June accidently became a very spendy month, but there was lots of gaming and even a completion.
Games completed this month
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Xbox Series X
So after last month, I did manage to go on and roll credits on this. Loads of post-game I could still do, but I was ready to move on for now. I was still struggling with The Paintress and in danger of abandoning the game altogether in favour of my new toy (spoiler) so I dropped the difficulty down to story mode for the remainder of the game. It’s a fantastic game, and if I don’t come back to do the extra stuff off my own back, I almost certainly will if they drop an expansion.
Games played during June
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2
Very much back on this one now. Another year of comedy timing where I didn’t play in March / April so I still can’t catch a spider crab, the only sea creature I’m missing. Chipping away at collecting the art for the museum though. Mostly I’m waiting for Nintendo to announce a new Animal Crossing.
Mario Kart World – Nintendo Switch 2
Yes, I got on board for day one (as below) and this game is mostly as good as they say. I don’t really like the open world stuff, which is broadly invisible anyway, but the weird driving between courses counting as laps of the race is odd. It’s generally great fun to play though so hopefully we’ll get some improvement via patch as it goes on.
Split Fiction – Xbox Series X
I picked this up as now I’ve moved in with my partner and things are settling down, we were ready for something new to play together. Split Fiction is superb, a worthy follow-up to It Takes Two. I’d assume we’re about half way through but not really sure.
Monster Train 2 – PC GamePass
I have played a little bit more of this, but it’s not really sticking. I’ll be surprised if I complete a run before this gets retired.
June Pickups
Orb Tower – SteamDeck
I’ve had my eye on this for a bit, as the premise of a roguelike Puzzle Bobble game was very appealing. Thanks to a sale and steam credit from the weird gift card things, I managed to get it for 22p. I completed one run on it, and it is really good fun, but unfortunately you can only aim with the mouse, which restricts you to the track pads on the SteamDeck. This feels clunky and sadly means I’m unlikely to stick with it.
Orbital Bullet – SteamDeck
Kind of broke my commitment to only buy games I’m going to immediately play, as I’ve picked it up and not touched it yet. However it was only £1 so not going to worry about it too much.
Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart World
Despite talking myself out of pre-ordering the console, and mostly being convinced I didn’t need one, I do find myself owning a Nintendo Switch 2. I had decided I’d get one later when the hype had died down and they were readily available. Then I was thinking about a future Animal Crossing game and how we’ll need two consoles once that appears, and obviously it’s more sensible to spread that purchase and buy one sooner, and the next one when Animal Crossing comes out… Next thing I know, it’s Switch 2 launch day, a friend mentions Argos have day one stock available. I had a quick look online at my local store, and had one delivered by the end of the day. Oops.
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD – Nintendo Switch 2
While I did bounce off the original version of this on the 3DS (for more on why, see my JRPG post) I am interested to give it another go. Mostly because of how much I enjoyed Bravely Default 2 and the two Octopath Traveller games which use the same Brave/Default system of gameplay. After finishing Clair Obscur I’m ready for a new JRPG on my new console. I was deciding between this and the Suikoden 1 & 2 remaster, and decided on Bravely Default as it’s exclusive to the console and Suikoden is on other platforms (and could even turn up on GamePass). It also didn’t hurt that it was only £33 brand new for the physical ‘Game Keycard’ release, which I’ll be able to resell if I end up hating it.
Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition – Xbox Series X
As usual with these big fighting games, I like to wait until there is an edition that collects all the DLC characters for less than £20 total. I managed to get a key for this one for £17. I don’t think it’s as good as MK X or MK 11, but it’s fun enough. I’ll play through the story content and occasionally beat up my friends as Conan the Barbarian.
