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Take all the time you need. I'm such a broken record on here that my backlog is never ending and I'm so covered for years and years if nothing came out ever again. I've said before that Nintendo Directs are such a huge combination of excitement and stress. Excited for what's coming, but stressed out that I'm adding game(s) and/or rearranging my priority list the order of playing games. Sometimes there's minimal change. Sometimes it's the biggest money wrench thrown in the machine and everything gets moved around. Again.

@Pillowpants @jsty3105 TESTIFY! I'm so all about what you're all preaching. To me, it all harkens back to the early days of the internet (or the 'Wild West' as I like to call it) before what it became today (mostly click/rage baiting and curated "you must be outraged over this/that it's only going to be 30fps so grab your pitchforks"). This topic is what I look forward to weekly, read through and feel like I relate most. There's so many of you on here I'd love to crack open some Miller High Lifes and either discuss games or watch each other play through these games. I know it sounds weird to say but I'm in my 40's and at this point in life it's just me and my wife and she has zero point zero interest in anything gaming.

@iMahvel_ I did the same thing a couple years back. Online multiplayer games are mostly just time sinks that often times the game is playing you more than YOU playing the game. I started online gaming in the later 90's and really ramped up in the early 2000's. It was different then. It was all about just having fun. No grinding. No leveling. No rewards, etc. You either won or got your @ss handed to you. Either way it was just fun. Now I just focus on the backlog of all single player experiences and it's been a blast. Reminds me of the old days of that's all what it was about.

Thank God (not religious just an expression). Being in my 40s with limited game time the idea of having to start over on the "next big thing" is so freaking stressful now. I was so in love with my Switch 1 that every year of those rumors of a Switch 2 used to cause me some stress. I was overjoyed that the Switch 1 experience would continue about the same with the Switch 2. Please keep the Switch 2 the main focus for just as long if not longer (I might be in my 50s by then! )

After finishing up Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (Switch 2), I ended up deciding on a shorter backlog game. In the most unexpected twist, I picked up Star Wars Bounty Hunter (Switch 2). It was on deep discount and I missed this one back in 2002. I'm a former hardcore Star Wars fan (not enough time to go into detail on why I left it all behind) but back in those days it was my religion and playing anything Star Wars was normal. Man, this game is all janky to the core. A total representation of many games of that era. However, there's a certain charm to it all and you just had to have lived through that era to appreciate it. Back in those days even mediocre-to-bad games (especially Star Wars games) still had a life of their own. I'm hoping to have it all done this weekend so I can figure out if the next backlog game will be either be a shorter game or a big game.

All I want is a collection (like the recent Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection and TMNT Cowabunga Collection) of ALL the Game Boy, NES, SNES, and any Arcade games of that era. I played them all like a powder to the nose of an addict.

I'll continue on my space adventures in Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (Switch 2) when time permits. As I said last week the game is nothing groundbreaking but still really fun. Can be repetitive at times but what game isn't. I feel like I've made some good progress, but I have no clue how much I have left and I don't want to look it up online to spoil it. Still undecided on the next backlog game if it's going to be a short(er) game(s) or dive into another long one.

As interesting as it is, I gotta say I'm always reminded by articles like this that all our gaming is data collection on their end. Nothing we do isn't monitored to the smallest degree and sent back to headquarters. We're just hamsters in a maze.

Oh I was so right about how ALL the Switch 1 debates would carry over to the Switch 2 There's so many games to play with so many ways to play them to satisfy your needs. I feel like I'm in the minority with only having Switch 2 (from Switch 1) and I'm drowning in endless fun while so many of you STILL (and probably forever) trade jabs over the same battles for disposable entertainment. Oh god how I love being in my 40's living through the era(s) of getting 20-30 fps was all we needed from console to PC

@hanzel @TYRANACLES Thanks for the feedback and I'll take it all into consideration. It may be a long time till I get around to any of those. Lately, I've been trying to stick to the one "main game" at a time formula with only a handful comfort/chill-turn-off-the-brain-and-just-have-fun games. My backlog list (I keep it on my phone) keeps growing and growing with the widest variety you'll ever see. With gaming time dwindling as we age out, I have to really be sure on what game to play next. Once I finish Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (at this rate could be awhile) I was debating Assassin's Creed Black Flag (been on and off the backlog list since Switch release) but I understand that one is another time sink doozy. My list is loaded with short(er) games and long ass games. It is a good problem to have but at times it can be stressful.

@hanzel Long standing franchises like Fire Emblem and Xenoblade Chronicles really intimidate me. Overall, I'm not into games like that. But on one side it's hard not to notice how those games are like religion to many (especially on this site). I get curious and feel like I'm missing out on something. But then again when I look into it these games are like 100 hours minimum and have such deep mechanics I get spooked away. Maybe someday I'll pick one and see what happens.

My gaming time will be limited some these next few days, but I when I do game, I'll continue my space adventures with Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (Switch 2). As I said last week this game has taken me by surprise. It's really fun. Nothing groundbreaking or anything you haven't seen before but still really fun, challenging, and nails the atmosphere. I'd be a lot further along if I could control myself from getting distracted with all the side stuff and stick to the main quest. This is why I tend to avoid anything "open world" style. You're constantly getting pulled in many directions when you're just trying to get from point A to point B.

@DangerZone LOL you literally described many of the youth experience with this game. Either alone or with friends this was one of those games we'd play a lot but made minimal (if any) progress with each session.

@Joe11 ...I'm also casually playing through Huntdown, which is hysterical...

I had a blast with Huntdown! I'm really looking forward to the sequel. Yeah, it's doing away with the 3 protagonists and doing the rogue-lite thing. But just looking at the trailer, it has the potential to having a lot more to it.

I've been all over Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (Switch 2) and will continue to do so this weekend. The game has really taken me by surprise. It doesn't reinvent the wheel or anything, but it nails the atmosphere near perfectly. I thought Everspace would make it hard for me to like any other space combat game, but the more I play the game the more I'm loving it.

Also, if time permits, I'll catch some more fish in Cast n Chill (Switch 2) and continue Season 13 in Snowrunner (Switch 2).

We already have a perfect "Call of Duty" movie, it's called Black Hawk Down

@Jeronan Yeah, I know. But even with all that I can only imagine the cost of this game. Hopefully it does well.

I'm starting to get the feeling that this game needs to sell more than Hogwarts Legacy and anything Mario Kart combined in order to make back the budget and then some. It has to be astronomical!

Looking forward to this. Like some have said though I currently have this game on the backburner. I already rolled the credits and dipped my toes in some of the post-game content. This game (like the first one) can easily dominate all my limited gaming time so I'm taking an extended break so I can focus on other backlog titles. I always intend to do a run here and there but it's a risky rabbit hole (like what Snowrunner always does to me). A fun rabbit hole but I need to be selective in where I commit limited gaming time.

In a self-surprising choice for the next backlog game, I went with Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (Switch 2). I developed a space itch after making the wife watch "The Last Starfighter" recently. I beat Everspace (Switch 2) so many times it no longer satisfies that itch, so I dug into the backlog list and forgot Rebel Galaxy Outlaw was on there. I'm still getting to grips with it but I have to say I'm enjoying it more and more as I get the hang of things. The atmosphere is really spot on for a game like this. Looking forward to putting more time into it!

Also, if I have time I'll try to catch more fish in Cast n Chill (Switch 2) and try not to let the latest season I picked up in Snowrunner (Switch 2) take over everything.

Alrighty, after finishing up FF8 Remastered (Switch 2) last weekend, I decided to torture myself and give a go with MK Mythologies Sub-Zero (Switch 2) via the MK Legacy Kollection. Screw this game! I remember renting it back in the gap and never getting past the 2nd level. I have all the cheats turned on and utilizing the rewind feature about every 25 seconds. How this game got past testing is beyond me. Anyways, I'm on the last level with the assist of online guides so I should have this one wrapped up quickly. I have a quite a few games to choose from the backlog so I'm sure I'll have a tough time deciding. Another big game or shorter ones? My appetite is always changing so it makes it tough to decide sometimes!

I picked up Cast n Chill (Switch 2) to add another kick back game to my options. I have to say this game took me by surprise! I can easily see how addicting it can be. I'll definitely be putting time into this when I can!

Lastly, I went ahead and bought season 13 for Snowrunner (Switch 2). It's only a single map so maybe it won't take up as much time when this game inevitably takes up my gaming time again. And again.

@Rainz @JohnnyMind Haha yes this is right up my alley! I just need to wait to see if there will be an "upgrade" path like other games (like Hogwarts Legacy) so I don't have to start all over. There is no chance in hell I'll be starting over (like what I've heard you have to do with Balatro. That's why I haven't downloaded that Switch 2 upgrade). I have over 380 hours into Snowrunner. I've 100% all 3 included maps and 2 DLC Seasons. I already have in mind which season I'm going to start next. I did though stop myself from starting that next season so I can fully concentrate on the big backlog game FF8 Remastered. Otherwise, if I keep Snowrunner on the side it always ends up taking over all my gaming time!

Man, another one. To be honest I totally forgot it existed. How many of these games are left? This era of games like this going belly up remind me of the crash of all those MMO's that popped up during that gold rush WOW started back in the gap. I felt like there was a new MMO (either original IP or licensed IP) coming out every month. Then again, it's happening with Battle Royals currently.

I'm going to keep that tunnel vision on Final Fantasy 8 Remastered (Switch 2). I've made good progress (says I'm on Disc 4 now) and I believe I'm pretty close to the end. I'm at this big medieval castle that either kicks my @ss or I'm totally lost and don't have a clue what is the right way. I'm really trying to play this game straight, but I may need to consult some online help because I really want to finish this game by next week (if not this weekend).

I plan on keeping the tunnel vision on Final Fantasy 8 Remastered (Switch 2). According to the save file it says I'm on 'Disc 3' so at least I'm making more progress than I thought. Still not completely jiving with the junction system but I'm working with it.

Not much time for games this weekend. Just got checked into Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas for the Blackhawks vs Knights game and all day Beach pool action tomorrow with the wife! I'm already downing beers from my beer bag to prepare for the Fortress tonight!

I took a extra day off of work so when I get back on Tuesday I'll continue with Final Fantasy 8 Remastered (Switch 2).

@Rainz I've been saying all season the Knights are only where they're at due to luck. You're absolutely right the goaltending has been so unreliable among other things. I mean c'mon they have 14(!) OT losses this season. They depend on pulling rabbits out their asses too much and luck keeps being generous. I see them being ousted in Round 1 if they don't crash & burn before it starts.

As for your Flames, the wife and I attended the Ducks game last Sunday (3/1) and watched them have a great start in the game to only allow the Ducks to come back and win in a shootout. That must have been tough for you to watch. The Ducks just got fire under their asses and played strong till the end.

Next Saturday (3/14) the wife and I will be in Vegas to watch the Blackhawks vs Knights. She's all Anaheim & Chicago sports teams (her family is from Chicago) so we try to get out there to see the Ducks/Blackhawks when the play the Knights. It's a blast!

My gaming time this weekend will be chopped up some. If I do get time I plan on keeping the tunnel vision with Final Fantasy 8 Remastered (Switch 2). Surprisingly I've been able to get some time with it throughout the week and actually making some progress. I'm finally understanding more of the confusing 'junction system' too. On a hope and a prayer, I'd like to get this one knocked out within the next few weeks because I have so much on the backlog I want to get to. We'll see.

I hope to keep chopping away at Final Fantasy 8 Remastered (Switch 2). I think I'm finally starting to better understand the whole 'junction' system. Especially remembering to swap out setups when characters change due to whatever's happening in the story. Not sure I dig this system but I give kudos for them trying something different than what FF7 did. Games like this are totally not by bag by a long shot but I'm trying to stay committed to going "off the rails" with my current backlog choice game. I can't deny though I am having some fun so I'm not torturing myself for the hell of it. It's crazy though that I originally hacked at this game 27 years ago when I was in high school only to give it another go now. Ageing sucks!

@Yalloo ... and attending the Alter Bridge concert this Sunday...

That's awesome and the new album was great from start to finish! (I got a signed CD copy!) If you remember back in December, I told you I was debating about going to see a Myles Kennedy solo show. I did end up going and he was so good! The best part was during the song "Behind the Veil", freaking Slash came out and did an almost 10-minute guitar solo and finished out the song with the band! The place went bonkers. You can see it from various angles on YouTube if you look it up. It's from the Dec 7th show at the House of Blues Anaheim. Have fun at the show! (I hope they play "Poison in Your Veins" and "The Uninvited").

For the next backlog game, I decided to really pull something way out of left field. After 27 years I'm going to give Final Fantasy 8 Remastered (Switch 2) another go. Back in the 90's, I fully admit I was one of those Final Fantasy 7 tourist/bandwagon players. I tried FF8 when it came out and quickly realized that genre is not for me. Since the remastered release it's always nagged just a little in the back of my mind. Let's see if I can see it all the way through this time.

After wrapping up Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2) last week, I decided to move on the backlog with Quake II 64 via the Quake II Remastered (Switch 2). For whatever reason I wasn't fully jiving with the PC Quake II. I was about to throw in the towel but decided to give the included Quake II 64 version a try and...I'm down with it! I understand it's a unique version specifically made for the N64 at the time but I'm having a great time with it. Should have it done this weekend.

I should also be able to wrap up the last part in documentary in Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection (Switch 2). It was done so good!

My original plan was to just roll the credits in Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2) and move on in the backlog. I rolled the credits, but I have to admit the game sunk its claws into me and now I've been focusing on prankster comets and Special World. I really want to move on but I'm having unexpected fun getting those remaining stars. I 100% Galaxy 1 but that was done during covid lockdowns and had endless time to do it. Oh well.

I'm at the last part in the documentary in Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection (Switch 2). I've been digging it so much! It makes it much more engrossing because I actually lived through that era. That documentary has been so spot on.

That name does not roll off the tongue.

I'm going all in for the NA version. I have to admit I'm being very biased here because it was 1 of the 3 games I had when I got my Virtual Boy! It was this, Mario Tennis, and Wario Land. I could only get so far in Red Alarm but man did I put so many hours into it! Blew my mind at the time.

My gaming time is going to be a bit limited this weekend. I was able to get a lot further into Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2) during the week so I plan on sticking to that.

Lastly, maybe a few post-game runs in Hades 2 (Switch 2).

Still continuing on my slow playthrough of Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2). Hoping to wrap that up within the next 2 weeks.

I'll also throw in a run or two of post game Hades 2 (Switch 2). So much more to do than the first game. Will definitely take my time with it.

I'm only a few tasks away from finishing Snowrunner (Switch 2) Season 1 DLC. I might just focus on that to wrap that up so I can stop being addicted to it at random times and eat up my limited game time.

This is awesome! Like many have said this makes me hopeful for more surprise updates to their games. I'm really hoping Astral Chain gets a Switch 2 upgrade for not only performance, but extra modes. It needs an endless, a horde mode and/or something like the tower mode from Devel May Cry 3. Olive's Cases come close but just don't provide the same experience I'd prefer.

@BrokenCiv That's so cool! I have mad respect for musicians. That's why I'm so into rock and metal. I developed an even bigger respect for horn/orchestra players after getting into The Brian Setzer Orchestra. Not only are the albums so much fun, but the live shows (seen them many times) are such a blast, and all the players can be more entertaining than many of my favorite guitarists or drummers.

I'll continue on the backlog quest game Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2). Besides some wonky control issues at times the game is really good. I should be a lot further along by now, but my limited gaming time keeps being an issue. As usual.

I also randomly picked up on sale Quake 2 Remastered (Switch 2). Back in my day you were either an Unreal/Unreal Tournament player or Quake. I was Unreal so I never gave this one a shot. I tried the first Quake last year and it just didn't gel with me (I also kept getting dizzy). The little I've played of this one seems like a better fit for me so we'll see if I stick to it. So far it's pretty good!

Glad to hear it and very well deserved. This game was on my 'for sure do list this year' on my Switch backlog for last year. Got it on sale and once it "clicked" for me, I couldn't stop playing it! It was one of those games where I felt some melancholy as I got to the end. It was such a fun ride I didn't want it to end. I will admit though I had to Google the story because I was having a real hard time figuring out what was actually going on and what was a stake. Even after reading extensive backstory and plotlines for the game I was still confused at times.

I believe there's some mistaken information here. There was a Yoshi meet and greet at the Universal Hollywood at last year's Fanfest events. Also, as someone already mentioned there's a Donkey Kong meet and greet at the DKC expansion at Florida's Epic Universe. Of course, when I was there last year the team members told me he was "on vacation" so I couldn't meet him.

Top 3:

Snowrunner (173 hours)
Hades 2 (88 hours)
Red Dead Redemption (62 hours)

Played 35 games with a total of 589 hours. For the most part I'm pretty satisfied with 2025 by burning through more of the backlog than I originally thought I would be able to do. I'm really hoping I can keep it up this year. I probably could do more if I could drop Snowrunner cold turkey but man that game keeps hooking me during "main" games, in between games, etc.

I'm moving slow at it but I hope to dive deeper into Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2). Also, I really want to continue all the documentary stuff with Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection (Switch 2). What I find so fascinating about is I actually lived through that era. When that first Mortal Kombat cabinet arrived at our local pizza joint, I was in that crowd of kids with our jaws on the floor at what we were seeing. At the time, the future was now!

@Burning_Spear You're far from alone on this, brother. I've noticed it's happened to me more and more as I age (turning 42 this year ). My theory on this matter is it's possibly about committing the headspace. What I mean is as we get older our "anything goes" headspace gets less and less with due to real life. With that knowing we're about to break ground into something new (even if it's supposed to be fun) can weirdly feel intimidating some. So, when we get into that state, we naturally just want to chill out the easiest and comforting way possible. I have a short list of games when this happens like Everspace, Sifu, Company of Heroes Collection, etc. LOL it's probably why I keep going back to Snowrunner. I easily lose myself to that game spending hours delivering one damn load of whatever. I find it crazy when this happens because as you know I b!tch on here so much about lacking gaming time and at times when I actually do get lengthy time, I end up just playing one of my comfort games I mentioned.

You think I'm making any sense here or near the mark? It could just be a me thing and I'm just nuts.

I plan on really focusing on Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2) so I can finish it before the movie comes out. Like I said last week in theory I should have more than enough time but with limited gaming time it takes me a lot longer than usual to finish games.

I'm also down to the final missions in Season 1 DLC for Snowrunner (Switch 2). I saved the medium and especially long log hauls for last and man I can already tell these are going to be a REAL PAIN. But I'm up for the challenge of course! If time permits maybe I'll give it go.

@Mehmori I 100% agree with your take as it was pretty much my take when I played it back in the Wii era. For whatever reason it's so hard to have a legit conversation with anyone (especially online) about that game. You're either on the "it should die of gonorrhea & rot in hell" side or "blind Nintendo fan boy" side. Hardly anything in between for peaceful critical conversation.

Well, I was able to get some good gaming time in last weekend and finished Luigi's Mansion (NSO). Great game and crazy to have finally beat it 25 years later (I got it at launch back in the gap but never beat it).

The wife got me the Mortal Kombat Legacy Collection Deluxe Edition (Switch 2) for Christmas so I shall be diving into that when I can.

I also got a bunch of eShop money so I'll be using that to pick up Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch 2) so I can get that one done before the movie releases. In theory I have plenty of time but given how long it takes me to beat anything nowadays I should get on it asap. I loved the first game so really looking forward to this one.

In theory I should have more gaming opportunities this time around. All week I've taken a break from digging too deep into Hades 2 (Switch 2) postgame and been focusing on Luigi's Mansion (NSO). If I do get the time, I'll probably bounce between those two games (if luck is on my side maybe finish Mansion or at least pretty close to it).

@MischiefMaker I'm such a bigger fan of Hogwarts Legacy than the actual core films (never read the books). I'm fortunate I live in SoCal, so my wife and I have passes to Universal Hollywood and visit it often. Since playing through Legacy, I get more nerdy about being in that land. In October we visited Universal Epic Universe, and I was geeking out in the Harry Potter area all because of the game. I'm 41 years old so playing it on the Switch 1 was all good regardless that it was considered the inferior version. I had a blast. I'm from the days when as long as the game was fun, any jank wasn't 'world ending'. It's a freaking disposable video game entertainment for crying out loud