What I've been playing
Since my recent return to gaming, I've picked up a few games that I've been enjoying.
Dave the Diver
I would say that this was the game that started my rollback into gaming. The concept is straightforward: You're Dave. You become associated with the entrepreneurial Cobra to begin a sushi bar by the beach. During the day, you dive and catch—or try to catch—a wide array of fish, from the humble Blue Tang to mighty Hammerheads, Barracudas, and more.
What I enjoyed about the game was managing the restaurant. Finding fish to sell in the morning and seeing how much money I could rack up in a single night was addictive. The presentation of the game was delightful. Unfortunately, the story felt a bit too packed and the gameplay, while addictive, could get repetitive. I'm in Chapter 6 out of 7 but I've taken a step back from it for a while.
Hades
Now this one is crazy. You're Zagreus, son of Hades, and you're trying to climb out of the Underworld. But, Hades, your father, is highly discouraging. Each level up from his deep deep domain is packed with minions with their own attack styles, quirks, and abilities that are unrelenting in trying to stop you (because, as a god yourself, the alternative to being killed is being sent back to a godlike fountain—back in Level 1).
It's an insane contrast to Dave the Diver's slow pace. Hades had me mashing buttons to avoid quick enemy attacks probably the same way racecar drivers practice dodging other racers. It's unapologetically hard; I had to fight the first boss battle, Meg, at least 6 times before I could progress.
Aside from the gameplay, which I love, I also really like the art style and presentation. The developers, Supergiant, decided to run with an anime-esque style of representing Greek gods, and it's all been nothing but refreshing (albeit mentally draining during each fight).