I feel like the title says everything about this post. I have been playing video games since the PS1 era of video games, so that’s quite a long time at this point but the variety and amount of games or franchises I’ve stuck to has been quite small until the last few years where I have branched out a bit more I suppose. Then in 2023 I got a proper gaming PC and therefore had more access, and towards the end of that year I took advantage of a discord offer which gave me a few months of Xbox Game Pass for free which, despite not using all that much since the start of the year, I am still paying for. I struggle to cancel subscriptions. And that is how they forever trap ADHDer’s into paying for old hobbies.
A small reflection on 2024
2024 as a whole has felt both stagnant and transformational all in one bundle. It’s been a really hard year, and I’ve had to make some pretty tough decisions for myself and my family. I still haven’t moved which is one of the biggest thorns in my side right now. That lack of change which I feel is keeping me in a pretty negative place mentally is completely out of my control because there’s nothing more I can really do at this point to move other than private renting which I don’t want to do because it’s pretty unaffordable and being lucky enough to be in a council property, I am reluctant to give that up.
It’s also the year that I found a very good therapist who over the last few months has helped me figure things out about myself and going forward is going to help me with a lot of trauma I’ve been dealing with for far too long. Achievements wise I get so caught up in what other people are doing that it makes anything I am happy or proud of feel stupid, small and insignificant. However, I have done things this year that make me feel better about myself. I got two tattoos that I absolutely love on areas of my body I’ve felt quite self conscious about for some time. I started Pole Dance classes in May which have been very good for my confidence and have surprised me in what I’ve been able to do. It’s never been about loosing weight or getting thin, it’s been about learning a new skill, getting stronger and finding something to do for me that I have fallen in love with. I also progressed and cleared an older FFXIV Ultimate raid which is also something I never thought I’d do. With everything that has been going on, it’s kind of no wonder I’ve spent so much of my time escaping in video games just to make life a little bit easier.
Video Games I Played 2024
So here is where I’m going to get kinda nerdy because I was thoroughly offended by my PSN account that suggested I was a ‘Sharpshooter’ video game player because my most played game on my PS5 was Cyberpunk 2077. Collectively, I am pretty confident that the genre of games I have played over console and PC are RPG’s. When I first discovered an RPG and realised that was a type of video game that existed, that is what I wanted to play. It was Final Fantasy X so I had high expectations from the start.
Anyway here is a collective list of all the games I’ve played in 2024. I might as well start with the two obvious ones because I haven’t stopped playing them for years and probably won’t stop anytime soon.
TL:DR – In 2024 I played 35 games on PS5 & PC through EA Play, Steam and Xbox Game Pass. I did not finish all of them.
Final Fantasy XIV – I don’t even want to state my play time because I have no idea what it is for 2024, collectively, since I started playing the MMORPG almost four years ago now it’s been thousands of hours at this point. 2024 started weak with XIV waiting for things to do but I felt, hopeful, for it with the launch of Dawntrail in the summer. I have continued to be disappointed yet I have continued to play this game almost every day. I have cleared each new Extreme fight as it was current, progressed the first savaged fight of the raid series but haven’t cleared it and did an ultimate raid which, despite being old content, was one of the better experiences and that really is saying a lot about the state of FFXIV right now. I’m not alone thinking this, but I’m not ready to give up on it yet if not because of the friends I have met and the occasional want to socialise.
The Sims 4 – I have been playing The Sims on and off since The Sims 1. I am never going to not play The Sims at some point and be continuously annoyed by the lack of spiral staircases and auto roof feature not being available. The Sims 4 did actually release two add-on packs I haven’t got yet but will probably buy in 2025, Goth clothes and the ghost afterlife expansion where you can work as a mortician. The Sims has taken up like 25 years of my life at this point giving it up now is not an option.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – This was by far my most anticipated game, and even though I didn’t spend as much time playing it as I thought I would, or apparently, other games, I was really happy with it. Maybe if I’m lucky I’ll complete the Remake trilogy before I’m 40 but that’s a life goal completely out of my control.
Balders Gate 3 – I love this game. So much so I’ve got it on console and PC through Steam. It has been one of the best videogames I have played and has inspired an interest in learning about how to play Dungeons & Dragons of which has began a collection of many, many sets of dice. It got me watching Critical Role on YouTube which has been a joy to listen to. After several starts, two complete playthroughs, many a mod browsing and guide look up or video recap I have found things I’ve missed and am consistently encouraged to go back and replay. I hope, one day, I can do a multiplayer campaign with friends because I think it would be a lot of fun to do with other people. I loved the story, completing both a ‘good’ and evil playthrough, I like the character creation, I like the variety of classes and races in the game and have just enjoyed playing something so refreshing and new. It’s been a challenge and a learning curve but I’ve loved every part of it.
Disney Dreamlight Valley – this was like Animal Crossing but Disney. It was alright. Kind of one of those never ending farming sim games. Did make a lot of money, finished the main quests but didn’t do any of the DLC stuff and did get a bit boring and repetitive. Also having to wait for unpredictable weather and doing things in real time like “come back in the evening” is difficult for someone that wants to progress. I am not slow and cosy.
Slay the Spire – I think this is something I’ve gone back to because it’s really addictive. This year I was able to actually complete it on each character too, and I am working my way on ascension levels. Just in time for Slay the Spire 2 in 2025…
Trails in the Sky – I replayed the first game after playing Trails through Daybreak and have the desire to continue through Sky SC and 3rd now I know what I know from the games that came after. This series is wonderful and has become pretty dear to me in the last few years for many reasons but it is difficult to remain enthusiastic for the future of the story and what is to come with what appears to be no real tangible conclusion right now. Going back to playing as Estelle and Joshua at the very start of this game and seeing the story in its roots was really nice.
Trails Through Daybreak – Finally got to Calvard to explore and meet a new cast of characters. Enjoyed, played through in full maybe twice, or maybe three times? I can’t remember.
Persona 3 Portable – This was thanks to Game Pass on PC but because Persona 3 Reload was coming out I didn’t have much time to actually play P3P and therefore wasn’t able to finish it.
Persona 3 Reload – I feel like I would have enjoyed this more had I not tried to rush through P3P and not finish it, and if the stuff from P3P was included, like, say, a Female protagonist…I might have enjoyed it more. However, the music from the final battle remains one of my favourite tracks from the entire Persona series.
Persona 5 Tactica – Started and never finished, struggled with mouse and WASD controls on keyboard so it put me off. Was fine for what I played but I didn’t get that far. Might go back to it one day.
Persona 5 Strikers – Started and never finished. Hack and Slash quick combat Persona game. Will probably go back to it eventually. Was fun but was also kind of a game I was just playing for the sake of playing something.
Persona 3, 4 and 5 Dancing games: Started but didn’t finish. I think I played through Dancing in Starlight the most. I started the story mode for 4 but didn’t really get very far. I think I was kind of done with Persona games at this point but it was nice to hear some of the music again.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance – Was good for combat, enjoyed it enough whilst I was playing it but can’t say it’s been particularly memorable and don’t have much of a desire to replay. Some of the navigation in some of the maps frustrated me. Agrat was the best thing in this game. She was cute and very, very strong in my final line up of demons I fought. Plus it had a fairy kingdom which is always a plus for me.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon – I strictly played this because someone else was and I wanted to know WTF they were talking about. It was on Game Pass during the free trial so didn’t have much to loose. I got curious after being sent a trailer for Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth and seeing many memes comparing certain scenes to FF7 Rebirth. It was weird but I liked it enough to continue playing other games with very minimal context of the previous Yakuza games.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name – Felt it appropriate to play if I was going to play Infinite Wealth and again, copied said friend from above who went on to play this too. Enjoyed it for what it was.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – According to PSN this was my 4th most played game on console with 98 hours and many trophies. Mostly, I liked trash island animal crossing mini game the best. It was kinda fun making a sleazy island resort and getting a lot of money from it. I did play the rest of the game too, and made friends with many animals.
Octopath Traveller – Started but didn’t finish or get very far, so don’t really have all that much to say. Think I was waiting for other games to release.
Deep Rock Galatic – Started, didn’t get far. Lot of people were talking about it and enjoying it, I tried it but probably not my sort of thing long term.
Wytchwood – Started, haven’t finished yet but do intend to because I quite like it. Indie game I was following for a little bit, Witch lives in the woods and wants to break a curse, slow and cosy type of game so feel like I need to be in the mood to go back to it.
Cat Cafe Manager – Completed it and had an amazing cafe with lots of money and lots of cats by the end. It was cute, quick and fun.
Cyberpunk 2077 – According to PSN was my most played console game which gives me the ‘Sharpshooter’ gamer profile and I think that is wrong and what inspired this very long list and research. I did really, really like it though. I got a cool raincoat, I played through multiple endings, I almost got the platinum for it and I tried two different characters with different skills and abilities. Feel like I got a lot of playtime from it and really was engrossed. Quickhack exploded a lot of grenades, and therefore, people. Also rewatched Edgerunners whilst playing which gave me a new appreciation for Night City and the people that live there and just how fucking dire it all is.
The Witcher 3 – Remember starting this years and years ago on PS4 I think, doing the very start tutorial and then never really going any further. Downloaded the free PS5 upgrade version and played through, very much enjoyed it. Had some knowledge of the game from friends and the universe from the books and TV show. It was good, I did alright with it I think, and will be excited to play The Witcher 4.
Untitled Goose Game – cause turmoil and terror to others as a goose. You could honk at things. It made my son laugh. I didn’t get passed the first area.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 – Probably my biggest disappointment after how much I enjoyed the first game and felt let down preordering it. Would like to go back to it again and play through it properly but we will see. I don’t have a desire to do so anytime soon.
Digimon World: Next Order – Started but didn’t finish, bought out of nostalgia if anything and because it was on sale. Fond memories watching Digimon after school when I was younger and did begin my interest in Japan and Japanese culture but I wasn’t in the mood to learn how to play it properly and it felt overly complicated for no reason. Plus I think I picked the wrong egg to get the actual digimon I wanted so that was automatically frustrating.
Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir – Played through every character but didn’t finish the last book. Had wanted to play it for the longest time. It’s visually very pretty and you get to eat snacks to level up which I can get behind. Liked some of the characters more than others but I think I wasn’t captivated quite enough to grind levels and abilities for the last epilogue or ‘true ending’ book.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim – Again, played it because a friend was playing it at the time and I was nosy. Got the platinum for it because it wasn’t hard. Read a lot about the combat being difficult but I found it relatively enjoyable.
Tales of Vesperia – Was a filler game whilst waiting for FF7 Rebirth so it was not the best decision to make to start something. Might go back to it, enjoyed it enough I think but I don’t really remember much about it now.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition – Played Mass Effect 1-3 for the first time with very little context and had to use mouse and keyboard controls so it took me a long time to get into it but I did and I stuck it out and did enjoy it. I think ME2 was my favourite of the three.
Dragon Age Origins – started but struggled with keyboard and mouse controls again so I didn’t get very far. Maybe I’ll try again in the future.
Dragon Age The Veilguard – Currently playing so I won’t finish it this year but I am enjoying it at least! It has a photo mode and I found this tree with legs.
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