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It’s hard to believe that 2025 has almost passed us by. Let’s take a bit to reflect back on thid year and see where our goals have led us.

Andrew

Play a Digimon Game

Alright, so this goal has been altered from the original. I wanted to actually play Digimon World 4, but I have faced numerous problems with that so, here we are. Now, this goal, I have already completed by beating (paid link) Digimon Survive. You can find my review for that here as well as some tips for new players.

Do I plan to stop though? Absolutely not! I have already purchased (paid link) Digimon Time Stranger and have full intention of going full blast when it releases. You can try the demo on Steam, Playstation and Xbox if you wish prior to the release in just a few short days.

Play More Horror Games

I haven’t really done well with this goal for the past few months. However, I can confidently say that this is starting to turn around as I have completed the game Gone Home, which I will be publishing a review for in the next few days and I have plans to play some other smaller indie horror titles. So, next update should be much better.

Downs

Q3 Goals Update

This quarter, I definitely picked up more games than last time, but I’ve managed to keep my total collection in a net deficit. My rule of thumb is: if something comes in, something has to go out.

Example: I added the Turok Trilogy on PS5 and an N64 EverDrive, while letting go of the original trilogy and my N64 copies (except for the one that never got ported). That’s 6 fewer games overall, while still keeping both the ports and originals playable—a win-win in my book.

That’s the model I’m aiming for whenever a game isn’t a “must keep,” though it sometimes means rebuying parts of my collection or picking up pricier alternatives.

The real challenge is that most of the new releases I want are arriving between now and March 2026. Realistically, I’ll be adding more games than I’d like to admit 🤣.

The funny part is many of these new purchases are actually collections, which help reduce shelf space instead of adding to it. For example:

• The Turok HD Trilogy bundles three of four games, letting me cut three N64 cartridges and three HD standalones. One in, six out → –5 overall.

• Gears of War Reloaded is an enhanced version of Gears of War Ultimate, which let me drop my Ultimate copy without losing the game.

• Smaller bundles—like deluxe editions that combine base game + DLC—let me swap out one or two cases for one. Minor gains on their own, but multiplied across a collection, they add up.

So while I’m technically buying “more,” the net effect is still less clutter thanks to these trade-offs.

As for access and efficiency, I still don’t have a system that feels right. My libraries keep shifting, and most of my collection lives on systems still getting new releases. Meanwhile, every “solution” I try comes with compromises. For now, this goal remains a perpetual to be continued 🔜.
⸻

Complete Unfinished Games

Last update, I thought this goal was retired. But delays in my preorders opened some unexpected gaps, giving me time to clear out a few backlog titles. That ended up helping consolidation too—most were enjoyable, but not “keepers.”

One standout was Recettear. It had been sitting in the backlog for years, and diving back in reminded me how much fun it is. In fact, it exceeded expectations. My only dilemma now is whether to finish the current run or wait for the upcoming HD version. Either way, it’s been a nice reminder of why this backlog goal matters.
⸻

Complete a Game Series

If one-off games counted, I’d be at three already.😅  I had planned to work through the Dead Space trilogy since it isn’t too long. However this goal now is in limbo. The problem is that outside factors keep throwing me off track:

Time has slipped by quicker than expected.
DLC dropped for DK Bonanza, extending a game I thought I was close to wrapping up.
Rune Factory: GoA—which I had considered “done”—is now getting another content wave.
These curveballs make it hard to fully commit to finishing a trilogy when the games I’m already playing/played keep expanding. The upside is that sticking to my goals still pays off in consolidation wins—collections or enhanced editions often replace multiple versions with one. Not as dramatic as Turok, but those micro cuts keep the shelf trending leaner.

At this point, maybe I just need to get better at dropping games instead of finishing every single one.
⸻

Q2–Q3 Games

Legend:

• Slop filler – No-commitment, picked up for short bursts, usually abandoned once the next “slop” game arrives.

• Casual – Fun but not gripping; played off and on, often pushed down when something more interesting shows up.

• Currently playing – Actively in rotation.

• Beaten – Finished the main game (ending/final boss), but not fully completed.

• Platinumed – Completed beyond the finish line; usually involves clearing extra content or meeting developer-set goals.

Games Played:

• MLB The Show 25 – Slop filler

• Frogun – Casual

• CTR Nitro-Fueled – Casual

• Higurashi Part 1 – On hold (computer issues)

• Dead Space Remake – Platinum (paid link)

• Mario Kart World Tour – Casual

• Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma – Beaten

• Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion – Platinum

• Firewatch – Platinum

• Icey – Platinum

• Stray – Platinum (paid link)

• Glover – Abandoned

• Vampire Survivors – Slop filler

• Balatro – Slop filler

• DK Bonanza – Currently playing (paid link)

• Recettear – Currently playing

In the end, all of these small shifts—whether it’s replacing six cases with one, finally beating a backlog title, or trimming duplicates—are adding up. I’m moving toward a collection that I own, rather than a collection that owns me.

Charle

Gaming Goals September 2025

Goal 1: The first goal stated was to go through my entire backlog and play through more games.

How am I doing?

This goal has not been great. I still have more than ten games I have in my active pool that I need to go through and start playing. Another thing that has been a challenge is decision paralysis. Sometimes, having too many games can be overwhelming. I think to progress in this goal, I’ll start with 5 games and rotate in some classic ones that I can pick up and play. Some examples include Olli Olli World, State of Decay 2, Marvel Rivals, and Into the Breach. The best way to approach this is to pick my games and go in with an open mind.

2/5

Goal 2: Record a list of all my games, spread across PC, Xbox, Switch and older Nintendo Consoles.

How am I doing?

This goal I have made a good chunk of progress on. I have used the Gameseye app and recorded every game I know of that I own physically. There are some missing things I need to find as I clean, but for now, this is a good system to keep track of things. A bonus goal within this category is to research practical storage solutions to catalog all games, like Switch, DS, 3DS, and Xbox platforms.

Special editions and digital games will be a different project.

4/5

Goal 3: Complete as many games as possible.

How am I doing?

This goal needs work. Sometimes, you just have to sit down and zone in on what game you’re into and keep going. Or in my case, what’s more tangible is smaller goals within the game, like upgrading certain weapons, completing X amount of missions/quests, etc. This gives me the sense of accomplishment I want, even if the game is a long grind.

The used games I bought have previous save games on them. What would work best is I find a way to preserve that save data if needed, then start fresh. In order to conquer this goal, I have to sit down and just grind through as much as I can of a couple of  games and see what happens

3/5

Goal 4: Adding up to 5 new games to my recommendation list.

How am I doing?

This goal also needs work. I can window shop all day, but it does me no good if I don’t write it down. For each platform I game on, the goal is to compile lists and keep tabs on sales or a physical copy if I truly need it. Having a variety of genres will work best, but I can also create genre focused lists to help me find something good, like a list of metroidvania based games. Tying into this, if I go for older games, I will focus on semi rare or niche games that were limited in release. It will be interesting what I add. I’ll keep the net broad to have ideas, then compile 5 new games to keep an eye on.

3/5

Goal 5: The goal was to go through a list of classic games I played as a kid and see if I can complete the series or buy them.

How am I doing?

Again, this one also needs work. I’ve collected a couple of compilation games I need to start on. From Commander Keen to Mega Man, my options are plentiful. I want to maintain a balance using different genres, maybe even game genres Im not used to, such as puzzle games, cozy games or life simulation games. Classic games should be easier to find digitally, but buying physical games will depend on price and condition for me. I will outline a more detailed list of past games I’d like to collect. A lot of them will be on wishlists until I run into a good seasonal game sale.

3/5

Bonus Goal: Make more consistent gaming friends.

How am I doing?

I’ve taken small steps towards expanding my friends list. The ultimate goal is to be embedded in different game groups and make more friends to play with casually. Marvel Rivals, The Division 2, Fortnite, Call of Duty, Helldivers 2, and Halo Infinite are solid games with active communities. On top of that, more friends are always welcomed for scheduled game nights.

I need to try harder to network and set up weekly or bi weekly gaming nights with friends. Discord will be a powerful tool to link up with gaming communities to help me meet new people.

3/5

Final Grade: C

I have a long way to go to improve my gaming goals for this fall. Breaking these goals into smaller chunks will make this quest seem less daunting.  If I can strive for consistency,  I have a higher chance of all goals being finished or focusing on certain aspects of each goal to make things easier.