What videogames are you playing in 2026?

[Ruin Explorer]

I need to find a more modern game like that: simple premise, uncomplicated action gameplay, light to no story. But I don’t want a roguelike or soulslike.

Good luck with that, tell us if you find one! I definitely get you there - I love roguelike and soulslike games and heavy stories buuuuuut sometimes you don't want any of those!

The only genre I can think of which really features that is Boomer Shooters, but I'm guessing when you say "action gameplay" you don't mean FPS.

Otherwise you're pretty much always going to have at least one of:

1) A significant amount of story.
2) Roguelike elements
3) Soulslike vibes or gameplay
4) Complicated gameplay (which for me includes most Metroidvanias or anything involving base-building or crafting)

Generally I feel like if the roguelike elements aren't getting in the way of the gameplay that's the least-significant problem among them. Like, Absolum mostly fits this for me, but it is technically roguelike.

Oh that makes me think though - there are beat 'em ups like Marvel Cosmic Invasion which probably fit the bill, but again maybe that's too specific a genre.

 

[Parmandur]

I was feeling like I needed a "mindless" game tonight and was having a hard time picking a genre as I scrolled through Playstation Plus. Then I saw Medeivil and installed it.

Yeah... that's the stuff.

I need to find a more modern game like that: simple premise, uncomplicated action gameplay, light to no story. But I don’t want a roguelike or soulslike.

Have you played Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom?

 

[Reynard]

Have you played Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom?

I do not have a Switch. From what I hear about those games,though, is that they aren't especially short or simple. Is that correct?

 

[Reynard]

Good luck with that, tell us if you find one! I definitely get you there - I love roguelike and soulslike games and heavy stories buuuuuut sometimes you don't want any of those!

The only genre I can think of which really features that is Boomer Shooters, but I'm guessing when you say "action gameplay" you don't mean FPS.

Otherwise you're pretty much always going to have at least one of:

1) A significant amount of story.
2) Roguelike elements
3) Soulslike vibes or gameplay
4) Complicated gameplay (which for me includes most Metroidvanias or anything involving base-building or crafting)

Generally I feel like if the roguelike elements aren't getting in the way of the gameplay that's the least-significant problem among them. Like, Absolum mostly fits this for me, but it is technically roguelike.

Oh that makes me think though - there are beat 'em ups like Marvel Cosmic Invasion which probably fit the bill, but again maybe that's too specific a genre.

Yeah I just want a short, linear, easy (or easy mode) action game sometimes. Like just the first tier of Diablo 4 on infinite loop would be perfect.

 

[Parmandur]

I do not have a Switch. From what I hear about those games,though, is that they aren't especially short or simple. Is that correct?

Simple, yes, short in terms of the gameplay loop yes. The whole can take a while.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Simple, yes, short in terms of the gameplay loop yes. The whole can take a while.

BotW is an insanely impressive game but I think it absolutely falls outside the kind of gameplay described because it's a serious metroidvania with a ton to unlock (a lot of which works in intuitive but still complex ways). Even the short gameplay loop I'd characterise as a lot longer than something like low-tier Diablo 4, and it's a much lower-energy more thoughtful kind of game.

 

[Reynard]

BotW is an insanely impressive game but I think it absolutely falls outside the kind of gameplay described because it's a serious metroidvania with a ton to unlock (a lot of which works in intuitive but still complex ways). Even the short gameplay loop I'd characterise as a lot longer than something like low-tier Diablo 4, and it's a much lower-energy more thoughtful kind of game.

Yeah. I love a good open world exploration game, but in this instance I was suggesting I wanted something mindless and easy, like the action RPG equivalent of a racing game.

 

[Gradine]

Alright, time to give a serious Disco Elysium run another try. I always fall off of it for some reason but I know this is a game that should click with me.

 

[Parmandur]

BotW is an insanely impressive game but I think it absolutely falls outside the kind of gameplay described because it's a serious metroidvania with a ton to unlock (a lot of which works in intuitive but still complex ways). Even the short gameplay loop I'd characterise as a lot longer than something like low-tier Diablo 4, and it's a much lower-energy more thoughtful kind of game.

I have watched a four year old play Breath of the Wild...it can be very simple in practice.

 

[Parmandur]

Yeah. I love a good open world exploration game, but in this instance I was suggesting I wanted something mindless and easy, like the action RPG equivalent of a racing game.

Ever tried the Dynasty Warriors series?