6 Recent Games That Are Hard to Put Down

Year after year, the video game industry is full of hits, misses, and games that are so middle-of-the-road that they don’t get talked about at all. And as the industry has such close ties to technology, the evolutions we see as time goes on have transformed how we experience video games in general and the caliber of them that have been produced. 

In recent times, we’ve been blessed with a variety of games that have hooked us in, prompting us to wait for our next session whenever we’re away from the screen. Just like the slot and poker games found on Casinos.com, they’re so enthralling that they’re incredibly hard to put down. From games that are loved for their cozy appeal to action-packed game mechanics, this list features titles that have created unreal gaming experiences.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

In 2019, Zelda fans were gifted a fantastic remake of Link’s Awakening on the Game Boy, complete with a retro-modern art style and a diorama-like world, much different than the realistic open-world style of Breath of the Wild (2017). In 2024, for the first time ever, we got to play as Zelda on a quest to save Link and the kingdom of Hyrule—in the same whimsical art style as the Link’s Awakening remake. Rather than concentrate on traditional combat, Zelda holds the Tri Rod to create imitations of objects and monsters that can be used to get around, solve puzzles, and engage in battle. True to the Zelda franchise, the game centers around exploration, quests, and a captivating main story.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

The 21st installment of the Call of Duty series arrived in 2024, continuing the legacy of the famous first-person shooter that has been captivating the video game world since 2003. Just like all previous installments, Black Ops 6 features a story mode, a multiplayer mode, and a round-based Zombies mode. Despite being the successor of so many editions, it managed to achieve the largest launch weekend in Call of Duty history and was nominated for several awards. One advancement in particular that everyone fell in love with was the introduction of the omnidirectional movement system. This meant that, for the first time, players could dive and slide in any direction, adding a new layer of strategy. Considering it took four years to develop, it was well worth the wait.

Pokémon Trading Card Pocket

Moving away from console games, Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) Pocket has taken the mobile game world by storm, racking up 60 million downloads in less than two months. It’s a free-to-play digital adaptation of the original Pokémon Trading Card Game, allowing fans to collect cards and battle with other card owners. This beautiful digital rendition lets users open two digital booster packs daily and collect the cards inside, adding them to their collection. Just like the original game, there are rare variants, but they’ve also added Immersive Cards that play an animated scene based on the art. The battling aspect is simple and easy to learn, with a multi-lesson tutorial to complement it. There are, of course, many mobile game features, like daily rewards and tasks. Above all, fans became obsessed with the app because it gave them access to the pleasure of opening packs they might not have otherwise. TCG Pocket was nominated for The Game Award for Best Mobile Game in 2024 but ultimately lost to the poker game Balatro.

Astro Bot

This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the title that won the Game Award for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024, Astro Bot. It was published for the PlayStation 5 for PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, ultimately becoming a hit among all ages. Receiving critical acclaim, many drew parallels between its gameplay and visuals and those of the Super Mario franchise. After all, it is a 3D platformer that requires the player to control the main character across numerous levels. With 60 planets, 6 galaxies, and 90 levels in total, gamers can explore plenty of new environments with Astro, who has a wide range of abilities to help him through his adventures. As it was released to capitalize on the new PlayStation DualSense controllers, the game implements many of their features, including the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, elevating the gameplay.

Fields of Mistria

With a perfect 5-star rating on Steam from over 14,300 reviews, Fields of Mistria is clearly a standout title. This indie farm simulation game is the perfect cozy pick for those looking for a touch of adventure, classic RPG elements, and a life simulation that’ll provide the ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of real, everyday life. Although it boasts many similarities to Stardew Valley, it also manages to stand out by having a lot less of a learning curve and much less stress placed on the player at the very start. Instead of being bombarded with a decrepit farm, you’re slowly but surely introduced to the game with limitations. There isn’t the jarring element of time management—but rather an emphasis on slow living, which is something that seems to be oddly missing in many farming simulators.

Super Mario Party Jamboree

Finally, we have the third “edition” of Super Mario Party for the Nintendo Switch: Super Mario Party Jamboree. The much-loved family-friendly digital party board game features a variety of modes and minigames, with 22 playable characters. Developers reintroduced allies, called “Jamboree Buddies,” that sparked new ally minigames and allowed players to add a friend to their team (at least until a player passes them on the board). The game also expanded its modes with boss minigames, the Party Planner Trek, and Rhythm Kitchen, which comprises a bunch of fun rhythm-based minigames.