Top Five Gaming Habits to Break

We're making resolutions for 2025, and surprise, surprise, they're all about gaming! Bad habits are easily formed, even when it comes to things that you love. We took a long, hard look at our gaming habits and found the areas that could use some improvement. It wasn't easy, and there might have been some kicking and a lot of screaming, but we got there in the end.

The familiarity of a world you've already explored and know you love, be it a cozy island or cruel hellscape, is hard for the unknown to compete with. But do you remember how you felt the first time you played that game you love? Don't deprive yourself of similar experiences with new games. You never know when you're going to find a new favorite to add to your collection! You don't have to retire any game forever, just mix it up once in a while! Your copy of Red Dead Redemption isn't going to ride into the sunset, we promise.

We're not just talking about the box art. Many game genres have preconceived notions attached, most of them antiquated. We know that gamers aren't exclusively cis-white males who live on a diet of hot chips and off-brand soda. We've made a lot of progress as a community, but we've still got work to do. Not playing a certain genre or loving a specific type of game doesn't make you any more or less of a gamer than the next person. Don't be afraid to pick up a title that speaks to you because you think someone's going to judge you for it. That's their problem, not yours.

If you play RPGs, chances are you have a favorite type of character. Maybe you lean into stealthier builds, prefer ranged weapons, or love to barrel into a brawl face-first! There's nothing wrong with sticking to a similar style, it helps you build and finesse your skills. But variety is the spice of life, so try switching it up next time by picking a polar opposite to your usual character. Or try interacting with the NPCs in new ways. Yes, that means romancing anyone besides Shane or Leah in Stardew Valley! Try it; you might get a completely different experience and learn something valuable that you can use for your standard character build!

It's hard to keep up with all the great games coming out these days! Luxury problem? Yes! But the keyword here is ‘problem’. There are only so many hours in the day, so it's not surprising that a lot of us have gaming backlogs that keep growing and growing and growing. Before you buy a new game, take a beat and look through the ones you already own. Is there something similar already waiting on the shelf? Remember why you purchased those games to begin with and take them for a spin. That's what they're there for, after all.

It's easy to get stuck in your comfort zone, because, well, it's comfortable! We all have our favorite game genres and playstyles, and there's nothing wrong with that. Breaking out into the unknown can be scary, a lot of genres are intimidating and can seem like they're out of your wheelhouse. But all of us were beginners at one point. Learning how to play something brand new is a rewarding experience and allows you to surprise yourself and branch out. There's always room for more favorites, especially when it comes to the wonderful world of video games.

Phew! Now that wasn't as scary as you thought it was, right? Whether or not you're cowering under your desk, we're happy you made it to the end! We're going to tackle this list one habit at a time, one day at a time. We invite you to do the same, and add any of your own habits to the list! If you want to learn more about the work that goes into making a game, check out our interview with our level designers!