Dang. This is almost my list as well, and the ones that are different I can totally see why they could be on someone else’s list. I like your taste in games.

• Outer Wilds
• The Return of the Obra Dinn
• I’ll bunch the Mass Effect trilogy together here
• Super Metroid
• The Last of Us
• Bioshock: Infinite
• Zelda: Ocarina of Time
• Oxygen not Included
• Fallout: NV
• Diablo 2

I know it pales in comparison to most others here, but that Star Wars theory about Jar Jar Binks being the ultimate Sith mastermind instantly popped into my head.

I really wish I could believe that, but:

1. By that same argument, I should expect Blizz games on the Xbox platform (or at least game pass). But ActiBlizz has said that while they plan to do that, not to expect it until at least 2024 when the acquisition closes (if it does). Which also raises the fact that …

2. MSFT hasn’t acquired Blizz yet, so the push to the Steam platform is likely not driven by that narrative yet.

It’s unquantifiable, yes, possibly even placebo at times, but I think of it as paying for the features on top of search. I particularly find being able to create and adopt a search “lens” / focus and the ability to (de)prioritise domains very useful for my situation and needs.

That being said, I totally agree with your sentiment. I also only have limited subscriptions I can practically maintain, and I feel like this one’s earned it’s place well enough. To each their own I guess.

I’ve recently started paying for unlimited searches over on Kagi, and I’m very happy with the results so far. I’d gladly pay if it meant less search cruft and higher result quality, but sadly Google’s just been going downhill for quite a while now.

Indeed.

Yeah, that’s what I’d expect as well. I’d have much preferred to have bought the game on Steam myself.