What videogames are you playing in 2026?

[Pale Violet Light]

but I do appreciate a game that rewards outside-the-box thinking and nonstandard solutions.

Can you give me some examples of the out-of -the-box thinking? I do in general like quests with multiple possible solutions. However, I was more thinking about combat math - you can get some bonkers numbers by abusing damage riders and it trivializes the combat.

The issue there is that in any given playthrough you may choose to be that goth girl, and it'd be weird if they were less concerned with their fate when they were an NPC.

Never had any desire to play as any of the origin companions - for me creating my own character is a key part of the experience. Also, you miss out on the top-notch voice acting!

Maybe one solution would be that you only get to explore a companion's questlines in detail when playing as them, and get an edited-highlights version of it when they're an NPC.

I think this would have been an excellent solution.

 

[Gladius Legis]

Also, you miss out on the top-notch voice acting!

I think this would have been an excellent solution.

They sort of teased this as a possibility for the future with Avatar Karlach. Unlike the other origin characters, Karlach has her own voiced internal dialogue when you play her as the Avatar. Being the last origin character to make it into BG3 had one advantage there, at least.

 

[Pedantic]

The general vibe seems to swing less roguelike-inclined than me here....but surely I'm not the only person deep into Slay the Spire 2? I've ground my way up to A10 on everyone and gotten in a fair amount of multiplayer with my local friends.

There's definitely still some kinks to work out this early on, I think difficulty needs some tuning between Acts 1 and 3, and I'm not sure elite payouts are good enough at the higher ascensions on Act 1 in general, but it's really delivering on "what if more Slay the Spire" as the premise. I'm particularly happy at how powerful events are, relative to the first game. Question marks are much more takeable in general.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Never had any desire to play as any of the origin companions - for me creating my own character is a key part of the experience. Also, you miss out on the top-notch voice acting

You don’t miss out on the voice acting, but you do miss out on content by having non-origin characters in the party.

 

[MarkB]

Never had any desire to play as any of the origin companions - for me creating my own character is a key part of the experience. Also, you miss out on the top-notch voice acting!

My first playthrough was with a custom character, tried Dark Urge for my second and didn't get along with it. Aside from that I've played origin characters - my most complete playthrough was as Lae'zel, I've played as Karlach and my current one is as Shadowheart. For me, being able to explore these characters' journeys more comprehensively through their own eyes is just as compelling as playing a character of my own creation.

 

[TwoSix]

Never had any desire to play as any of the origin companions - for me creating my own character is a key part of the experience. Also, you miss out on the top-notch voice acting!

It's definitely an issue you can see the designers running into. At their core, they want the main character to be a specific character, with a particular voice, because it allows them to craft a specific story around that character and make their presentation more visceral. That's why they've always made Origin characters such a compelling choice, particular in D:OS2. (They wanted to in BG3, but I think they ran out of time to truly differentiate them.)

But there are some many players who share your preferences (I think Tav/Durge are like 93% of all runs) that it's impossible for them to make the choice to have a specifically designed protagonist. And thus, you run into issues where it becomes more compelling to create scenarios for the well-rendered companions rather than the fairly anonymous protagonist.

 

[TwoSix]

My first playthrough was with a custom character, tried Dark Urge for my second and didn't get along with it. Aside from that I've played origin characters - my most complete playthrough was as Lae'zel, I've played as Karlach and my current one is as Shadowheart. For me, being able to explore these characters' journeys more comprehensively through their own eyes is just as compelling as playing a character of my own creation.

Agreed. To this day, I've never played a Tav. I've done a few Dark Urge runs, and all my other runs were Origin characters (I've finished them all now except Shadowheart, which was in Act 3.)

I much prefer games with specific protagonists over create-a-character protagonists.

 

[Kaodi]

My friend and I are both playing are own characters in co-op game, and I am playing my own character in my solo game. But if the game is truly that compelling and replayable I could see myself trying it with everyone Origin character in time.

 

[Pale Violet Light]

At their core, they want the main character to be a specific character, with a particular voice, because it allows them to craft a specific story around that character and make their presentation more visceral.

I vastly prefer the “generic” option, though I dont find it particularly generic at all. But I guess it might be worthwhile to try an Origin run. It would befit me to actually give it a go, so I can tell you you’re all kookoo bananas from a place of authority.

 

[TwoSix]

I vastly prefer the “generic” option, though I dont find it find generic at all. But I guess it might be worthwhile to try an Origin run. It would befit me to actually give it a go, so I can tell you you’re all kookoo bananas from a place of authority.

If you don't like the word "generic", call it rather a lack of specificity.

In terms of Origin runs where you get to see the most unique content and perspectives, I would order it as Karlach->Gale->Shadowheart->Astarion->Wyll->Lae'zel, although I think Wyll is a good Origin run simply because he's probably the least compelling companion, and his story is more interesting as the main protagonist.