I'm a video game completionist and I'm trying to quit that habit in 2025.

Throughout my life, my relationship with video games has undergone multiple transformations, but I have always adopted an approach focused on completion. During my childhood and youth, I would acquire only a couple of games each year, so each title had to offer me the maximum possible experience. I began to seek out secrets and complete challenges, which evolved into pursuing trophies and achievements, aiming for the coveted 100% completion. However, after reflecting on my recent experience with video games, especially in 2024, I have realized that this habit is negatively affecting my enjoyment of gaming. I do not intend to play less in 2025; rather, I want to free myself from the obligation to complete every game and allow my time with them to flow naturally.

The truth is that I didn’t intend to become a completionist; it was a necessity imposed by the limitations of my gaming options. Finding creative ways to enjoy my games was essential before I had an Xbox 360, but once I was introduced to achievements and later trophies on PlayStation, clear goals began to emerge that I wanted to pursue. While they provided me with satisfaction and recognition at the time, it gradually became an obsession to reach that 100% or obtain the Platinum Trophy, despite its lack of real significance. Nowadays, I regret the effort spent on that goal—not only because I can now easily acquire new titles—but because I have tarnished the memories of experiences I would prefer to keep intact.

An example of this diluted enjoyment occurred in 2024 with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, a game I had high expectations for. Although the main story and most of the side quests are well-crafted, the game feels saturated with secondary tasks that don't really contribute to the overall experience. Activities like climbing towers or engaging in combat challenges, while not inherently bad, ended up affecting how I perceived my adventure, making it feel lighter and less impactful.

I don't mean to say that these side missions completely ruined my love for video games, but at their best, these tasks merely occupy time and don’t fulfill the purpose for which I play. In contrast, a title I greatly enjoyed the previous year was Astro Bot, which didn’t feel stitched together with repetitive content. Each additional challenge was exciting and added something genuine to the main experience. In this case, my enjoyment increased with every item I managed to complete.

It is evident that not all games provide the same experience. I have come to the conclusion that I need to learn to leave a game at any moment, whether I have explored all of its content or just a small part of it. I can even allow a game to remain unfinished. Each title contributes to our experience in different ways, and they shouldn’t become a burden.

I recognize the fortune I have to be able to leave a game at any time and start a new one. This freedom has given me the opportunity to reflect and realize that I value the preservation of my authentic memories with a game more than simply filling time. So, even if I acquire only a couple of games each year, I commit to practicing moderation and allowing my experiences to be more genuine. This may involve completing everything in an Astro Bot or leaving it after the first phase. In the end, a digital trophy fades as quickly as the notification appears on my screen. On the other hand, I will always lament that my memories of Rebirth are overshadowed by repetitive activities and have distracted me from the emotional moments and meaningful themes that I truly wish to cherish. These are the moments I want to better protect in 2025.