Bloody Hell, It's 2026! What Gaming Feats Are We Actually Pulling Off This Year?
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Inspired by Eurogamer's 'Our New Year 2026 gaming resolutions', Jeff dives into the ambitious (and sometimes humorously familiar) gaming goals of industry folks, from genre-hopping and Linux conversions to marathon speedruns and finally finishing that massive RPG. He shares his trademark blend of gentle skepticism and authentic enthusiasm, wondering if these digital wizards will truly conquer their quests.
Right, so another year has spun up like a particularly chaotic loot drop, and suddenly we're staring down the barrel of 2026. You know that feeling, don't you? The one where all the tinsel and festive magic has vanished faster than a lagging party member, and you’re left with a clean slate – or, as our mates over at Eurogamer put it so brilliantly, it’s like a fresh run in a roguelike. Time to reset, rethink, and probably make a whole load of promises we’ll either smash out of the park or forget about by February.
This dive into the gaming zeitgeist, and the wonderfully ambitious (and sometimes wonderfully familiar) goals gamers are setting for themselves, was inspired by a recent feature over on Eurogamer. Penned by the ever-observant Robert Purchese, it’s titled 'Our New Year 2026 gaming resolutions - "I want to see how close I can get to 100 percenting the game in 24 hours"' and you can find their original piece for the full, unadulterated insights here. It’s a cracker of a read, and got me wondering about the grand plans we all cook up when the calendar flips.
Robert kicks off by admitting he's not usually one for resolutions, but the 'clean slate' allure is strong. And fair dinkum, who can blame him? Gaming is full of second chances and new starts. But what do actual, honest-to-goodness gamers, especially those working in the industry, want to achieve?
First up, we've got **Bertie**, who’s aiming to play a game in *every single genre*. Now, that’s a spicy meatball! Last year, he vowed to beat five Elden Ring bosses and, well, let's just say the Tarnished remain un-tarnished by his efforts. Relatable, mate, absolutely relatable. We’ve all been there – that initial burst of enthusiasm, then some shiny new thing catches your eye and suddenly you’re off on a tangent. But he did run a tabletop RPG, *Eat the Reich*, which sounds wonderfully bonkers. This year, though, it’s sports, racing, shooters, *gacha games*... woah, hold your horses, Bertie! Gacha? That’s a deep, dark rabbit hole, my friend. While I love the spirit of expanding one’s palate, let’s just say I’m watching that gacha resolution with a gently skeptical, yet morbidly curious, eye. Good luck getting your head around the gacha meta without emptying your wallet!
Then there’s **Will Judd**, attempting the mythical beast: properly moving to Linux for desktop gaming. Now, *this* is a tale as old as time, or at least as old as dial-up internet. The 'year of Linux on the desktop' has been a running gag in nerd circles for decades, but Will reckons 2026 is *the* year. And honestly, with Valve’s Proton compatibility layer and Steam OS making huge strides, he might just be onto something. It’s a classic story of an underdog rising, aided by some clever wizardry (or coding, in this case). Will's already got three Linux machines humming along, and he's fed up with Windows 11's telemetry and AI shenanigans. It's a noble quest, pushing for more control over your digital domain. I'm genuinely curious to see if he can escape the clutches of anti-cheat issues and become a bona fide Linux zealot. It’s about more than just playing games; it's about freedom and choice, isn't it?
**Tom**, bless his cotton socks, is facing the plight of many a modern gamer: actually finishing big games. As a games journalist, he's often playing for work, leaving scant hours for personal deep dives. He wants to conquer *Alan Wake 2* and *Star Wars Outlaws*. It's a noble ambition, battling the tyranny of the clock and the allure of 'snackable' experiences. So many epic narratives lie waiting, gathering digital dust in our backlogs. The thought of setting aside solid, uninterrupted chunks of time for a 20+ hour odyssey feels like a forgotten art. Here’s hoping Tom can finally see the credits roll on some of those true behemoths!
**Chris** has a resolution that hits me right in the feels: playing more games with friends. He admits he's in an 'opposite moment' to Tom, gravitating towards smaller, handheld single-player titles. But the isolation is creeping in. He even realised this was his resolution *last year*. Oh, Chris, mate, we've all been there – the best laid plans of gamers and men, eh? The magic of co-op, of shared victories (and glorious failures!), is a powerful force. It’s how many of us fell in love with gaming in the first place, wasn’t it? Here's to more *Dawn of War* sessions and less solitary wandering. The digital campfire is always better with mates around it.
Next, we have **Marie**, whose goal is delightfully specific: completing all the Lego games! Last year, she successfully returned to 'joyful games' like *Rollercoaster Tycoon* and *The Sims*. What a win! And now, with a new Lego Batman game on the horizon, her destiny is clear. There's something wonderfully pure about Lego games – the humor, the satisfying brick-breaking, the sheer amount of content. It’s a colossal undertaking, Marie, but a genuinely joyous one. May your bricks be ever studs-filled and your puzzles ever-solvable!
**Victoria** is tackling a truly modern dilemma: getting her money’s worth from subscription services. PS Plus Premium, Game Pass Ultimate – she’s got 'em both, but reckons she’s not using them enough. Sound familiar? It’s the paradox of choice, isn’t it? We sign up for these digital smorgasbords, promising ourselves we’ll devour every morsel, but often end up nibbling at the edges. Her resolution to either maximise her play or cancel them outright is a refreshingly pragmatic approach. It's a good reminder that not every 'deal' is a deal if you’re not engaging with it. Go forth, Victoria, and truly plunder those digital libraries, or set them free!
Then, we arrive at **Lottie**, who’s embarking on a quest of truly epic, slightly unhinged proportions: a 24-hour *Majora’s Mask* marathon, aiming for 100% completion. In *one day*. Starting at midnight! Now that, my friends, is what I call ambition! *Majora's Mask* is already a masterpiece of surreal, time-looping brilliance, but to tackle it in such a concentrated burst? That takes courage, skill, and probably several gallons of coffee. I can already picture the sleep-deprived struggle with the Goron Hide and Seek dungeon. It’s a testament to the enduring power of a truly beloved game and the lengths we’ll go to master our digital worlds. What could possibly go wrong? (Apart from, you know, the night terrors she used to get as a child.)
Finally, **Dom** is aiming to rekindle an old flame: becoming a speedrunner again. Back in the day, he was tearing through *Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped* with platinum relic routes memorised. Watching AGDQ (Awesome Games Done Quick, for the uninitiated) has re-lit that fire, and he’s eyeing up games like *Inside*, *Limbo*, *Pentiment*, or even *Citizen Sleeper*. Speedrunning is a fascinating subculture of mastery, a digital alchemy of precision and route optimisation. It’s not just about finishing a game; it's about *breaking* it, understanding its deepest mechanics, and bending them to your will. Here's hoping Dom's reflexes are still sharp enough for the platforming, or that he finds his new niche in a narrative-driven speedrun. The magic of a perfectly executed run is something truly special.
So there you have it, mate. A motley crew of gaming goals for 2026. From genre exploration to Linux liberation, from finishing blockbusters to marathon runs, it's clear that gamers are still pushing boundaries, seeking joy, and sometimes, just trying to finally play with their bloody friends. What about you? What wondrous (or wonderfully realistic) gaming resolutions are you cooking up for this year? Let me know, I’m genuinely curious. And remember, even if your resolution goes spectacularly off the rails, at least it makes for a good story, eh?
Tags: Gaming Resolutions, Gamer Goals, Industry Trends, Community Gaming, Speedrunning
Original article: Eurogamer