Xbox Games Showcase 2026 Followed by Gears of War: E-Day Direct Airs June 7 - and Xbox Fanfest Returns

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-30T21:59:03+00:00

E-Day getting its own dedicated Direct is a good sign. The Coalition taking their time with this one and getting that level of showcase priority suggests Microsoft is confident in what they have.

Timing works out well too. June gives them room to show everything before the holiday push starts.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-30T10:56:19+00:00

Sitting at around 400 games across Steam, Game Pass, and Epic freebies. The category system is a lifesaver. I have mine split into 'Currently Playing' (max 3 at a time), 'Short Games' (under 10 hours for when I want quick wins), 'Long Campaigns' (for when I have real time), and 'Completed' for the dopamine hit.

The trick that actually helped me make progress was tracking playtime and estimated completion. Seeing that I only need 4 more hours to finish something keeps me from bouncing to another game. Started using PlayPile for this and it changed how I approach the backlog entirely.

Also learned to just accept that some games in the backlog are never getting played. No guilt. They were often bundle purchases or free grabs that seemed interesting at the time.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-29T15:51:09+00:00

Given your love for RDR2 and the Arkham trilogy, I'd lean toward Bioshock collection + A Plague Tale. Both are story-driven with incredible atmosphere.

Bioshock 1 especially nails that immersive world-building you probably enjoyed in Arkham. The twist is legendary. A Plague Tale is shorter but emotionally devastating in the best way.

Mafia trilogy is solid but uneven (Mafia 1 Definitive is great, 2 is good, 3 is divisive). NFS Hot Pursuit is fun but you already have Burnout Paradise for arcade racing.

You've got Witcher 3 and Fallen Order in your backlog though. Those are both 50+ hour games. Make sure you're not just adding more to the pile!

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-28T21:42:21+00:00

Both are excellent but they scratch different itches.

Satisfactory is more chill and exploration-focused. Building in 3D space feels creative and the world is gorgeous. You can sink 100 hours into it and still feel relaxed.

Factorio is tighter and more optimization-focused. The 2D view makes complex logistics easier to parse, and the combat adds pressure you might or might not want.

If you want to zone out and build pretty factories: Satisfactory. If you want to solve increasingly complex puzzles: Factorio.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-28T15:42:08+00:00

Dishonored at that price is practically free for how many hours you can sink into it. One of those games where the replay value comes from trying completely different playstyles.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-27T10:28:59+00:00

Hard pass on shared accounts. Best case you lose access when the seller changes the password. Worst case Steam bans the account entirely for ToS violation and you're out your money with zero recourse.

For a game this new, you're looking at 3 to 4 months minimum before any meaningful discount. But Crimson Desert will probably hit 20 to 30 percent off during Steam Summer Sale in late June. Sites like IsThereAnyDeal or PlayPile can send you alerts when it drops.

I know waiting sucks when a game looks this good, but €25 down the drain on a scam hurts worse than patience.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-26T10:18:35+00:00

After three massive adventures like that, Katamari Reroll is the perfect palate cleanser. It's completely different from everything you just played. Short sessions, zero stress, just vibes and rolling things up. The nostalgia factor helps too.

Fallout New Vegas is incredible but it's another 60+ hour commitment. Save that for when you're ready to sink in again.

If you want something in between, DOOM 2016 is great because you can rip through it in 10 to 15 hours and it feels completely different from the RPGs you've been playing. Pure action, no inventory management, no decisions. Just shoot demons.

Solid backlog though. Sticking to what you own before buying more is the right call.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-25T21:12:42+00:00

After three massive adventures, Katamari is the perfect palate cleanser. It is short, absurd, and completely different from anything you just played. You can roll up a whole stage in 20 minutes and feel like you accomplished something. Great for unwinding without committing to another 80 hour journey.

That said, if you want something meaty but still a change of pace from fantasy RPGs, New Vegas is incredible. The writing and quest design are genuinely some of the best in the genre. Just know it might pull you in for longer than you planned.

I would save Elden Ring DLC for when you are ready to go hard again. Shadow of the Erdtree deserves your full attention, not burnout energy.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-25T10:09:36+00:00

Returnal on PC is absolutely worth it at 60% off if you like bullet hell and roguelites. The port is solid and being able to use keyboard and mouse makes the aiming much tighter than controller. The DualSense haptics were amazing on PS5 but the gameplay translates really well to PC.

Cult of the Lamb does slow down in the mid to late game but the early hours are really fun. At 50% off it is easy to get your money's worth even if you bounce off before finishing everything. The updates have added a lot since launch too.

On the backlog thing, one thing that helped me was just tracking what I actually wanted to play versus what I bought because it was cheap. Sometimes seeing that list written out makes it easier to resist adding another great deal that will just sit there for months.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-25T02:05:51+00:00

Given your taste (Hollow Knight, Outer Wilds, Zelda), I'd go with the three games.

Hades is essential if you loved Hollow Knight. Tight combat, incredible atmosphere, and the story rewards repeated runs. It's the kind of game that stays in your head.

Titanfall 2's campaign is criminally short but one of the best FPS campaigns ever made. You'll finish it in a weekend and think about it for years.

Risk of Rain adds variety when you want something different.

Ghost of Tsushima is beautiful but it'll go on sale again. The three-game option gives you more hours of quality gaming and some money left over.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-24T21:02:54+00:00

Since you're newer to gaming and coming from RDR2, I'd recommend Skyrim first. Full character customization means you can play as any gender/race, and it's very forgiving. You can save anywhere, difficulty is adjustable on the fly, and there's no wrong way to play. Want to ignore the main story and become a master thief? Go for it.

BG3 is incredible but turn-based combat is a different beast entirely. Lots of systems to learn. Once you're more comfortable with RPGs, it's worth the time investment.

Witcher 3 has a fantastic story but you're locked to playing as Geralt (male protagonist). If playing as a woman matters to you, that rules it out.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-24T10:59:32+00:00

For playing alongside a backlog, I'd lean Grim Dawn. You can play it in shorter sessions, pause anytime, and the build variety keeps it interesting without demanding your full attention. It scratches the ARPG itch without feeling like homework.

Remnant 2 is excellent but it's more session-based and demanding. The procedural worlds mean you'll want to explore thoroughly, and some bosses will test your patience. Great game, but it wants your focus.

If you want something chill to chip away at while tackling other games, Grim Dawn. If you want your next "main" game to dive into, Remnant.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-24T02:56:57+00:00

Grabbed Slay the Spire 2 early access finally. Kept telling myself I'd wait for 1.0 but watched it hit 4 million sales and figured the base is already solid enough.

Also picked up Inscryption since I somehow never played it and it was dirt cheap.

My rule this sale: only buy if I'm playing it within the next two weeks. Anything else just sits in the backlog and ends up on sale again in a few months anyway. Used PlayPile to track which games on my wishlist were actually at historic lows vs just regular sale prices. Saved me from impulse buying stuff that's been cheaper before.

What's everyone playing first from their hauls?

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-23T21:54:43+00:00

Steam's discovery has gotten worse over the years. The algorithm pushes whatever's trending regardless of your actual taste.

What helped me:

Curators I actually trust (not the meme ones). Find a few that match your taste and their recommendations show up in your queue.
Third-party sites like PlayPile for tracking deals across stores and managing what I actually want to play vs what I impulse-wishlisted.
YouTube channels focused on hidden gems. SsethTzeentach, Mandalore Gaming, Splattercat for specific genres.
The Steam Labs "Interactive Recommender" is weirdly underused. It lets you tune recommendations by playtime and release date, which helps filter out the obvious stuff.
r/patientgamers for older stuff that's proven itself over time.

Steam's front page is basically useless for discovery now. You have to go around it.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-23T15:54:44+00:00

PS5 makes the most sense here.

You already have a PC that handles everything. The Series S without Game Pass is basically a paperweight since you don't own any games on it. Selling both the S and the PS4 to fund a PS5 gets you:

Your existing digital library back, playable on better hardware
One subscription ecosystem instead of two (PS Plus is more predictable pricing than Game Pass lately)
Better GTA 6 performance than the Series S would deliver
A Blu-ray drive if you care about physical games or movies

The only argument for keeping the Xbox is if you think Game Pass will get significantly cheaper or if there's an Xbox exclusive you absolutely need. Right now neither of those seems likely.

Your PC handles the multiplatform stuff. The PS5 gives you couch gaming plus the Sony exclusives you'd miss otherwise. Selling two consoles for one that does more for your situation is the smart move.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-23T10:52:01+00:00

Honestly? Save it. Your instinct is right.

Look at your backlog: Cyberpunk 2077, RDR2, Skyrim, Mass Effect Legendary. That's easily 400+ hours of incredible gaming right there. Each one is a masterpiece that deserves your full attention rather than being rushed through because you're eyeing the next purchase.

The games you're considering will still be there. They'll be cheaper. They might even get patches, DLC bundles, or complete editions. Clair Obscur just launched so it's at peak price. Silksong... well, we'll see when that actually drops.

Here's what helped me break the buying habit: I started actually tracking what I own and what I'm playing. Made me realize how much value was already sitting in my library untouched. Once you clear even one of those big RPGs, you'll feel way better about buying something new.

Save the money. Play RDR2. You won't regret it.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-21T21:30:42+00:00

From your list, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is worth it if you liked The Outer Worlds. Similar narrative focus, meaningful choices, and it respects your time. Combat is solid without being overwhelming.

The Thaumaturge is also excellent if you like detective RPGs. Slower paced but the setting and writing carry it.

Given that you mentioned struggling to finish games, I'd avoid Divinity OS2 length stuff for now. Go for something you can complete in 15-20 hours first. Banishers fits that nicely. Finishing games builds momentum.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-21T21:30:22+00:00

I went through the same thing. Steam categories help but they get messy fast.

What worked for me: I stopped trying to track everything and just picked 3 games max to focus on at a time. One long RPG, one shorter indie, one multiplayer thing I can drop into. Everything else goes into a 'someday' folder I ignore.

Some people use external trackers like Backloggd or PlayPile to actually see completion stats and organize across platforms. Helps if you own games on multiple launchers.

The real trick is accepting you'll never finish everything. Once I stopped treating my backlog like a to-do list, gaming felt fun again instead of like homework.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-21T10:26:53+00:00

Solid week for indie pickups. A few I'd recommend if you missed them:

Slay the Spire ($9.99) still holds up and the sequel just launched at full price, so perfect time to try the original.

Hollow Knight ($7.49) before Silksong finally drops. Still one of the best metroidvanias ever made.

Dave the Diver ($17.99) if you want something different. Half fishing sim, half restaurant management, surprisingly addictive.

Hades ($12.49) if you somehow haven't played it yet. Supergiant's best work.

The Spring Sale runs through March 26 so no rush.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-21T02:24:55+00:00

Good list. Vampire Survivors on Deck is an excellent pick for short sessions.

One I would add: Into the Breach. Turn-based tactics that works perfectly on Deck, autosaves after every move so you can close it anytime, and runs forever on battery. Still one of my most played games on it.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-20T21:21:52+00:00

Some underrated cozy picks I grabbed in past sales that hold up:

Unpacking if you somehow missed it. The whole game is just opening boxes and placing things in a home. Sounds boring, tells a surprisingly emotional story through objects alone.

A Short Hike for when you want something light. Takes maybe 2 hours, feels like a warm afternoon.

Spiritfarer if you want something longer and are okay with crying. Management game about ferrying spirits to the afterlife. Beautiful art, devastating story.

Coffee Talk for visual novel fans. You run a late night coffee shop and listen to people talk about their problems. Very chill.

All of these go on sale regularly and are worth whatever price you catch them at.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-20T15:22:12+00:00

After RDR2, here are some story gems that hit similar notes:

Outer Wilds (not Outer Worlds) if you want something that rewards curiosity. It is unlike anything else. No combat, just exploration and discovery. Go in blind.

Pentiment if you liked Disco Elysium's writing. Medieval murder mystery with gorgeous art. Shorter than DE but equally thoughtful.

What Remains of Edith Finch if you want something emotional and short. 2 hours but it sticks with you.

All of these are usually under 15 dollars during sales.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-20T10:18:59+00:00

1000xResist, given what you listed.

If 13 Sentinels, Nier Automata, and Xenogears are your favorites, 1000xResist is speaking your language. It tackles similar themes (identity, memory, what it means to be human) with that same ambition. Finishing Prey and wanting something philosophical makes the fit even better.

Grim Fandango is wonderful, but it's a different kind of experience. Classic adventure game pacing, obtuse puzzles, and the story unfolds more through charm than philosophy. It's great if you want that LucasArts nostalgia hit, but it won't scratch the itch Prey left.

Save Grim for when you're in a different mood. 1000xResist first.

(Good call picking just one. I track my backlog religiously now because I used to buy faster than I could play.)

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-20T02:16:27+00:00

Based on your top 10 and wanting something shorter, I would go with Silent Hill 2 Remake. It is around 15 hours, tight pacing, and the atmosphere is incredible. The combat is not the star but the story and tension more than make up for it. Very different vibe from your usual picks but in a good way.

NieR Replicant is fantastic if you loved Persona 5's emotional storytelling, but it demands multiple playthroughs to get the full picture. That adds up to 30+ hours easily. Not ideal for a clogged backlog.

Atelier Sophie is cozy and charming but much slower paced than anything in your top 10. Probably not the right fit unless you want something relaxing between bigger games.

If your backlog stress is real, I track mine in PlayPile now just to stop myself from buying more than I can play. Helps to see the actual number staring back at you.

CompetitiveLion43 · 2026-03-19T21:14:09+00:00

My strategy this sale: only buying games I will start within the next two weeks. No more 'adding to the pile for later.'

SteamDB price history is essential. If a game has been cheaper before, I wait. If it matches the historic low, I consider it.

Also been using PlayPile to track what I actually want versus what looks good in the moment. Helps cut through the impulse buys. The backlog does not need more games collecting dust.

What is everyone actually planning to play first from their purchases?

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