Diablo 4, Balatro and more games we can’t wait to dive into

Play it on: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
Current goal: Help Neyrelle

I played m ore Diablo IV

than I’d like to admit, but if I’m honest, endgame grinds and the pursuit of endless power don’t interest me as much as narrative pursuits like saving the world from demonic threats or helping a friend in desperate need. After a while I lost interest in it Diablo IVSeasons are mostly about the endgame elements, repeating the same activities over and over again to get resources so you can make your weapons and armor even more effective, and doing even more difficult activities over and over again for resources so you can …well, you see where this is going.

Fortunately Vessel of hate, Diablo IV‘s first expansion, gives me a reason to care about the world Diablo IV again as my heroine pursues her endangered friend Neyrelle into the new realm of Nahantu. I’ve only just started the expansion’s campaign, but I’m really loving the atmosphere of the new jungle region and am intrigued by the story possibilities as Neyrelle attempts to shoulder the burden of Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred, who leaves her alone. I’ve also convinced a few friends to take up arms with me in the game’s original campaign, so I’ll be playing through that again, but this time with others at my side, which should make for a much more entertaining monster experience in killing and collecting prey. – Carolyn Peti