It’s a cliche to promise yourself you’re going to change in the new year. We all do it to some extent: I’m going to get in shape. I’m going to make more friends. I’m going to find the man who murdered my father. I’m going to stop telling people a man murdered my father.
The end of one year and the start of another brings the opportunity to reset our lives and reaffirm our dedication to self-improvement and breaking away from bad patterns. And since one of my bad patterns is spending far too much on games and not finishing nearly enough of them, I’ve decided I’m not buying any new games in 2025.
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Old Games Need Love Too
That’s right, not one new game in 2025. This isn’t a decision I came to lightly, but it’s one that I needed to make for my own financial future. I have hundreds of unplayed games on Steam, the results of sales and bundles and late night purchases. I have yet to start fantastic games like Romancing Saga 2, so there’s no reason at all to spend another $60 or $70 on a new RPG unless it’s for something like Monster Hunter Wilds, which I can probably make an exception for in February. February is only one month before my birthday, so it seems okay to stray a little there.
Even as I grow older, I still need to remind myself that money doesn’t just appear out of thin air. Most video games aren’t free. And you know what? That includes the ones I already have. I need to respect that. I’ve spent a lot on games that could use more love. Sure, I’ve played plenty of Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8, but with a few YouTube videos and a little work, maybe I could become an expert. That would both help me grow as a player and save me money outside of when I pick up Avowed because, really, that’s less of a mere ‘2025 release’ so much as a big game we’ve all been talking about.
I mean, just look at something like Caves of Qud. I’ve barely scratched the surface with that one. It’s mysterious and spooky and hilarious and just one of the most immersive, captivating, and strange experiences I’ve had in a video game in a very long time. I’m terrible at it. But I can see myself spending years just learning the basics. Caves of Qud will never get old, which makes me a little more comfortable to deviate a bit from my personal plan and pick up Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii – because that one’s sort of a sidestory gaiden type deal, not even really a new game if you think about it that way.
I’ve Got Too Many Games
There are just too many games on my plate already to add more. Since early fall, I’ve been getting more and more into Age of Wonders 4 and Frostpunk 2. They’re fascinating strategy games – ones that you could really lose yourself in over a long weekend. Or a long week! They’re that good! It’ll take me months – or even years – to master these and derive the fulfillment one gets from completely understanding the magic of a game.
And Age of Wonders 4 itself has some exciting expansion content coming in 2025, which, let’s be honest, feels like it also doesn’t count as a new game. And if I’m adding that to my cart to make an exception, I might as well add Civilization 7 in too because that’s more like an elder statesman of games than it is a new one.
And when it comes to action games? I’m all set, thank you. Between Astro Bot and Sonic X Shadow Generations, I’ve paid for all the platforming I need. I’m done. My wallet is staying in my pocket until Nintendo announces the Switch 2 because, again, that system will play games after 2025 as well, so it doesn’t really factor into the ‘no new gaming stuff in 2025’ deal. And you can’t buy a new video game system without a new game, so I’ll probably add whatever Zelda or Mario it comes with along with a few others just to test the system out, for professional reasons, obviously.
Yes, I know that video game companies need fans like me to buy their products to succeed. And, I’d love to help. Really, I would. But I have time to finally, finally get deeper into No Man’s Sky and I won’t let anything stop me, except for Light No Fire by the same company, which to me just says it’s kind of connected and, again, exempt from my ‘no new games’ pledge. And while Atomfall isn’t really a Fallout game, we’re all going to be feeling a little lost without some big, new Fallout content, which means I think I’m okay to grab that one, too.
It’s a scary time. I’d love to believe that I can just spend whatever I want on games – but I need to be more careful. I won’t be working forever. If there’s some sort of stock market crash, I could find myself losing jobs in two already volatile industries (working in television and video games ain’t too hot these days).
This country could even fall apart, although playing Death Stranding 2 might help prepare for that, so I think that one’s an alright purchase. And with all the sadness coming, it seems prudent to emotionally brace myself with as many depressing independent games as possible, each costing just a little bit of money which is, really, nothing if you take a wide enough view.
Honestly, I don’t want to tell you how much I’ve spent on games in 2024. I love them. I’ve written books about games. I’ve made games. But they’re costing me too much money and leaving me with too many unplayed titles, whether they be in my library or on something like Game Pass. I’ve yet to finish Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, so how can I even begin to get out my credit card and intentionally enter the number, expiration date, and security code to get the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake? Although, as we’ve established, it being a remake means it’s not a 2025 release. Same goes for any other remakes, re-releases, DLC packs, or short-length-spin-off-sequels.
It’s easy to promise yourself change before the change even has to begin. Then New Year’s Day hits and you give yourself a little grace because, come on, that’s a holiday too. But this year is going to be different for me. I’m not going to do it. I’m sitting with my backlog and I’m finally clearing out the games that have been patiently waiting years for their shot.
In 2025, I’m not buying any games. I’m not adding even more work to the pile. This is the year I swear I will save my money outside of getting Doom: The Dark Ages, Judas, Subnautica 2, Dune: Awakening, Two Point Museum, Citizen Sleeper 2, and – need I reiterate – literally any Switch 2 game. Hopefully, with this new strategy, I can take a break from being a consumer and save a little money.
And, at the very least, I’m 99.99 percent sure there’s no way in hell I’ll even get the chance to spend money on Grand Theft Auto 6 because that ain’t coming out in 2025, baby.
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