan, you'll likely be pleased with this return-to-form after the disappointing 5 and 6. Goes on sale frequently with all the DLC so it is an easy recommend to buy.
Slightly modified from my Steam review:
I really enjoyed this game. It is pretty short but well-paced. The bulk of the gameplay involves you creating your own tarot cards and then using them to read other characters' fates. There is a surprising amount of depth in the card creation mechanics. The game initially gives you an overview of the four elements that you can use to craft cards--air, water, earth, and fire--but there are hidden mechanics that you can learn more about if you take the time to study your academic texts.
There is a major switch-up to the gameplay toward the end, however. While most of the game revolves around the fortune-telling mechanic, the game eventually turns into a political sim. You're selecting policy proposals, bolstering your own campaign, and trying to sabotage other candidates. While you can continue to make cards during this period, you cannot actually use them until the final portion of the game. Personally, I enjoyed this switch-up as it kept the gameplay interesting. However, I understand that it might annoy other players who engaged with the game primarily for the unique card-building mechanic.
Story: The story was fine. It never wowed me but it was engaging enough to keep me invested in the game. The characters were varied and decently well-written. There were definitely some awkwardly worded lines that could kill immersion a bit but it wasn't egregious. There isn't any spoken dialogue but each character is written distinctly enough that they all feel as if they have their own voice.
Replayability: I'd say this is moderately replayable. You will definitely learn a lot about how your deck works as you play and therefore might want to start a new run with your new knowledge. However, you do gain the ability to remove and remake cards partway through so you don't actually have to restart to put your new knowledge to use. There are also some "character creation" changes that alter the gameplay slightly. At the beginning of the game you will bargain for certain things. For example, you will be asked if you most desire love, power, or knowledge. Some way into the game, this will reward you with a different skill based upon your choice. These could be powerful but won't dramatically change your experience.
Overall, I'd recommend playing the free demo and if you had fun then go ahead and buy the full game (your progress will carry over). I got it on sale but I think the full price is fair if you don't want to wait.
GOG Games
I've had several games from this series sitting in my backlog for years. I finally got around to playing this one as a Playtracker challenge and I loved it. Despite being a big fan of stealth games, I had never played a Deux Ex game previously. I can see why it is such a classic series and I'm actually looking forward to someday playing my Steam copy of it for the achievements (for some reason, I have a copy on both platforms). I'm not sure if I would rate it at the same level of the Thief series or the Dishonored series, but it still scratches that immersive sim itch.
Recommend.
GOG was giving this away for free, so I decided to give it a try. A nice, short, narrative experience. The puzzles were mostly straightforward and the graphics were lovely. I felt that the ending was underwhelming but considering you can complete it in a single evening and it was free, I'm satisfied with my time with it.
I picked up the entire series (except the most recent one) via Prime gaming giveaways. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't decided to play it on the hardest difficulty, as some of railroaded parts of the game had basically no margin for error (in particular, there was an annoying car chase scene where they enemies could basically one-shot you that I had to replay many times). Other than that, however, it was fun. The narrative and characters are definitely stronger aspects than the gameplay but (other than the aforementioned driving) the whole experience was pretty fun.
New SG Wins
July 2026
Ended up playing some shorter games this month, mainly because I am on a bit of a gaming rut at the moment and don’t know what to play, so I’m mixing in other hobbies, playing some simpler games and enjoying summer out of the house.
The first hour and France are fantastic. The rest of the story? Not so much. Some decisions don't make sense with Arno, but do with Élise. The game itself was beautiful and the gameplay was pretty cool as well.
More puzzles. This time there are multiple types of puzzles, some were more interesting to play than others since some others were not intuitive at all.
Pretty cute kitty game, you just explore a city somewhere in Japan playing with things, collecting things, sometimes robbing food and stuff.
Going into this with no expectations or knowledge about the story was definitely the correct choice. And that's all that I will say about it. You own it? Play it.
Batman: The Enemy Within - The Telltale Series
After the first game, this one was a bit of a let-down, to be honest. I couldn't care less about some of the characters, some plots felt forced just because so, and some scenes were a drag on the earlier episodes.
Nothing much to note about this one, some simple puzzles, others not so much.
This one was free, thanks fernandopa for the rec! This type of games is always great to pick up and play for a few minutes, or get sucked in and when you look at the clock, one hour has passed.
It's a fine game. Some levels were a bit difficult but overral not too hard. The facts were fun.
Monthly Statistics:
| July | Finished | Abandoned | Added | Balance | Most Satisfying Reduction | Most Exciting Addition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | 7 | 1 | 6 | -2 | A Space for the Unbound | Sea of Stars: Sunset Edition |
| Ubisoft Connect | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | Assassin's Creed Unity | - |
August 2026
A pretty good month of getting stuff done is behind me. Hopefully august will be just as good! And maybe some more games can be added through giveaways. Really enjoying all the group stuff conntected to steamgifts so far! Oh, I even refunded a game i bought during sommer sale. An idle game, after I wrapped my mind around the fact, that they need SO MUCH TIME to get through 100%. And yet gameplay is really little. I want to spend my time with more fun games now. So for now, no more idle games.
New to library
As part of a group event, I got a key for 'Neo Cab' and got 'Drop Duchy' and 'Steam World Dig' gifted. Besides that, I only got 'Windswept' myself, even tho I was really close on buying 'Moonlight Peaks'. Because I'm a sucker for anything vampire related.
Completed & 100%
I got alot of the games done, that I wanted to get 100% on! One of them beeing 'Chillquarium', which was so grindy and teadious, it got me to dislike idle games. And 'Disney Dreamlight Valley', which has an achievement that forces you to log in almost daily for a year. I finally managed to get that done!
Among some others I also finished 'Neo Cab' with 100% for a group event I participated in!
inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories
8.1 hours, 23 of 38 achievements
Road to 100%
I don't really know yet, which games to pick for August here because my focus this month is more on actually finishing games in general. But i do want to Play SteamWorld Dig, and it looks like a game that has 100% potentional for me. So I will just drop that here.
SteamWorld Dig
0 hours, 0 of 24 achievements
To be Played
As mentioned above, I would like to finish some games this month. So I picked some wins/gifts, as well as some games I just really wanna play.
Death Must Die
10.2 hours, 21 of 59 achievements
Drop Duchy
0.2 hours, 0 of 181 achievements
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
0.8 hours, 4 of 49 achievements
The Lonesome Guild
1.0 hours, 5 of 34 achievements
SteamWorld Dig
0 hours, 0 of 24 achievements
No longer 100%
What can i say besides 'An add-on/update ruined my 100%.' And I just noticed another game that has lost it's 100%-badge.
Diablo® IV
488.8 hours, 41 of 45 achievements
Progress Report #38: July 2026
Monthly tally - Backlog: 2, Yekhus: 2
Total play time: 67h
Completed or Beaten (2)
Also Played (2)
Added to collection (Steam) (2)
- SEUM: Speedrunners from Hell (SG giveaway)
- A Juggler's Tale (SG giveaway)
#425
#35 of 2026
July 31, 2026
Happy freedom month my fellow Americans.
was definitely a bit more different than I expected, I was expecting something a bit closer to the older 2D Zelda games that this ended up being.
really not a fan of game that offers assist options that immediately locks the safe out of achievements completely if you use some of them… I just wanted to enable checkpoints before bosses and a couple other relatively minor things that I consider terrible game design brought over from dark souls(that even FromSoft moved away from)…. I am fine if it disables related relevant challenge achievements… but when story things start getting disabled…
cute wolf girl = my weakness
very similar to the later The Room games, The Room is definitely better.
I fortunately got to this at just the right time as the enhanced version was just released
after a few years I get to finally uninstall.
and using some shift codes that give diamond keys… will make the campaign very easy, they are definitely intended for end game… as the weapons and shields I was using were easily 2-10x stronger than anything I was finding.
the random dialogue wasn't doing it for me… probably just playing it some years to late where its all dated… and I wish they would stop having dialogue be local to NPCs for story…. I move an inch from them and I can't hear them… I'm always looting or something while they talk… so i missed a chunk of things by not sitting still to listen…. at least the gameplay was great, I went with a gunner… basically never used anything other than assault rifles I got from the diamond keys or a shotgun for big juicy crits.
great game… ruined my backlog progress
if only real world time could be paused so freely.
took 3.5 weeks before game could be 100%'d… some things were bugged, devs actively fixing things at least
Jul 30 2026
July 2026
Little Problems: It was harder than what I was expecting. I thought it was okay but I don’t think I like this type of puzzle. My brain really struggled figuring out and remembering who did what. The cats were cute though. 6/10.
Arcade Spirits: Also just kind of okay. I didn’t vibe with the humor but I did like most of the characters. I had very low expectations with the voice acting but it wasn’t as cringe as I was expecting. It was actually pretty good. The routes I did were QueenBee, Ashley, and Naomi, though I can’t rank them because I feel like they were all relatively the same quality. 7/10.
Starpoint Gemini 2: I liked the gameplay loop, but I think forcing myself to beat the campaign made me dislike the game a little bit. I did not care about the story at all, I actually stopped paying attention to it. If I didn’t make myself beat the campaign, I think I’d have stopped at 10 hours in and have a better experience. I just felt very underpowered in the story quests even though I thought I had the best ship/equipment I could get for my rank. There were also a lot of times where you have to fight multiple enemies in a row, and when you die, you start from the nearest station you were in, fly back to the mission area, wait for the long unskippable dialogues to end, and fight again. So it also just felt tedious to do. The free roam was more fun because combat actually felt balanced and more fair. Either way it’s a 6/10.
Jolly Good: Cakes and Ale: One of the more unique Hosted Games/Choice of Games because it’s a British comedy instead of yet another fantasy drama. While it’s well-written, the story just feel incomplete. It’s supposed to be a trilogy but the second game is taking way too long to be released. I mean this one was released in Nov 2020 and we’re only getting the sequel in Dec 2026 and it won’t even be the full game, just 1/3rd of it (apparently the second game was too long so the author has to slowly release the rest). There’s a lot of replayability but the story as a whole is just lacking at the moment. I’d still give this an 8/10 but honestly, just check out the author’s other game set in the same universe called Tally Ho which is actually a complete story. I’d recommend waiting for this one to be fully released (though that might be in 2030 minimum lol).
Our World is Ended: The art, voice acting, characters, and OST (for my fellow VOCALOID fans, 164 made the vocal songs in the game) are great and it felt like a very well-polished visual novel. The story itself is mediocre though and the dialogues felt repetitive at times. The humor wasn’t the best either. I didn’t really find most of the “jokes” funny. It’s just perverted for the sake of being perverted. There was also a lot of anime bullshit that might be hard to ignore if you’re not used to ignoring them. But the characters were really fun and they definitely made this game better than it should be.
I was initially planning on giving this an 8 because I really enjoyed the characters but I think Tatiana’s route disgusted me too much and also the secret route (Reina) and just that character’s ending in general disappointed me. I did their route last because I thought it’d be the game’s true ending in the sense that we could save them but no, it’s more of a bad ending and even the end screen says so (“Our World is bad end”). I really enjoyed the early to middle point but I think the later parts and the endings were too underwhelming and disappointing so I’m giving this a 5/10.
Route rankings: Natsumi >>>>> Asano = Yuno > Iruka > Owari >>>>> Tatiana = Secret Route.
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Arcade Spirits
12 hours playtime
15 of 21 achievements
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Jolly Good: Cakes and Ale
27 hours playtime
62 of 62 achievements
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Little Problems
4 hours playtime
24 of 24 achievements
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Our World Is Ended.
120 hours playtime
40 of 40 achievements
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Starpoint Gemini 2
22 hours playtime
28 of 52 achievements
Goals for August 2026
I didn’t manage to beat most of the games I had planned for this month because OWiE took too much of my time. I’m really glad to be done with that VN. Anyhoo, I’m dropping the RE4R 100% idea for now. I joined Play or Pay last month and I want to start beating my picked games. I’m not sure if I have the time for 100%ing RE4R. I still want to 100% Pentiment though. Danganronpa 2 and Wantless are probably going to take me multiple months before beating again, similar to OWiE and SG2.
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Dragon Age: Origins - Ultimate Edition
31 hours playtime
no achievements
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Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
5 hours playtime
0 of 47 achievements
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Middle-earth™: Shadow of Mordor™
5 hours playtime
2 of 74 achievements
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Pentiment
20 hours playtime
23 of 41 achievements
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Penumbra: Overture
52 minutes playtime
no achievements
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Resident Evil 4
15 hours playtime
14 of 46 achievements
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Spirit of the North
6 hours playtime
4 of 24 achievements
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Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven
58 hours playtime
30 of 63 achievements
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Wantless
3 hours playtime
1 of 38 achievements
#424
#34 of 2026
July 30, 2026
Jul 28 2026
Creeper World 4 completed! I honestly never cared about 100%ing games until I joined this site, and it’s really satisfying and I nice reason to dig deeper into games I haven’t played in a while and love. I will almost certainly not 100% everything but it’s nice to give that extra attention to games that have been important to me.




















































