Mastering the Game: Insider Tips from 106 Games in 1 Year
The Game Critic’s Dilemma
As I reflect on my media diet from the past year, I’m reminded of a peculiar habit I’ve developed: tracking every minute I spend engaging with video games, movies, TV shows, and podcasts. It’s become a quirk, perhaps, but one that provides valuable insights into my entertainment preferences. This year, I dedicated an astonishing 106 hours to playing video games – a significant portion of my free time. But as I scan the spreadsheet, I’m struck by a nagging feeling: did I miss out on anything?
Childhood Fantasies Fulfilled
As a gamer, I’ve always fantasized about the endless possibilities offered by the medium. In 2024, I got to experience the culmination of those dreams. I played remakes of classic games, pastiches of beloved titles, and innovative deconstructions of familiar genres. From shooters that turned my Windows OS into a bullet hell to games that gave squirrels guns, I savored the sheer variety of the gaming landscape. And the themes! Games tackled subjects like the unexamined grief of a pandemic, the joy of stealing a shopping cart and racing down a hill, and the fundamentals of democracy. It’s an embarrassment of riches, and I’m grateful to be a part of this ecosystem.
The Pleasure of Possibilities
While I might not have as much free time as I’d like, I still relish the experience of exploring video games. I find pleasure in the simple act of discovery, uncovering new worlds, mechanics, and stories. The sheer volume of games released in 2024 – and the diversity of styles, genres, and themes – has been a boon for enthusiasts like myself. Whether you’re a die-hard gamer or just a casual enthusiast, there’s something for everyone. I’m fortunate to be alive during this golden age of gaming, where the possibilities seem endless.
What I Learned
As I look back on my gaming diet from the past year, I’ve distilled my learnings into a simple, yet profound, takeaway: don’t dwell on what you missed; grow from what you experienced. When faced with the temptation to regret time spent on hobbies, I remind myself that every moment is an opportunity to learn, grow, and discover. And I’ve come to realize that there’s never enough time – not because I haven’t found the right game, but because there’s always something new to explore.
[Image: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth]
An image showing Aerith and Cloud sitting on a water tower in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. This is what childhood me hoped games would become – a perfect blend of whimsy, adventure, and wonder.
[Image: Scuias]
Image: Infold Games/Papergames
New & Noteworthy
I wrote earlier that I hoped to gift y’all with a universal takeaway. And here it is. What I learned from playing an absurd amount of video games over the last 12 months: whether it’s video games or any other hobby, it’s tempting to look back at how we spent a year and consider everything we could have done instead. To dwell on the gap between our ambitions and our accomplishments. Don’t dwell on what you missed; grow from what you experienced.
[Image: Squirrel with gun]
Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from tracking my life in a spreadsheet, it’s that there’s never enough time.
