Fun stuff that Sam enjoys and is listing here because he’s too serious all the time

For more serious content that I also recommend reading, try this.

Music

These are a few albums I’m fond of, in vague order of how much I like them. I’ll try not to repeat artists unless they’re really good.

EDM/Dance

Electronic

Pop/indie? idk

“wait, it’s all sci-fi?” “always has been”

The Expanse series by James S. A. Corey
- Plenty of high-stakes space battles, geopolitics, and eldritch horrors from lightyears away, all presented via likeable characters. Also a good TV show!
- If you’ve read a bit of the Expanse, then definitely try Honor Among Thieves, also by James S. A. Corey. It’s a bit out of character for Star Wars, but so fun to see Original Trilogy characters act out Expanse-style plot.
The Martian by Andy Weir
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
- More science-y and less tech-y than The Martian.
Artemis by Andy Weir
- If you’ve ever wondered how corporate sabotage works in the confines of privately-owned city on the Moon, this is the book for you. Less sciency than his other two.
Recursion by Blake Crouch
- Blake Crouch’s Upgrade and Dark Matter are also great, but Recursion really takes the cake for me.
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe
- (it’s not fiction, but wasn’t serious enough to live on the other list :P)
- I assume What If? 2 is also good, but haven’t got round to it yet!
17776: What football will look like in the future by Jon Bois; and its sequel, 20020: The Future of College Football
- (technically a webcomic rather than a book, but I haven’t read enough to warrant its own category. send recs to help me change that!)

Donut County by Ben Esposito
VVVVVV by Terry Cavanagh
- A retro platformer that lets you flip gravity instead of jump. You’ll die a lot, but it’s more forgiving than Celeste.
Hacknet by Team Fractal Alligator
- fulfil your computer hacking dreams without legal ramifications. the Labyrinths DLC is also great.
Kind Words (lo fi chill beats to write to) by Popcannibal
- Possibly a stretch of the ‘video game’ definition; in this game you send & receive kind messages with strangers around the world.
- …although the sequel might be a better place to start
SUPERHOT by SUPERHOT(??)
- Somewhere between a first-person shooter and a puzzle game. Quite different to SUPERHOT VR imo, so worth a try.
Celeste by EXOK Games
- …especially the Spring Collab & Strawberry Jam mod packs!
Fez by Polytron
- I’m not super keen on the symbol/translation-based puzzles, but the platforming is fun :)

Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West by Guerilla Games
- A fun action-RPG with a fascinating, almost-solarpunk, story about humanity in a world of uncontrollable machines.
- I think the first game has a better plot, but the sequel’s landscape is so diverse & detailed that it’s worth playing just for that!
Sonic Mania by Christian Whitehead, Headcannon, and PagodaWest Games
- just a great Sonic game tbh!!
Surviving Mars by Haemimont Games
- A fun resource management game that probably doesn’t do anything too innovative, but it’s on Mars damnit
- (Also try the Green Planet DLC - I am still trying to complete the terraforming project without running out of electricity/water/metals/people.)
Super Mario Galaxy by Nintendo EAD Dept. No.1
- Folks growing up around my age have probably played it, but in case you haven’t, please find yourself a Wii/Wii Mini/Wii U and pick up a copy!! You will thank yourself I promise
- Mainstream Mario games are famous for innovative mechanics/level design, but I think this is still the best they’ve ever done. Odyssey probably beats it on movement/juice, but for a 2007 game this is a huge achievement.
- Also best soundtrack of the series 🙏
Super Mario Galaxy 2 by Nintendo EAD Dept. No.2.
- They are both good

Got any recommendations for me based on the above? I’d love to hear them!