summary
- Clear your backlog faster by playing multiple games at once, which can help you avoid losing interest in a game by burning yourself out with it.
- By starting multiple games at once, you’ll always have something fun to play regardless of your interests or current mood.
- Play new games as they are released so you can participate in the conversation surrounding the game, while keeping old playthroughs alive.
As I started to expand my gaming horizons in recent years, I also started looking for ways to regulate the number of games I play at one time. But the more I tried, the more I began to realize that my interests could change quickly. Playing only one or two games at a time will no longer do the trick.
Clearing my backlog faster
Previously, clearing out my backlog of games meant picking one or two and devoting all my time to them, for hours on end, until I finished them. If I set up multiple games at once to play at once, I can switch between them at will and progress through each game a little at a time.
This way, I don’t have to wait to finish one game before starting another, which not only keeps me from losing interest in one game, but allows me to double the size of my backlog and finish much faster.
I always have something fun to play with
My interests in gaming are constantly changing, which means that depending on my mood, the same game I’ve been playing for three weeks may not always seem fun or engaging after a day at work. When I want to detox after a busy day with a gaming session, having multiple options to continue simultaneous playthroughs means I’ll always have something fun to play.
Gone are the days of coming home and wasting my time on multiplayer games with little content or forcing myself to play something I don’t relate to. Now, not only can I detox after a long day with a fun gaming session, but I’ll also feel like I’m making legitimate progress on something I’m already invested in.
I’m always thinking about the next game
One of the main problems for me when it comes to devoting all my time to one game is that I inevitably have to think about what I plan to play after I finish it. This often distracts me from fully committing to the game I’m currently playing as I start anticipating what I’ll jump into after it’s over.
This means that I often feel compelled to move on from a game after finishing the story, leading me to miss out on content that might require more dedication to see through.
By doing multiple playthroughs at once, I can eliminate the feeling of obligation that comes with finishing a game only to move on to the next one. Instead, I only play what seems fun at any given moment and I’m confident that I’ll always return to my other games if I decide to take a break.
Multiple operations can avoid fatigue
My habit of only playing one or two games at a time means that I often continue to play something well after my immediate interest in it has waned. After a while, I started to get tired of playing the same thing for so long, but I would keep playing anyway in order to finish.
If I have other games I can switch between that I’m similarly invested in, my playthroughs will still be engaging even if it takes me longer to finish them as a result. This way, I’m also less likely to stop playing before I get the most out of the game’s content, as switching games makes the content feel new every time.
Stop missing out on new games
I like to play new games when they first release so I can interact with the community while the discussion is fresh and the hype is at its peak. Unfortunately, my old habits meant that I often got stuck playing the same old games as I insisted on finishing them before playing anything new.
Nowadays, I play whatever sounds fun, even if it means taking a break from my other games while playing something that just came out on launch day. It’s worth it. No matter what, I can play the new game for a while and I’m confident that I’ll go back to my old game when I fall into my new routine of playing multiple games at once.
If you suffer from burnout from your favorite games or always want to be on the cutting edge when it comes to new games, consider doubling up on your playthroughs. Playing multiple games at once may seem complicated on paper, but it can really help keep your games lively and make your sessions more meaningful.
I’ve found that having shorter experiences to play while doing a large, story-driven game is a great way to get started. I’m also a big fan of run-based roguelite games because they help satisfy my role-playing cravings in bite-sized sessions.
(tags for translation) Video games