Marquez

@graymamba Oh nice! As long as forum engagement doesn't eat too much into my playing time

I've set myself the goal of starting AND finishing 30 games in 2026. Busy job, two kids and a tendency to get sucked into the odd live service game - curse you ARC Raiders for what you did in 2025 - means this will be a decent challenge. Today I'm starting with making the list of games I know I want to play, probably while going topside and fighting ARC...

As per the shoutout from @graymamba - anyone with some gaming goals for 2026, here's the place to add them!

https://www.pushsquare.com/forums/retro_and_other_gaming/gaming_resolutions_for_the_new_year_of_2026#comment8967587

@JDINCINERATOR 'Set in America somewhere'... isn't this one set primarily in Australia?

In today's episode of 'Bashing on Clair Obscur is Cool'...

Sure it's definitely been overhyped, however it has an excellent premise and a great story, both well told and well acted.

@EfYI We all know where you went with the comment, let's not hide behind layers of imagined nuance when you simply used the Italian version of the French game title you were disrespecting. I guess I'm just tired of the human habit of bashing anything that's successful, because it's successful - or more successful than whatever horse you had in the imaginary awards race.

And yes, I did edit my response because I didn't want to be impolite to someone who (normally) has some great things to say on these forums, your comments are ones I look forward to.

@EfYI It's become so so fashionable to bash on Clair Obscur hasn't it... great game, nonsense comment. Enjoy KCD2 though, I hear it's great!

My personal number two and absolutely criminal it wasn't at least nominated for best sound in The Geoff Awards. I love the game play loop and the human interactions including the ones that go south - the whole range is there, from super-helpful randos to backstabbing liars.

Currently playing 'what games in the sale can I buy and unnecessarily add to my already massive backlog?'. If anyone has recommendations, let me know - there's £100 Christmas PS Store credit burning a hole in my virtual pocket.

Also, more ARC Raiders.

@Daleaf I think it's a thing with story games mainly - by starting again I can immerse myself in the journey properly, instead of having to look up what I've previously covered and how my character(s) developed. I'm close to binning off the 65 hours and jumping in fresh on that basis.

@Zuljaras Don't sleep on the Castlevania series...

Now that enough time has passed since finishing Ghost of Yotei, it's time to jump back into my AC Shadows save and complete the game. I always have the problem however, after being off a game for so long, of debating continuing or restarting. Even though I put 65 hours in already... does anyone else have this problem?

Also, it's that time of year where I have time off and can attack the backlog, depending on what I do with Shadows.

@Balaam_ When you say 'popular opinion of the masses' I think you mean 'lots of people, including those on the voting panel, really liked the game'? Sure, there are award categories Clair Obscur won that potentially should have gone elsewhere (like best indie, RPG) but it's a solid pick for GOTY, like it or not.

I'll give it a go for sure, Bungie's top tier gunplay is enough to have me interested even though I am over my Destiny withdrawal symptoms (maybe), and my current obsession with ARC Raiders has piqued an interest in extraction shooters too.

It was the early hours of the morning here in the UK so I only had two drinks which, to be fair, was one for every Tomb Raider.

Pretty sure the PS staff will represent broadly across their own personal picks.

@somnambulance For those people I'd remind them it's not THE Game Awards (sorry King Keighley) it's A game awards - I hope between TGA, Golden Joysticks, BAFTA and DICE everyone gets the recognition they deserve.

Should have split the room in two and gone for E33 win drinks versus Gatcha... that would have been lethal!

And TLOU2, decisive you say?

@somnambulance Definitely a great year overall, and 100% onboard with the KCD2 discourse - though the devs coming out saying they were robbed is probably not a good look!

Very much enjoying Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden so that will be the focus this weekend, alongside some late-night ARC Raiders. Saving the new Clair Obscur content for my annual leave over Christmas, tempting though it is. Have a great weekend Team PS!

@somnambulance I can understand and respect people saying 'E33 isn't on my list because here's five games I enjoyed more' or 'it's not on my list because I just couldn't get on with x mechanic or y interface' or even laying out a clear argument as to why its sometimes derivative nature is off-putting, or how other games did those things better. But this trend of people wishing it to do badly because it has been so successful, or because it beat out a game you were rooting for at the made-up Keighley Awards is such a negative human trait. Why do we feel the need to bash stuff that's successful? Some great-looking games in your post, and I'll make a point of checking out the ones I haven't.

P.S. It's 'gommage'.

1) Clair Obscur
2) ARC Raiders
3) Ghost of Yotei
4) AC Shadows
5) MH Wilds

KCD2 in my backlog, along with DS2. Both look like games I'll love, but obviously I'm not going to vote for something I haven't played. Some great games on the long list for sure!

Clair Obscur is a generational game for me, one of the best I've ever played (and I started on the Binatone Superstar/ ZX Spectrum!). I'm really excited to see what games it inspires in the coming years, and of course what Sandfall come up with next - these will be a more important measure of its success.

But it's a shame the love wasn't shared, with multiple games in the Independent and specifically KCD2 in the RPG category getting swept aside by the 'indie' juggernaut that is Clair Obscur.

Absolutely deserved GOTY, but the categories and subsequent nominations need a rethink for next year.

Straight to Betamax. It's going to be epic.

To this day, Returnal is one of the few PS5 games that feels truly next-gen to me. So anything that builds off it positively is absolutely a day one personally.

I really struggled with their jarring knights+guns aesthetic. When done right (I'm looking at you, 40k Space Marines) it's brilliant but this looked... off. Gameplay is hopefully tight but I can't play it if I can't look at it.

Like a number of others, hoping Jesse plays a decent role in this one - great character. Dual protagonists with a bit of sibling rivalry would be cool.

I'll definitely jump back in, the only thing stopping me doing so immediately is that I know I left my party set up in a super-specific way to beat Simon and round out the platinum. So the first hour or more is going to be me rearranging skill points and pictos.

Lots here for me, my wallet will be very unhappy in 2026 - and this is just the stuff we know about. My only disappointment is that we STILL don't know exactly what Sony Santa Monica and Mr Barlog are up to...

@4fold Yeah 100% and I hear you on the backlog. 92 games in mine…

@4fold I wish I had your willpower! What I would say is full price Clair Obscur is a bargain, in my view...

Not bad at all. Will definitely give Wo Long a crack.

@AhmadSumadi Great advice - thank you!

@AhmadSumadi Yes, thinking about the platinum and have read there's a point of no return save you can make that speeds up going for the two endings.

@AhmadSumadi Yes first playthrough and pretty early on in the story but I'm really struck by the tone, the characters and particularly the standard of the voice acting. I'm really keen to see where the story goes, most of the negative discourse I've read has been around combat mechanics and for me those do not break a game if the story and performances hold up.

Between the Marvel Tokon beta, the new Gran Turismo content, ramping up into the final week of the first ARC Raiders season and trying to make progress in Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden... yep, definitely enough to take my mind off another impending Ashes failure. Happy gaming everyone! Except any Aussies, obviously

Back on ARC Raiders again and need to make a decision about whether to undertake the expedition - the game's version of a season reset - or not. Making it optional, combined with my indecisiveness and the lack of clarity on just how good the rewards will be versus continuing to build my character out instead... not an easy decision. I'd love to know what others are planning and why!

I also started Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden after hearing lots of great things in these very forums and I'm impressed so far, particularly with the atmosphere and the voice acting. Early days but I can see me completing the game, though not going for the 'needs two playthroughs' platinum.

This only being available (again) in NA winds me up.

I turned my sleep pattern upside down to watch two ultimately disappointing days of the first Ashes test and now I need to let my frustration out by downing ARC and other Raiders for the rest of the weekend. See you topside.

Got mine too - let's see what all the fuss is about!

@AhmadSumadi Oh I know that feeling!

I find that 1) going in solo and 2) sticking to Dam Battlegrounds and Buried City for loot runs means it's all pretty griefer-free. Blue Gate, Stella Montis - or anywhere when you are in a trio - shoot first, ask questions later. Every time.

Great that the game has that range of experience though and I hope it continues.

The new area - Stella Montis - is now open for business in ARC Raiders so that’s where I’ll be spending most of the weekend. The ARC are a step up and so is the loot, which means it’s the most tense area and the most rewarding… and the PvP is a notch up! Have a good weekend all.

I'm betting this will be a lot of fun, and I have no problem with Sony spreading their IP to mobile as long as they maintain a good level of quality.

If you'd have told me at the start of the year my top two for GOTY would be a French-made turn-based RPG and a retro-styled extraction shooter - I'd have had you committed.

As for the Eurogamer review, as usual they have failed to get over themselves.

Loved the experience, got the plat, and felt it built on Tsushima enough to be considered the superior game. Definitely more than 'more Ghost'.

This weekend is all about ARC Raiders, which continues to be a fantastic experience. We've got a steady group going and have been running lots of night raids, taking out the larger ARCs (Rocketeers, Leapers, Bombardiers) for loot. And solo runs also continue to be great fun, thanks to the 80% of the community who just want to play it all peaceful and chill. Hit that 'don't shoot!' emote and chances are you'll be teaming up, not eating bullets.

Even if you don't think extraction shooters are for you, this one has enough variety in gameplay and interactions I'd recommend it to anyone.

EDIT - PSA Even though it's not on the official list, ARC Raiders does boot up using the new PS Portal streaming functionality!

This weekend is all about ARC Raiders - to be able to drop into an extraction shooter solo and not feel intimidated is an awesome feeling! Looking forward to some duos later as well. See you all topside.

I'll be (hopefully) getting past the queues tonight, I'm going to mainly be playing as a pair with one of my good mates but previews all said solo is pretty viable - which is nice.

Preordered straight after the server slam, going to play mostly solo and pairs. It shows real promise and if they are as committed as they say, I believe it will be a success. These games live and die on the gameplay loop having enough to keep you engaged and, having only seen one of four areas available at launch, I'm going to reserve judgement on whether there is enough right now. I'll give it a few major updates beyond launch at least... in the meantime, looking forward to Thursday.

@AhmadSumadi I worry that jumping into Arc Raiders at launch is going to lead to all the issues we’ve been discussing - we will see… hopefully I can leave room for other games.

I got the Yotei platinum this weekend as planned and it’s a top quality experience. Enjoy!

@AhmadSumadi I lost count of the number of fantastic games that I never played or at best ended up in my backlog because of my 10 year obsession with Destiny (1&2). GaaS done right are so much fun and so involving - but at the detriment of experiencing a variety of games. Enjoy your new-found freedom!

Well... in last week's WAYPTW I said I was going to finish and possibly platinum Ghost of Yotei and then I jumped on the Arc Raiders server slam instead. I loved it so much I've pre-ordered ready for launch on Thursday... so between now and Thursday I definitely need to finish and maybe platinum Ghost!

I just wish they'd release a special edition with Mr Swallow's rendition of the Jurassic Park theme tune as part of the soundtrack.

On a serious note, my son's favourite strategy series; he was already hours in on release yesterday and laser-focussed on the platinum.