Gaming FOMO can take over your mind, time, and budget before you know it—and I have not been immune to any of that. I’m well-known amongst my friends for hopping from one new video game to the next. The result is that I finish few old games and buy too many new ones—only to then not finish those.

Last year, I made an effort to correct this bad habit.

In 2024, I started the RPG Backlog podcast to give myself a reason to dig into my pile of old games. It was (and is) a great project not only because I have been able to finish more games and play games that I do not need to spend new money on—but also because I play each game with a group of friends and record podcasts about what we’re playing.

It’s brought me closer to my friends. The result was a more fulfilling gaming experience in 2024.

For 2025, I am continuing this project and adding new challenges for my gaming time. I’ve set aside money for the Nintendo Switch 2, and I have set aside an additional $500 for new video games in 2025. Outside of those two buckets of money, I will not spend money on new video games in 2025. That budget is far less than I usually spend on video games, so the impact will be experiencing far fewer new video games in 2025 and digging much more deeply into my backlog.

When FOMO hits, I plan to play an older iteration of a newer game. For example, when Monster Hunter Wilds releases, I plan to jump into Monster Hunter World—a game I bought when FOMO hit all those years ago…and a game I barely spent any time with.

As well, I plan to watch more playthroughs of new games that I really want to experience.

Overall, the goal is to be more content with what I already have, commit my money to things that matter more (like starting my doctoral program (if I get accepted) and donating more to groups that help immigrant and LGBTQIA+ communities). The year 2025 looks like it’ll be a rough year for a lot of people I care about, and I want to commit more of my resources to making a difference. Gaming will be there for me to find joy and self-care, but I can be more thoughtful enjoying what I already have and reducing my gaming gluttony.