As a gaming journalist, it’s easy to get swept up in the whirlwind of new releases that seem to drop every other day. But if you’re the type who eagerly counts down the days to each launch, January presents the perfect opportunity to dive into your gaming backlog. Personally, I took full advantage of the Steam Winter Sale to snag a few of last year’s gems that I hadn’t yet explored—Satisfactory and Trash Goblin caught my eye, along with some older classics like Firewatch and Dave the Diver. Around the end of 2024, I grabbed Tiny Glade and finally embarked on my inaugural Baldur’s Gate 3 journey back in August.
Now that we’ve turned the calendar to 2025, it’s clear that these titles haven’t lost their charm. On the contrary, there’s something deeply rewarding about playing games that aren’t fresh off the press—it’s like joining a community of fans who have long cherished the brilliance of Firewatch. Much like picking up a revered novel, these games carry a timeless allure. So, if your own backlog is as daunting as mine, consider starting from the oldest entry and working your way forward, or dust off a game you’ve neglected for a while. There’s no harm in rekindling the excitement that once captivated you, whether it’s due to a game itself, a beloved genre, or a favored developer. Plus, who knows? You might just discover your game of the year for 2025 amidst these overlooked treasures.
