Slowly going through that backlog Unfurl’s profile

I use Harry Potter grading system to rate games I'm done with/played a lot:
Passing Grades: Outstanding; Exceeds Expectations; Acceptable
Failing Grades: Poor; Dreadful; Troll

Other stuff & how I classify games:
- I mark games as Beaten if they have achievements and 1) I've finished the story; 2) I've played 10+ hours if there's no story.
- I mark games as Completed if 1) I got all achievements; 2) they have no achievements and I've finished the story, or played 10+ hours if there's no story.
- I mark games as Won't Play only if I tried them and 1) they don't work anymore or I have a remastered/updated version I can play instead; 2) I didn't quite like them enough to finish; 3) they are utter garbage.

Ongoing projects:
Bad ABC - giving a chance to crappy games, mostly in vain (rated Mixed or lower, or removed from Steam)
HOG ABC - when I get that Sunday vibe to play something casual, I might as well do it with purpose (list made according to Hidden Object tag on Steam)
A Journey Through Time as explained here

If a game I'm supposed to play has prequels, I always finish the prequels first.
SG win (starting from oldest wins): Monaco - done
Game gifted by friends (going through the list in ABC manner): Alan Wake
HB Monthly/Choice game (starting from oldest purchases): Black Mesa
Game NOT on Steam (PS4, GOG, EA, Ubisoft, Battle.Net, Epic, Humble, in that order, ABC manner): A.D. 2044 (GOG)
Bad ABC: HardCube
HOG ABC: Melissa K. and the Heart of Gold Collector's Edition
A Journey Through Time: Heli Heroes
Random game / something unfinished / replay for achievements: N/A

28 September 2026 | S26E3

Half-Life 2

The Incident at Galley House

Exceeds Expectations
14.3 hours
15 of 15 achievements

Creators of The Roottrees Are Dead surely delivered with this one. Amazing gameplay mechanics, great detective game. Can't say more because it's all spoilers. I didn't rate it 'Outstanding' because of the ending, I didn't quite like how it wrapped up. Nonetheless, the game is fantastic and I will probably replay this in a couple of years once I forget the finer details of the case.

24 September 2026 | S26E2 Replay

Half-Life 2

The Roottrees are Dead

Outstanding
22.6 hours
22 of 22 achievements

7 July 2026 | S26E1

Half-Life 2

Tech Support: Error Unknown

Acceptable
27.9 hours
16 of 18 achievements

Not a bad game, I quite enjoyed it, however the gameplay gets repetitive, especially if you want to get all endings/achievements, since each ending requires a separate playthrough. The game is just not good enough to warrant that.

25 December 2025

Half-Life 2
Won on SteamGifts

Monaco

Poor
5.1 hours
1 of 13 achievements

Not gonna finish this one. First, PvP achievements. Second, the textures make it difficult to differentiate between walls / obstacles / empty space which is essential for this type of game. Third, not really my most liked genre.

25 December 2025 | S25E12 - replay to 100%

Half-Life 2

Orwell: Ignorance is Strength

Acceptable
21.0 hours
19 of 19 achievements

Rating upgraded from 'Dreadful' to 'Acceptable' simply due to how much I like this type of gameplay. The story is good but the execution and the ending is still terrible. In achievement replay I managed to get what I think is the best ending (Ilya and Karen run away; the partial truth is spread via Percoleaks), which I still don't like. The developers of Orwell, both in this game and in the previous one, really try to send a message (about state-level surveillance in the first game, or about manipulating the truth via media/social media in this one) but I simply don't like how there is never some middle ground for the player, when technically and logically there should be. As a player, you are in a position of Investigator which is constantly presented as shaping the 'truth' via Orwell, and it is not explained anywhere why the actual truth is never turned in datachunks that you can submit to Orwell or even Percoleaks. I hated Raban (yeah he's hurt, but he's also an insane fuckin' liar) and yet if you leak the truth, he is redeemed in the eyes of the public (no ending credits means no way to know for sure, but it sure seems like it). It's like in the previous game, where you either consider Thought to be terrorists, or innocent free-thinkers, when they are neither. The game forces you to make irrational choices and I hate it.

21 December 2025 | S25E11 - yet another replay

Half-Life 2

Orwell

Exceeds Expectations (unchanged)
24.3 hours
27 of 27 achievements

Desperately trying to find another game like Orwell, Cyber Manhunt or Song of Farca, desperately failing, then replaying Orwell again…

20 December 2025 | S25E10

Half-Life 2

The Roottrees are Dead

Oustanding
17.5 hours
22 of 22 achievements

1 September 2025 | S25E09

Half-Life 2

Rebuild 3: Gangs of Deadsville

Exceeds Expectations
138.6 hours
32 of 42 achievements

31 March 2025 | S25E08

Half-Life 2

Crime Scene Cleaner

Outstanding
18.3 hours
50 of 50 achievements

A really, really well done simulation game - simple yet engaging, with just enough story for this type of game. It also has a great soundtrack or rather cassettes that you can find and play while cleaning. I only wish the game was longer, however as the developers have the whole roadmap of free updates planned, I can't even drop the rating for this, just have to wait a little bit.

29 March 2025 | S25E07 - Replay while waiting for Hollywood Animal to be released

Half-Life 2

This Is the Police 2

Exceeds Expectations (unchanged)
82.7 hours
12 of 12 achievements