The first two paragraphs of the spoiler is one of my favorite parts of the game. It is such an awesome detail and had me giggling like a crazy person.

I second Quantum Break. When I first started that game, I wasn't sure if I would like it, but it was fantastic!

I was addicted to Sam's Hatch Chile Cheese Flavored Peanuts from the first time I tried them while walking by one of their many sample carts. They were a limited run, so I was very sad when Sam's stopped carrying them. But, they did start stocking the seasoning itself, so I got that going for me.

I've been trying to cross off some of my "in progress" games, ones I've been working on off and on over the past few months, so I can make room for new ones.

After sitting on it for months, I finally got around to finishing my second playthough of Lies of P. I went for the "Real boy" ending, and man, I really had to fight the urge to start a third round. I really like the combat and 99% of the characters.

Cleaned up the rest of the map for Mad Max, with the exception of collecting all the vehicles, since that's kind of a pain to do. Much like Lies of P, I was a bit tempted to start another playthough lol.

Maxed out all the glyphs for my Scorcerer in Diablo 4: Season 5, so it's set aside until I come back from a planned vacation this week. I'm not sure how I'll handle a new season and a new dlc, AND a new leveling system all at the same time, but I'll figure it out.

I agree with it being one of the greatest! I can't wait to see where they take the story next.

In one of the DLCs (Signal, I think?), you end up going through the kitchen, so that's probably why it's so fleshed out.

Man, you've reminded me that I need to replay this and the sequel before the Lake House DLC comes out this month! It's such a great series.

I second Alien: Isolation. I always like to call it the best stress I've ever experienced while playing a game.

The Painscreek Killings sounds like the open ended deduction that you're describing. You play as a journalist who goes to an abandoned town to try to solve a cold case murder. The game doesn't tell you where or what to do next, or how to do it. I liked it because it was just me trying to figure the story out and what to do, not the game telling me "Put x and y together. Oh, look, it leads you to z!" (Also it's currently on sale on Steam for like 5 bucks.)

The first BioShock game. I don't know how I managed to go so long without it being spoiled for me, but man, I'm glad it wasn't.

I really want a Condemned 3 that wraps up Ethan vs SKX. They never got a proper final face-off in 2, and (spoilers) since SKX has joined the Oro and Ethan's unlocked his yelling power or whatever, it would be nice to have that loose end tied up.

And it's always right when I either want to make the bed or wash the sheets!

Oregon Trail on an old Apple IIGS. It was in the elementary school computer lab, and they would let us play that or Carmen Sandiego whenever we were done with our work. We would have little contests to see who could go the farthest without their party dying.