Another year has flown by, or dragged by, and by all accounts, 2025 had plenty of highs and lows in the video game industry. Indie games cleaned house while we continue to struggle with continued layoffs and debates over generative AI. Whether you are goal-oriented or would rather live a life of complete spontaneity, humor me and let’s talk New Year’s Resolutions!
Yes, bring on the groans. Are you going to try to tackle the backlog? Do you want to meet your industry hero? Perhaps you want to launch your own gaming podcast or YouTube channel!
For the last two years, my gaming resolution has been making a dent in my backlog. While I did cross some games off my list, 2024 and 2025 were beastly years for new releases: Astro Bot, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur’s Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Ghost of Yotei, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Personally, my goal of dominating the backlog feels futile. 2026 looks just as monstrous with a reimagining of Dragon Quest VII, Nioh 3, Resident Evil Requiem, and 007 First Light (Maybe Grand Theft Auto VI, but I don’t wanna push my luck).
Excuses aside, I believe a large part of why my goal has failed in the past is because it was too vague. “Chipping away at my video game backlog” doesn’t have anything measurable, so, like with most New Year’s Resolutions, I was off track after January when I beat Chicory: A Colorful Tale. Clearing out your backlog can be a successful endeavor when you set clear and achievable guidelines, like, “I will beat ten games from my backlog by December 31st, 2025”. Even playing a handful of games in your backlog is still a feat, as the concept of clearing it out entirely is a fool’s dream. Admit it.
For 2026, I’m going to turn my attention to mindful gaming. Ever since joining the Boss Rush community, I’ve been able to connect with lots of people with the same interests. However, I also felt FOMO for the first time. I pressured myself to keep up with the latest and greatest, and I’ve fell for several collectables that cost premium dollars. I splurged on the Switch 2 on day one and the Analogue 3D, but thankfully, I held back on the Xbox ROG Ally X.
In 2026, I want to practice “mindful gaming”. Nothing too crazy hipster, but rather, I want to slow down and play games I want to play. Unless I’m passionate about a specific game or franchise, I want to have the self-discipline to hold off on that $300 Collector’s Edition. If I don’t have time to play a game at the time of purchase, it won’t be the end of the world if I hold off. In fact, my wallet would thank me if I wait until a sale!
With my Japan trip and PAX East coming up in a few months, it’ll be more important than ever to conserve my money! What are some gaming goals or resolutions for 2026? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
Boss Rush Gamescast – A Gameplay Review and Discussion Podcast
Boss Rush Gamescast is the gameplay discussion show from Boss Rush. Every other week, a panel of hosts and friends from across the internet take a deeper dive into the games they’ve been playing—featuring light spoilers, fun segments, and great conversations. New episodes drop every other Tuesday, with Patreon members getting early access one week in advance.
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