Reid Main

Before anyone brings this up, I realize the hypocrisy of complaining about how video games aren't really innovating and then not playing two of the most unique games of 2025. My apologies and I aim to rectify this in 2026.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is the top of my pile of shame because it legitimately sounds as if it could have been my Game of the Year. I consistently heard two things:

1. It is incredibly immersive.
2. It is incredibly long.

Now I'm obviously not against playing one game for a hundred hours but it truly sounded as if Kingdom Come: Deliverance II could have taken over my life so I just kept punting on starting it until the year was over.

Blue Prince

Blue Prince is one of those games that I was interested in playing until I started seeing reviews. Not because the reviews were bad but because they were so ludicrously over-the-top with praise that there was no possible way the game could live up to the hype. I understand that a puzzle game can be unique and innovative but dear lord some social media posts made it sound like the solo developer of Blue Prince had ascended to another level and figured out an entirely new way to create video games.

As time has past the hype has settled and discussions surrounding it for Game of the Year appear much more measured. I am still very interested in Blue Prince and hope to carve out some time for it in 2026.

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster

Both the original System Shock and System Shock 2 have been on my pile of shame for 20+ years now. I was hoping to partially rectify that with the release of System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster but I just never found myself in the mood for a horror immersive sim game.

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap

I've written previously about both my love and hate for the Orcs Must Die! franchise. The first two games were great but the third took a turn towards locking most upgrades behind endless grinding. I had high hopes that Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap would rectify these mistakes but unfortunately they've chosen to double down. Grinding and random number generation appear to be core to the design of Orcs Must Die now.

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy

I know absolutely nothing about The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy but I was told by people I trust that it is a visual novel I would enjoy.

Ghost of Yōtei

I finally bought a copy of the director's cut of Ghost of Tsushima so maybe in 2027 I'll finally get around to playing Ghost of Yōtei.

Eternal Strands

Eternal Strands is on this list because every single conversation about it invokes Monster Hunter eventually. But the main reason I haven't played it is the voice acting and story just don't seem to be something I would enjoy. I'm not saying the developers need to change it. This is an artistic decision and I'm just not one of those people who typical plays a game where everyone is a bubbly millennial who embodies toxic positivity.