Harry Krueger, Game Director for Housemarque's BAFTA-winning Returnal and founder of the new studio Cosmic Division, has offered a glimpse into his gaming habits and the software that shapes his creative process. Krueger, who initially came to PC gaming in adulthood via Quake III Arena, discussed his current and past gaming experiences in a recent interview.
Krueger recently completed Resident Evil Village, describing it as a "phenomenal mixture of action and horror" that successfully balanced power fantasy with vulnerability. He praised the game's gunplay, set pieces, and exploration, noting his tendency to play as a completionist, seeking out every secret. He expressed a desire to replay the game, a rare sentiment for him after finishing a title.
Another game he recently revisited was Return to Monkey Island. Krueger, a long-time fan of the series, found the latest installment to be a "true return to form," appreciating its puzzles, endearing characters, and consistently high-quality humor, which he considers particularly challenging to achieve effectively across any medium.
His oldest installed game is the original Deus Ex, a title he considers one of his all-time favorites. Krueger values its blend of exploration and action, meaningful decision-making, and its depiction of a cyberpunk world. He habitually reinstalls Deus Ex on new PCs and finds revisiting formative games beneficial and inspiring. He prefers a stealth-oriented playstyle, aiming to leave "no stone unturned and no enemy unkilled," while also appreciating the game's rich possibilities and narrative.
When it comes to pure arcade action, Krueger holds the shooter Ikaruga in high regard, calling it a "treasure at its very finest" and one of his most influential games. He cites its cohesive package of gameplay, phenomenal music, intricate bullet patterns, and boss design as inspirations for his own work, including Nex Machina and Returnal. He describes Ikaruga as "poetry-in-motion" and finds comfort in keeping it installed, akin to having a supportive old friend.
Krueger also mentioned spending over 200 hours in Tetris Effect, a game he plays in its Zone mode to enter a state of flow. He noted Tetris Effect as a prime example of elevating a simple, timeless formula with fresh presentation, highlighting its successful execution of game-feel, where complex mechanics feel effortless.
Beyond games, Krueger relies heavily on PureRef, an image organization tool. As a visual person, he uses PureRef to compile and arrange reference materials for new game pitches, likening the process to distilling raw ideas into essential components. His desktop is kept tidy, with project-related and music files organized spatially, reflecting his preference for structured order within his workflow.