My relationship with games has changed many times over my lifespan , but one constant quantity has always been how I approached them from a completionist standpoint . From my young years all the path through to new maturity , I have been in a place where I only got a duad of young games a twelvemonth . Because gaming was my passionateness , I would squeeze every troy ounce of contentedness out of a secret plan to make it last . That started out as thing like find every secret or complete every challenge , to the innovative custom of Trophy and Achievement hunting for an “ official ” 100 % completion .
Reflecting on my last few years of gaming — peculiarly in 2024 — I have realized that this habit is thin out my enjoyment with play rather than strengthening it . I do n’t intend on playingfewergames in 2025 ; instead I want to break my riding habit of feeling so obligated to complete games and allow my time with them end course .
Watered-down memories
I never mean to be a completionist . It was something I sort of fell into out of necessary when my gaming selection were so limited and I was despairing for more way to get any form of mileage out of the secret plan I had . That took a mo of creativity prior to get down an Xbox 360 , but after I was inclose to Achievements ( and afterwards prize on PlayStation ) I suddenly had clear objectives to chase . At the metre , I was well-chosen to get some variety of recognition and feedback for doing everything the secret plan enquire of me in some sort of disk . Like with many hoi polloi out there , it even became a bit of an obsession to get that 100 % or Platinum Trophy , despite knowing it is meaningless in the terrific scheme of things .
I mostly regret the effort I put into that by-line — and it is n’t just because I can give new games whenever I want . It ’s because I am tarnishing the memories of otherwise powerful experience I wish were left more pristine .
A gross example of this from 2024 isFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth . I am not unique in howimportant his dealership has beenin my liveliness nor how much I was anticipating this chapter in the remaking series . However , like many others , I was also interested about how it would handle its open human beings . To some extent , those reservations were justify . As svelte and well - craft as the main plot of ground is — as well as most of the principal side quests — it ’s filled withopen - world “ busywork . ”Climbing towers , complete armed combat challenges , and scanning locations are n’t offensive on their own , but neither are they linear to my use . Each one adds a spoonful of water to the broth . By the time I ’d done them all , I had completely watered down my perception of the adventure .
I do n’t desire to be hyperbolic and say that side quests and optional challenges ruined gaming for me . They did n’t . What I will say is that , at best , they do n’t leave any impact on me and just fill time . That ’s not what I recreate games for .
This is n’t a rigid dominion , as few things ever are . The thoroughgoing counterpoint come out last twelvemonth : Digital Trends ’ plot of the year , Astro Bot . The path to 100 % completion was n’t bogged down in repetitious grinding or monotone filler . Every excess challenge either added a fresh experience just as delightful as the main game or sparked a mother wit of joy from what I happen upon . A large part of that is due to the game being so razor - focalize , even when you draw a bead on to do and see it all . The real deviation is in the intangible ; my enjoyment withAstro Botonly grew the more I did .
Not all games will fall on either remainder of this spectrum . I have to learn to be satisfied place a game down only sampling its side content just as much as doing everything or nothing . Even dropping a biz before finishing the story is o.k. . Games serve each of us in different ways , but are never meant to feel like a chore .
I understand how fortunate I am to be in a position where I am spare to put a game down at any moment and pick up another . That luxury has afford me the chance to reflect and realize that I put more time value on preserving my lifelike experience with a game than satisfy fourth dimension . Even if I could only get two or three games this year , I would still purpose to rehearse some self - simpleness and rent my experience with them end of course . That could mean doing everything in anAstro Botor drop it after the first level .
A digital prize does n’t intend anything to me after that flash of dopamine slice just as quickly as the presentment on my screen . On the other hand , I will always regret how my memories ofRebirthare so heavily weighed down with grindingChadley activitieswhile senselessly listening to a podcast over the excited punches and come across themes that I desire to carry with me . Those are the moments I want to better protect in 2025 .
