Gaming teaches us that every failure is a stepping stone to success. Vasharal’s profile
ABOUT ME
I’m primarily drawn to games for their stories, but I’m always open to trying out highly recommended titles or those known for great gameplay. When a game really hooks me, I go all in, aiming for 100% completion and unlocking all the achievements.
I often spend way more time than the average player, exploring every hidden detail, tackling side quests, and wrapping up all the achievements before finishing the main campaign. I don’t mind doubling the usual playtime if a game truly resonates with me.
That said, I rarely replay games after completing the story—unless the campaign isn’t the game’s main focus or it didn’t hold my interest in the first place.
I enjoy exploring a variety of genres, from Strategy and RPGs to Action-Adventure, Shooters, Simulations, and even sports sims. For game series, I prefer starting with the first installment, skipping sequels if I haven’t played the original. I like seeing where a game began and how it’s evolved, so I’m happy to dive into titles that are a decade or two old.
Other links:
TalePlayPlaying Appreciated
Play a game you won on SteamGifts
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
JANUARY
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The Month of Co-Op Games
January was a crazy month for me playing so many co-op games I was surprised I finished so many.
Had so much fun playing together with the members of my Discord channel that often times I would forget I needed to go to bed, as the next day work started again.
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Extremly Short Completion
Great follow up to the prequel. The story was a lot more consistent this time around and the improvements were a lot better this time around. Although not as fascinating as the first time, I enjoyed this game as much as the previous one.
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Very Long Completion
Very pleased to put this game in my completion list starting this year. It's a nice idle game. Had a lot of fun, but I wish progress would carry from biome to biome. It's a bit of a grind overall getting all the achievements.
Played this with a TalePlay friend. We laughed so much. It's a complicated game as you need to get used to walking, puzzles are tough and being patient with one another is ideal.
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Very Short Completion
Expected some really interesting stories told. Was fairly disappointed by the game. Was very unique, but the game was not fun to complete and I was forced to follow guides to understand how to complete this. Not a fun game.
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Short Completion
By far one of the best co-op and adventure games I've played this year. I might even say that one of the best games I've played in a very long time. Touching story, likable characters, great moral story. A masterfully crafted game.
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Extremly Short Completion
An interesting and claustrophobic game. I did watch this game and kinda got a big chunk of it spoiled by Jacksepticeye, but still wanted to try it and tick it off my backlog. Glad that I did.
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Very Short Completion
This game disappointed me. It's not a bad game, but it's not living to the hype and the compliments so many people praised it for. It's a decent game, I'll give it that, with pretty visuals, but with a boring story and the gameplay is too shallow.
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Medium Completion
Really enjoyed this game. Despite being a fairly complex bullet hell game, I constantly trumpeted that this is by far one of the best ones I've played due to it's creativity, fun and uniqueness. I only wish there was more content.
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Very Short Completion
Although I played this on the PS4 before and beaten it, I decided to have another shot to complete it. I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. Really good game, with a little bit of decision-making.
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Very Short Completion
A unique take on this type of genre. I have to admit I enjoyed it more than I expected. After playing Over the Phone, this was exactly what I was looking for, a more interactive game. Decisions matter and can change the grand finale.
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Very Long Completion
Not a game, but rather a program you use in tandem with other stuff you do on PC. Whether you want to listen to some relaxing lofi or just have a very warm and pleasant vibe, this program is perfect for that. A little too grindy to complete.
NEW YEAR - NEW PARENT
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I'll beat my way through completion if I have to.
December didn’t go so well for my completions. I did beat a few large games, but nothing spectacular.
As some of you might know, I’ll be a dad soon, and my baby is due at the end of May. With that comes responsibilities, less time for gaming and completing, and who knows what other challenges.
So, I figured that with the last remaining 4 months, why not play games I really want, complete the unfinished ones, and not worry about any sort of challenge?
Who knows when I’ll be playing video games again after that.
So my plan is quite simple: complete unfinished games and experience the ones I’ve always wanted to play.
Simple, right?
We shall see!
On another note, my Game of the Year and Honorable Mentions are now updated and in my profile.
JANUARY - MARCH 2025
Unfinished | Beaten | Completed | Backlog+ | Library+ | Wishlisted |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | 8 | 16 | ⇑ 11 | ⇑ 41 | ⇓ 890 |
Achievements | Games Completed | Average Completion Rate |
---|---|---|
⇑ 503 | 274 | 74% |
Yearly Challenge - Completed Games (16/30)
Completed this Quarter: 16BEST SINGLEPLAYER THIS QUARTER
MOST EXCITING ADDITION
BEST MULTIPLAYER THIS QUARTER
WISH I PLAYED SOONER
TRIAL/DEMO
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
DECEMBER
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The Month of Complete all Idle Games
Despite having intentions to complete some massive games, I ended up completing idle games that I spent way too much time to begin with.
Still very glad I have. I can't wait to stop seeing only Idle games being my top most played games on my Steam Reply.
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Very Short Completion
Only explored for a short time this game. I plan on returning to it. I do wanna complete this game at some point. I just hope I find the people to complete the rest of achievements with.
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Medium Completion
Played this briefly with my wife. Had a lot of fun, but the game was difficult. She, unfortunately, gave up continuing the game with me, so I'm left with another unfinished co-op game on my to-do bucket list.
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Very Long Completion
Progressed a bit on the achievement side, but still got a long way to go it seems. Got distracted at some point as I was intending to complete this game with other games.
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Very Long Completion
Progressed slightly in some areas, like side quests and mini-games, but didn't make a significant dent in the story.
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Medium Completion
Played this briefly with my wife. Had a lot of fun, but the game was difficult. She, unfortunately, gave up continuing the game with me, so I'm left with another unfinished co-op game on my to-do bucket list.
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Very Long Completion
Picked it up and always took 10-30 minutes to just do a few sessions. At first, the game didn't click with me. It still hasn't entirely. I have had a few amazing runs, but very few in between.It's hard to explain, but this game is addictive.
Got this game from a developer and tried it out since I enjoy Bullet Hell. This is by far one of my favorite Bullet Hell games I've played in a while. It's difficult, but simple. I wish it offered more.
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Medium Completion
After Ubisoft deciding to add finally achievements for Unity and Black Flag, I noticed that my DLC achievements plus a few others missed out ones, I had to do, so I picked it up and played a bit.
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Medium Completion
Started this game and tried to play it with my wife. We beaten the original, so we thought why not. Sadly nausea due to camera movement made my wife stop, so I didn't carry on either. A pity. It seems like a decent game.
Played this with a TalePlay friend. We laughed so much. It's a complicated game as you need to get used to walking, puzzles are tough and being patient with one another is ideal.
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Very Long Completion
After trying other co-op game, my wife and I finally decided to get back to this game. I beaten it in the past on the Microsoft Store, and decided to get it on Steam as well. Got hooked quickly.
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Very Long Completion
Possibly the last Idle game I'll complete in 2025. I hope this won't mess up my Steam 2025 Reply as most idle games did that for me. Really enjoying this game. Highly recommend it.
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Very Long Completion
After years of playing this on my mobile, I decided to put this Idle game finally to rest and complete it. I guess years of experience really help up in completing this, or the game isn't as complicated to 100%.
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Medium Completion
Another Idle game that was sitting in my unfinished pile of shame. Glad it was completed like the ones before and after.
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Very Long Completion
The second largest Idle game I've ever completed. Combining efficient active trophy hunting and a lot of wait, I can finally say I am glad this game has been completed.
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Medium Completion
Like Fallout Shelter, this was another mobile idle game that was due for completion. Idk what got into me, but I felt like conquering idle after idle game.
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Very Short Completion
Got this for a cheap discount for just 90% off. Because I love city-builders, I gave this game a try. It's fairly simple to play, but complex to master. It takes a good amount of time to build up a massive city and maintain it.
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Very Short Completion
A complex puzzle game that I am glad I picked up and played. It did require often times checking for hints as some things were not as intuitive or easy to find.
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
NOVEMBER
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The Month of Try out New Things
Like October, this has been a big month for trying out new games from my backlog of games and actually tackling them one by one.
This whole thing took me to an interesting conclusion, which I shared on my YouTube channel. I'd like to apologize in advance for the massive block of games.
A very strange, albeit fascinating game. I initially discovered it through memes, and after trying it, I can definitely say it was a unique and pleasant experience.
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Extremly Short Completion
Terrible "game". You basically waste 10 minutes of your life trying this game out. I don't recommend it. Idk why I had it in my library, but now it's done. It's slow, ugly and weird. Don't recommend it.
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Extremly Short Completion
Outstanding narrative performance. Exciting game. I initially tried it in VR, then completed it over Steam Deck. Tempted to try the DLCs and complete those as well. Really found the visual novel, despite minimal interaction fascinating.
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Extremly Short Completion
This game has great humor and a unique way to test your patience and curiosity. I loved it every minute. If you love Stanley's Parable, this is one of the closest you can get in a short form.
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Extremly Short Completion
I liked this game. The humor and creativity is left to explore and do what you want but to be fair, it didn't sit well with me entirely. I quickly got bored after trying a few stuff in the modes and worlds created.
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Extremly Short Completion
I liked this game. The humor and creativity is left to explore and do what you want but to be fair, it didn't sit well with me entirely. I quickly got bored after trying a few stuff in the modes and worlds created.
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Extremly Short Completion
Armor of Heroes is a retro-style tank battle game for up to four players, featuring chaotic multiplayer modes and destructible environments. This game reminds me so much of Battle City from Sega Genesis.
Really enjoyable puzzle game. After completing it, I'm more than certain I'd love to play the sequel, so I wishlisted it.
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Extremly Short Completion
Pretty smart puzzle game. Thinking outside the box is the ideal this to do when it comes to this game. Not too complicated puzzles, but some do require a bit of thinking. Humor and satire comments are present in this game.
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Extremly Short Completion
Hard to recommend or not recommend this game. It's a work of art, but it's a boring walking simulator if you seek gameplay out of it, seek elsewhere. I'd say, put your headphones on and experience this game blindly. It's fascinating as it is.
Like Hook, this is a small, pleasant to-look-at puzzle game. It will test your thinking quite a bit, but I found it a lot easier than Hook or other puzzle games I've played lately.
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Very Short Completion
By no means a perfect game, but I really liked the experience. I think a lot of work has been put in this game by the two developers that made this. I wish there was more to it than just combat. The story was interesting.
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Very Short Completion
A strange, but unique adventure game. The developers did not hold back at making each moment unique and difficult to explain. You get to experience all sort of gameplay moments.
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Extremly Short Completion
It really doesn't offer anything unique except an interesting story that can have 2 endings depending on the decisions you make. One playthrough was enough for me to not want to see the other side. Not a bad game, but mediocre at best.
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Extremly Short Completion
The gameplay is boring, the art style is horrendous and the overall experience is something I don't recommend. Avoid this game as it's not offering anything of value. I had to push myself to complete it.
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Extremly Short Completion
After playing the first game and not liking it for the comedic childish style of narrative, I'm here to say that this game has grown on me ever since. Either I'm getting soft or the humor got better. I actually liked this more than I expected.
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Extremly Short Completion
Very strange game. Seemed interesting, but really is the type of games that likes to waste your time and doesn't give you any indication what you must do until you figure things out on yourself. The ending was abrupt and strangely delivered.
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Extremly Short Completion
The game, if you wanna call it that was strange. I spoiled myself the codes with the guide because the game doesn't tell you anything and expects you to figure out. Easiest completion of my life.
Great puzzle game. On the easier side as well. Really liked the art style for this game. Managed to fully figure it out without the need of guides, which is always a great thing.
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Extremly Short Completion
A simple, but hilarious VR game made by Valve. I believe it might be one of the very first prototypes. It was great being in the world of Aperture. Dialogues were great. Had to tweak my Meta Quest 3 to make some features work.
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Extremly Short Completion
Simple, yet relaxing building game. If you are stressed over a long day of work, boot this game up. Spend a few minutes to create something. It's very therapeutic.
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Very Short Completion
This game took me by surprise. I didn't expect it to like it much because of the art style. I was wrong. It's a simple, yet effective adventure games based on experimenting and choices.
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Very Short Completion
Not a bad puzzle game, but the NPC kept yapping on and on and on. Yes, you can turn it off, but I wish it was by default less talkative. The game didn't age that well, but it was overall alright. Initially I played the 3rd game.
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Extremly Short Completion
A simple puzzle platformer. It's unique in it's setting, but isn't really that interesting. It was an okay experience for what it had to offer. Nothing new to be honest.
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Extremly Short Completion
A fun VR experience. I really enjoyed the slingshot section of the mini-games. Others are fun, but really aren't that well-polished or much to do.
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Very Short Completion
Lovely puzzle game that I have been putting off for years. Glad I got to it. Initially I had in mind to play the sequel because it was in my Extremely Short Completion, but I thought they are tied up, so I started with this game.
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Very Short Completion
A strange one at best. Although I have played Serious Sam in the past, the classics, I have honestly enjoyed this game for what it was. It's not a complicated completion. Going on a grind to 100% doesn't require each level 3 bombs.
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Very Short Completion
Pretty good game considering it was so short and free. It left me thinking a follow up will be after this, but it seems not. Still, not a bad shoot'em up.
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Very Short Completion
The story and the puzzles were a lot more interesting in my opinion. Not as hard as the first game, but definitely I enjoyed the story a lot more. Highly recommend this series. I love the way they tap into smart puzzles.
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Extremly Short Completion
Visually this game was abysmal. The story wasn't that great, but at least was pretty mature and different than anything else. Multiple secrets can be missed without a walkthrough. Luckily it was not a long game.
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Extremly Short Completion
Not the most interesting tower defense I've played. It's visually outdated and very boring. It doesn't feel like there's a lot of effort put into making the game too balanced. Look elsewhere if you want a good tower dense.
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Extremly Short Completion
Liked the art style for this game. The beginning of the game is well-paced puzzle game, but the boss fights are ridiculously tough and switch from a slow puzzle to a rhythm game that is extremely punishing. You will not be prepared for this.
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Extremly Short Completion
A fun horror game. Not something I'd likely say. The time travel elements made things interesting. I really feel this game took inspiration from IT from some reason. Be warned, has some jumpscares that got me.
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Extremly Short Completion
Found the game fairly frustrating. Still, not entirely easy to complete. Had a few here and there that I had to struggle with. It also expects you to grind for some achievements, so it's fairly boring as a shoot'em up.
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Extremly Short Completion
After playing and enjoying Pilgrims I decided to try more games from the same developer. I liked it, but it doesn't offer a complex gameplay or a well-thought-out story. It's interesting.
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Extremly Short Completion
Despite the visuals, this game got me by surprise. It has some hilarious humor, with well thought out dialogues, decisions that lead to different outcomes and overall a strange, but interesting story. I liked it.
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
OCTOBER
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The Month of Short Burst Fire
Big month for small game completion. I have been on a roll and successfully beaten my yearly completion challenge and actually doubled it. It's crazy!
Moving forward, November and December might look just as full as October was. Very happy with my success, but man this submissions take a lot of work.
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Very Short Completion
Rough game on the edges. The physics control, although looking hilarious and fun, causes a lot of frustration. I am playing this in short bursts as the more time I spend on it, the more exhausted I feel.
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Very Short Completion
Not the worst or best co-op. Nobody is playing this. HLTB misled me to think this was 2 hours less to complete. Very grindy and took me more than that. Luckily bots help with that.
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Very Long Completion
Although I never played the original, I can fully understand why people love this game. It's such an enjoyable game to play in quick sessions. Although you do need to grind a lot to get good and overcome bosses.
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Very Long Completion
Great to have a return back to Yakuza. First thing I noticed is how little it feels that it has changed in terms of graphics and overall feel over Yakuza 0. It almost feels like Yakuza 0 actually did come first in development over this one.
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Extremly Short Completion
This game got recommended to me by a friend. Mentioned that the story is good. I got to the conclusion that the game didn't offer any kind of gameplay to justify liking this game and the story was not that touching.
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Extremly Short Completion
Because of TREE and this game I decided to go on a completion spree and complete as many very short games as possible. This game had gameplay, but it was not as enjoyable and rather simplistic.
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Extremly Short Completion
Poorly executed game. Very bland and with a story that wouldn't appeal to anybody. Aside from decent graphics, it had nothing to offer.
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Extremly Short Completion
Confusing and weird story with horrible writing. The cast of characters were absolutely abysmal and not likable at all.
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Extremly Short Completion
Aside from Zup! S and Zup! 9 all the other Zup's have been completed. It was one of the largest series I've ever done, but was worth it. Some puzzles were quite challenging.
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Extremly Short Completion
Like Zup! series, I went straight to this one and daily completed at least one. I really liked it. The puzzles were complex. Great achievements and felt rewarding completing this series.
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Very Short Completion
I didn't expect much form this game, but to be fair, I really enjoyed the dialogue and the character. After completing this game, I really felt the need to play the sequel. Which luckily I have, but will do in the near future.
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Extremly Short Completion
Despite its simplicity and lack of full-screen support, this game was pretty fun. Did it in a few sessions, but was able to complete it in a short time.
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Extremly Short Completion
Despite its simplicity and lack of full-screen support, this game was pretty fun. Did it in a few sessions, but was able to complete it in a short time.
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Extremly Short Completion
Bare-bone experience. Not too difficult on a mouse and keyboard, but challenging on the Steam Deck.
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Extremly Short Completion
Thought it's gonna be an interesting game with some twisted story. It turned out to be a incomplete and strange one.
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Extremly Short Completion
This game has a pleasant art style and a rather interesting world. I wish it was more complex and the scope of the game a lot bigger.
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Extremly Short Completion
As a Tony Hawk fan, this game was pretty fun to play. Not too complex, but had some difficult achievements to get and took me a few good minutes to pull it off.
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Extremly Short Completion
This game reminded me so much of the classic shoot'em up I used to play as a kid, Space Invaders. It was rather difficult during boss fights, but acceptable during other levels.
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Extremly Short Completion
Was probably the first of its kind I've ever played. I believe I tried other Hidden Objects, but had more detective stuff in nature, this was rather simplistic, but fascinating.
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Extremly Short Completion
I found this game rather fascinating. I didn't like the gameplay as much, but the story or conversation was rather interesting.
LET'S CLOSE THE YEAR IN STYLE
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I'll beat my way through completion if I have to.
To top off the last months of the year, I've decided to continue one of my new favorite franchises of all time: Yakuza.
Getting to revisit well-known places, characters, and similar gameplay mechanics feels like the perfect comfort food.
I do hope to have enough time to complete this, as the last time I played Yakuza 0, it took me almost six months to finish. I don't want to make the same mistake and extend this game, so I started a few days early in hopes of seeing it through to the end in three months.
My second largest game is Rogue Legacy 2. I don't think I'll be able to complete both of them, but we shall see.
I also want to relax with Dave the Diver at the end of the year.
I've got some other relaxing titles up my sleeve that are focused around tables.
</center>
OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2024
Unfinished | Beaten | Completed | Backlog+ | Library+ | Wishlisted |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 | 6 | 67 | ⇑ 33 | ⇑ 103 | ⇓ 915 |
Achievements | Games Completed | Average Completion Rate |
---|---|---|
⇑ 21,338 | 259 | 72% |
Yearly Challenge - Completed Games (93/30)
Completed this Quarter: 67BEST SINGLEPLAYER THIS QUARTER
MOST EXCITING ADDITION
BEST MULTIPLAYER THIS QUARTER
WISH I PLAYED SOONER
-
TREE
-
TimeTekker
-
PLANETS OF WAR
-
Devil's Kiss
-
Zup!
-
Zup! 2
-
Zup! 3
-
Zup! 4
-
Zup! 5
-
Zup! 6
-
Zup! 7
-
Zup! 8
-
Zup! F
-
Zup! X
-
Zup! XS
-
Zup! Z
-
Zup! Zero
-
Zup! Zero 2
-
qop
-
Coffee Talk
-
qop 2
-
qop 3
-
qop 4
-
UpBoll
-
Pixplode
-
Death in the Water
-
Over The Phone
-
Mandagon
-
The Ramp
-
Bubble People
-
Table Manners
-
Dollar Dash
-
Press Any Button
-
KIDS
-
The Graveyard
-
Dagon
-
THE CORRIDOR.
-
Hook
-
The Looker
-
Sunlight
-
klocki
-
Knight's Path: The Tournament
-
stikir
-
The Change Architect
-
Necronomistore
-
Frog Detective 2: The Case of the Invisible Wizard
-
FATALE
-
The USB Stick Found in the Grass
-
Zenge
-
Pilgrims
-
Crazy Machines 1.5 Inventors Training Camp
-
Ellisar
-
Monument Valley
-
Serious Sam: Kamikaze Attack!
-
Gun Devil
-
Monument Valley 2
-
Watch Me Jump
-
Defence to death
-
Helltaker
-
Drones, The Human Condition
-
Samorost 1
-
Space Bear
-
Fallout Shelter
-
Tile Cities
-
Leaf Blower Revolution - Idle Game
-
Cookie Clicker
-
Machinarium
-
AdVenture Capitalist
</li>
COMPLETED
-
Balatro
-
Castlevania Anniversary Collection
-
Castlevania Advance Collection
-
Disney's Hercules
6 hours playtime
no achievements
-
Disney Classic Games Aladdin and the Lion King
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STAR WARS™ Galactic Battlegrounds Saga
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
STAR WARS™ Rebellion
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
Rusty's Retirement
-
Spirit City: Lofi Sessions
ADDED TO BACKLOG
-
Samorost 1
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
TaskPals
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
eWorlds
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
Deathless. Tales of Old Rus
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Tales of Monkey Island
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
The Expanse: A Telltale Series
-
Elite Dangerous
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
ASTRONEER
-
Dark Sector
0 hours playtime
no achievements
ADDED TO LIBRARY
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
SEPTEMBER
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The Month of Large Completions
Although I did not touch new games this month, I certainly crushed two massive games this month. Specifically Forza Horizon 4 that took me a good 200 hours to complete. Quite happy with my progress this time around.
That being said, I get to now move to the next and last quarter this month where I will tackle some interesting games I'm looking forward to play and complete by the end of the year.
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Played: 201.7 hours | Achievements: 178/178
Very Long Completion
Very happy with this completion. I did find eventually the perfect car for me to complete the most difficult drift zones, the Hoonigan Ford Mustang. Excellent drift car. I kinda miss playing the game now that it's done.
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Played: 46.8 hours | Achievements: 39/39
Medium Completion
Had a great time in the game. Really enjoyed the story. It was a bit tedious on the backtracking part where I had to revisit planets over and over again to get every chest, secret and other collectibles. Other than that, great time!
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Played: 324.4 hours | Achievements: 152/152
Very Long Completion
Made a lot of progress this month going through the New Testament. Completed it and practically "beaten" the story. I'm left with some Catholic bible chapters which I had to revisit in the Old Testament. Glad to have completed it this month.
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Very Short Completion
Rough game on the edges. The physics control, although looking hilarious and fun, causes a lot of frustration. I am playing this in short bursts as the more time I spend on it, the more exhausted I feel.
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Very Long Completion
Great to have a return back to Yakuza. First thing I noticed is how little it feels that it has changed in terms of graphics and overall feel over Yakuza 0. It almost feels like Yakuza 0 actually did come first in development over this one.
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
AUGUST
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The Month of Galactic Trials, Classic Smiles, and Holy Miles
Did not make the biggest waves in progress, but I sure was busy playing games. Started a few that I'm really happy to share have impressed me, like Jedi Fallen Order. It was a good month overall, but I wish I would have completed more games. Been working hard on several large games that are listed below.
Gotta give credit to Lengray for inspiring me to consider changing my quarter breakdown as it was too long and possibly annoying to scroll through. I hope it's okay to take the frame layout and use it for future monthly breakdowns.
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Played: 24 hours | Achievements: 25/25
Short Completion
Never played the original, but when I won this game via Steamgifts, I instantly knew I was in for a treat. I wasn't wrong. It was a game with a lot of charm and great both on the Steam Deck and on PC.
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Medium Completion
First time playing a Star Wars game in a very long time. The cinematics and visuals were stunning, and I liked that the game didn’t require playing on the hardest difficulty for completion.
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Very Long Completion
Although, I'm far from being done with this, I'm enjoying and slowly trimming down bit by bit. The Trivia are really difficult to get unless you study the Bible well or use guides.
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Very Long Completion
Very happy with this completion. I did find eventually the perfect car for me to complete the most difficult drift zones, the Hoonigan Ford Mustang. Excellent drift car. I kinda miss playing the game now that it's done.
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
JULY
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The Month of the Weird, the Gloom and the Vroom-Vroom
TANDEM: A TALE OF SHADOWS
July I suddenly joined Play Or Pay Event as I've been absent from it for over 6 months now. With that, I have been given quite an interesting list of games to play. From which Tandem is from. It's an interesting puzzle game that really has some interesting charm in it.
That being said, it was an easy and fast game to complete with some challenging puzzles, but not too difficult.
“To cast a shadow is to create a place where light cannot reach, and in that darkness lies the power to reshape the world..” - Haruki Murakami
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
---|---|
• Creative light and shadow puzzle mechanics. • Visually stunning, dark Victorian aesthetic. • Challenging puzzles with satisfying solutions. | • Repetitive objectives. • Flat voice acting and weak story. • Occasional visual bugs, especially in cinematics. |
🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
---|---|---|
Encountered minor stuttering during cinematics and a few visual glitches. These didn’t ruin the experience but did break immersion occasionally. | • CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: 3080 10GB • SSD: NVMe SSD • RES: 1440p | Settings: High FPS: 60-75 |
🌌 Content & Replay Value | The game can be completed in around 8-9 hours. It’s a focused experience, but the repetition limits its replay value. |
💵 Is it worth buying? | Yes, if you enjoy puzzle-platformers with creative mechanics. Consider waiting for a sale if the story is a priority for you. |
🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | Runs well on the Steam Deck with no significant performance drops or control issues. |
🧾 Verdict: Decent |
Tandem: A Tale of Shadows is a creative puzzle-platformer with visually captivating design and solid mechanics. However, its repetitive structure and weak story hold it back from greatness. It’s still worth playing if you’re a fan of the genre. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
Tandem: A Tale of Shadows offers a unique dual-perspective puzzle experience. Emma’s top-down world and Fenton’s 2D side-scrolling environment are intertwined, with light and shadow being the key to progressing. The mechanics are well-implemented, but the puzzles can become repetitive as the objectives remain largely the same across levels. The game’s world design is imaginative, with each region bringing something visually new and interesting.
🏆 Completion:
Not a difficult game to complete, but it does have several achievements that can be missed each level, but with a guide, you can easily find and get to the ones you missed.
Hours to fully complete the game: 8
Achievements: 24/24
Playthroughs: 1
Difficulty: 3/10
Steam Hunter Points: ✪ 4,063
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
Visually, the game excels with its dark Victorian atmosphere. The environments are rich with detail, and the animations are generally smooth, though some minor bugs detract from the overall experience. Cutscenes have stutter both on Steam Deck and PC. The art style fits the eerie, fairy-tale vibe perfectly, enhancing the game’s mood.
🔊 Sound & Voice-Acting:
The sound design is atmospheric, with subtle music and well-crafted sound effects that deepen the immersion. Unfortunately, the voice acting falls flat. Emma’s lines lack emotion and feel stilted, making it hard to connect with the story.
📖 Story & Writing:
The narrative is one of the game’s weaker aspects. While the premise is intriguing, the delivery is lacking. The story doesn’t build much tension, and the voice acting does little to elevate it. The plot feels like an afterthought, serving more as a backdrop for the puzzles.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
The game offers 5-8 hours of content, with some challenging puzzles toward the end. The difficulty is balanced, offering a satisfying progression curve. However, once you’ve seen the core mechanics, the novelty wears off quickly, reducing the replayability.
⭕️ Verdict:
Tandem: A Tale of Shadows delivers a unique puzzle experience with inventive mechanics and a strong atmosphere. However, its repetitive gameplay, lackluster story, and stutter bugs prevent it from reaching its full potential. It’s a good pick for fans of puzzle-platformers, but might be better enjoyed during a sale.
THE HEX
The second game I managed to pick right after was this strange be-it-all kinda game that really took me by surprise with it's story. To be honest, I found it hard to believe not enough people talk about this game.
Yes, artistically it doesn't look much, but all the other aspects are stellar!
"This place... it’s a graveyard of ideas, where abandoned concepts rot away in the dark." - The Hex
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
---|---|
• Genre-blending mechanics that keep gameplay fresh. • Dark, engaging narrative with deep meta-commentary. • Intriguing and well-written characters. • Atmosphere that ranges from eerie to intense. |
• Some mechanics can feel unpolished. • Lack of voice acting, which could enhance character depth. • Visuals, while fitting, aren’t consistently standout. |
🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
---|---|---|
The only bugs I encountered were the ones intended to crash your game and get an achievement out of it. |
• CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: RTX 3080 10GB • Storage: SSD • Resolution: 1440p |
Settings: High FPS: 60+ Stable |
🌌 Content & Replay Value | The game’s unique narrative and genre-blending make a single playthrough memorable. Limited replay value, but discovering all secrets and story nuances could push you for a second run. |
💵 Is it worth buying? | Yes, especially if you enjoy narrative-driven games with experimental gameplay. Worth full price for fans of Daniel Mullins’ work. |
🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | Runs smoothly with consistent performance. The pixelated and hand-drawn visuals suit the Deck’s screen size well. |
🧾 Verdict: Excellent |
The Hex is a genre-blending, narrative-driven indie gem that offers a mind-bending story and creative gameplay. It excels in delivering a unique experience despite some visual roughness and the absence of voice acting. A must-play for fans of experimental indie titles and meta-commentary in games. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
The Hex stands out by offering a different genre for each of its six main characters. From platforming to turn-based RPGs, each gameplay style is a reflection of the character’s backstory, tying narrative and mechanics closely together. The constant shift in playstyles can be jarring but also keeps the experience fresh and unpredictable. Exploring the tavern itself, where you learn about the dark pasts of these characters, ties all the genres into a cohesive, intriguing story. The gameplay can be rough around the edges, but that’s part of the game’s charm as it plays with expectations.
🏆 Completion:
The Hex isn’t a particularly difficult game to complete, but it does have some missable achievements tied to specific events and secrets in each section. Some will close your game and others will require you to replay chapters if you've missed them. However, with a guide, you can easily track down the ones you might miss on your first playthrough.
Hours to fully complete the game: 17.5
Achievements: 28/28
Playthroughs: 1
Difficulty: 4/10
Steam Hunter Points: ✪ 5,156
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
While The Hex is mostly pixelated and hand-drawn, the visual style effectively sets the tone. It’s gritty, atmospheric, and fits the game’s dark themes. The visuals shift with each genre change, providing variety. While they may not be stunning in every moment, they serve the story well and enhance the overall eerie vibe.
🔊 Sound & Atmosphere:
The sound design is excellent at setting the mood—whether it’s light-hearted and quirky during platforming or unsettling during the more intense moments. However, the lack of voice acting is a noticeable drawback given how rich and complex the characters are. You do get by the end of the game a little bit of voice acting done by Daniel himself, but that's about it. Despite this, the ambient sounds and background music do a good job of immersing you in the world.
📖 Story & Writing:
The narrative is where The Hex truly shines. The game’s story is a clever critique of game design and the industry, told through the tragic lives of six flawed characters. Each character’s backstory is gradually revealed, exposing dark, twisted elements that add depth to the game’s meta-commentary. The writing is sharp, humorous, and deeply unsettling at times, which makes it hard to forget long after you’ve completed the game.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
The game takes about 17.5 hours to complete, depending on how much you explore and engage with each character’s story. Difficulty varies with each genre segment, but it’s generally accessible while still offering some challenging moments. The hardest part is often adapting to each new gameplay style quickly.
⭕️ Verdict:
The Hex is an exceptional narrative-driven game with innovative genre-blending mechanics and rich storytelling. It’s not without flaws—some gameplay sections feel rough, and the lack of voice acting limits the emotional impact. However, the unique concept, compelling characters, and engaging story make it a must-play for those who love indie games that push the boundaries of conventional design. If you’re a fan of Pony Island or enjoy games with meta-commentary and experimental styles, this is one to pick up—preferably during a sale if you’re unsure.
FORZA HORIZON 4
After hearing that another racing game is getting delisted, that being Forza, I decided to hop on it and start my journey on completing it. It's a long game, but I set my priority straight and focus on what's first important, weekly tasks that were required. I have to say, that the first time I picked it up, the game felt extremely overwhelming in the amount of content.
For some, this is great, but when you don't understand anything and feel pressured by time, this becomes a burden. Luckily I figured out my phasing and eventually got to the bottom of it and figured out what I must do.
Games Completed this Month
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
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On a Race to Complete this Quarter.
And we're off with a new quarter in which we find out that Forza Horizon 4 is getting delisted and with it the possibility to get 100% completion, so guess what's going to happen? Yep. I'll have to play it forcefully to not miss my chance on this amazing game. Although it can be played offline afterwards, some achievements are locked based on some events that can only be obtained in a short time.
I hate to say this, but if it keeps going like this, we're going to have every year 1-2 games that get delisted that have such game models aka games of service where even if you paid a little or got it for free you'll still feel ripped off. Where's the game preservation we keep getting promised by Xbox?
Oh well, that's all my rant for today and for this quarter. Time to get those achievements and mark this incredible game off my backlog once and for all.
Because of this sudden change, I've had to create and edit a few things in this quarter and going forward. Pausing games for whatever reason to refocus on what's important or imminent. I can always get back to the games I've not finished. Oh and, reduce the scheduled games because I might as well put myself in a grave because of so many stuff to do.
JULY - SEPTEMBER 2024
Unfinished | Beaten | Completed | Backlog+ | Library+ | Wishlisted |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | 6 | 4 | ⇑ 33 | ⇑ 94 | ⇑ 948 |
Achievements | Games Completed | Average Completion Rate |
---|---|---|
⇑ 499 | 174 | 62% |
Challenge - Completed Games (22/30)
Completed this Quarter: 6BEST SINGLEPLAYER THIS QUARTER
MOST EXCITING ADDITION
BEST MULTIPLAYER THIS QUARTER
WISH I PLAYED SOONER
-
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
-
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III
-
Buckshot Roulette
-
Starship Troopers: Terran Command
-
RimWorld
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
Half-Life 2: Update
-
Dwarf Fortress
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
Stronghold: Warlords
-
Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut
ADDED TO BACKLOG
-
Stormgate
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Case of the Tin Soldier
-
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Case of the Mummy’s
-
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Case of the Mystified
-
Capcom Fighting Collection
-
Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle
-
Escape Academy
-
We Were Here Forever
-
Escape Simulator
-
Escape First Alchemist
-
Escape From Mystwood Mansion
-
Doors: Paradox
-
Diplomacy is Not an Option
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 1-4
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 5-7
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
Frog Detective 2: The Case of the Invisible Wizard
-
Toodee and Topdee
-
Verdun
-
Imperium Romanum: Gold Edition
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
Agony
-
Nova Drift
-
Bloodless
-
The Suffering
12 hours playtime
no achievements
-
The Suffering: Ties That Bind
11.5 hours playtime
no achievements
-
North & South
62 hours playtime
no achievements
-
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
Heroes of Might and Magic
25 hours playtime
no achievements
</li> -
Heroes of Might and Magic II
240 hours playtime
no achievements
-
Heroes of Might and Magic III
480 hours playtime
no achievements
-
Heroes of Might and Magic IV
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
This Is the Police 2
-
Primal Carnage: Extinction
-
Iron Meat
-
Bad Dream: Fever
0 hours playtime
no achievements
-
Illusion Carnival
-
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
</li>
ADDED TO LIBRARY
ADDED TO LIBRARY
ADDED TO LIBRARY
ADDED TO LIBRARY
ADDED TO LIBRARY
ADDED TO LIBRARY
ADDED TO LIBRARY
ADDED TO LIBRARY
ADDED TO LIBRARY
3260 | games |
84% | never played |
4% | unfinished |
3% | beaten |
8% | completed |
1% | won't play |
- 🏆 Won on SteamGifts 150
- 🤝 Traded on SteamTrades 183
- 📜 Unfinished 168
- 📃 Backlog 640
- ☀️ Short Game (2-8h) 978
- ⛅ Medium Game (8-15h) 650
- 🌦️ Long Game (15-25h) 357
- 🌧️ Very Long Game (25h+) 355
- 🌪️ Endless 92
- 🎁 Gifted 64
- 📝 Curator 93
- 🎮 TalePlay 36
- 🕹️ PAGYWOSG 40
- 💵 PoP Event List 41
- 🛑 Playing Appreciated 4
- 📰 SG Monthly Magazine 3
- ⌚ Scheduled Jan - Mar 26
- ⌚ Scheduled Apr - Jun 0
- ⌚ Scheduled Jul - Sep 0
- ⌚ Scheduled Oct - Dec 0
- ✅ Completed 2024 98
- ✅ Completed 2025 17
- ➕ Acquired 2024 743
- ➕ Acquired 2025 56