Our New Yr 2026 gaming resolutions – “I want to see how close I can get to 100 percenting the game in 24 hours”

January is the month that, the place I reside, within the south of England, everybody will get critical once more. All the paraphernalia of Christmas – all of the merriment and cheer and vibrant lighting – is cleared away in favour of sobering objectives for the 12 months forward. It’s by no means one thing that is appealed strongly to me, making objectives, however I do really feel the attract of wiping a slate clear and beginning once more. It’s like a run in a roguelike sport, I wish to suppose. Time for a brand new me.

With that spirit in thoughts, however with out being all LinkedIn about it, we will set some gaming objectives for 2026. You may keep in mind we did this in the beginning of 2025, so there is a horrifying document there yearly to remind us of what we in all probability did not obtain – or did we? This article is an opportunity to look again, replicate, then look forwards once more. And we would such as you to affix in and do the identical.

The query is straightforward: what would you want to attain, in a gaming sense, this 12 months? Perhaps you are feeling now’s the time to get into speedrunning, or perhaps you’ve got acquired an eye fixed on streaming, or maybe you are going to make a sport. Whatever it’s – even when it is merely clearing a backlog (which is something however easy) – inform us about it. Pitch in. Pipe up. Bonus factors will likely be awarded for outrageous ambition.

Play a sport in each style

Last 12 months I pledged to beat 5 bosses in Elden Ring. I saved the duty easy to keep away from overwhelm and failure, however I failed all the identical. I began enthusiastically however one thing caught my eye and I turned away and I forgot all about Elden Ring. Once I’ve turned I discover it arduous to return, particularly if I have not already gelled with a game-series’ quirky method of doing issues, which on this case I hadn’t. I wish to return, I wish to strive once more, however I’m not placing any strain on it.

One small gaming win from final 12 months: I did run a tabletop role-playing sport which I’ve been speaking about doing for years. I ran Eat the Reich, a wonderfully approachable and action-packed game by Rowan, Rook and Decard, which has a number of the most putting artwork I’ve ever seen in a TTRPG.

This 12 months I’m making an attempt one thing completely different. I wish to broaden my palette a bit extra and problem myself to play video games I would not usually. I normally find yourself having fun with no matter I play however I usually persuade myself I will not earlier than I start, that means I miss great stuff. So, sports activities video games, racing video games, shooters, gacha video games: this 12 months I’m going to style all of it. Promise.

-Bertie

Properly transfer to Linux

There’s a meme in laptop nerd circles that this 12 months is all the time “the year of Linux on the desktop”. After all, Linux is all the time bettering as an working system, it is free, and it already runs a lot of the servers on the planet, so certainly Linux goes to dethrone Windows and turn out to be the default alternative for desktop PCs too, proper?

When I first heard the phrase, it was the early 2000s, and I used to be ordering free Ubuntu Linux CDs – as a result of I used to be nonetheless on dial-up web and I could not afford a Windows license. I heard it much more at uni from 2007 to 2011 too, the place Linux is the de facto alternative for coding and even the sport we constructed ran on Linux (Descent meets the tunnels of The Matrix with three participant co-op, because you requested). Now, practically 20 years later (!!), it is with nice pleasure that I say to you that, for actual this time, 2026 goes to be the 12 months of (Will Judd utilizing) Linux on the desktop.

After all, it is by no means been simpler – Valve’s efforts with the Linux-based Steam OS and the Proton compatibility layer have meant that an enormous proportion of Steam video games run on Linux with no person configuration required, and that is like 99 % of what I wish to do with a pc. That’s true throughout a number of gadgets and flavours of Linux too, from handheld PCs (just like the Ayaneo 2S I’m working Bazzite on) to laptops (an previous Tuxedo InfinityBook 16 RTX 3060 laptop computer working Tuxedo OS) and full-fat desktop PCs (a small type issue AMD-based PC made to appear to be a delivery container that runs CachyOS). And with Windows 11 persevering with to load up on telemetry and AI options I do not need, Linux is wanting more and more engaging.

With three Linux machines simply accessible, my objective is to show to them first – and solely resort to gaming on Windows if I actually cannot keep away from it. I already know video games with anti-cheat do not work (although Valve needs to vary that), however will there be some other challenges? How will the discharge of the Steam Machine change issues? Can I turn out to be a bona fide Linux zealot? I intention to seek out out – and, if you happen to’re , I’ll take you alongside for the experience.

–Will

Play extra huge video games by way of to completion

“What do you mean you don’t finish games? Aren’t you a games journalist?” asks GitGud2004. Good query. Well, sure, I do end video games, however in latest instances these have virtually all the time been video games I’ve performed for work. It’s just a little unhappy to put it out like this, however for video games I wish to play simply because I fancy enjoying them I’ve about 3-4 hours per week, cut up over 4 days. The huge drawback with that is that I discover it actually arduous to correctly get into a brand new sport if I’ve to place it down after 40 minutes, so I’ve developed a nasty behavior. I’ve discovered myself both giving up and transferring on to one thing else or returning to an previous sport I do know I can simply play with none want for a dedication.

This should change in 2026. No longer will I be postpone by a playtime of 20+ hours. My gaming will not be dominated by quick-fire experiences I can end in per week. I’m sorry, Rematch, however I feel it is time I moved on (largely). Alan Wake 2, I’ll end you, lastly! Star Wars Outlaws, that is your 12 months (perhaps).

-Tom

Spend extra time enjoying video games with mates (no however actually this time)

I’m presently within the actual reverse second to the boom-bust cycle of “I can finish big games that I’m not reviewing” optimism to my colleague Tom, above. For so many causes proper now, I simply can’t do it. There will likely be a time sooner or later, however that point isn’t now.

Anyway, my answer to this has largely been enjoying smaller, extra snackable video games – both ones I can end in single-digit hours, just like the great Despelote, or ones I can play for some time in shorter chunks, just like the also-wonderful Sektori, and virtually all the time ones I can play on one thing handheld. The challenge is, great as they are surely, a whole lot of these video games are usually single-player. There’s nothing flawed with that by itself, however over time it may, I’ve discovered, construct as much as be just a little isolating. Over the vacations I performed some Dawn of War: Definitive Edition video games with previous mates and it was wonderful.

Which is smart really, as a result of – oops! – seems this was the precise decision I had final 12 months, which I’ve solely simply been reminded of now. Shows how effectively I stick to those…

Anyway, way back, enjoying the unique with those self same mates was how I went from liking video video games to changing into infatuated with them. Today – and that is hardly distinctive to me – it is how I meet up with folks I can not see in-person as a lot as I’d like. Last 12 months I nonetheless did not do sufficient of it. This 12 months, I promise, it’s going to be how I fall in love with video games once more.

-Chris

Complete the entire Lego video games

Last 12 months my decision was to return to extra video games that carry me pleasure, like Rollercoaster Tycoon and The Sims. For as soon as, I achieved my objective with out pondering too arduous about it! Can I do the identical this 12 months?

As my half-finished Game Boy Lego set judges me from my desk, and with a brand new Lego Batman sport popping out halfway by way of the 12 months, my decision is sort of actually staring me within the face. I’ve all the time loved Lego units and video games alike – I may say a lot about why however I’ll summarise it by saying their particular model of humour all the time tickles me.

My decision is to finish extra Lego video games, together with the brand new Lego Batman due out in May. I’ve already accomplished a number of video games over time, akin to Marvel Super Heroes and Indiana Jones, however there are numerous extra sitting on my Switch ready to be completed. The first one on my listing might very effectively be the Jurassic World I deserted a 12 months in the past…

-Marie

Get my cash’s value from subscription providers

OK, this 12 months, I’m going to really attempt to get my cash’s value from subscription providers. While this isn’t restricted to video games – I’ve a Now TV account I’ve hardly touched since The Last of Us Season Two wrapped up – my game-based subscriptions account for a piece of my outgoings and I do not suppose I’ve ever used them sufficient to actually really feel like they’re giving me a greater deal. I’ve each PS Plus Premium and Game Pass Ultimate. I in all probability use Game Pass greater than PS Plus, besides, I do not suppose I’m utilizing it sufficient. That is for each the variety of video games I play in addition to hours I play any explicit sport general.

But that adjustments this 12 months! This 12 months, these subscriptions will likely be value each penny. If not, I ought to actually take into consideration cancelling them…

-Victoria

Have a 24-hour Majora’s Mask marathon

Every 12 months I full a ritual of replaying Majora’s Mask. Not solely is it my favorite Zelda sport due to its supreme surreal and creepy vibes, nevertheless it’s my second favorite sport ever. (The first is Okami if you happen to’re .) This 12 months, nevertheless, I wish to do the normal replay just a little in another way. Rather than taking the cheap path and spreading it out over a few weeks, I wish to see how shut I can get to 100 percenting the sport in 24 hours.

We’re speaking beginning at midnight, ending at midnight. 1440 minutes – that is 86,400 seconds – of straight, continuous, Majora’s Mask. The sport which used to present me evening terrors each time I performed it as a baby! What may go flawed? (I will likely be taking bathroom breaks. I’m not an animal.)

It’s a becoming problem for a sport based mostly round a time loop and, contemplating what number of instances I’ve accomplished it, I actually suppose I’ve acquired a very good shot at doing it! Hopefully. The fundamental stumbling block I foresee is the Goron Hide and Seek Dungeon. I have not mastered it but…

-Lottie

Be a speedrunner once more

Once upon a time, I used to be a speedrunner. Thank you, ADHD. I like the Crash Bandicoot sequence, and one thing concerning the momentum and slickness of Crash 3: Warped, particularly, appealed a lot to my teenage mind that I mainly memorised the platinum relic routes in a matter of weeks. Fast-forward to my college days, and to my introduction to speedrunning, and I discovered my area of interest. Here it’s, the sport I needed to grasp. Over the course of a few months, I discovered the routes and began clearing the 105 % class in beneath 5 hours. That’s not that spectacular by right this moment’s leaderboard requirements, however I promise it was fairly lofty a objective again then!

Watching AGDQ this week has lit the hearth in me once more, and now I’m eager to edge again into the world of speedrunning with one thing else – perhaps one thing shorter. I feel my reflexes are too shot for a platformer like Crash, however I’ve been eyeing up Inside and Limbo as perhaps my subsequent problem. I may even go for one thing longer like Pentiment or Citizen Sleeper… Let’s see what my schedule seems like when the start-of-year melee settles down.

-Dom