As a games journalist, it’s easy to get lost in the whirlwind of every new release, but I suspect that if you’re passionate about gaming, you’re probably also keeping an eager eye on every new title. January is the perfect opportunity to delve into that ever-growing backlog. During the Steam Winter Sale, I couldn’t resist snagging a few 2024 gems I hadn’t conquered yet—titles like Satisfactory, Trash Goblin, alongside some older classics like Firewatch and Dave the Diver. I also grabbed Tiny Glade at the tail end of 2024 and kicked off my first adventure in Baldur’s Gate 3 back in August.
Now that it’s 2025, the appeal of these games hasn’t diminished one bit. There’s a unique satisfaction in diving into older releases and becoming part of the community that appreciates a masterpiece like Firewatch. It’s akin to discovering a timeless book for the first time. So, if your backlog feels like a mountain, why not tackle it from the beginning? Start with the oldest games and work your way forward, or revisit a game you haven’t touched in a while. It’s always refreshing to rediscover what first drew you to a game, a genre, or a developer, regardless of the big new titles beckoning you. And who knows, you might just unearth your personal game of the year for 2025 in the process.
