The 2025 Video Game Queue
Or, Gamifying Games
If you read my earlier piece on gamifying reading (and my post on finishing and finding time to play games) you’ll know that I love tracking habits, progress, and planning ahead. It motivates me to do the things I know I want to do, but don’t feel like doing.
Doing this with reading makes sense; it takes effort to pull a book out and set aside time.
But what if I told you I do a similar thing for video games?
Why Build a Queue
There are simply too many games to play. Not only do I have a backlog of games I purchased way back when and never got a chance to play through, but I also have a ton of free games from PlayStation Plus and games I can emulate.
Without some kind of idea of what I want to play, I’ll never end up playing a game all the way through (or at least to the point of knowing that it’s not for me). This list was built using games I already own and I’ve been wanting to play for a while.
This list is not meant to be rigid. I’ve already played through a couple games that aren’t on this list, but I fell in love with after getting the Retroid Pocket 5. This is meant to be a “shopping list”. Something I can choose from once I want to start a new game.
These are the games I want to play in 2025.
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
I started this in April 2024, and haven’t finished it. I took a long break from it, and really want to get through it. It’s a top priority, but after playing this for a while in January 2025, I realize this game is just so good that I’m ok with just picking it up on occasion.
Advance Wars
In 2024 I discovered the beauty of a good lunch game. Something I can play while eating my lunch. Last year that was Pokemon: Emerald. This game, and others in this list are included because they’d make great lunch games.
I’ve already started playing this and can confirm that it is a quintessential lunch game. I love that the enemy takes their turn automatically and I don’t have to spam or hold a button to speed through their turn.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
I wrote about this game when it came out in October about resisting the urge to buy something I don’t have time for. Funny enough, my wife got me this for Christmas! and now that I’ve found ways to game more I’m excited to start playing this!
This is a longer game, but the year is still young.
Persona 3: Reload
A good friend of mine got me this game in April of last year, and I feel so guilty for not playing it. It’s high up on my priority and I’ll likely dive into it as soon as I finish up Tears of the Kingdom.
It’s long, but something I learned about long games is you can make some good progress by just playing in 30 minute chunks.
Death Stranding
I was lounging in my dorm room with my roommate when he casually said, “Did you see Death Stranding came out? Looks weird.” I immediately got up, got my keys, and raced to the nearest Target. Being a Kojima stan, this game was my most anticipated game maybe ever. It was not the right time for me to be playing a game about hand-delivering packages.
I played this game for a couple of hours and had to drop it. The dorm room was not the place for it. That being said, I’m dying to give it another shot because it should be a game I love.
Very high priority.
Mario Golf: Advance Tour
Last year I spent a lot of time playing the Golden Sun duology. It’s a JRPG by Camelot and I really loved them. Mario Gold: Advance Tour is made by the same developers and I’ve only ever heard good things about it.
This seems like a great lunch game once I’m finished up with Advance War.
Katamari Damacy Reroll
A while ago I asked my friends to build a “required reading” list for a class about their history with video games. One of my friends included had Katamari Damacy. Funny enough, this game was on sale for 2 dollars - I bought it.
This seems like a great game to check out during the summer. and it’s only around 3 hours!
Control
I got this game for free from PlayStation Plus. It’s a spiritual successor to Alan Wake - the first “horror” game I ever played. It has an undeniably great visual language and an interesting world. From what I know, this game has a very similar in vibe to Severance, and I love that.
This game feels like a great game to play in August or September. Monsoons are happening outside, fall is getting closer, a little bit spooky.
Alan Wake II
Yet another Christmas gift game.
Alan Wake II was made by the same team as Control and it even exists in the same universe. I’ve intentionally been distant from what this game is, but I know there is a dance sequence.
Maybe the perfect October game. I’m excited to see what it’s all about. This team melds weirdness, coolness, and intrigue really well. Excited!
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Winter is a great time to bust out a long JRPG. This game comes heavily recommended.
This game follows the entire life of a single person. It opens up with your character as a child who can’t read and (if what I’ve heard is correct) continues through having children.
Because this is a turn-based game it might be a good lunch-time game.
Gamify Everything
There is simply too much to do at any given moment. If I don’t have some sort of plan, I’ll just wander from game to game, book to book, or thing to thing and never actually do anything meaningful or enjoyable.
I know this is a common experience; you have a free evening to do whatever you want, you have a list of things you want to do and you end up spending what little free time you have on your phone.
Gamifying things you don’t like, and things you do, is a great way to structure things and actually get them done. Even if it’s leisure or hobby.