My top video games...
I absolutely loved Horizon Zero Dawn. The cinematic opening is, without a doubt, one of the most gripping five minutes of storytelling I’ve ever experienced in a video game. It sets the tone, introducing a world that feels alive and layered and nuanced, and immediately establishing a personal stake in the story. As that story unfolded, I found myself alternately devastated and hopeful, pulled into the narrative. The way that the game chooses to reveal the past is brilliant, mysterious, tragic, and shockingly intimate. Heartbreaking media flashbacks drove me to tears more than once. This isn’t just a video game, it’s like an interactive movie that stays with you long after you're done.
At first, I thought the dinosaur-like robots were just a kitschy gimmick and frankly, an embarrassingly clueless kind of cheesy. But once the story gets going and you understand why they exist, that revelation is mind-blowing. Scenarios you've been playing through and past and around suddenly click, and the world makes sense in a way that feels unbelievably clever and deeply personal.
Horizon Forbidden West expands on everything that made Zero Dawn amazing. The world is breathtaking, with the ability to fly, exploring vast landscapes and unforgettable city expansions, and the characters feel deeper. I loved how the story and the world continue to evolve, and I’m already looking forward to the third installment.
If you haven't played this game, you are genuinely missing out. And don't just play. Wander. Explore. Be curious. Keep your tissues handy.
https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/games/horizon-zero-dawn/
Blue Prince is a rare kind of strategic rogue puzzle. It rewards curiosity, flexibility, and a healthy willingness to overthink ... and then overthink some more. Interlocking logic, math, deduction, and cryptic-clue puzzles create a mansion that feels alive, reshaping itself daily as you play through. Some don't like the randomness, but it didn’t frustrate me. I see it as part of the challenge, a nudge to keep multiple paths open and avoid getting locked into one brittle plan.
This is absolutely a notebook puzzler. If your coffee table doesn’t look like a conspiracy wall by Day 20, you’re not playing it right. I played cooperatively with my husband on the TV, and half the fun was comparing notes, trying cyphers, and debating theories as deeper patterns and hidden connections surfaced.
What surprised me most was the richness of the backstory — royal intrigue, ancient history, modern guerilla tactics — all woven into a mystery that kept unfolding long past when I thought I’d “got it.” After months of play, finally uncovering the real will and testament on Day 151 felt truly earned.
The aesthetic is strikingly beautiful. The graphic style is appropriately moody and sketchy. The music has a subtle, jazzy feel that sets the tone perfectly — distinctive enough to build atmosphere without overwhelming the puzzles or the story. I loved this game experience.
I played on PS5, but it’s also available on Xbox and Steam. If you love puzzles that respect your intelligence and a mystery that rewards persistence, Blue Prince is absolutely worth getting lost in.
The Talos Principle is a fascinating mix of puzzle-solving and philosophy. The game constantly asks you to question the meaning of choices, obedience, and existence. It’s engaging, but I was a little disappointed that it sticks almost entirely to Western philosophical frameworks when it could have drawn from a wider range of traditions.
The puzzles themselves are solid. The physics engine is fun to play with, and it’s impressive how many different scenarios the game creates using just five basic tools. Even so, there were definitely moments that felt “grindy.” And some parts simply aren’t explained well; a clearer tutorial or a bit more in-game guidance would have made the experience smoother.
I played the remastered version on PS5 with my husband and spent about a month finishing everything. Despite the rough patches, I enjoyed the overall experience and would pick it up again — partly for the puzzles, but also for the way the game keeps you thinking.