Time For Xenoblade Chronicles X

Xenoblade Chronicles X is coming to the Switch in just a few months. That news is still exciting me a week after I first heard it. I’m so ready to play it again. And it’s causing me to rethink my gaming pastime. With so many good games and so little time, how can I make the most of it?

My backlog lingers. But instead of gaming, I’ve mostly been reading books these past few months; the Kindle is a book console. I enjoy reading a good book. I love a great game too. So besides many good games to play, there are also many good books to read. 

Here are the two bigguns I have slated for 2025:

• Read: American Prometheus

• Play: XCX: DE

That could be all I do for fun next year, well, besides hiking long trails outdoors (touch grass).

Adding books to the mix means I have even less time for games. And with several involving games in my backlog and a never-ending stream of new ones coming, I have to make a choice. It feels like I’m now standing at a crucial juncture. Going forward, my gaming might be much different. 

Think quality over quantity.

Yes, there are so many high quality games to enjoy. But going forward, I must force myself to to say “No” to most of them. Instead, I must choose only the best of the best: games that seem the most awesome to play, ones that will surely engage me at length and reward my investment of money, energy, and time. 

Note: of those three resources, money and energy get replenished. But not time; it’s ever-winding down. I have no time to waste, playing good games instead of great ones.

Say yes to the best, no to the rest.

In my mind, a few games I’ve already played stand out as the best: Minecraft, Xenoblade Chronicles X, Tears of the Kingdom, Animal Crossing…games that lean more open-world or open-ended. They let you explore and discover freely. And they give you some story or goals to focus on. 

I could probably play them for years without feeling drawn to some new game that promises more. That said, I’m always open to the next best game. The challenge is determining which of the many new releases is most likely worth my limited time.

So from here on out, I’ve got to be more disciplined and selective. I must ignore some potentially great games for the few masterpieces that come along.

A less-is-more approach might be key. Fewer games yet more gaming fun?

For example, Dragon Quest III: HD-2D is releasing soon, but I’m dismissing it now. Instead, I will play Octopath Traveler II, which has been waiting in my bedroom for months. But what will I do when Dragon Quest XII is released since it's likely a must-play JRPG? Anticipating this, I should make sure to avoid giving into other good yet not great games that grab my attention, like Metroid Prime Remastered did.

Then there's Sea of Stars, the game I am currently enjoying…when I take time to pick it up between reading books, working, and parenting. Oh, and sleeping; gotta squeeze that in — maybe throw in some exercise time.

Another example, though XCX is awesome and I’ve yet to finish it, I have no regrets having later played XC3 — it was overall a very satisfying experience and I’d say it qualified as a must-play title, one of the few.

Yet this brings me back to XCX: DE, available March 20, 2025. It’s one of my all-time favorites, holding a special place in my gaming history. But not only have I yet to finish the game, I haven’t even acquired a Skell!

The definitive edition of XCX has my name on it. I’ve already pre-ordered the game. So although I have other great games backlogged, I’m going to take time to savor one of the best ever, a personal favorite. I plan to start over on the Switch from the beginning, create a new avatar character, and rediscover the world of Mira. I want to continue mastering combat and exploring the unreached areas of the planet. And I can’t wait to finally pilot one of those mechs.