Reminds me of something funny, I was playing UnReal World for a bit. Which is as much of an organic, forge your own path roguelike as it gets. I had some interesting insights and experiences with it, how it asks you to intentionally play the game and vibe with the experience. It hides a lot of numbers, so you need to go by feel a lot of times. The lack of feedback honestly made me stop playing, my insecurity, not so much fear of failure, but just apprehension of success, getting the best of me. The experience was totally unique though, I wrote about it here.

And then I bought Balatro. Polar opposite, crunchy by the numbers roguelite dopamine slot machine. And I played that a lot more. It gives a lot of feedback to play well, and even if the numbers and odds are not always plain to see, the possibility space is more comprehensible and you can form ballpark heuristics of how to play.

And that's sad. Like, both are great games, but I've been conditioned to like Balatro more, by Balatro itself even. And life isn't a numbers game, I dislike what the number games are doing to the world even.

I guess the appeal is the comprehension of the unknowable. The unknowable not being a forest forever dark, but conquerable. As you conquer it, it conquers the mind, treads the path flat until nothing grows wild.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All play and no work makes Jack a mere toy.

Never tell me the odds.


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