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There’s a category of game that taps directly into your reward mechanisms to make you really, really want to play.

Within this category, there are games that try to cause you to spend ever more money. I do not like such games.

And then, there are games that just try to give you addictive superfun without draining your wallet. They are a little bit a health risk, because they can compete with sleep, work, exercise, that sort of thing. But in moderate doses—great!

Here are the ones I’ve spent too long playing.

🔗 The Binding of Isaac
A roguelite two-stick shooter with incredible depth: there’s a huge amount to learn and remember, the absolute minimum assistance you need—in my humble opinion—is a guide to what all the items do.

🔗 Exponential Idle
Something a bit different: an “idle” game, meaning you gain points when not playing, with … maths. Lots of formulas. It’s fun to play a points-getting game that is really and only just about the points.

🔗 Slay the Spire
A deck building roguelike with monsters to battle. Everything about this is fun. The only one on this list that I consider myself to have finished: there are more varations I could play, but I beat “ascension 20” with all the characters and that’s more than enough for me.

🔗 Balatro
A deck building roguelike with standard playing cards and poker hands—plus every kind of special power and bonus imaginable in the “jokers”. An incredible example of hard hitting gaming where you didn’t expect it.

🔗 Brotato
This one’s much simpler. It’s a bit like The Binding of Isaac cut down to just combat and the shop. Which is super fun!

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📄 Morgan’s page
📄 Games
📄 Addictive superfun