Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: You might say I was rather engrossed in this one.
Judging strictly on technical merits, I’d rate it maybe a borderline 6/10. It’s a big world and there’s a whole lot to do. While the enemies in the more difficult areas take and dish out more damage, that’s the only thing making them harder; as long as you’re gaining levels and gear, you should be fine. Visually it’s very impressive, and some areas are breathtaking in their beauty. Probably its biggest failing is that unlike the best AC games, you don’t really get to change your environment in a positive way. The wilderness will always be full of dangerous predators, hostile towns remain hostile, bandit camps always fill back up, conquered castles are basically big useless lumps of stone. If you got a rush from rebuilding Rome in Brotherhood or crushing enemy fortresses in Black Flag, you might find this disappointing. If you’re the type of player who enjoys checking off accomplishments, you definitely want this.
What else…I just started DuckLife Adventure, and it looks like it could be fun. And I’ve played Wordscapes for several months and it’s been really good, just the right mix of effort and reward. (Hey! Don’t knock mobile games! They’re not all ripoffs! )