BooksofBrian
@booksofbrian.bsky.social
Reader, gamer, loves to work out, cook, putz around in the garden.
It’s exciting for me - many people find retirement to be a little disorienting - never been the case for me. People always ask you what you’re going to do after you retire - I always tell them I’ll do what I’ve always loved to do - just a lot more of it - and this is what I’ve always loved - I’m set
December 21, 2025 at 12:51 PM
It’s exciting for me - many people find retirement to be a little disorienting - never been the case for me. People always ask you what you’re going to do after you retire - I always tell them I’ll do what I’ve always loved to do - just a lot more of it - and this is what I’ve always loved - I’m set
So - now - I find myself really excited to dig deeper into a TBP list that’s been building over the course of 10+ busy years of professional and family life - COE33, Last of Us, Alan Wake, Resident Evil, Dead Space, FF - so so many more.
December 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
So - now - I find myself really excited to dig deeper into a TBP list that’s been building over the course of 10+ busy years of professional and family life - COE33, Last of Us, Alan Wake, Resident Evil, Dead Space, FF - so so many more.
I’ve also put years into 2 ARPGs - Diablo and Path of Exile. There was a time - the Diablo II heyday - that it felt like it might be a lifelong obsession - but DIII & DIV were disappointments & Path of Exile stole my attention. I’ve played the PoE II beta and I can’t wait for the full release.
December 21, 2025 at 12:45 PM
I’ve also put years into 2 ARPGs - Diablo and Path of Exile. There was a time - the Diablo II heyday - that it felt like it might be a lifelong obsession - but DIII & DIV were disappointments & Path of Exile stole my attention. I’ve played the PoE II beta and I can’t wait for the full release.
I also have to put BG3 into that all time favorite list even though I still haven’t finished a full play through. That game set the bar so high for RPGs - character development - the art work - the superb combat - the depth of the world it live in - that it may never be surpassed.
December 21, 2025 at 12:37 PM
I also have to put BG3 into that all time favorite list even though I still haven’t finished a full play through. That game set the bar so high for RPGs - character development - the art work - the superb combat - the depth of the world it live in - that it may never be surpassed.
Still - I feel like I’m still searching for that MMO which I can put a decade into and live with as both a gaming and social experience. I guess it’s good to have things to look forward to - it keeps me looking and hoping.
December 21, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Still - I feel like I’m still searching for that MMO which I can put a decade into and live with as both a gaming and social experience. I guess it’s good to have things to look forward to - it keeps me looking and hoping.
I’ve indulged a decade-long flirtation with Eve Online - a game that is always running in the background for me -
If only to progress a years long training que - same for Elder Scrolls Online - I do really love Tamriel - and I’m both excited and fearful about a new Elder Scrolls game.
If only to progress a years long training que - same for Elder Scrolls Online - I do really love Tamriel - and I’m both excited and fearful about a new Elder Scrolls game.
December 21, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I’ve indulged a decade-long flirtation with Eve Online - a game that is always running in the background for me -
If only to progress a years long training que - same for Elder Scrolls Online - I do really love Tamriel - and I’m both excited and fearful about a new Elder Scrolls game.
If only to progress a years long training que - same for Elder Scrolls Online - I do really love Tamriel - and I’m both excited and fearful about a new Elder Scrolls game.
I’m still searching for an MMO that turns into a life-long passion. I spent almost 20 years playing WoW - beautiful and fun years - but I finally walked away this year - it just became unmanageable and the end game became impenetrable. The lore has just become too twisted over the years.
December 21, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I’m still searching for an MMO that turns into a life-long passion. I spent almost 20 years playing WoW - beautiful and fun years - but I finally walked away this year - it just became unmanageable and the end game became impenetrable. The lore has just become too twisted over the years.
I was also overwhelmed by Ghost of Tsushima - there’s a brilliance & beauty to that game - combined with truly unique mechanics - which will forever put it into my all time favorites list. I can’t wait to play Ghost of Yotei but don’t think it will match the wonder of a 1st time GoT experience
December 21, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I was also overwhelmed by Ghost of Tsushima - there’s a brilliance & beauty to that game - combined with truly unique mechanics - which will forever put it into my all time favorites list. I can’t wait to play Ghost of Yotei but don’t think it will match the wonder of a 1st time GoT experience
I’ve also completely fallen in love with the God of War games - those two are true masterpieces that I think have worked their way into my Top Three - I feel like those 2 games are really just one game that was broken in two in order to make it more digestible (and profitable).
December 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
I’ve also completely fallen in love with the God of War games - those two are true masterpieces that I think have worked their way into my Top Three - I feel like those 2 games are really just one game that was broken in two in order to make it more digestible (and profitable).
One thing that has changed is a growing love for the games that BioWare have given us - I’ve spent that last 2 months exploring both the Dragon Age and Mass Effect franchises. I’ve become a huge fan and will always now be thankful for that company and the games they’ve contributed to the community.
December 21, 2025 at 12:18 PM
One thing that has changed is a growing love for the games that BioWare have given us - I’ve spent that last 2 months exploring both the Dragon Age and Mass Effect franchises. I’ve become a huge fan and will always now be thankful for that company and the games they’ve contributed to the community.
As a result - my Favorite Games list is changing in ways that it hasn’t for quite awhile. Witcher 3 and Skyrim continue to be my all time favorites - I don’t think I’ll ever fall out of love with those games - even as games evolve and become more immersive - nostalgia is a beautiful thing.
December 21, 2025 at 12:13 PM
As a result - my Favorite Games list is changing in ways that it hasn’t for quite awhile. Witcher 3 and Skyrim continue to be my all time favorites - I don’t think I’ll ever fall out of love with those games - even as games evolve and become more immersive - nostalgia is a beautiful thing.
Thank you - I’ll take a look - though it’s a little hard to imagine a Mass Effect title without Shepard.
December 20, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Thank you - I’ll take a look - though it’s a little hard to imagine a Mass Effect title without Shepard.
Mine may not be the opinion you’re looking for but think it depends on the game and the combat system. I’m not a big believer in false dichotomies.
December 20, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Mine may not be the opinion you’re looking for but think it depends on the game and the combat system. I’m not a big believer in false dichotomies.
1st time - recently retired and working through an enormous TBP list. Tremendous series of games.
December 19, 2025 at 11:50 PM
1st time - recently retired and working through an enormous TBP list. Tremendous series of games.
Bellara is right up there behind my top two - that really was a great crew. Just finished Mass Effect Legendary Edition - another really great cast of characters - Uncle Urdnot and James Vega are favorites along with Tali and Samara.
December 19, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Bellara is right up there behind my top two - that really was a great crew. Just finished Mass Effect Legendary Edition - another really great cast of characters - Uncle Urdnot and James Vega are favorites along with Tali and Samara.
Never understood the criticism this game received. I really loved every minute and every character - Neve and Lucanis FTW!
December 19, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Never understood the criticism this game received. I really loved every minute and every character - Neve and Lucanis FTW!
In retrospect, I’ve probably put way too much time into MMOs.
December 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
In retrospect, I’ve probably put way too much time into MMOs.
Also have the Horizon games still to play and Ghost of Yotei (GoT) was a mind-blowingly great game.
December 19, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Also have the Horizon games still to play and Ghost of Yotei (GoT) was a mind-blowingly great game.
There is so much I still have to do for someone who’s been playing almost every day for the last 4 decades.
December 19, 2025 at 3:33 PM
There is so much I still have to do for someone who’s been playing almost every day for the last 4 decades.
Not yet but it’s on the list: COE33, Last of Us, Cyberpunk, Indiana Jones, Death Stranding, finish BG3, Blue Prince, Kingdom Come Deliverance, finish Elden Ring - on and on. May even try the Resident Evil games. Haven’t been tempted by RDR2 yet but maybe some day.
December 19, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Not yet but it’s on the list: COE33, Last of Us, Cyberpunk, Indiana Jones, Death Stranding, finish BG3, Blue Prince, Kingdom Come Deliverance, finish Elden Ring - on and on. May even try the Resident Evil games. Haven’t been tempted by RDR2 yet but maybe some day.
I retired a couple of years ago and finally have time to work through a mikes long TBP list. Finished both Dragon Age, God of War and Mass Effect. I have a decade of great games to catch up on.
December 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I retired a couple of years ago and finally have time to work through a mikes long TBP list. Finished both Dragon Age, God of War and Mass Effect. I have a decade of great games to catch up on.
Heard and read about it - want to play it but haven’t had the chance. Just finished a Mass Effect Legendary play through and loved every minute. Next up is Clair Obscur, followed by Last Of Us 1 & 2.
December 19, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Heard and read about it - want to play it but haven’t had the chance. Just finished a Mass Effect Legendary play through and loved every minute. Next up is Clair Obscur, followed by Last Of Us 1 & 2.
I tried this one and really wanted to love it - always looking for games that give me the kind of experience I had with Skyrim - but it just fell a little flat for me. I gave up on it about halfway through. May give it another run at some point but too many other great titles to play b4 that happens
December 19, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I tried this one and really wanted to love it - always looking for games that give me the kind of experience I had with Skyrim - but it just fell a little flat for me. I gave up on it about halfway through. May give it another run at some point but too many other great titles to play b4 that happens