
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've got on their minds. Today, yer man Thomas Whitehead discusses sidestepping his considerable backlog and starting a personal quest to try new things...
The Switch has been with us for over five years, and I suspect many reading these pages have built sizeable game collections in that time. From full price retail games and highly-rated downloadable titles down to speculative, bargain-priced sales pick-ups and free-to-play offerings, there are a lot of Switch games in my collection chasing my attention; if they were sentient, some would probably settle for actually being installed.
My library is pretty darn large now, and despite switching [eyyy - Ed.] to an OLED last year I've seemingly reinstalled a significant number of games already — initially, a lot of them were probably just to see how they looked on that lovely screen. One issue I have is that, like a lot of people, a number of them are in a backlog of shame due to a bad habit of going back and playing the same core group of favourites repeatedly. I certainly won't be alone with that habit — some games encourage us to play regularly of course, but in other cases I go back for additional playthroughs because I know what I'm getting; it's 100% guaranteed enjoyment when I'm not in the mood for risking disappointment.
I tend to have similar habits with films and even TV shows, too; sometimes after a long day I simply want to chill out with a favourite. Yet, oddly, when it comes to books (my first true love when it comes to arts and entertainment) I don't do that. I rarely re-read books, instead always seeking out something new. I'm starting to think I need to follow that approach with games, too.
Now there are almost too many games, but that's also a lazy argument; after all, a little research can help us find the gems and the interesting games in a crowded market.
While it's a pleasure revisiting classics, and I'll still do that to a degree, there's a lack of true growth in that experience. Games have never been as varied or fascinating as they are now, thanks to myriad reasons — technology, tools, the rise of the Indie and low-budget scene, downloads, aggressive pricing, subscriptions, and more. If you go back to the '90s or even the early 2000s, the gaming scene was far more expensive and restrictive for all concerned. Now there are almost too many games, but that's also a lazy argument; after all, a little research can help us find the gems and the interesting games in a crowded market.
We can discover new genres, too. My experience of narrative games was relatively limited in the past, but over the past 12-18 months I've found myself more attracted to them. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles was fantastic and totally drew me in, but more specifically I've started to enjoy mystery and detective games. I think it started when I took a punt on the Famicom Detective Club bundle; it was interesting how well those experiences from the 8-bit era — effectively unchanged outside of visuals — were so engrossing. Since then I've tackled the likes of The Sinking City, and I'm planning to give Chinatown Detective Agency a try. In one sense it's a merging of my love of reading and gaming, which is probably just a reflection of my age and current preferences.
Another area I want to embrace more is JRPGs. I'm a big fan of the Xenoblade Chronicles series, but my exposure to other IPs is very limited, yet I see the passion and joy plenty of people get out of various games and feel I should be more open to them. On Switch especially, I'm not short on options.

A new goal I'm starting out with is to try a new game each month that I wouldn't normally buy — either because they're an IP I don't know or a genre I rarely play. I won't just buy just any old game, it'll still have to be one I consider interesting in some way; well-made with generally positive reviews. I'm not planning to restrict myself in terms of eShop or retail-only, it'll just be a case of seeing what jumps out and committing to giving them a whirl. I want to broaden my gaming vocabulary.
This can work on any system, of course, though the Switch is a pretty good console for it. There are a lot of games on the little hybrid, ranging from 100-hour epics to 3-4 hour experiences acclaimed for their creativity. But ultimately I plan to get one game each month that is an 'extra' — something different (for me).
So, in June I'll be stretching the ol' bank account to pick up Mario Strikers: Battle League, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes and Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak... but none of them will count because they're titles I already want. The goal will be to find something different in addition (ideally affordable considering the cost of those above!), the equivalent of that interesting book you find in the corner of a second-hand store.
I'm looking forward to seeing what new games, developers, and ideas I can discover each month. Let me know below if you've discovered a gem or a whole new genre in a similar way, and feel free to drop suggestions for things you think I might enjoy below.
Further reading:
Comments 59
I'm getting a little game fatigue at the moment. Getting old and other responsibilities get in the way. I've been playing games since the Atari 2600. I think I need to mix my genres up. I used to like JRPGs but I only really like turn based. They are like a game of chess planning moves two or three turns in advance. I just can't get on with real time modern equivalents.
Story is a big pull for me, so I think that is my target for other genres.
I like the idea of trying a new game a month, one which I wouldn't normally try, however a busy lifestyle and work commitments mean I have to be choosy as to what I play, so experimenting simply isn't possible for me.
I do this sometimes. Buying games I don't know if I will like or not. Sometimes I end up liking them, sometimes not. I did end up enjoying Boutique and Senran Kagura on the 3DS this way.
Since you like detective stuff, maybe check out Ai the somnium files? And if you are willing to check out other types of visual novels I would also strongly recomend Our world is ended and Tokyo school life.
And despite some negative reviews here and there, the Gal gun games are also well worth checking out. They are great.
The Switch really was the catalyst for me trying out new things. On Wii/3DS, I very much played almost exclusively Pokemon and Mario, occasionally dipping my toes into other series like Smash or Kirby. On the Switch though? Zelda, Punch Out, Splatoon, Streets of Rage, DOOM, Crash Bandicoot, Rayman and, the one I don't shut up about, Ace Attorney have all been introduced to me thanks to the Switch in some way, shape or form. I'm still hesitant to certain series for one reason or another (tactics games scare me), but I'm glad I've broadened my horizons as much as I have.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go buy Skyward Sword HD: a sentence I never thought I would ever say in my entire life.
stepping out of my comfort zone of genres is how I've discovered some of the best games I ever played!
I disliked shooters until I played Splatoon. I disliked dating sims until I played Monster Prom. I disliked open worlds until I played Saints Row 2. the list goes on.
never be afraid to try a game in a different genre than your favorites. and never, ever be afraid to try a game that looks and feels different from what you're used to. you'll never know what your next favorite game might be ❤
I take great pleasure in trying games outside my usual wheelhouse of action/rpgs and shmups. I've had my eye on Sunless Sea and Cultist Simulator for a while now. But have been saving my eShop gold coins for Rebel Galaxy Outlaw.
I really feel this. I really did try to play new games during the Wii and DS era and indie games in the Wii U/3DS era (because what else was there from 3rd parties on Nintendo at that time?), but between catching up on major releases and sometimes taking my sweet time to play any games (especially late into the Wii U era), I've missed out on a lot. Just in terms of the more obvious games, let alone genuinely obscure stuff.
My own personal list of best games I made like in 2014 and I've never put enough thought into how I'd change it since.
Widdit.
However (lol) often, these games aren't simply games - they're incantations, they are spells, they are candles, to ward away ghosts. If Harry Potter learns the Expecto Patronum spell, it would behoove him to keep it and use it when it's needed. You can't exactly replace it. But sure, I suppose Harry Potter can wrap his wand with ribbons and stickers but the spell remains the same.
This world is hopeless, but let's continue to name these clouds in the sky anyway.
I feel that. I try to play at least a little of various games i have in my backlog, bit I find it difficult to commit to ones more immersive and story driven. I just need to be alone for those.
But I still find myself randomly starting a new Colonization game, play it probably until mid 1600 and then quit it without saving.
@Magician all 3 titles are great choice and to me Cultist Simulator shines on the top.
I have around 500 games. I need to start working on playing more and then quitting one’s I don’t like rather than sticking to them.
My son has turned me on to games I wouldn't have normally tried out. I've been playing Fortnite quite a bit lately. Never would've tried that if I didn't have him to play it with.
I think the mentality around games, backlog, and repayable is changing and is going to look drastically different in the next few years.
I'm old. I used to read the back of a box, and with no other info, make a decision that was going to stick. Didn't like it? Too bad, better get 100s of hours out of it, because you're not getting another. Even 10 years ago, I could read some reviews but the commitment of $70 to dive into a new game was a lot.
Under these condition, the motivation NOT to try something new, not to branch out, not to see if a critically panned release just happens to fit your playstyle perfect, or even try a discounted game to see if new features made up for bad reviews is huge. There is a real danger of branching out. The commitment of time is also a problem; that investment makes me want to sink 10+ hours into game I don't like initially, hoping I can find SOMETHING to get my money's worth.
It also motivated you to pick up games you might like when they were super discounted, leading to the "backlog". It's just not as exciting to go back to an old game you already own as to buy a new shinny game and play it, so these don't get checked off as much as we wish.
But now ... Gamepass, Humble Bundle, Amazon games ... it's all different. I have NO motivation to buy games on sale. I get like ... 40 new games a month for $25, the idea of making an impulse buy just so I have something to play isn't there any more. I also waste zero time with bad games, so the commitment of trying something completely new is next to zero. If I don't like it, I'll check a review to see if I should give it more time, then off to the next thing.
And that's the biggest change ... I read reviews only AFTER I've made my initial impression, so I go into a lot of games without bias. And that leads to playing new things. Recently I played a Rouge-like that I didn't like, but it had a lot of aspects I wish were part of a better game. So quick search, how many similar games to I also own as part of these services ... oh, like 25. REALLY easy to find something in a new genre you didn't think you liked when that's an option!
I've had trouble moving on to new games as I'm so obsessed with playing Tetris Effect and Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 (Tetris Leage) online!
The downside to having so many games available is having to be more picky. For example, if something has good mechanics in some way, but a less appealing premise(like a puzzle platformer if you're more or an arcade action type), there's an incentive to look elsewhere. For me, trying new games and genres led me back to my roots, finding that I genuinely enjoy the older games of the 80s and 90s the most. It's the design philosophy and limitations that led to those choices that just feels right to me. Regarding the books thing, it's easier to move on with narratives after one or two times through.
There's no right way to do things. It's great to stick with what you know you like and re-experience them. And it's just as good to branch out and try new things for those inclined to do that. And the games industry, especially indie developers, needs that. Either way, have fun playing.
Collecting games and not playing them is something I've struggled with. It is counter-productive to a full life and a terrible waste of finite resources.
If everyone who does this should sincerely examine themselves - they'd discover it is done to fill a psychological need or hole.
I've already been there quite a few years ago: During the Vita/3DS era (I've been a handheld gamer primarily for probably at least 7-8 years now), I tried a lot genres I had never really dabbled with before.
It was the "Monster Hunter" genre (both the original series and the Vita "clones") the 2/2.5 Fighting Games genre, a few Musou/Warrior games, quite a lot of racing games, a few Visual Novels, some 2/2.5 Metroidvanias, various 2D action/adventure games (plus possibly some other genres I can't remember right now).
Especially the Vita had some really deep sales (we're talking 87.5% off when they were best). On the 3DS I bought quite a lot of Virtual Console games (NES, Gameboy, Gamegear, SNES) plus some of Sega and Namco's arcade remasters). I think I have more than 100 games on both Vita and 3DS.
On the PS4 I think I've bought a maximum of 30 games in 6 years (mostly remasters - bought at least 100 across the PS3 and Xbox 360). The Switch has fared better (46 games in 2 years and 2 month), but still it has mainly been remasters (and I think I bought half of the games during the first 4 month I had the Switch).
This year I've bought 6 games on Switch (again mainly remasters and games on heavy discount - The TakeOver is a great take on the 2D brawler/beat 'em up (Final Fight) genre btw IMO).
So I honestly feel I'm I've already been there, when comes to trying out new genres and it has been just as much out of "desperation" as curiosity IMO (but there HAS been some really good ones among those I tried I admit).
I'm a collector.
I collect lots of games.
I mainly collect games I think I would like, Metroidvania games are my jam.
I have a lot of great games on Switch that cover this need.
I love my N64, so much so that I went for a complete collection.
All 244+ PAL N64 games released in Australia.
I have them all, all complete, all mint.
It took me 10+ years to accumulate.
I've been going through and playing them and have found that through doing so I have opened up new genres that I would usually dismiss as not for me.
Games like Starcraft 64, never thought I'd enjoy that but I did.
Same with others like Bust a Move, never thought I'd enjoy puzzle games but I did.
So old games can also give you new experiences if you go outside your usual genres, not just new games.
@Duncanballs I am guessing you already played Fire Emblem Three Houses?
@Freek I just did that as I dug up my gamecube to test it and played GUN for the first time. Pretty solid fun
@Andy_C444 dial back to TV shows in the 60s. Stuff like Dobie Gillis will blow away people's impression of that decade.
@ChakraStomps
Yeah Gun is a good game.
I enjoyed when it came out.
There are genres or games that you can definitely overlook the first time.
I started to begin the journey to play never played before games during year 2020 after I bought PS3. As I keep trying never before played games, it expanded my gaming horizons and I could accept more new upcoming games. Not just only that, I could accept some old games that I didn't have interest with them before but after playing those games, I have different idea and those games were pretty good actually.
The games that shaped my new interest are like these:
Ratchet & Clank games
Sly Cooper games
Tintin Adventures
Rabbids games on Wii
Mini Ninjas
Rango
Disney Universe
Skylanders games
Yokai Watch games
Epic Chef
Portal Knights
Dragon Quest Builders games
Starfox Adventures
PAW Patrol games
Transformers Battleground
Kinect XBOX 360 games
PS3 Move games
Chicken Little Ace in Action Wii
Style Savvy games
Horse Club Adventures
G-Force PS3
etc...
@Andy_C444
I love my 64 and wanted to try and buy a lot of games for it.
I already had over 100 so I thought, why not go for a whole collection, it is not like the Switch which I would never go for a whole collection as there are too many releases.
The N64 had a relatively small library and I already had most of the most expensive games released for it.
I got Starcraft 64 and Snowboard Kids 2 for $90 each.
That's a great investment for my kids if you ask me 😁
I have tested and plan on playing all of them, they're not just collecting dust.
Games like Rakuga Kids are great fun and the art style still looks good to this day, my kids love it.
Robotron 64 is a great multiplayer game, great fun.
I have my 64 and 4 controllers set up and my kids love playing Banjo etc.
You can't beat the 64 for 4 player couch gaming.
@Yorumi
Yeah I agree.
I started 10 years ago though well before the prices ballooned.
Like I said, I paid relatively nothing compared to today's prices.
I got most of the expensive games for under $100.
Games like Rush 2049, Snowboard Kids 2, Starcraft 64, Hercules, HSV Adventure Racing and Kirby I paid less than $100 for.
I would never pay the prices they are going for today, it isn't practical.
My kids will benefit from my collection and I'm glad I started collecting them then rather than now that's for sure.
I should add that I collect games as both an investment and for enjoyment.
I buy mainly collectors editions for an investment and as a bonus I get to enjoy a game I think I would like.
Win, win.
Hmmm… overcoming nostalgia is gonna be a challenge
@Duncanballs I’ve had that happen a lot lately. I’ve been gaming since the arcade the Commodore 64 days. I still love it. But a lot of the new games don’t speak to me. The PS5 is great and the Xbox is great but sometimes I find that when I need that feeling from when I was younger the Switch is the best option. Metroid Dread has been giving me those good vibes. And Hades has that old school feel as well just bc of its perspective. To branch out on PlayStation I’ve dove into Persona 5. That has been a lot of fun and different. I hope you can find something that can get that old feeling back. But if not it’s all good it comes and goes.
Due to time constraints I often find myself having to choose between trying a new game and playing a favorite. Not an easy choice...
@ChakraStomps not yet but definitely on my list. Time is tight so I want to get when I have the time to play it. Very much looking forward to it.
@ThomasBW84 Excuse me! You're not allowed to like your own comments...
Interesting article and comments.
On a possibly related note, besides trying games in unfamiliar genres, I recommend truly considering the personal impact of the games we choose to subject ourselves to.
I am an older gamer who grew up in Texas, but has lived in Colorado for over twenty years. Not long after I moved to Colorado Columbine happened. And hundreds of mass shootings later, I read about the Uvalde, Texas child murders that happened Tuesday.
Nature (and therefore we) are inherently violent, so trying to debate the effect of violent video games (of which most are) is a waste of time IMO. Even though happy songs/shows usually make us feel better, and sad songs/shows can make us feel sad.
I made a conscious choice probably fifteen years ago to not subject myself to dark, disturbing, and/or gratuitously violent media that doesn't support how I want to feel. But I also realize that this is a decision that each of us can only make for ourselves. If history has taught us anything, it is that one person/group trying to tell another person/group what to believe or how to live is doomed to failure.
For anyone who may be interested, I think it is worth considering the possibly effects of violent media on oneself. Can we really just turn it off and walk away unaffected? Some probably can, some probably cannot. Only each of us truly knows for ourselves.
@F1at8mot0 yeah thanks. Nostalgia is a big part and I remember the days of wonder as a kid amazed at things on the SNES, Amiga etc that blew my mind. Simpler times. Nintendo keeps me gaming with that feeling. I'll get my grove back with gaming eventually and everything will be rad and cool again ..... Yes kids, we did use words like that
@John_Deacon I eyeballed 13 Sentinels for a year and kept thinking I'd pick it up on my PS4. Minute it hit Switch, it was a no brainer. I've almost finished it and thoroughly enjoyed playing it. Handhelds do seem to open up your ability in time and space to play a game you may not have even tried on a console attached to your TV.
I could probably stand to be a bit more open minded. Certainly the Switch has tons of games that I really believed I wanted at the time because of the genre, the publisher or just because it has a nice retro feel, but the sheer number of games I possess versus the number I finish, or even play, is kind of unbalanced. Maybe instead of thinking I just need to have the next Metroidvania or JRPG, I could try...something in a tower defense or visual novel vein...
I had this issue long long ago too.
But then I got a PS Vita, and that device made me buy a ton of games I would never ever buy before owning one.
And thus the Vita made me change how I view games, my "comfort zone" went into the trash bin and I play a ton of different games due to it.
I even got new favorite games because of it, like the Grisaia tirlogy, Utawarerumono, Legend of Heroes games, Persona (yes before owning a Vita I never cared about that franchise) or even Xenoblade games.
(that list is even longer in the end)
But... that's me, and I am not saying everyone should be like this, I also don't expect everyone to like every game, but I do see a lot of people just act like a sheep and stay close minded.
I still remember how a online friend called Persona 4 Golden and Utawarerumono games "flithy japanese hentai" because oh well, anything japan is "hentai".
Heck I even know few people that refuse to admit Zelda, Metroid, Mario or even Pokémon are Japanese, because "anything japan is for perverts and is hentai".
Oh well... because western games are "holy" and don't have their own strange issues.
I often wonder if video games never existed what I would have done with my time xx
Unexpectedly pessimistic take from Thomas here. No reason having a backlog has to induce shame, and going back to play old favourites may be a habit, but is it a bad one?
Just go with the flow.
If your flow says to try some intriguing looking eshop game, go with it. If your flow says to fire up Mario Kart or FIFA for the millionth time, have at it, and don't feel anything but the enjoyment you get from it. No need for any guilt.
Unless you feel for some reason that you have some grand mission in life, what does it matter if you die with 10,000 unplayed games in your library because you spent 50,000 hours making phallic objects in Minecraft?
I usually stick to what I know I'll enjoy or pick up things on deep sales with everything getting more expensive just to survive these days, I don't have the luxury of buying $60 games even if it's something I'd love (sorry Nintendough, $40 sale is still not that great on old titles). So I check out lots of reviews and gameplay videos of anything that catches my eye before even considering a buy. Which leads me to gravitating towards games that offer a whole buttload of hours worth of gameplay...which leads me to not finish them usually, especially in RPGs.
I did go out of my comfort zone with Velocity 2x (really don't care for shmups) and it was one of the funnest little games I've played in awhile even if it only barely passed my $1 = 1 hour rule while on sale.
I’ve been kinda burnt out on video games honestly but I have a backlog that’s quite amazing to be honest. I’ve never played Animal crossing on the switch plus I have a bunch of visual novels to play
I’ve been chasing end credits pretty heavily for the past few years which means daily gameplay loop games have been put aside. That’s the only way to ko the backlog for me.
I was pretty narrow-minded in terms of what I'd play when I was really young, mainly just JRPGs and platformers. Even then, it was mainly the same few series. I think Super Smash Bros. Brawl was the first game to encourage me to step outside my comfort zone as it introduced me to all sorts of different characters and IPs I was curious about. Now I enjoy most of Nintendo's franchises featured in Smash and a good number of the third party ones as well.
I think the other thing that helped me expand my horizons was a friend who talked me into trying out my first shooter. When I was young (12-14 or so), I had the dumb mentality that all M games, especially shooters, were overly violent trash with no real value. That was until a good friend pointed me towards Valve's games, and that made me see how wrong I was. Half-Life instantly became my favorite FPS, and I've since branched into others like Doom, Wolfenstein, and Bioshock. Splatoon became my favorite shooter once I played that, but I generally prefer singleplayer shooters (I'm just not a very competitive person and tend to stress out when I jump into a new PvP game and have to catch up to long-time players), and it's all thanks to that friend giving me the push to give an M game a fair shot. I also got into horror games as a result; I've always loved horror in general, but I kind of figured horror games were typically cheap jump scare-fests since those were popular at the time I was in high school. I'm now a huge Resident Evil fan though, and I've played a number of other horror games I enjoy as well.
I do feel pretty happy with the variety of genres I play now. JRPGs still are and always will be my favorite, and I still love platformers as well, but shooters, survival horror, roguelikes, and fighting games are all genres I've come to really enjoy as well. There are some genres I just have no interest in (realistic racing sims, dating sims, and visual novels aside from Ace Attorney), but I still feel like I've expanded my horizons a ton and there are plenty of games I still need to check out in the ones I do like.
This was my experience when I tried out MudRunner: American Wilds. I play driving games, but I usually limit myself to arcade-style racers (mainly Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Asphalt 9: Legends in my case). MRAW was my first realistic driving simulator. I initially only tried it to amuse my two-year-old boy who likes to watch me play and is really into trucks and construction vehicles, but I ended up enjoying it a lot. I'm really glad I tried it, and am now planning to get the sequel, SnowRunner.
I do occasionally buy games outside of my usual field of interest but they very rarely click with me. I bought Beholder, Uncanny Valley, Stardew Valley and put them all away almost immediately. One cool exception was Slay the Spire which I had a blast with and finished twice with different characters, even though I almost never play card games.
@Yorumi
Nice one on grabbing those early.
Yeah the prices really have skyrocketed to ridiculous amounts.
Shame for those of us that like to collect them as they're now unaffordable for most of us.
❗️I never thought I'd like Point & Click and then I played 'Broken Sword 1' on GBA a few years ago and LOVED it so I played it again ON DS: Lite and a third time on Android📱
I haven't played the second, third or fourth Game but have got the fifth on Switch.
I also have and LOVED ALL four 'Secret Files' Games on Switch but couldn't get into the 'Syberia' Trilogy.
I enjoyed the first Poirot Game ('The ABC Murders') so have the second ('The First Cases') yet-to-be-played.
I'm a big platformer fan, but I'm also not big in to the retro or hardcore aspects. I don't mind some challenge, but... I'm old. I don't have it in me to fight with the games like I used to. I'm also a little put off by how everthing has to be open world in the big action rpgs nowadays. I know it's heresy, but sometimes I could really do with a nice linear experience.
There's an overabundance of games and simply put not enough time.
I just recently discovered shmups, a genre I had completely ignored for all my 40 or so years of gaming. I’m particularly enjoying classic shmups, like the Compile and Toaplan games from the 80s and 90s. My favs right now are the Aleste collection and Fire Shark.
For me, I think Smash Bros franchise is what got me to branch out to other games and genres. Prior to Smash 4, my go-to franchises were Mario, Pokemon, Metroid, Zelda, Fire Emblem, and Sonic - so platformers, turn-based RPGs, and adventure games. Then, the DLC came around. Suddenly, I had an interest in Xenoblade, Final Fantasy 7, and Bayonetta. I ended up falling in love with Xenoblade 2 and Bayonetta 2 when the Switch came around. I was so enamored by Bayo 2 that the moment Astral Chain was released, I looked for where I could put in a pre-order. Hero got announced and I bought and adored DQ11S. Later, I finally got a PS4 for $70 and tried out FF7R and Persona 5 Royal. Thanks to Royal, I didn’t have to think twice about Strikers and the upcoming SMT V. From those games, I wanted Persona without the SMT and turned to visual novels. I played Danganronpa 2, V3, and then 13 Sentinels when I came out. I ended up making so many memories with these games.
I’d be lucky if I get to play (and complete) one game I want to per month, but I like this idea!
When I was a kid my mom worked at Roger’s Video and she used to get three free rentals a week. The memories of walking up to that (glorious) wall of SNES and Genesis titles still make me happy. I was very lucky to be able to acquire a wide taste in games that way. Everything from platforming to racing to puzzles to sims graced my couple consoles in those bad old days.
@MindfulGamer Username checks out...
The youngest game in my top 10 favourites is nearly 20 years old. I should set myself a challenge to find a top 10 from the last 10 years or something.
I have RPG fatigue as of the moment. Bought I am Setsuna and started it then I have to drag myself to get any progress done. Before this I took a pause on XCDE as I got stuck on a boss in chapter 10 due to an underlevelled team despite grinding a bunch of sidequests. Also got DQ11s on a deep sale, progressed up to acquiring Sylvando's ship and then lost interest shortly after.
Last year I finished SMT III and V, then also got close to both Persona 4 and 5 endgame dungeons. I also finished FFXII Zodiac on the Switch after taking a year long break. I will probably go back to the Persona games and finish it soon. The story, characters and gameplay loop of the SMT related stuff is what I want from RPGs now.
For casual everyday gaming I think what I need right now is a good single player shooter or action game. Really enjoyed Halo and RE games on the previous console gen. On the Switch I played a lot of Immortals FR when it came out because its really easy to pick up and play. Might try Crysis 3 since its on sale right now. I'm getting burned out with RPGs. My daughter is also getting into Ace Atty and Danganronpa which I find interesting too. Might play those games in the evening during my wind down. I also have a collection of indies I bought from eshop sales that I'm looking to get back into.
@Dragonslacker1
Reading books, practice making something, interacting with other peoples directly, etc.
Those are the activities before there was an electricity.
"...a bad habit of going back and playing the same core group of favourites repeatedly."
I'm completely the opposite. I've replayed maybe three games ever because they're literally my favorite games. I own hundreds of games, most of which I've never played. I will never play many of them because there isn't time. In fact, I have a very hard time finishing games. I'm probably in the middle of 10 games that I really like, or even love, but I have commitment issues I guess. I've been playing SteamWorld Dig 2 on my 2DS this week. Brilliant game, but I can already feel myself drifting away. Once I've put about six hours into a game, I often move on, particularly when I feel I've seen most of what the game has to offer. These days, when I'm considering what game to play next, I look up the average time to beat. Ideally, it's under 6 hours. Under 10 is fine. But after that, I need to be very interested to start it. I wish games were shorter.
@SoapMonki After being on the fence about Subnautica for a while, I finally decided to 'take the plunge' with Subnautica: Below Zero on sale, based on the reviews of both.
I also tend to avoid games with timers. But after an initially slow start due to the food, water, and oxygen management that you mentioned, I hung in and am now really enjoying it (thanks in part to help from the web).
It could do a better job of telling the customer where to go next, but again, that internet thing.
I've always been one to value re-reading, re-watching, and re-playing. A teacher in high school once told me, "It's better to re-read a great book ten times, than to read ten books." I haven't exactly followed that advice to the letter, but I also haven't forgotten it. Many of my favorite whatevers — books, films, videogames — became favorites after revisits, not the first time out the gate. Sometimes you miss stuff during that initial run. Or time passes and you change as a person. Revisiting can be like visiting it for the first time. Even games I thought I knew as much as someone can know a game, like the Nintendo 64 Zeldas, I'm now playing them very differently than I did twenty years ago. I'm older, I don't get stuck on puzzles anymore, I figure stuff out quicker. The pacing of those games has changed dramatically because I've changed. Sidequests I gave up on I now deeply enjoyed. I'm more patient. My entire gaming life can be divided into pre-Dark Souls and post-Dark Souls. Some of the games I've come to love since then, from Bayonetta to Hollow Knight to the original 1986 Zelda, Mario 64, and recently Alien Soldier, I would have never stuck with had it not been for Dark Souls teaching me how to approach games, new and old, with a different mindset. This is all to say: revisiting games isn't always about sticking to your comfort zone. Sometimes it's about realizing how far outside your comfort zone you've managed to come in the intervening years.
If you’re looking for more JRPGs to try, I recommend the Trails/Kiseki series. I’ve seen a lot of talk about it, and recently I tried Trails in the Sky FC and am now playing SC, and they’ve both been fantastic so far.
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