Tyler’s Save File: May 2026
The month of introspection.
As it’s been for most of this year, May both flew by and seemed to last forever. I focused on some cozier offerings. A little internal quieting down, if you will. Smaller experiences that let me enjoy my time with them and move on.
This month, I’m doing a little something in the spirit of Mother’s Day. You’ll know it when you see it.
Mixtape
Mixtape transported me back to my middle school graduation by the time the credits rolled. Remembering all my friends, and how the relationships I’d grown over nine years were being scattered for high school, I was truly unprepared for how this game would hit me.
The setting is a little retro, even at my advanced age — when it was going out, I was being born — but the heart of it, the underlying tone and feelings, I think, transcend a specific decade. The themes of friendship, loss, change, and the unknown… these are universal.
While it’s basically a walking sim, I found that the light gameplay actually helped tell the story exactly as intended. Going into Mixtape as a narrative experience or movie that you occasionally progress manually will get you the most mileage.
Sally’s Score: 0/10 — Drinking, drugs, rebellion, and non-Christian music?! This is setting such a bad example.
Forza Horizon 6
Casually driving around Japan, collecting things, was the perfect way for me to catch up on podcasts, and I loved it. Beyond that, grouping up with Jon to form a posse and race around felt thrilling and almost seamless. This is a game that will stay installed for the rest of the year to dip in and out of.
Sally’s Score: 4/10 — Dangerous street racers are not the crowd you want to be around. The scenery is pretty, but it’s very loud.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
In many ways, this game felt like it was made specifically for me; the number of references, nods, and winks felt staggering at times and kept my childhood top of mind. While maybe not as deep as the Arkham games it draws from, I can honestly say this is my favorite Lego game to date (Skywalker a close second). My main critique is that, while this is an excellent exploration of Batman’s legacy, it sticks to well-trodden alleys without going anywhere else. But hey, it’s right there in the title — that’s probably on me for expecting a little more.
Sally’s Score: 6/10 — The little Legos are cute. Does it have to be so violent? Your father said to tell you that Legos are too expensive.