365 Days of Unconventional Gaming Resolutions We’ll Actually Keep

Similar to the frost covering cars and the ground this morning – and the interiors of my single-glazed windows in my apartment! – an entirely new year has arrived. Or perhaps it’s a moment to take stock and contemplate what has been and then crawl back into bed, pulling the duvet covers over my head and refusing to emerge. Alternatively, it’s a time for planning and starting those aspirational journals that you will inevitably set aside and never revisit. A moment to tackle the gaming backlog you keep mentioning, knowing full well you’ll probably double it this year. It’s fresh-slate season, promise season, all done with the hope that when you reflect back next year, you might realize you actually accomplished something you intended. So, what are you aiming to achieve from a gaming perspective?

Here, we reflect on our gaming resolutions from last year to evaluate our progress, and then we set some new ones. Are you brave enough to commit yours to paper?

Jessica

Last year, I aimed to focus more on indie games, and while I definitely played more than I did in 2023, I secretly hoped to start even more massive RPGs than before. Finding time for those indie horrors and puzzlers was challenging when titles like Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, Metaphor: Refantazio, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard were absorbing 100-hour play sessions from me.

This year, I plan to ease up on the inventory management and take a bit of a breather, immersing myself in quieter landscapes. Spending so much time in Infinity Nikki‘s charming, whimsical world has made me recognize that whether it’s a four-hour indie title or another 100-hour behemoth, the time I spend feeling relaxed in one game is far more valuable than forcing myself through a lengthy checklist – even though I am still eagerly looking forward to playing those games eventually.

Is this my way of giving myself permission to just enjoy Infinity Nikki this year? Maybe. But as long as it maintains its delightful, calming vibes that keep me feeling joyous, I don’t particularly mind if I’m missing out on the latest Game of the Year contender.

Tom

My New Year’s resolution is to become less of a completionist. I believe it’s becoming a problem. When I play games, I like to finish everything I can before moving on to the next title. Right now, I’m immersed in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and I’m eager to escape the Vatican and get back to the jungles and deserts that await. But I can’t seem to. Something inside pushes me to seek out cat pictures, complete side quests, and enjoy every biscotti I can gather before I proceed. And that’s a problem – it signals that I’m diving deep into a game I want to finish – yet the longer I linger, the more frustrating it becomes that I’m not already exploring other locations.

As I look towards February and a potential 100 hours stealthily traversing feudal Japan in Assassin’s Creed Shadows – a game likely filled with distractions and collectibles, and whatever the feudal Japanese version of biscotti might be – it’s a worthwhile resolution to make, I think. Forget about your overflowing quest log and stop hunting for that last elusive item. It’s time to move on and dive into more of the great stuff.

Marie

My aim for last year was to finish a primary list of at least three games I hadn’t completed yet. Did I achieve that goal? Technically, no I did not, but I can credit myself for getting close with two narratives completed.

This year, I plan to be less strict and less ambitious with my resolution. I want to encourage myself to return to games that have previously provided me joy, particularly time-management or life simulators like The Sims 4. I tend to spend most of my gaming time on large titles, primarily live services and RPGs, so it’s refreshing to revisit the type of PC gaming I used to love in games like The Sims and Rollercoaster Tycoon. There’s something infinitely soothing about managing the smaller details in those games (my parks usually run free with very pricey merchandise…).

Does this count as a resolution if it’s so vague? I like to think so.

Chris

This year, I want to play more games with other people. Specifically, with my friends (my partner couldn’t care less about gaming and to be honest, I appreciate that – it’s nice to have our individual leisure activities!). However, as my old circle of friends has aged and become busier and more spread out, gaming has become the primary way to stay connected with them. I fell out of the habit a little in 2024 with all the usual, sticky tendrils of everyday life getting in the way. This year, I want to set aside a small window of time, even if it’s every other week, to check in with friends and play something together. That something will likely be one of the games we have been enjoying together repeatedly since we were awkward teenagers, rather than anything new or exciting. But that’s kind of the point.

Victoria

Last year, I resolved to play The Sims more genuinely, without cheats making my hypothetical gameplay smoother. Did I succeed? Well, not quite. I genuinely tried. Hand on heart, I really did. But the allure of using that money cheat was just too overwhelming. I enjoy being wealthy in The Sims, with all the hot tubs and space rockets that come with it. I don’t like waiting for my characters to return from work to watch shows on a terrible TV that’s always on the brink of breaking. So although things started off alright, I quickly succumbed to temptation and used the motherlode code. I have no regrets.

As for this year, I’m truly feeling a bit uncertain. Since joining Eurogamer, I have significantly expanded my gaming horizons, and over the past few years I have experienced more indie and diverse games than I ever would have on my own. Last year, my personal Game of the Year was undoubtedly I Am Your Beast, and there won’t be…