Play the Field<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Support](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image2102-3.jpg?resize=640%2C360\")
Image Source: Larian Studios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWith so many of the year\u2019s titles proving to be 50+ hour behemoths, there\u2019s simply no feasible way to complete them all. With that being the case, why worry about completing any of them? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep your gaming time varied and flit between multiple games at a time. It may only amount to a few hours of each, but if you absolutely have to play everything, this is really the only way. Plus, this allows you to sample everything on offer before you commit too much of your time to any of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tie Yourself Down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"MW3](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Modern-Warfare-3-Reveal-Rogue-Arsenal.jpg?resize=640%2C360\")
Image Source: Activision via Twinfinite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn the other hand, if you just can\u2019t bear to see a good ending go to waste, you might as well drown out the rest of the noise and go all in on 1 game at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re partial to annual offerings such as FIFA<\/a> or Call of Duty<\/a>, this may already be your usual holiday routine. You might be missing out on a lot of the wider conversation with this method, but there\u2019s something rather special about throwing yourself wholly into a game when it\u2019s first released and uncovering all it has to offer along with the rest of its community of die-hard fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMix Shorter Games in With Longer Titles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Cyberpunk](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Cyberpunk-2077-Phantom-Liberty-Xbox-Showcase.jpg?resize=640%2C360\")
Image Source: CDPR via Twinfinite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf these approaches seem a little extreme, then the middle path might be the more appropriate. Starfield and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty<\/a> are two games that will certainly be joining Baldur\u2019s Gate 3<\/a> and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom<\/a> as the year\u2019s longest experiences, and with so many diversions at player\u2019s fingertips they\u2019re definitely not games you pick up lightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCouple them up with something a little more pick-up and play like Party Animals<\/a>, Super Mario Bros. Wonder<\/a>, or Mortal Kombat 1<\/a> to add some variation and stave off burnout. You’ll thank yourself when you reach the end of the longer titles happy for the experience instead of burnt out from playing nothing but them for weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPrioritize Must-Plays Over Might-Plays<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Jusant](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Jusant-Hands-on-Preview-A-Peaceful-Ascent-That-Promises-More-1.jpg?resize=640%2C360\")
Image Source: Don’t Nod via Twinfinite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen something\u2019s got to give, you might as well come to terms with it sooner rather than later. Sure, there might be a surprise mega-hit that shoots a game to the top of your list, but chances are you already have a pretty good feel for which games are your cup of tea and which games you were thinking about trying just because of the hype.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If Alan Wake 2<\/a> is melting everyone\u2019s face off at the end of October but you\u2019re finding yourself more intrigued by the decidedly more niche Jusant<\/a>, leave the nightmares to everybody else and enjoy those chill vibes. You’ll be much happier when the credits roll, and won’t be left trying desperately to get back to the game you liked more in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTry It and Drop It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Alan-Wake-2.jpg?resize=640%2C360\")
Image Source: Epic Games Publishing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nSometimes a game doesn\u2019t immediately click with you, but you plug away at it because there\u2019s nothing else that\u2019s prying for your attention at that specific moment. It may seem mean, but sometimes first impressions count, and when time\u2019s limited that\u2019s all you\u2019ve got to go on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, we\u2019ve all had those games which we feel indifferent about early on only to have them become some of our all-time favorites. It\u2019s amazing when that happens, but let\u2019s be real: Those occasions are few and far between. If you\u2019re playing something out of a sense of obligation when you\u2019d much rather be playing something else, drop the baggage and move onto what actually grabs your attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small but Many<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Assassin's](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Assassins-Creed-Mirage.jpg?resize=640%2C360\")
Image Source: Ubisoft<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlongside all the epic AAA offerings this year, there have been loads of indie games promising just as much innovation and polish; just on a far smaller scale. If you\u2019re just capping off a playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3 and the prospect of devoting the rest of your year to Starfield seems a daunting prospect, then maybe it\u2019s time for a change of pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t have to entirely rule out the mainstream. We already know that Assassin\u2019s Creed Mirage<\/a> is going to be much shorter than recent titles in the franchise, and while we don\u2019t yet know for certain how long exactly games like Spider-Man 2<\/a> and Alan Wake 2 will be, they\u2019ll surely be much more approachable than Bethesda\u2019s sci-fi colossus. All the same, taking time to indulge in games that aren’t weeks long commitments can be a godsend for your enjoyment of the medium.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Wallet-Friendly Approach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Zale](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Sea-of-Stars.jpg?resize=640%2C360\")
Image Source: Sabotage Studio via Twinfinite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nBetween the cost of hardware and the rising price of new releases, gaming can be a pretty expensive hobby these days. While nobody begrudges game studios for having to keep up with the pressures of inflation, the best price for the consumer is “Free” when choices are vast and time is limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re already paying for Game Pass or PlayStation Plus, then day-one releases to those services such as Sea of Stars<\/a> can make for a very attractive offer. If you\u2019re deciding between two games and know you only have time to play one right now, then go for the cheapest and hope the price of the other goes down by the time you circle back around to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nForget About FOMO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Super](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Super-Mario-Wonder-Logo.jpg?resize=640%2C360\")
Image Source: Nintendo via Twinfinite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
With so many of the year\u2019s titles proving to be 50+ hour behemoths, there\u2019s simply no feasible way to complete them all. With that being the case, why worry about completing any of them? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep your gaming time varied and flit between multiple games at a time. It may only amount to a few hours of each, but if you absolutely have to play everything, this is really the only way. Plus, this allows you to sample everything on offer before you commit too much of your time to any of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tie Yourself Down<\/h2>\n\n\n\nImage Source: Activision via Twinfinite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn the other hand, if you just can\u2019t bear to see a good ending go to waste, you might as well drown out the rest of the noise and go all in on 1 game at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re partial to annual offerings such as FIFA<\/a> or Call of Duty<\/a>, this may already be your usual holiday routine. You might be missing out on a lot of the wider conversation with this method, but there\u2019s something rather special about throwing yourself wholly into a game when it\u2019s first released and uncovering all it has to offer along with the rest of its community of die-hard fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMix Shorter Games in With Longer Titles<\/h2>\n\n\n\nImage Source: CDPR via Twinfinite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf these approaches seem a little extreme, then the middle path might be the more appropriate. Starfield and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty<\/a> are two games that will certainly be joining Baldur\u2019s Gate 3<\/a> and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom<\/a> as the year\u2019s longest experiences, and with so many diversions at player\u2019s fingertips they\u2019re definitely not games you pick up lightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCouple them up with something a little more pick-up and play like Party Animals<\/a>, Super Mario Bros. Wonder<\/a>, or Mortal Kombat 1<\/a> to add some variation and stave off burnout. You’ll thank yourself when you reach the end of the longer titles happy for the experience instead of burnt out from playing nothing but them for weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPrioritize Must-Plays Over Might-Plays<\/h2>\n\n\n\nImage Source: Don’t Nod via Twinfinite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen something\u2019s got to give, you might as well come to terms with it sooner rather than later. Sure, there might be a surprise mega-hit that shoots a game to the top of your list, but chances are you already have a pretty good feel for which games are your cup of tea and which games you were thinking about trying just because of the hype.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If Alan Wake 2<\/a> is melting everyone\u2019s face off at the end of October but you\u2019re finding yourself more intrigued by the decidedly more niche Jusant<\/a>, leave the nightmares to everybody else and enjoy those chill vibes. You’ll be much happier when the credits roll, and won’t be left trying desperately to get back to the game you liked more in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTry It and Drop It<\/h2>\n\n\n\nImage Source: Epic Games Publishing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nSometimes a game doesn\u2019t immediately click with you, but you plug away at it because there\u2019s nothing else that\u2019s prying for your attention at that specific moment. It may seem mean, but sometimes first impressions count, and when time\u2019s limited that\u2019s all you\u2019ve got to go on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, we\u2019ve all had those games which we feel indifferent about early on only to have them become some of our all-time favorites. It\u2019s amazing when that happens, but let\u2019s be real: Those occasions are few and far between. If you\u2019re playing something out of a sense of obligation when you\u2019d much rather be playing something else, drop the baggage and move onto what actually grabs your attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small but Many<\/h2>\n\n\n\nImage Source: Ubisoft<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlongside all the epic AAA offerings this year, there have been loads of indie games promising just as much innovation and polish; just on a far smaller scale. If you\u2019re just capping off a playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3 and the prospect of devoting the rest of your year to Starfield seems a daunting prospect, then maybe it\u2019s time for a change of pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t have to entirely rule out the mainstream. We already know that Assassin\u2019s Creed Mirage<\/a> is going to be much shorter than recent titles in the franchise, and while we don\u2019t yet know for certain how long exactly games like Spider-Man 2<\/a> and Alan Wake 2 will be, they\u2019ll surely be much more approachable than Bethesda\u2019s sci-fi colossus. All the same, taking time to indulge in games that aren’t weeks long commitments can be a godsend for your enjoyment of the medium.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Wallet-Friendly Approach<\/h2>\n\n\n\nImage Source: Sabotage Studio via Twinfinite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nBetween the cost of hardware and the rising price of new releases, gaming can be a pretty expensive hobby these days. While nobody begrudges game studios for having to keep up with the pressures of inflation, the best price for the consumer is “Free” when choices are vast and time is limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re already paying for Game Pass or PlayStation Plus, then day-one releases to those services such as Sea of Stars<\/a> can make for a very attractive offer. If you\u2019re deciding between two games and know you only have time to play one right now, then go for the cheapest and hope the price of the other goes down by the time you circle back around to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nForget About FOMO<\/h2>\n\n\n\nImage Source: Nintendo via Twinfinite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, if you just can\u2019t bear to see a good ending go to waste, you might as well drown out the rest of the noise and go all in on 1 game at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re partial to annual offerings such as FIFA<\/a> or Call of Duty<\/a>, this may already be your usual holiday routine. You might be missing out on a lot of the wider conversation with this method, but there\u2019s something rather special about throwing yourself wholly into a game when it\u2019s first released and uncovering all it has to offer along with the rest of its community of die-hard fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If these approaches seem a little extreme, then the middle path might be the more appropriate. Starfield and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty<\/a> are two games that will certainly be joining Baldur\u2019s Gate 3<\/a> and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom<\/a> as the year\u2019s longest experiences, and with so many diversions at player\u2019s fingertips they\u2019re definitely not games you pick up lightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Couple them up with something a little more pick-up and play like Party Animals<\/a>, Super Mario Bros. Wonder<\/a>, or Mortal Kombat 1<\/a> to add some variation and stave off burnout. You’ll thank yourself when you reach the end of the longer titles happy for the experience instead of burnt out from playing nothing but them for weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When something\u2019s got to give, you might as well come to terms with it sooner rather than later. Sure, there might be a surprise mega-hit that shoots a game to the top of your list, but chances are you already have a pretty good feel for which games are your cup of tea and which games you were thinking about trying just because of the hype.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If Alan Wake 2<\/a> is melting everyone\u2019s face off at the end of October but you\u2019re finding yourself more intrigued by the decidedly more niche Jusant<\/a>, leave the nightmares to everybody else and enjoy those chill vibes. You’ll be much happier when the credits roll, and won’t be left trying desperately to get back to the game you liked more in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes a game doesn\u2019t immediately click with you, but you plug away at it because there\u2019s nothing else that\u2019s prying for your attention at that specific moment. It may seem mean, but sometimes first impressions count, and when time\u2019s limited that\u2019s all you\u2019ve got to go on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, we\u2019ve all had those games which we feel indifferent about early on only to have them become some of our all-time favorites. It\u2019s amazing when that happens, but let\u2019s be real: Those occasions are few and far between. If you\u2019re playing something out of a sense of obligation when you\u2019d much rather be playing something else, drop the baggage and move onto what actually grabs your attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alongside all the epic AAA offerings this year, there have been loads of indie games promising just as much innovation and polish; just on a far smaller scale. If you\u2019re just capping off a playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3 and the prospect of devoting the rest of your year to Starfield seems a daunting prospect, then maybe it\u2019s time for a change of pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t have to entirely rule out the mainstream. We already know that Assassin\u2019s Creed Mirage<\/a> is going to be much shorter than recent titles in the franchise, and while we don\u2019t yet know for certain how long exactly games like Spider-Man 2<\/a> and Alan Wake 2 will be, they\u2019ll surely be much more approachable than Bethesda\u2019s sci-fi colossus. All the same, taking time to indulge in games that aren’t weeks long commitments can be a godsend for your enjoyment of the medium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Between the cost of hardware and the rising price of new releases, gaming can be a pretty expensive hobby these days. While nobody begrudges game studios for having to keep up with the pressures of inflation, the best price for the consumer is “Free” when choices are vast and time is limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re already paying for Game Pass or PlayStation Plus, then day-one releases to those services such as Sea of Stars<\/a> can make for a very attractive offer. If you\u2019re deciding between two games and know you only have time to play one right now, then go for the cheapest and hope the price of the other goes down by the time you circle back around to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMix Shorter Games in With Longer Titles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Prioritize Must-Plays Over Might-Plays<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Try It and Drop It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Small but Many<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Wallet-Friendly Approach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Forget About FOMO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Get](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Marvels-Spider-Man-2.jpg?resize=640%2C360\")
![\"Ship](\"https:\/\/twinfinite.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Ship-landing-on-planet-in-Starfield.jpg?resize=640%2C360\")