Ashly Burch, known for her roles as Aloy in Horizon and Tiny Tina in Borderlands 2, has shared her current gaming interests and a strong opinion on character archetypes in video games. In a recent interview, Burch expressed a particular fondness for the roguelike deck-builder Slay the Spire 2, admitting to sinking over 270 hours into the game and describing its addictive blend of luck and skill.
Burch's early gaming experiences were shaped by titles like Day of the Tentacle, which first exposed her to narrative and comedy in games. Her career has since spanned numerous acclaimed titles and the comedy series Mythic Quest. Currently, she is also developing her YouTube comedy series "I'm Happy You're Here," which focuses on mental health.
When discussing her current gameplay, Burch mentioned starting The Incident at Galley House, a detective game that has left her with an abundance of leads. This led to a reflection on detective games in general, citing Return of the Obra Dinn and Chants of Sennaar as genre highlights. She noted her initial resistance to using in-game notebooks for tracking clues, preferring to internalize information, but ultimately caved to the complexity of titles like Blue Prince and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes.
Burch also touched upon the appeal of cozy games, like Fields of Mistria, for unwinding. She praised Fields of Mistria for its well-developed characters, particularly the children, and its distinct characterization that goes beyond mere backstory. "I think often games can fall into that trap. These characters look, even just aesthetically, they look really different, so that should be enough. And it's like, well, you have to write them differently," she explained.
Her oldest installed game on her Steam Deck is Kentucky Route Zero, a title she has yet to finish. Burch attributes her current ability to appreciate its abstract, David Lynch-esque atmosphere to increased patience and attention span developed from her more recent habit of reading books. "I think I was more impatient with games too back in the day," she stated, suggesting a return to the game might yield a different experience.
Beyond Slay the Spire 2, Burch also maintains League of Legends on her PC for its ARAM mode, played with friends as an after-work ritual. She acknowledged the game's steep learning curve but expressed satisfaction with her current grasp of champions and items.
On her desktop setup, Burch keeps her space tidy, attributing it to OCD, which helps her focus. She uses Audacity for voice auditions and Fade In for scriptwriting, preferring these over more expensive or complex alternatives. "I can't handle clutter," she said. "When I start to write something, especially, the space around me has to be clean or I can't focus."
Burch concluded by advocating for greater character diversity in games, expressing a desire for more flawed and less conventionally