From the Archives - How to Navigate Too Many Games

So Much!

From the Archives - So, my time has been taken up much more than I expected to start off the year, and most of my gaming was hopping between Cyberpunk 2077, which was the Ultimate Edition version and I got so into the game I kept doing so much, Pokemon: LeafGreen (which I’m slightly more than halfway done), and Dragon Quest VII Reimagined (which I need to play more). However, I’m about to start playing A LOT, and since I’m going to have to navigate a lot of games to catch up this year, I decided to republish an article I wrote a year ago about tips for dealing with the era of so many games. I’ll be using these for the rest of the year without a doubt. I have left it completely unedited, as I wrote it originally.

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Easy Mode

While not possible with certain games (looking at you From Software), sometimes it’s best to swallow that pride and be open to playing your games on easy mode. If a game is much more narratively driven, it’s probably best to embrace that and go with the more straightforward gameplay. I don’t mind playing challenging games as long as they’re fair, but I tend to play the majority of my games on easy because, with so little time, it fits my schedule better.

Don’t Jump to the Next One… Yet

I’ll often be in the middle of a game, and the next brand new fancy title comes out, and I see everyone jump on it and forget the one they’re playing in the moment. I used to be like this, but I learned to take it easy and not rush myself. I understand that FOMO is a thing, but remember that your mental health and personal time are more important than getting engagement. Now, if you are the gamer who can pull off playing multiple games at once, have at it, but KNOW YOUR LIMITS. Remember, gaming is supposed to be fun, not stressful.

Do You REALLY Want to Play It?

We all have our favorite genres and franchises, so please consider that when deciding between multiple games. Giving new games and genres a try is an absolute must to see if you find a gem, but when dealing with so many games, focus on the stuff you want to finish before forcing yourself to play something because it’s everywhere. I had to juggle between Tears of the Kingdom and Final Fantasy XVI, and even though I loved FFXVI, I decided to focus on finishing Tears of the Kingdom because I recognize how much of a Zelda fan I am. This, in turn, made my time with FFXVI so much better because I didn’t feel rushed. If the game you badly want to play is there, focus on that one; the others will be waiting.

Learn to Cut Out What You Can

Today, games are becoming bigger, and it seems everyone wants to have a giant open world. I learned playing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth not to force myself to do everything. If you have the time and love the world you are in, go ahead and try to do everything. However, if you have a busy schedule and love the game you’re playing, but the side stuff starts to feel like a chore, don’t be hard on yourself and cut that out. Remember, the main story is usually the plot to focus on, and quite frankly, most side missions are repetitive. You don’t need to collect every treasure or artifact; focus on what parts of the game make you happy and really make the story come alive.

Don’t Sacrifice Health

Lastly, please remember this medium is about art, escapism, and entertainment. I have been guilty of spending longer hours than I should be awake, trying to grind out more time in a game. Sometimes, it’s okay to have just a one-hour session or even a day when you don’t play anything. This is a fun medium; real life is hard enough, so please don’t stay up longer than you should or make unnecessary life decisions and add unnecessary stress. If you have a huge backlog, take a day or two to relax and think about something else. When you return, take it easy and focus on the game you want to play the most. Do not let others influence you; just have fun.

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