Disclaimer: I've spent over 5k hours since launch in this game.

I don't think I can describe how much this game means to me, but I'll try!

Tyria is a beautiful world, a labour of love full of secrets and stories. It is one of the most realised and interesting virtual landscapes I've seen in the industry. The art direction and level design of each map, particularly the newer ones, shows off the amazing talent at hand. Many hours have been spent just taking in the sights and finding snippets of dialogue or lore hidden around. 10 years after launch and almost daily play, I still find new things in the oldest maps at unexpected places. It's easy to get lost and engrossed.

The combat class that sealed the deal for me was the Elementalist, probably the only wizard class in modern MMOs that feels like a spellslinger. All of the professions feel great to play, with unique quirks and gimmicks, but the Elementalist just tickles my mage fantasy like no other. The combat relies on your own skill, you must be self-sufficient, learn to dodge and notice enemy patterns and telegraphs. Playing a glass cannon with instant targeting and action camera (highly recommended) is a massive step above any other MMO on the market. Making combos with other players, be it in messy open world encounters or organised parties, is the most elegant and immediate solution to teamplay I've seen in the genre. It's entertaining, responsive and scalable to various difficulties.

The event system is by far the best element of open world exploration. GW2 just drops you into Tyria and forces you to make of it what you will. Even with the more guided changes to the new player experience, you're basically making your own goals. There is a (decent) story campaign to follow, but the true magic of the game lies in picking a direction and going where the wind takes you. There is no need to meddle with irrelevant UI menus or annoying progression systems. If you see that mountain, chances are good you can climb it. Bumping into someone along the way is always welcome. You get the most XP from reviving players and helping others with events. You are actively rewarded for sticking around a zone you like with event chains. Co-operation is easy, instant and above all fun.

There's a little something for everyone. Massive open world meta events. Harder instanced content with fractals, raids, strikes. Separate World vs World and PvP modes for the competitive. Guild halls and missions (which desperately need more overhauls.) Mini-games and activities. Fashion Wars. Roller-beetle racing. Awkward but functional underwater combat. Gliding. Incredible mounts. Fishing. Crafting. A seemingly never ending list of achievements to obtain, skins to collect and gold to farm.

I haven't updated my gear in over 7 years now. There's no need. The question I always get is "but what do you do then!?" Sometimes it's crafting a legendary precursor. Or it's finding the perfect look for my mesmer. Maybe it's having a race in the guild hall. Other times it's killing a dragon or two. There are so many opportunities for a journey, the end doesn't matter. You won't have a happy time if you're looking for numbers going up. GW2 wants to be an enjoyable game first and foremost, not a slot machine, no matter what some might say.

The base game is free and quite hefty with small restrictions. The complete collection bundle is certainly pricy, but well worth it for years of content. The HoT+PoF expansion combo is, in my opinion, mandatory if you want to continue playing without a greater upfront investment. HoT has the best maps in the game, while PoF has mounts. I would strongly recommend following the Seasons of Living World in order of release as well, as they offer new maps and mechanics over time. S2 is rough, but everything HoT onwards dramatically improves in overall quality.

If you're just starting your journey, I envy you, truly. Share an apple with Tybalt for me. Find a guild of adventurers to run around with. Embrace the joy of exploration. Fear not this night. Godspeed, Commander.

Full disclosure: I've reviewed this game for the Croatian gaming portal FFA.hr here.[ffa.hr] This is a shortened English version of that review. I also ended up in the credits of the game as a consultant, but have not contributed to the game directly.

The Wheel of Fortune is a visual novel with dating sim elements. While the structure is fairly typical, what separates it from the rest is the setting and presentation. You play as a depressing NEET loser who needs to turn his life around as soon as possible to avoid a fate worse than death - living with his parents beyond his thirties. Due to (un)lucky circumstances, the protagonist finds himself stuck in a hot springs with three ladies. Depending on your choices, you can charm a waifu of your choice and get a good or bad end. All of this is set somewhere in the Balkans, a rather exotic setting for the VN genre. It is unashamedly satirical and cynical, with many in-jokes and references to the Balkan lifestyle and cultural context. However, because the characters are charming and the plot fully aware how silly it can get, it blends into a nice, entertaining mix.

The core mechanic is the Wheel of Fortune itself. It spins every in-game night and determines the chance of random events the following day. Excellent luck can unlock fanservice scenes if the right choice is made, while terrible luck might severely lower your chances of a dialogue option. This actually ties into the protagonist's plot and worldview, and makes replays slightly more engaging if you don't savescum.

H-scenes are present and vary in quality, but the art is overall decent. Considering this is a one-man project, it is really surprising how well it holds up. The music is all remixes of turbofolk songs and really draws you in, especially if this setting is completely foreign to you. If you're looking for something short, funny and sweet, it's pretty alright.

Basically, Aya is the best waifu. #dealwithit