Investment Policy

I’ve always been fascinated by games that *tried* to do something really special, even if they didn’t quite hit the mark. Sometimes a game just comes out at the wrong time, or maybe it’s packed with so many ideas that players didn’t know where to start. Whatever the reason, a lot of these ambitious titles sadly didn’t get the attention they deserved. Below are some great examples of video games that really swung for the fences, but unfortunately didn’t quite capture players’ hearts when they finally came out.

Pokemon GO is updated often, but the seasonal updates are especially popular with players. These updates usually introduce new Pokemon or special versions of existing ones, like Pikachu dressed for Halloween or Froakie wearing a witch’s hat.

Whether due to the games’ focus on school life or limitations in development, *Pokémon Scarlet and Violet* restricted character customization to school uniforms and a few accessories. This was a significant reduction in player freedom compared to earlier *Pokémon* games. Furthermore, the lack of clothing options like skirts and dresses – which had been available for ten years – removed choices that had previously promoted inclusivity and female empowerment.

It’s now confirmed that Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, was heavily inspired by Akira Toriyama, best known for Dragon Ball. Toriyama’s impact extends beyond One Piece, influencing the entire manga world.

Yacht Club Games, known for the popular indie game *Shovel Knight*, is creating a new game called *Mina the Hollower*. While *Shovel Knight* was a side-scroller, *Mina the Hollower* will be played from an overhead, isometric viewpoint, reminiscent of classic *Zelda* games. The gameplay takes inspiration from the challenging “Soulslike” genre. Players will control Mina, a mouse-like character, as she explores the dangerous Tenebrous Isle and battles frightening creatures. The game was successfully funded through a Kickstarter campaign in 2022, raising over $1.4 million.

Video game music has been celebrated in many live concerts over the years. These shows vary widely – some feature music from lots of different games, while others concentrate on a specific game or series, such as the *Final Fantasy* concert, Distant Worlds. A planned European and US tour of PlayStation: The Concert unfortunately had some shows cancelled, first in Europe.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger is a role-playing game where you build a team of Digimon, train them, and help them evolve. The game’s story involves time travel and is filled with nods to the original Digimon anime, making it a treat for long-time fans. It’s become incredibly popular on Steam, quickly becoming one of the platform’s most successful Japanese RPGs.

Fans are excited for the second season of *Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End*, but it’s not as widely popular as *Jujutsu Kaisen*, the current leading shonen anime. When both shows return in 2026, *Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3* is expected to be even more successful than *Frieren*.

The Psion is a character class focused on psychic abilities that has been featured in various forms throughout the history of *Dungeons & Dragons*. A version for *D&D 5th Edition* was recently previewed in May through a playtest called Unearthed Arcana, and is planned for official release in a future sourcebook.