PLEASE. The last 20 pages of this thread have been so tiring to follow.
To lighten things up:
Happy Friday, I want to thank
Dark Nugget for an item off my wish list!
Speaking of gifted games, I just recently beat
Evoland which
Vinka Zec had gifted me a while back. I
really enjoyed it! It's such a creative approach to game design - adding a little bit of history through each step. Almost felt like something you would/should be able to play at a video game museum. It had everything that makes RPGs fun and you could tell the dev put a lot of care and effort into it. Seriously, if you're a fan of Zelda, Final Fantasy, Tales, etc. give it a try.
Speaking of RPGs - my favorite?
Baten Kaitos - a beautiful, deep, and memorable gem for the Gamecube. I'll never forget the twist about 40 hours in.
Lately, because I'm a completionist and it's hard to find the time to sink into long games while balancing work and life, my favorite genre has become any game that's unique and short

Some games I've beaten over the last couple months:
Manual Samuel - A comedy point and click that borrows inspiration from the infamous QWOP.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons - I'm a huge fan of mythologies like the Norse, so I played this and didn't expect to be hit in the feels.
Koral - A beautiful educational game about the ocean that you have to bring back to life.
Donut County - You play as a growing hole in the ground. Seriously. It's amazing.
In Other Waters - One of the most unique games I've played. You're a scientist on an alien planet exploring and cataloging the flora and fauna. It's a text-based adventure that blends sci-fi, exploration, mystery, and futurology seamlessly. Give it a shot.
These are in addition to
Gone Home and
In Sound Mind which I've recently chatted about here.
All of the above are short and unique and have left lasting impressions on me!
Recently I've been playing
Ballpoint Universe Infinite, which
Loco gifted me, but about 8 hours in I ran into a game-breaking bug

I've been trying to find the energy to restart it, but I think I may move on to something new. I've been chipping away at Lyne (thanks
Valeyvonne!) so I may focus on that.
Anyway, hope this shifts things a bit!
Reply to this with some games you've played recently, genres you like, or any recommendations you may have for me!