Indie Game Poised to EXPLODE! Is THIS the Next Big Thing?!

What We've Been Playing - "I think this has the potential to go the whole hog"

Indie Game Poised to EXPLODE! Is THIS the Next Big...

Welcome back to our weekly dive into the games that are currently consuming our free time. This week, we've got a bit of a mixed bag: one of us is wrestling with a critically acclaimed, yet stubbornly challenging, puzzle game; another is whiling away those endless airport hours with the humble word puzzle; and, finally, one of us is practically bursting with excitement over a long-awaited action-RPG. So, settle in and get a peek at what's been keeping us glued to our screens this week. And, as always, if you're looking for even MORE gaming recommendations, don't forget to explore our ever-growing "What We've Been Playing" archive. There's bound to be something there to pique your interest.

Okay, confession time. I’m on, like, my third (maybe fourth?) serious attempt to really get into *Blue Prince*. You know, *that* puzzle game. The one that Eurogamer crowned Game of the Year back in 2025? It's sitting on my hard drive, taunting me. After a dedicated few hours this time around, am I suddenly a convert, ready to preach its genius to the masses? Honestly? Not quite. I think my issue is the scattered way I'm approaching it. I just can't seem to carve out enough uninterrupted time to really sink my teeth in, leaving me feeling hopelessly lost every time I fire it up again. I’m convinced there’s brilliance lurking beneath the surface, and I fully intend to conquer this thing eventually. But alas, today is not that day. Maybe next week will be the week.

This past week involved a frankly alarming amount of time spent in airports. The soul-crushing delays, the questionable coffee... you know the drill. And, naturally, the ever-present need to find a way to stave off terminal boredom. With the recent (and rather disappointing, if I'm honest) demise of my previous airport staple, *Star Wars Hunters*, I found myself reverting to the tried-and-true trio of *Wordle*, *Strands*, and *Connections*. *Connections*, though… seriously, some of those puzzles are on another level of obscure! I mean, who actually knows that many obscure varieties of poisonous frogs? Still, I suppose the mental gymnastics kept my brain from completely turning to mush while I waited for my perpetually delayed flight. Seriously, another delay?! At least I’m getting value for money with my gaming subscription…

Finally, the big one! It’s HERE! A substantial early access build of one of my most anticipated games of 2026 has finally landed on PlayStation and PC, and let me tell you, it's everything I hoped for and more. I won't name the title yet as it's early days, but trust me, it's special. The visuals are absolutely breathtaking, pushing the boundaries of what's possible on current-gen hardware. The build-crafting options are mind-bogglingly deep, allowing for truly unique and personalized playstyles. And the ability to seamlessly switch between powerful, katana-wielding samurai builds and swift, stealthy ninja builds adds a compelling layer to the action-RPG combat that just feels fantastic. I genuinely believe this has the potential to not only surpass *Nioh 2* (which, in my humble opinion, was pretty close to perfect) but also to propel this previously niche franchise into the mainstream spotlight. Do yourself a favor and give it a try when it's released; you've really got nothing to lose. I think this has the potential to go the whole hog.