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

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.

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!