What Are You Playing This Weekend?

I am playing a game for love this weekend, Rock, Paper, Shotgun-eers. Or, quite possibly, unrequited infatuation. Dungeon of the Endless is my current poison of choice. I remember feeling a mild throb of interest, the first time that I laid eyes on the game. It was pretty but I wasn't sure whether we occupied the same headspace. But then time passed and the game released. I picked it up because, why not?

And now I am hooked like a a fat trout in a lake filled with hungry fishermen.

The basic idea seems incredibly simple, at first glance. You need to climb up through twelve levels in order to win. To accomplish this, you spend each level trying to transport a massive crystal from its roost to the exit. There are challenges, of course. Peculiar monsters and rooms that are subject to environmental weirdness. Your friends. You deal with this by building modules, putting your party members in strategic locations, and just... moving. Always moving.

But, Dungeons of the Endless is a lot bigger than the initial description might suggest. Subtle strategies and the whims of the RNG make throwing yourself into the fray again and again an enticing option. There's a certain artistry to the levels, to the way it oh-so-discreetly nudges you to think harder, try harder, work smarter. Dungeons of the Endless knows how to lull you into a false sense of security, surprise you, and then make you go one more round.

So good, and also so bloody, delightfully frustrating.

I'll let you know if I ever tire of the plowing through the levels with the people I like most in this world. Nothing connects folks like constant, irrevocable death. In the meantime, let's talk about competitive events that are going to be streamed. I don't know about you, but I am watching Fantasy Flight Games' World Championship Weekend this, er, weekend. Warhammer, Android: Netrunner, and Call of Cthulhu are just some of the games that will be played during this prestigious event. Honestly, I'm shocked this exists. Who knew that tabletop games did things like that? Who knew that the championship are streamed with a bucket of commentators in tow? It's weirdly surreal, but still flippin' awesome.