played stoneshard (dev. ink stains games, early access)
stoneshard was a delightful game, one of those that captures a spirit i haven't seen before. in short, it is a brutal and incredibly rewarding rpg that commits to a philosophy of preparation and that running away is better than perishing in a random crypt.
you play as a mercenary working for verren, a just-retired due to injury merc who is investigating the titular stoneshards. interestingly, you can play as verren in the prologue to see how he ended up in his current predicament. this prologue also serves as a tutorial, which i recommend doing. the mercenary you play as is one of a few premade characters with specific specializations in terms of skills. however, these are just a starting point. custom character creation is planned but not yet implemented.
the game sees you work with verren while doing regular mercenary work. you take on contracts as you are able, knowing that there is a time limit, and you prepare to fulfill the task that is asked of you. you need to keep your character fed, hydrated, and rested. you navigate the cell-based open world on foot or by carriage, be it your own or by asking a carriage driver to take you along their route. on top of that, there are systems with regards to elements and health that interact beautifully. there is limb damage which affects both you and your opponents. wounds need to be stabilized or bandaged (or both) depending on the type of wound. there are many different types of weapons, melee and ranged, as well as three schools of magic--pyromancy, geomancy, and electromancy. combat is turn based, which invites you to be strategic. most importantly, the game only truly saves your progress when you sleep. it's in your best interest to game the system.
there are currently four settlements in the game, with plenty of contracts on offer. and depending on your conduct, different settlements may feel some type of way about you, which affects, per example, the goods they may trade with you. this happens on top of the economy system, which is shaken as the kingdom of aldor is just recovering from a gruesome war (and with more fighting on the horizon). there's also a few quests to do for verren. other than that, the world is your oyster. i really recommend this one for people looking for a more hardcore old school type of experience!