4 Games Worth Staying Inside For

Play it on: PS5, PS4, Windows (Steam Deck N/A)
Current goal: Recover another AI to save the world

2017 was the last time I spent any meaningful time with Aloy and the terrifying armada of robo dinos and beasties that inhabits her post-apocalyptic world.

And oh em gee, I forgot how much fun the core combat loop of this game is. It’s been so long since I played the first one that I can’t really remember the concrete differences between Zero Dawn and Forbidden West during the hectic moments. But the challenge of balancing bow-and-arrow shooting (my favorite kind of shooting), resource management, trap-setting, and elemental status effects makes for a pure adrenaline rush of feminine hero fantasy for me. Seriously, this would be my GOTY if it had come out this year (I mean, it kinda did on PC anyway).

The story is sorta going over my head, though. As with Zero Dawn, I feel like this setting and these characters could’ve used another draft or two? That said, I’m starting to really like Aloy as a heroine. The plot’s themes of environmental destruction, human greed, and artificial intelligence are also providing interesting food for thought…especially given where IRL Earth seems to be heading (lolsob). Nothing’s totally winning me over, but it’s still proving neat to think about!

These days I crave more difficult challenges in games, so I’m playing on Very Hard and finding the combat rewarding enough that I will absolutely do another playthrough on Ultra Hard once I’m done. Also, it’s beyond gorgeous in motion, so it’ll be great for testing and showcasing the impact of upgrades I make to my PC in the future.

— Claire Jackson