Weekend Gaming Playlist

The weather is getting warmer, and that means one of two things: either you’ll be out somewhere in a place where you can actually enjoy the heat, or you’ll be staying indoors trying to avoid it. Or you might just be twiddling your thumbs, waiting for Nintendo’s E3 presentation! I’m particularly busy this weekend, but I’ll be spending my Sunday with a good friend, which means co-op is in the cards for me. Here are some the titles I’m tackling this weekend:

Griftlands

As resident tabletop extraordinaire, I’ve actually done a good deal of library expansion in order to more thoroughly round out my Switch library of deck-building RPGs, some of which you’ll spot later on this list. But a release that crept up on me was Griftlands, Klei Entertainment’s narrative-driven science fiction rogue-like. It’s rare that you see many deck-based games focus on narrative choice and consequence, but Griftlands specific implementation of negotiation cards in addition to standard combat makes it stand out a bit more in comparison with its contemporaries. While I haven’t played much of Griftlands yet, I will be reviewing the title for the site, so stay tuned for my very seasoned and controversial take on one of my favorite genres.

Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition

Let me be clear: I love me some Digimon. I loved them as a kid, loved them as a teenager playing my Nintendo DS, and I’m loving them now on the Nintendo Switch. While some might scoff and argue that they are a poor-man’s Pokemon, this lovely title proves the exact opposite, offering a rich and deliciously campy narrative and absolutely addictive monster-taming gameplay. A key difference (and source of delight) is how Digimon can be de-evolved to younger forms, dropping their level down to one, but also buffing their level cap. This results in a steady sense of progression as you tackle more difficult dungeons and challenges, resulting in explosive experience gains and the opportunity to unlock more powerful evolutions. In any case, this is my down-time game between required playing, and it perfectly contrasts with the oppressive nature of the next title…

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster

Make no mistake, the remastering in Nocturne is almost exclusively in its visuals, as the game still possesses a regrettably compressed soundtrack and some oddly-presented FMVs. It’s also old-fashioned in a very important manner: it’s a punishing game. Even as a veteran of Atlus’s 3DS titles, SMTIV included, I’m finding some of the limitations featured in Nocturne’s negotiation and summoning systems to feel a little too old-fashioned and unforgiving for my tastes. However, the result is a deeply unsettling and hostile tone that fits the game world perfectly, and despite these hurdles, I’m glad to have more SMT to play on the Switch. Now I’m all the more excited for news on SMTV, which shouldn’t be far-off now…

Frost

Speaking of deck-based gameplay and oppressive environments, Frost is all about traveling to safety in a desolate, snowy wasteland, and your resources are the tools you build and add to your deck along the way. While I haven’t played much of Frost, my friend and I are longtime Magic the Gathering fans, so I’m hoping I can introduce him to this chilling title and we can work through some initial ideas for progressing through its challenges. You’ll likely hear more about this title from me in the near future.

Children of Morta

My last inclusion on this list is an RPG that I feel greatly benefits from its co-op and steady progression systems. With many co-op titles, one player often starts at a higher skill level than the other, which can lead to imbalances in approach and fun. Luckily, you can buff up the Bergsons and have them prepped for when a partner joins the fray, easing the game’s difficulty and empowering any newcomers. With more modes to explore thanks to a recent patch and expansion, I’ll likely break this title out when I’m with my friend if we’re looking for the thrill of progression.

That’s a smattering of the games I’ll be cycling through, though a few daily challenges from old favorites will likely slip in here and there. Have you played any of my listed titles so far? Do you have any tips for progression? What’s on your weekend playlist? Feel free to comment below or on our SwitchRPG Twitter account to share your plans, and keep an eye out for further coverage of these titles as summer heats up. Have a great weekend!