An old friend of mine copped to a habit when I discovered him at the world’s last BronyCon (long story). Chatting over Chipotle, he said he’d often put on a podcast and sink into a game he’s played from beginning to end maybe dozens of times. “Male knitting,” he called it. The analogy made immediate sense, even if it isn’t inherently masculine.
Sometimes, you just need to keep your hands and the lowest gears of your mind busy. While I don’t prioritize such zone-out games, they’re still valuable; especially on long trips like the one I just took today, when I spent hours immersed in a detective audiobook and Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor.
This single-stick shooter has gripped me more than both its namesakes: the 2022 sensation that was Vampire Survivors, and the original co-op mining game, Deep Rock Galactic. In this early-access curio, you’ll steer your dwarf around hostile alien caverns, automatically firing weapons and swinging your pickaxe to churn through ore. You’ll eventually score bonkers upgrades to better slaughter hostile bugs that chase you through rock tunnels you’ve haphazardly carved to stay ahead of the hordes.
I used to play The Binding of Isaac like how I now play Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor. The latter isn’t so demanding or precise; even failed runs gradually unlock permanent upgrades. It’s not as intrinsically rewarding a roguelike as last year’s Cobalt Core or the inimitable Hades — but every so often, my parched attention span welcomes its gentle, drizzling rain.
PS: Don’t worry. I’ll have more to say on heftier games soon. Stay tuned.
Here & Now Mastromarino Productions
The future of DC's beloved cherry tree, Stumpy — I accompanied host Scott Tong to the National Arboretum for this! It’s the news feature I’m proudest of producing this month.
What South Korea's gender divide means for its April election — check out this YouTube video if you’re interested in the subject’s intersection with games.
Russia charges 4 men for a Moscow attack that killed and injured hundreds