Quality video games are releasing at an incredible rate, making it impossible to keep up with all of them unless you make it your full-time job. Sadly that isn't a luxury most can afford, which is especially true given how expensive new releases have gotten. That's where patient gaming comes in.
Patient gaming is the idea that you don't have to play the newest releases, you can wait until you have time and ideally for them to drop in price too. You probably have a back catalogue longer than Slenderman's arms anyway, so why not try it out? Here are some of our top tips for patient gaming.
8 Ignore Trends
Be Your Own Gamer
The gaming industry is always chasing the next big thing, whether that's a game, console, or genre. That can lead to gamers chasing these same trends, wanting to try the latest thing or jump into a new experience with friends. That hype around a new release can often mean you buy a game you otherwise normally wouldn't be interested in.
Focus on the experiences you enjoy. Helldivers 2 for example is a great time, but if you normally play turned-based JRPG's then it's a big departure from what you like. Don't let yourself be swayed by marketing or peer pressure, you know yourself best.
7 Focus, Focus, Focus
And Don't Forget To Focus
Everyone has done it. You're fully invested in a playthrough, enjoying every story beat and game mechanic, having a grand old time. But then something new comes along, and you drop the game you had been invested in, possibly never to finish it.
Part of being a patient gamer is putting off your next game until you finish your current one. Not only will this help you move through games in your back catalogue at a better pace, but you'll also enjoy each game you play more fully by giving it your full attention.
6 Keep An Eye On Sales
We All Love A Bargain
Games are undeniably expensive, to say nothing of the machines they're played on. We all love a good sale, Steam certainly knows that, but a true patient gamer will buy games exclusively in sales, even if it means waiting extra long to play something they're excited for.
If you wait for the best sales, you can spend what a full-price game might cost and set yourself up with several other options instead. Not only will your wallet thank you, but it means you can plan your gaming calendar, reducing the temptation to look for something new and shiny.
5 Ignore The News
It's Usually Bad Anyway
Keeping up with fresh trailers and previews can be exciting, especially for a game you're excited for, but nothing will tempt you more to break your patient streak and buy a game on release. Try to shift your focus to the games you already have.
If you have enough discipline, you can still keep up with the latest news, like scouting for games you'll buy much later, but if you know you're easily swayed by the publishing media blitz, then you should enforce a media blackout on yourself.
4 Hype Older Games
Give Them The New Game Treatment
You can replicate the new game experience with older games, and it isn't even that difficult to do. When you know you're nearing the end of one game, start hyping up your next one. Check out reviews from around the time it was released and let yourself feel the same excitement you would for a brand new game.
Whether a game is freshly released or new just to you, it's ultimately the same. Even if you have to engineer the experience a little to get that same feeling, it's worth the small amount of effort it takes.
3 Mix It Up
Variety Is A Virtue
We all have our favourite type of game to play, but even our favourite thing can grow stale if we never move away from it. When you're planning your patient gaming chain of games, make sure to sprinkle some variety in there.
By making sure you play a mix of older games, you'll be less likely to grow bored and look for something newer. This is good advice for any kind of gamer, sticking to the same thing too long will only gradually kill the thrill for you.
2 Make Changes
Shuffle The Deck
It's satisfying to have a list of games lined up, a play order planned out so that you don't have to think about what your next game is. As good as that can be, don't be afraid to revisit that plan and change it. Sometimes you'll look at your next game and just not feel that spark of excitement.
If that happens, it doesn't mean the game is a lost cause, or that you need to throw your entire plan out the window. Just shuffle it around a little bit, and change the order so that you're playing something you're more interested in right now. You can always return to that other game later on.
1 Break The Rules
They're Made Up Anyway
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Patient gaming is a great approach — it can be money saving and keep you focused on the games you really want to play. But it's also fine to break that patient streak, sometimes a brand-new game is worth it.
Let yourself try something new once in a while. Don't be so unflexible that you miss out on experiences with friends that you would genuinely enjoy. It's also worth keeping in mind that if you don't support games on release, they're less likely to be considered popular enough to generate a sequel, so support your favourite franchises to keep them alive.
