Yeah that’s a good attitude and I’m getting there again. The last couple of months feel a bit crazy. I think a lot of games have been coming out that I learned about a couple of years ago and it’s odd to see it all happening now! 😅
I think this is the trap content creators tend to fall into more than casual gamers because we not only play games but also write about them, so the pressure to have more subject matter is always there. Still! Games are supposed to be for FUN. We should remind ourselves of that often. And I really like the reframing you suggest; I just tried it on a few chores I need to do and it helped a little!
I don't think i ever feel that I "should" play a specific game, but i do start to put pressure on myself when I don't finish things. Currently im about 30 hours into hades 2, ive gotten to the final boss but not beaten and there's also loads more to do besides. But I do feel pretty done and I want to move on... should I just switch on god mode and get through it? I'm thinking about giving myself a deadline for doing this.. but that feels like pressure!
I think changing from should to want is a good idea. Wanting to play a game is giving you more control over what you play, while should is allowing others to be that main influence. But I am not against the idea of saying I should play a game. I think should could lead to want. You could tell yourself that you should try out a game. I think that puts less pressure on you to play through a game you might not be fully invested in. If trying out a game eventually leads to you wanting to fully play through it, then have fun.
This article actually got me thinking about my relationship with the Call of Duty franchise. I used to be stoked when a new COD would come out. That enthusiasm has since declined drastically, especially the last few years. Everyone starts playing it, so I tell myself I should play it too. And once I stop playing than I realize I wasted so many hours of my life when I could have been playing a game more enjoyable and one I actually wanted to play instead of what everyone else was playing.
As someone who’s whole deal is playing and reviewing retro games, I have that dilemma all the time. For me, it’s a self inflicted problem because I start out wanting to review specific games in a specific order. But there are many instances where the game I’m trying to gear up to review just isn’t really what I feel like playing thanks to the endless back I have across multiple platforms. My Steam library suffers the worst.
My biggest take away from your article is that asking myself if I WANT to play X game is a way of telling the voice in my head that tries to obligate me to play what doesn’t interest me, “I am the captain now”.
Yes the forcing yourself to feel in control can be a good method for getting things done :D
The backlog is such a bizarre beast! I fell into a retro gaming hole on the weekend and the only Pokémon game I ever completed was Red. Now I want to finish the others I own. :D But it also feels weird to call those retro gaming lol
I had this with Clair Obscur. It was the only game everyone kept saying I should play but I didn’t want to jump into an RPG and spend 40-50 hours.
Fortunately, I liked it and it made sense for me to play it but I’ve now heard all these other games released this year I should play and I’m just keeping my mind away and playing what I want haha. 😂
Yes you did so well with Clair Obscur! You smashed the story in no time.
I do feel like I should play that game too and I probably will but maybe in a year or so. Something else I heard the other day was selecting a year randomly and then playing the Best games of that years nominations and winners. :D That could maybe ensure that it is a good experience at least!
I prefer games that don't have an end, especially on mobile which has a smaller library compared to PC. So I've been playing a lot of endless idle and incremental games.
But I have a large backlog that I just kind of ignore 🙃 especially on the Switch. I plan on buying more games for the winter sale coming up but I don't anticipate I'll finish any of them. I don't like the idea of finishing games! This is probably just a me thing...
Oh nice! I never thought about endless games like that. I have an odd relationship with finishing things and not finishing them. Like moisturiser. I wish it never finished so I don;t need to make sure to order more. But then I also like that when it is gone initially there is a new empty spot to fill. :D
Similar with games but I am also embracing just trying some and seeing where it takes me!
One of the goals of my Substack (and I use the word loosely since I don't really have any clear goals) is that I'll write about something when I feel like it. I don't play games to write about them, I play games and then maybe I'll write about them, possibly years later. That's the benefit of not being someone like a journalist where it's my job to do this, this is my hobby and this my way of trying to keep it that way.
However, the "should" word still crops up in my head too. I look at all the games I "should" play because I bought them, I look at all the TV shows I "should" watch because they seem popular or acclaimed... And I can't keep up. So I have to force myself to wait and let go, because eventually the moment passes and then you wonder why you were even worried in the first place.
It sounds like you have your own way of dealing with this, which is good. Maybe just play what you want for a bit and see if that recharges you?
Yes I am the same. I want to be writing about something when I feel like it but I also know some people are here for reviews especially of games I have played on the steam deck which means a bit of obligation creeps back into my mind.
I definitely struggled with my initial intentions of it being a hobby and in the end it is for me and the fact I have met so many lovely people through it is a massive bonus. <3
So I am trying to just take everyone on a ride with me while I explore different games and gaming systems, rather than feeling obliged to do a certain thing. :)
I definitely want to make sure this stays a fun hobby for me.
Well, I do have many criteria by which I prioritize my backlog (not necessarily what I want to buy next).
1. I use MoSCoW (Must Have, Should Have, Could Have, Won't Have) to check which games are more important to me.
2. Here's where it gets complicated. Depending on how many games are in one section, I look at how new/old it is (FOMO), how long it is (productivity, as shorter games can lead to a productive backlog consumption). Given that I sell my physical Nintendo Switch games, I prioritize physical Switch games over digital. On the Steam Deck, I prefer those better adjusted to the device.
3. Of course, when all fails, and it does, I just use the pair comparison method on the Must Haves and Playables (Deck) to see which ones I prefer more at the moment. Funny enough, I noticed that if I played a game and took a break, I tend to prioritize them lower.
4. And of course, I switch between Switch and Deck, so one game on the Switch, the next on the Deck.
Section 2 is really interesting. I should (there is that word again, haha) do something similar with my graphic novels and comic books. Like pass them on after reading them. That might then create space and permission to re fill the shelves :D
I also try and alternate the systems I either take away with me or play on. It is nice to have the option although choice can be a fickle thing too.
I feel like just getting this out of my system as a thing, should vs want - has also worked in reframing my approach so that's something. :D
Thanks so much for the mention Margot! I wasn't expecting that Skyrim article to be as warmly received when I first published it, but I'm happy to see all the positivity around it this past week!
I've definitely been going through something similar! I have so many games in my backlog, and games that I feel like I need to play for the purpose of my writing. But... I'm also fascinated by my zombie game I picked up and have just felt like playing that for the past week 😆! I also do the same with games I've played so many times, such as Skyrim or Fallout, where I know I've played them to oblivion and back, but I get the temptation to go back into their worlds to just chill out and relax!
Likewise, I wasn't even thinking of Elden Ring until I read this... and now I kind of want to play that again now 😅😆
I’ve had this same issue with Scarlet and Violet. That game has been out for 3 years now, and I bought it on release. Yet, I still haven’t touched it. I heard about the bugs when it first launched, so I was waiting til a lot of it got patched. I just can’t seem to get around to playing it now even though I feel like I SHOULD since I dropped the 60 on it on launch.
I have had my copy 2 years now of Scarlet and I did try to start it but on the Switch. I need to look at it now that I have the Switch 2. My recent Pokémon gaming is making me feel more warmly to the franchise again! :)
I haven’t gotten a switch 2 yet, but that’s something I’ve highly considered! However, I do fear that I may just be finding excuses to spend money instead of finding a good reason play the game haha
Yes that is another great way to say it. "obligation kills enjoyment".
Thank you! I have definitely dropped off other hobbies due to feeling like I should be doing something or using a specific pattern or yarn. But once you make what you like or play what you feel like it is fun again:)
Love the reframing from should to want!
I'm trying to strike that word from my vocabulary not just in games but in many other aspects of life too!
Yea it definitely helps to focus on the things you actually want to do. 💚🎉 especially in the hobby world
I hear you about getting caught up in the hype of games, and getting caught up with the initial excitement that happens upon a release.
I like to think I’ve gotten to a good place in resisting picking up a new game because “what if or everyone else seems to like it”.
I usually just pick a game based on how I’m feeling that night and roll with it.
Yeah that’s a good attitude and I’m getting there again. The last couple of months feel a bit crazy. I think a lot of games have been coming out that I learned about a couple of years ago and it’s odd to see it all happening now! 😅
I think this is the trap content creators tend to fall into more than casual gamers because we not only play games but also write about them, so the pressure to have more subject matter is always there. Still! Games are supposed to be for FUN. We should remind ourselves of that often. And I really like the reframing you suggest; I just tried it on a few chores I need to do and it helped a little!
Yay! Glad it helped you. It’s not easy to always do but it can get easier. 🥰🎉💖
Yeah I’ve fallen a bit into the FOMO camp recently but I’m mostly missing out on my own fun times by then not playing anything lol
I don't think i ever feel that I "should" play a specific game, but i do start to put pressure on myself when I don't finish things. Currently im about 30 hours into hades 2, ive gotten to the final boss but not beaten and there's also loads more to do besides. But I do feel pretty done and I want to move on... should I just switch on god mode and get through it? I'm thinking about giving myself a deadline for doing this.. but that feels like pressure!
I think changing from should to want is a good idea. Wanting to play a game is giving you more control over what you play, while should is allowing others to be that main influence. But I am not against the idea of saying I should play a game. I think should could lead to want. You could tell yourself that you should try out a game. I think that puts less pressure on you to play through a game you might not be fully invested in. If trying out a game eventually leads to you wanting to fully play through it, then have fun.
This article actually got me thinking about my relationship with the Call of Duty franchise. I used to be stoked when a new COD would come out. That enthusiasm has since declined drastically, especially the last few years. Everyone starts playing it, so I tell myself I should play it too. And once I stop playing than I realize I wasted so many hours of my life when I could have been playing a game more enjoyable and one I actually wanted to play instead of what everyone else was playing.
As someone who’s whole deal is playing and reviewing retro games, I have that dilemma all the time. For me, it’s a self inflicted problem because I start out wanting to review specific games in a specific order. But there are many instances where the game I’m trying to gear up to review just isn’t really what I feel like playing thanks to the endless back I have across multiple platforms. My Steam library suffers the worst.
My biggest take away from your article is that asking myself if I WANT to play X game is a way of telling the voice in my head that tries to obligate me to play what doesn’t interest me, “I am the captain now”.
Yes the forcing yourself to feel in control can be a good method for getting things done :D
The backlog is such a bizarre beast! I fell into a retro gaming hole on the weekend and the only Pokémon game I ever completed was Red. Now I want to finish the others I own. :D But it also feels weird to call those retro gaming lol
I had this with Clair Obscur. It was the only game everyone kept saying I should play but I didn’t want to jump into an RPG and spend 40-50 hours.
Fortunately, I liked it and it made sense for me to play it but I’ve now heard all these other games released this year I should play and I’m just keeping my mind away and playing what I want haha. 😂
Yes you did so well with Clair Obscur! You smashed the story in no time.
I do feel like I should play that game too and I probably will but maybe in a year or so. Something else I heard the other day was selecting a year randomly and then playing the Best games of that years nominations and winners. :D That could maybe ensure that it is a good experience at least!
I prefer games that don't have an end, especially on mobile which has a smaller library compared to PC. So I've been playing a lot of endless idle and incremental games.
But I have a large backlog that I just kind of ignore 🙃 especially on the Switch. I plan on buying more games for the winter sale coming up but I don't anticipate I'll finish any of them. I don't like the idea of finishing games! This is probably just a me thing...
Oh nice! I never thought about endless games like that. I have an odd relationship with finishing things and not finishing them. Like moisturiser. I wish it never finished so I don;t need to make sure to order more. But then I also like that when it is gone initially there is a new empty spot to fill. :D
Similar with games but I am also embracing just trying some and seeing where it takes me!
One of the goals of my Substack (and I use the word loosely since I don't really have any clear goals) is that I'll write about something when I feel like it. I don't play games to write about them, I play games and then maybe I'll write about them, possibly years later. That's the benefit of not being someone like a journalist where it's my job to do this, this is my hobby and this my way of trying to keep it that way.
However, the "should" word still crops up in my head too. I look at all the games I "should" play because I bought them, I look at all the TV shows I "should" watch because they seem popular or acclaimed... And I can't keep up. So I have to force myself to wait and let go, because eventually the moment passes and then you wonder why you were even worried in the first place.
It sounds like you have your own way of dealing with this, which is good. Maybe just play what you want for a bit and see if that recharges you?
Yes I am the same. I want to be writing about something when I feel like it but I also know some people are here for reviews especially of games I have played on the steam deck which means a bit of obligation creeps back into my mind.
I definitely struggled with my initial intentions of it being a hobby and in the end it is for me and the fact I have met so many lovely people through it is a massive bonus. <3
So I am trying to just take everyone on a ride with me while I explore different games and gaming systems, rather than feeling obliged to do a certain thing. :)
I definitely want to make sure this stays a fun hobby for me.
Well, I do have many criteria by which I prioritize my backlog (not necessarily what I want to buy next).
1. I use MoSCoW (Must Have, Should Have, Could Have, Won't Have) to check which games are more important to me.
2. Here's where it gets complicated. Depending on how many games are in one section, I look at how new/old it is (FOMO), how long it is (productivity, as shorter games can lead to a productive backlog consumption). Given that I sell my physical Nintendo Switch games, I prioritize physical Switch games over digital. On the Steam Deck, I prefer those better adjusted to the device.
3. Of course, when all fails, and it does, I just use the pair comparison method on the Must Haves and Playables (Deck) to see which ones I prefer more at the moment. Funny enough, I noticed that if I played a game and took a break, I tend to prioritize them lower.
4. And of course, I switch between Switch and Deck, so one game on the Switch, the next on the Deck.
Oh wow you are very organised in your approach!
Section 2 is really interesting. I should (there is that word again, haha) do something similar with my graphic novels and comic books. Like pass them on after reading them. That might then create space and permission to re fill the shelves :D
I also try and alternate the systems I either take away with me or play on. It is nice to have the option although choice can be a fickle thing too.
I feel like just getting this out of my system as a thing, should vs want - has also worked in reframing my approach so that's something. :D
(enter shy dwarf gif here)
Definitely go with the want first. Might result in more satisfaction and productivity ;-)
Thanks so much for the mention Margot! I wasn't expecting that Skyrim article to be as warmly received when I first published it, but I'm happy to see all the positivity around it this past week!
I've definitely been going through something similar! I have so many games in my backlog, and games that I feel like I need to play for the purpose of my writing. But... I'm also fascinated by my zombie game I picked up and have just felt like playing that for the past week 😆! I also do the same with games I've played so many times, such as Skyrim or Fallout, where I know I've played them to oblivion and back, but I get the temptation to go back into their worlds to just chill out and relax!
Likewise, I wasn't even thinking of Elden Ring until I read this... and now I kind of want to play that again now 😅😆
Thanks again Margot!
I’ve had this same issue with Scarlet and Violet. That game has been out for 3 years now, and I bought it on release. Yet, I still haven’t touched it. I heard about the bugs when it first launched, so I was waiting til a lot of it got patched. I just can’t seem to get around to playing it now even though I feel like I SHOULD since I dropped the 60 on it on launch.
I have had my copy 2 years now of Scarlet and I did try to start it but on the Switch. I need to look at it now that I have the Switch 2. My recent Pokémon gaming is making me feel more warmly to the franchise again! :)
I haven’t gotten a switch 2 yet, but that’s something I’ve highly considered! However, I do fear that I may just be finding excuses to spend money instead of finding a good reason play the game haha
Yes that is another great way to say it. "obligation kills enjoyment".
Thank you! I have definitely dropped off other hobbies due to feeling like I should be doing something or using a specific pattern or yarn. But once you make what you like or play what you feel like it is fun again:)