Usually, MeinMMO freelancer Jasmin can take advantage of the summer slump to get through her so-called “Pile of Shame.” At the beginning of the year, many publishers release great games that she can catch up on during the summer break. In winter, however, this is not as feasible, as most publishers want to launch their games due to the upcoming Christmas business. But this year, her stack of games that she is postponing is particularly large.
What is the reason for this? There is no real summer slump in 2023 anymore: Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in May, a title that can consume hundreds of hours due to its numerous secrets in an open world.
And I probably don’t need to tell you how addictive Diablo 4 is. The race for the best loot has only just begun with the rarest uniques, and the anticipation for the first season in July is palpable. Oh, and don’t forget Baldur’s Gate 3 in August!
With these tips, I can reach my goal in Diablo 4 faster and save a lot of time:
Additionally, Final Fantasy XVI was released just recently, which is also a powerful blockbuster that can’t just be completed in one day.
The terrible thing is: I still have tons of games from early 2023 or last year that I actually wanted to catch up on. These include many single-player titles like Hogwarts Legacy, Forspoken, or Crisis Core –Final Fantasy VII– Reunion.
More reasons for meticulous game planning
The showcases around the unusual E3 have not exactly improved my situation: Many titles that were presented during the showcases will be released this year. I have written down in a list which titles I have on my radar. You wouldn’t believe how full the Excel sheet has become.
Thanks to the digital events, I feel like a flood of games is rolling toward me. Since the analog events are canceled, one trailer after another is bombarding me.
Publishers are focusing more on many different titles to attract a large audience, rather than highlighting one or two highlights. Additionally, I get to see many more games during the various shows than I would see if I were following the coverage of a live event.
Moreover, the social pressure increases as soon as I don’t play a title right at launch. After just a few weeks, the hype of most games is gone, and when I want to discuss my experiences about a game as a latecomer, nobody cares anymore. As a result, I often feel compelled to play games right at release so I can discuss them with others.
Autumn will likely be my downfall
The major problem this year: I can’t get through the games in my Pile of Shame because autumn offers a massive number of titles that I want to play. The coming season starts with Starfield, a true RPG behemoth, for which I would probably need to take weeks off.
On another day in September, a whole FIVE (!) games are being released that I have my eye on as a farming sim fan. And I’ve already told you about Fae Farm.
Here are the games in question:
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Mineko’s Night Market
- My Time at Sandrock
- Paleo Pines
- Harvest Moon: The Wind of Anthos
Now planning begins, as it is impossible to buy all five games directly at release. Two factors play an important role in my choice: Which game am I most excited about right now? And: Which of the titles could land in a sale the fastest? Switch titles, for instance, are very price-stable, and there’s no point in postponing the purchase for too long.
Unfortunately, other titles are falling through the immense Pile of Shame. I promise myself every month to finally reactivate my account in Final Fantasy 14 and catch up on the content that was implemented after the Endwalker expansion. But I’m unwilling to pay the subscription when I have to “catch up” on other titles throughout the month.
I’m interested: What is your current situation? Are you in the same boat as I am? And which games are currently on your Pile of Shame?
