Don't Starve

Truly the reason for the season, this game. 

I am fairly certain that Don't Starve is the reason my lovely boyfriend bought me the console in the first place. I would wax poetic, recalling late nights that bloomed into crusty, dehydrated mornings. The I'll bet winter's almost over" nights, the "I should find a replacement tentacle spike" nights, the "just one more mushroom run!" nights. And as much as I love playing this game and clacking on about it, I feel it is my responsibility to not recommend it to anyone becauuuussee...

This might just be the most addictive game I've ever played. 

And honestly either it's the most addictive and temper-inducing or you really couldn't be asked. There are plenty of people who would find this game sinfully boring. "You're telling me you pick a guy, get plopped into a randomized setting and just try not to die? ...yeah, I gotta go..." Those people would be right in their thinking. I get it. But those reasons the bored people of the world choose to not play this game are the exact reasons why I love this goshdang thing. 

You start out innocently enough: 

"I'll just pick this little character, see how far I get and then I'll be off to bed. I can always save and pick up tomorrow. It'll be nice to get a good night's sleep!"

"Wow on day 3, already?? I wonder what it takes to set up a camp... oh, I'll bet I could get a camp going, I just need..."

Then:

"Oof, I'd better set this camp in the right biome - I need to find meat"

"Might as well swing by this rock field and grab a few before I head back to set it all up - that way I'll be able to build a crockpot right away and make some better meals / more bang for my buck"

And before you know it:

"I'm almost through the winter... I can't believe it, I might actually make it, I didn't think I could make it! Once night falls, I should - oh no, THE HOUNDS"

It turns its player into a madman (nonbinary) and I think that's what I love most. 

There's always a new way to play the game! With the randomized map / land you generate onto/into: you truly are never going to play the same game twice. And even if you never branch out from the first character you ever played as, the process / strategy will likely always veer at least a bit from the last round you played. 

Will you start by collecting only what is absolutely necessary as you brave the entire scope of the map / at least the edges, so as to better-plan your actual first move? Will you go straight for the first rock field, set up there and build your Science Machine / Alchemy Machine / Crockpot holy trinity? Will you focus on weapons and defense supplies because you're done getting caught unaware by those damned hounds, spiders and seasonal bosses?

There's no good place to stop! There are no chapters, no natural markings or levels. The only logical move is to keep moving forward! To keep preparing for next season. To make the most of the one you're in. To "might as well explore" while you're in good standing and build up your stash when you're not. You really have to have godlike discipline to create a good spot to save ad quit. 

Or maybe I have an addiction problem.

Honestly I'm just glad games can still do this to me. 

Still give me that "I can't wait to get home and play my game!" feeling, like I would in middle school (likely Crash, Spyro, Gex, Zelda or Tomb Raider. Or the latest OPM demo disc). That "omg this is insane, it's getting so late... okay just one more..." feeling. I'm in my mid/late thirties (depending on how you count) and used to be such a gamer kid. T'would be an otherworldly loss to be left longing for this spark. 

Thank you, Don't Starve, for being incredibly original in all categories.

"Tens, tens, TENS across the board!"