As a gaming journalist, it can be all too easy to get swept up in the whirlwind of new releases, trying to keep pace with everything hitting the shelves. Yet, if you’re someone eagerly anticipating each fresh title, January offers the perfect opportunity to dive into your backlog of games. Personally, I used the Steam Winter Sale as a justification to snag a handful of 2024 games I missed out on earlier—such as Satisfactory, Trash Goblin, along with older gems like Firewatch and Dave the Diver. Towards the tail end of 2024, I also picked up Tiny Glade and embarked on my first journey in Baldur’s Gate 3 come August.
Despite it now being 2025, these games haven’t lost their charm. On the contrary, there’s something incredibly rewarding about delving into titles that aren’t fresh off the press; it’s like you’re finally joining the ranks of those who already appreciate the brilliance of a classic like Firewatch. It’s akin to discovering the depth of a time-honored novel. If your game library feels a bit overwhelming, why not start with the oldest installment and make your way forward—or revisit a game you’ve been on a hiatus from. Reconnecting with what drew you to a game, a genre, or a developer in the first place is never a bad move. Plus, who knows, you might just stumble across your personal 2025 game of the year along the way.
