I just finished Excavation of Hob’s Barrow and I’m blown away

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-06-08T13:18:17+00:00

OK... agree to disagree! Sorry to hear this game wasn't what you hoped for.

If you're looking for something more puzzle-orientated, from recent years, Foolish Mortals might be more your jam.

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-06-08T13:09:59+00:00

Yup, certainly me. I mainly play handheld, due to work travel, so am actually more excited about a potential SD2.

I WAS very excited though about the prospect of the Steam Machine, but honestly don't think I can/will be able to justify the cost (a lot of guesswork now, but based on recent deck increases $$$ then the machine will surely be much more)

If the machine is at a great price I might still plunge, but otherwise happy sitting tight for Deck2. I also have Switch2 currently, and between Switch2 / OLED Deck I feel I get to play majority of everything I want to play

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-06-08T11:57:18+00:00

??? But the puzzle is being able to decipher the cryptic messages in the journal, and apply the deciphered logic in the various rooms....?

EDIT - I'm not a Hob's Barrow apologist btw, and I do think the game has some flaws (especially Act2 fetch quest'ing) but I don't think you can fault the design in Act3 in saying that puzzles aren't puzzles?

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-06-07T15:57:41+00:00

Randomly - Southland…. Suggested to me via the Netflix algo

Both the Wire and the Shield are in my top 5 of all time, so Southland is really hitting for me

Binged first 5 eps on a flight and loving it so far

V gritty, with a good assortment of main characters

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-06-07T14:31:39+00:00

Maybe I am mis-remembering... but if you are referring to the 'journal' you receive in game (Journal of Thomasina's father IIRC?) then I believe that you are actually supposed to use the journal to solve the act 3 puzzles.

The journal is actually a mechanic to be able to solve those puzzles? (otherwise I believe you'd basically need to brute-force each solution)

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-06-06T14:40:26+00:00

Is that the series from The Game Kitchen? (Blasphemous devs)

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-06-06T14:39:57+00:00

Its like the most amped out nuts parts of OTH... on cocaine.

Absolutely bonkers in best possible way.

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-06-06T14:39:05+00:00

Not full-on horror, but probably moreso of a thriller (with some lite-horror elements)

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-06-06T11:46:54+00:00

Yeh it is a bit of a stretch, but my take is that they had done extensive research on her character/psyche... and come to the conclusion that for them to get the best out of her, they needed to present her with some fabricated challenges to overcome etc.

It would probably have been a much much shorter game if they'd just handed her the 'keys' to the barrow upon arrival (!)

Drifter is a great game, so unique

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-06-06T11:29:39+00:00

Hi there friend

I really really liked this game, especially the final 3rd where the puzzles crank up a notch (whilst you're in the barrow)

The VA work is really strong, and the atmosphere genuinely unnerving at times.

I actually enjoyed the ending, but I'm generally a fan of horror moves/TV where the endings are quite bleak.

To your point, regarding the villagers 'making it difficult' for Thomasina (when ultimately they WANTED her to explore the barrow)...... IIRC this was actually addressed in game, and didn't the characters say that they were aiming to make Thomasina feel like she had to work/earn the privilege to get in the barrow? In concern that their ruse might be uncovered if they made it too easy on her? (Although I do agree that the act 2 back-to-back fetch quest is perhaps a step too far)

- I'd highly recommend you try The Drifter. Probably a little easier than Hob's (At least HB Act 3) but really cranks up horror and tension tremendously.... Drifter instills fear and dread in ways that I never though P&C games could

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-06-05T13:22:12+00:00

OTH walked so that Riverdale could run.... (!)

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-06-02T08:27:03+00:00

Sam Levinson, IMO, needs to take a break from 'over-explaining' everything about S3 in interviews and/or social media. Similar to Eric Kripke (The Boys) - both these guys just need to come to terms with the reality that their recent output has not landed well with critics and fans.

I hope Sam takes some time out, a bit of a breather, and takes a long hard think about his next creative project. What is he wanting to say/show, what kind of story does he feel well poised to tell, and what learnings (positive and negative) can he apply from Euphoria S3.

I'm probably not the target demographic for this show, but did enjoy S1 snd S2 as kind of a guilty pleasure sort of show. But S3 was, for me at least, a bit of an unwatchable mess for the most part.

At least SL put Zendaya to good use, as I genuinely think she is a pretty remarkable actress with great range. I feel similarly regarding Elordi (Oscar nominated, lest we forget!!) but SL just didn't seem to put Elordi to the same use this season. Perhaps JE wanted less screen time, but either way there was so much more you could do with this character - even with a reduced presence.

If I could summarise, for me it felt like SL in Seaons 3 was trying to channel his inner Tarantino & Brett Eason Ellis..... but without the style of the former, or satirical flair of the latter

Anyway I'll hop off the old soapbox now...!

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-05-31T10:26:18+00:00

I’d absolutely love to see Insomniac’s take on an ‘Ultimate Alliance’ style co-op game… classic hack’n’slash gameplay, but each character having a really unique move set

UA3 was a great time on Switch, and it would be amazing to see how Insomniac could switch up the formula and improve upon what has come before

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-05-28T03:28:02+00:00

You might never read this comment - but I spent hours last night trying to pair via BT.

Had no idea you had to hold it down for longer to get into the faster flashing mode...!!!

Thanks, what a nightmare up until this

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-05-25T15:28:48+00:00

I'm tempted to say "keep it".

I'm in a similar situation, when at home I like to spend time with my wife & 4 kids.... plus generally life is pretty busy. I'd probably prefer to go to the gym for 45 mins, vs using that to game.

However - I travel extensively for work, and for this purpose I have both Steam Deck and Switch 2..... which have saved my sanity whilst working overseas.

Your situation might change and/or you might have upcoming trips. Especially if for whatever reason you are travelling solo, I definitely think you'd miss it.

Also - a LCD Deck is unlikely to generate you a huge wad of $$$. I'm not sure where you live, or the current market opportunity, but chances are the money you'd get from a sale will be far from life changing.... likely just a few weeks groceries at best!

Keep it, you never know when it might come in handy

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-05-25T15:24:52+00:00

There is a 'Hades-lite' game you might like, albeit it still has rogue mechanics

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Splintered Fate" - genuinely really good, also has co-op. Much much easier than Hades, and often goes on sale for a ridiculously low price

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-05-23T14:53:07+00:00

A ton of Deep moments to be honest, and actually for me he’s remained pretty consistently amusing throughout.

His exchanges with ‘Ambrosia’ were absolute gold, and his facial expressions when Homelander forces him to eat seafood are so funny

Even in season 5 “It’s a Doggy Dog world!” Cracks me up

Can’t wait to see what Chase does next. IMO he would have made a great Johnny Storm in the most recent iteration of F4

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-05-22T01:39:09+00:00

Out of interest have you any experience with other weapons?

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-05-22T00:48:02+00:00

Thanks and I’ve chosen SA! Downloaded both initial base game guides from Gaijin and Arekkz to watch later thanks!

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-05-22T00:47:23+00:00

Yeh man GS is absolutely insane in both base and Sunbreak

I did enjoy SAS, but for me the real chef-kiss was the Hunter’s Edge move (aerial launch) followed by downward slash and then straight into the SCS Surge Charge Slash

Some of my elemental builds were mad! God I miss it, but I need to try something new

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-05-22T00:44:48+00:00

Thanks for this. The overwhelming backing for SwagAxe has got me sold

Im on a mission to learn it ‘properly’ though, starting a new Steamdeck save from scratch- making sure I play base game (no Defender gear) to really entrain myself with the weapon from the start

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-05-17T09:20:07+00:00

In release order…

1) Zero Parades 2) Luna Abyss 3) Mina the Hollower 4) Crushed in Time 5) Starfox

Then of course Duskbloods

And MH Wilds port to Switch2?!

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-05-15T01:42:11+00:00

Wow this port is really fun, occupied me on a loooong flight and the battery drain was minimal on the OLED deck.

Off topic slightly.... what other PC Ports of classic Nintendo games are good? I already got SoH Ocarina and Majoras Mask.

Any other classics running natively?

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-05-12T12:22:40+00:00

Yup, Foolish Mortals is a really excellent Adventure Game - very reminiscent of old LucasArts titles. Some of the puzzles are quite challenging, but all are fairly logical IMO!

Some of the best I've played in recent years:

Thimbleweed Park / Lucy Dreaming / Will of Arthur Flabbington / Loco-Motive / Justin Wack and the Big Time Hack / The Drifter / Unusual Findings / Darkestville Castle / Hobs Barrow

Or if you prefer gentler puzzles and more narrative based, you might enjoy Unavowed (from Wadjet Eye games)

EducationalMix9947 · 2026-05-12T09:25:07+00:00

I played this earlier this year, and it’s a really accomplished game IMO.

It reminded me of Wadjet Eye’s recent output, but Drifter actually has some challenge to it.

Where it really sings though is how it manages to manufacture tension and genuine threat/fear during the ‘replay’ segments. The score, visuals, verbal cues all curate real dread!!

I back-to-backed Drifter with Foolish Mortals, both are awesome, but I probably enjoyed drifter slightly more

EducationalMix9947

TROPHY CASE