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September Staff Picks: Mid-Travel Pitstop (opens in new tab)

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Discord’s September Staff Picks highlights employees’ favorite recent releases and reliable travel games. Their choices range from major titles like Astro Bot, Space Marine 2, and Black Myth: Wukong to portable strategy, puzzle, cozy, and indie games. Across the interviews, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck emerge as ideal companions for long journeys.

Recent Games Getting Attention

  • Astro Bot impressed Armando with its creative level design, joyful presentation, and resemblance to the best moments of Super Mario Galaxy.
    • He completed the platinum trophy in one weekend and considers it a strong Game of the Year contender.
  • Into the Breach offers tense, turn-based strategy that feels like a combination of mini-chess and a roguelite.
    • Its portable format makes it especially well suited to the Nintendo Switch.
  • Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has been a favorite for Tracie, who enjoys battling Tyranids with friends in the campaign and Operation Missions.
    • Character customization lets her represent the Blood Angels Space Marine Chapter.
  • Matt has been playing a wide range of new releases, including:
    • Black Myth: Wukong
    • Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
    • Satisfactory 1.0
    • Astro Bot
    • Inscryption
  • Inscryption stands out as another staff favorite, combining card-game mechanics with a distinctive and absorbing presentation.

Reliable Games for Travel

  • Armando frequently travels with his Switch and returns to games that remain enjoyable after many hours:
    • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
    • Dead Cells
    • Balatro
  • He also recommends mobile puzzle games, especially 2048, which is available on some airplane seat-back screens.
  • Tracie prefers comforting games during stressful travel, particularly:
    • Stardew Valley
    • Pokémon Scarlet/Violet
  • She notes that Stardew Valley’s 1.6 update was announced for consoles in November.
  • Matt plans to use his Steam Deck during a flight to Japan, with a large backlog including:
    • Inscryption
    • Dome Keeper
    • Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
    • Final Fantasy VI
    • Dead Cells
    • Nine Sols
    • ANIMAL WELL
    • Melatonin
    • Fallout 4

The staff’s recommendations suggest that the best travel games are portable, replayable, and easy to enjoy in short sessions. A Switch or Steam Deck stocked with a mix of cozy games, roguelites, strategy titles, and puzzle games can make long flights and other journeys much more enjoyable.