Classic XCOM is really fun imo, but it does suffer from some quality of life issues. It’s possible to fix some of that with mods though and imo it still holds up. I’ve definitely put more time into the reboot of the series, but the original has a grittier feel, a bit more “open world,” where you’re gonna miss UFOs and you’re gonna have to cut and run sometimes, and there’s also a lot of exploits and tricks you have to figure out on your own (intended or otherwise).

Xenonauts is a more direct remake and it’s good, more balanced and polished, but when I play it sometimes I just say, “I’d rather be playing old school XCOM.” Hard to put my finger on it, and it might just be that I already know the tricks for the original, or that the jankyness makes it fun. Xenonauts does hold up on it’s own but it’s hard not to compare the two.

Generally games have gotten better but I’d say there’s a handful that have withstood the test of time (especially with basic UI improvements).

Putting aside the, “Everyone but an idiot knows the poor must be kept poor, or they will never be productive” logic, it’s also just dumb as shit to claim that “able-bodied young men” are going to be super motivated to get off the couch for the sake of health insurance - not even real healthcare, we’re talking about paying hundreds of dollars a month so that if you get sick you can “only” be saddled with a very high deductible.

I fucking hate these people’s guts. Something something Luigi’s Mansion.

Shadowrun: Dragonfall, it’s only for one mission but it’s a really good one.

Shadowrun: Dragonfall has a satisfying mission where you get to shoot up a neo-nazi compound.

I brought in the new year playing Fire Emblem: Awakening (which I’ve been obsessed with after finally getting it working on an emulator). I’d been struggling with lunatic mode but I figured out I can just feed Robin because of the XP boost and then use her to carry the team. Changed her to Pegasus Knight and then Dark Flier and now I can just swoop in and one-shot any enemy and she’s over-levelled enough that the enemies won’t prioritize her, and if they do, she dodges everything and has enough HP to survive a bow to the face.

The early levels were very challenging and I had to heavily abuse save states but once I got rolling it’s been a lot smoother. The two cavaliers you start with literally can’t survive a single hit starting out. Since everyone’s so vulnerable, you just have to get one unit good asap to avoid relying on your Jagen.

From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me. I craved the strength and certainty of steel. I aspired to the purity of the Blessed Machine. Your kind cling to your flesh, as though it will not decay and fail you. One day the crude biomass you call a temple will wither, and you will beg my kind to save you. But I am already saved, for the Machine is immortal. Even in death I serve the Omnissiah.