Daerphen
Challenge me! Monthly Edition
(15.06.2019 - 15.07.2019)
previous
You can still finish your picks for the last Challenge today. Doing the post one day earlier, as I will be on vacation starting tomorrow.
To help your fellow assassins with the currently monthly theme I would like to ask you to pick at least one game related to the current theme. For example a game playing on sea or has the pirate tag.
If you have issues, please post on the first comment or contact another admin/mod.

For Pickers. Just copy paste and complete the data :)

* [GAME#1](http://store.steampowered.com/app/GAME#1-ID/) - HLTB Time: GAME#1-HLTBTIME
* [GAME#2](http://store.steampowered.com/app/GAME#2-ID/) - HLTB Time: GAME#2-HLTBTIME
* [GAME#3](http://store.steampowered.com/app/GAME#3-ID/) - HLTB Time: GAME#3-HLTBTIME
* [GAME#4](http://store.steampowered.com/app/GAME#4-ID/) - HLTB Time: GAME#4-HLTBTIME
* [GAME#5](http://store.steampowered.com/app/GAME#5-ID/) - HLTB Time: GAME#5-HLTBTIME

  • Please make sure your games are sorted by completion before applying.
  • If you so desire and you have at least 5 unplayed SG wins, the 5 games can be picked out of your SG wins (instead of only 2/5). Just note it in your application comment.
  • Note in your post if you're ok playing multiplayer only games.
  • Same for Early Access (I know some people want to wait for release).
  • When you finish one (or more) of the games picked for you, please post an update by replying to your picker's comment.
  • If the game has achievements, you can link to either the Steam or Astats page corresponding to your progress.
  • If the game doesn't have achievements, please post a screenshot showing your completion.
  • Finally, if you have completed all the games that were assigned to you but want another go at it, feel free to post another application.
  • You can pick for/challenge up to 2 fellow assassins, please refrain to pick more so everybody who wants get a chance at it.
  • You can pick for anybody who has applied and hasn't been given a list yet, unless they specified otherwise (see next point). It is recommended to signal with a "reserved" comment that you're currently picking for that person. This way it'll avoid the situation where you spend time picking games just to come back to somebody's comment 2 minutes prior.
  • Please use the following criteria when picking a list for somebody.
  • Pick exactly 5 games
  • Length-wise: at least 2 short games (under 10h to beat) and 2 medium (under 15-20h). You can use HLTB to check the time, or more conveniently the Enhanced Steam browser extension (it shows the HLTB time directly on the game's steam page). That rule can be overridden by the bottom (i.e. pick 5 short games) but not the other way around, as not everybody has the same time to dedicate to gaming.
  • Pick two SG wins unless the person specified SG wins only, in which case pick only in the applicant's SG wins list.
  • Quality-wise: at least 3 of the 5 games should have a positive (or above) rating. You can use this site to quickly sort games in a user's library by ratings (thanks to JaffaCaffa for the suggestion).
  • Please, respect the applicant's choice regarding multiplayer-only and Early access games, as well as other requests (exclusion of certain genre etc.).
  • Please use the code below to post your comment, it's already formatted, you just have to copy/paste & complete the data.

Do I have to participate in this event?
No, this is an event to help you reduce your backlog. If you already have a plan and don't want anyone to pick games for you, you're free to ignore it.

What happens if I don’t participate in the event?
Absolutely nothing.

What happens if I play all the games picked for me this month?
Still nothing. (You might get a shiny profile badge at some later date. And you can come back for another batch.)

What if I don’t have time to play 5 games?
Don’t worry, one is enough, we’re just asking the pickers to select 5 to give the player a little choice.

One of the game picked for me won’t run on my computer for X or Y reason, what do I do?
If this happens, please notify the picker by replying his comment and ask them to pick a replacement. If the original picker don’t give you an answer within 24h, don’t panic, just leave a comment and we’ll pick one for you. Meanwhile, you could try one of the other picked games if you haven't played them all yet.

I played all 5 games that were picked for me and I want more!
If you have completed all 5 games and reported your completion to the original comment, you can make a new request for another list.

When picking for other people, can I only pick “never played” games?
Not necessarily, you can also pick games that seem to have been abandoned but haven’t been categorized as “won’t play”. No beaten or completed games, or games being currently played obviously.

Why are there so many rules for picking the games? I can’t be bothered!
We’re trying to make this enjoyable for everyone so if you decide to pick games for others, please read and follow the rules. I’ve tried to make it as easy as possible for the pickers too, but if it’s bothering you too much, remember you don’t need to pick games for others to join the challenge.

I’m new here, can I join the challenge?
Yes of course (and welcome to BLAEO). Please just be sure to have your games sorted by progress before signing up for the challenge, to make it easier for your picker.

Daerphen

Reply in case of questions/issues

samwise84

Well challenge me please. Please again pick games on the shorter side, from either of the following lists

under 8 h
8-15h
no HLBT

skanda
  • 12 Labours of Hercules IV: Mother Nature - HLTB Time: 7 hours - Can’t go wrong with these Hercules games!
  • 3 days: Zoo Mystery - HLTB Time: 4 hours - I expect this to be cute, I hope I’m not wrong!
  • Armello - HLTB Time: ??? hours - Very fun in multiplayer! Luckily there are always randoms available if you don’t have a group of people to play with. No idea how to decide when this game’s “completed”, though.
  • BioShock Infinite - HLTB Time: 11-12 hours - SG win & suitable for the monthly theme.
  • Shadwen - HLTB Time: 5-6 hours
samwise84

Thanks for choosing :)

I like the choices very much. Greatly enjoyed the first 3 12 Labours of Hercules and I’m looking forward to the forth one. And for the rest really nice choices. I don’t know when I will consider Armello finished. I’ll have to wait and see.

Will try to get as many finished as possible, though the next days will be dedicated to my PoP choices first.

samwise84

I was so bad this time around. Only beaten Shadwen, though I haven’t completed it yet and started playing 3 days : Zoo Mystery with my niece and nephew, which is also the reason for me not finishing anything else since my niece and nephew visited for a week each and there were other priorities. Though I’ve beaten 2 Lego Star Wars games with my nephew XD

Blue Ϟ Lightning

Challenge me! Treat gifts the same as wins. Please dont pick anything ive been challenged before and ignore the list “not for me/mine”

skanda

Let me know if any of the longer games should be swapped for a shorter one.

Blue Ϟ Lightning

everything is fine…but I probably wont touch the longer games :/ I’m trying really hard to finish hollow knight this month for pop and with work and stuff I don’t have alot of time to play so this is for after…
so if you want to swap them for shorter games I’ll have a higher chance of being able to beat/play them,

~tired

skanda

Theeeen instead of The Witness and Yakuza 0:

Blue Ϟ Lightning

no walk through :sob:

86maylin

I’m back.

Please choose shorter titles.
No multiplayer games.
Fine with early access.
No horror which overly uses jumpscares. I’m bad at horror so please pick light ones.
For easier picking, look at To Play and ABC plan lists. :3
As always, thanks for digging through my huge backlog. x3

samwise84

I’ll choose for you :)

All of them should be shorter titles, at least if you do not want to complete them

86maylin

Thanks for picking. :3

Wintermute

A new round and I am in again.
Last month I managed to gather 2 killings, let’s see…

My little requests:

  • If possible, I would like my picker choosing one or two recently released games (if I have any left and I should!) from my backlog.
  • Additionally, if possible, I would like to have a variety of genres picked.
  • Finally, as others have written, please, treat unfished games (which I often start just to take a quick bite at them) as unplayed.

Thanks since now!

samwise84

I’ll pick for you again.

Wintermute

Thanks a lot indeed to you and EvilBlackSheep as well for your kind pickings!
It looks like exceptionally this month I have a rather large selection of games to choose from :-)
I will try my best, starting of course with A Plague Tale: Innocence, since it has been picked by both of you!!!

samwise84

Have fun with that one. I have just heard good things about it :)
And when you are finished let me know how it was. It’s on my wishlist too and I was wondering if I should pick it up during the next steam sale.

Wintermute

I have sent an update to EvilBlackSheep but I am sending one to you as well, of course.
I have played and beaten A Plague Tale: Innocence, Do Not Feed the Monkeys and Monsters’ Den: Book of Dread.
As for Do Not Feed the Monkeys and Monsters’ Den: Book of Dread, I have just made one playthrough each, even if both games are designed with high (in case of DNFtM) and average (in case of MD:BoD) replay value mechanics. I will get back to them one day, but not before having tried more games and killed other targets :-)
As for A Plague Tale: Innocence, I can confirm it’s been one of the most exciting games I have played this year in terms of atmosphere and story. I would blindly recommend it!

samwise84

Glad you had fun :)

Now I really need to think about buying A Plague Tale :D

EvilBlackSheep

So many recent games! I hope you like the selection. Have fun!! (and let me know if there is any problem with the picks)

  • Wandersong - HLTB Time: 9h - SG win and I saw some navigation was involved so it should fit the monthly theme.
  • A Plague Tale: Innocence - HLTB Time: 9.5h - SG win & recent. Considering you already have 7h in, it should count as a short game.
  • The Gardens Between - HLTB Time: 2.5h Another recent-ish SG win that seems to fit the monthly theme.
  • Hitman 2 - HLTB Time: 9.5h
  • Zero Escape: The Nonary Games - HLTB Time: 30h - A bit on the longer side as it’s 2 games in one, but the other picks are shortish, so I guess it’s ok, and it’s a really good VN.

Edit: I knew i should have put the comment that I was picking for ya. Oh well. Leaving the selection in case you need extra games, but otherwise just ignore it ;)

samwise84

Or he can choose whichever he wants more. Doesn’t need to pick mine since I chose for him last time around.

EvilBlackSheep

Or he could be adventurous and pick both ;)

samwise84

Or that, but when is he going to sleep? Well sleep is overrated anyways XD

EvilBlackSheep

He can sleep when he’s dead.

Wintermute

Thanks a lot indeed to you and samwise as well for your kind pickings!
It looks like exceptionally this month I have a rather large selection of games to choose from :-)
I will try my best, starting of course with A Plague Tale: Innocence, since it has been picked by both of you!!!

EvilBlackSheep

Great choice to start with, a friend of mine recently finished it and he was really positive about the game. Have fun ;)

Wintermute

Just an update to let you know how the games you have picked for me.
I have played and beaten A Plague Tale: Innocence and The Gardens Between.
Both have been fantastic, enticing experiences! I would recommend them both!

EvilBlackSheep

I’m very glad to read this!!

Aquilla

I will finish another game soon, so I want to try this challenge for the first time :) . Please pick something for me from my “never played” list. Two requests:

  1. If I have couple of games in the serie, please pick the first one (I like to do series in order)
  2. Please choose different genres. I would like to have a choice of genre of the game :)
skanda
  • BioShock Remastered - HLTB Time: 12 hours - Great game & it’s eligible for this month’s theme. Make sure to make manual saves often to not lose your progress since some people report issues with the game crashing.
  • CrossCode - HLTB Time: 31 hours (SG win) - this game was mentioned A LOT in our “BLAEO Game Awards 2018” so hopefully you’ll like it. It’s very very long, though. :I
  • Her Story - HLTB Time: 2-3 hours - I don’t own it so I can’t speak from personal experience but supposedly it’s worth playing.
  • Rakuen - HLTB Time: 8 hours - Reeeally good reviews.
  • The First Tree - HLTB Time: 1-2 hours - A game this cute must be worth playing, right? :)
Aquilla

Thank you very much :) I think I will start with The First Tree, because it’s so short, but I will try to play as much as possible.

Aquilla

Well - I finished The First Tree. Very nice and short game. I’ll write a review soon.

Aquilla

And I finished Rakuen. Gooood game. I will write about it too.

skanda

Happy to see you enjoyed them both!

banikanani

It’s already pretty late for the current challenge me, but please pick some games for me. Anything from my unfinished list is fine too.

Aquilla

I’ve picked games that I’ve played and liked.

  • Poi - HLTB Time: 5.5 h. Easy, but very charming platformer. After a few levels you have tone of stuff to do and I finished it with a lot of pleasure.
  • The Night of the Rabbit - HLTB Time: 9.5 h I think this is my favourite Deadelic adventure game (among those I’ve played). Very charming.
  • Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD - HLTB Time: 11 h This is a weiiiird game. But a good one too. A bit old but it has some good gameplay and interesting world.
  • SUPERHOT - HLTB Time: 2.5 h This game is a blast - original and very satysfying. Also - short and fit perfectly into monthly challenge
  • Shadow Warrior - HLTB Time: 12.5 h Another monthly challenge - This is a tone of joy and adrenaline rush. Also the story is so over the top that it’s pure B-move absurd.