Like most folks who play video games, I maintain a perennial backlog of games that I want to play…someday. In recent years, a growing portion of my backlog is becoming populated with games that I started but never finished. Sometime me and the game at hand didn’t click; other times, I dropped these titles in favor of the release of a game I had anticipated but with the intention of returning to them. (Yes, I know what they say about good intentions…) For my final Listmas list of 2025 (but, Happy 2026 today!), game from this latter grouping are my focus. These particular “false start” games have all popped back into mind primarily because of new and/or upcoming releases that have piqued my interest. Whether or not I actually play them remains to be seen, of course. But, when I’m looking to clear out my backlog in the near future, these are the games that are likely to be at the head of the pile.
Greedfall
I don’t know why I gave up on Greedfall when I started it a couple years back, because I don’t having any problems with it. Oh…wait, I do remember. I began it right around the time I was also trying out F2P games, and I got rightly sucked into the free trial of FFXIV. It was the announcement of Greedfall 2’s full release (it’s been in early access on Steam for a bit) that made me think I should really return to the original game. Yeah, it’d be a good one to complete.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Then again, Greedfall might have a knock-down, drag-out find with this title, especially since it has the same story. I popped into this game alongside that “trial” run of Greedfall, and then my grand foray into FFXIV happened. Again, there was nothing at all wrong with FFVII Remake other than the timing. As I’ve been all up in FFVI, getting back into this game now or soon makes a lot of sense. Or, at least it does on virtual paper…
Eternal Strands
I took at short jaunt into the action-adventure title Eternal Strands, a January 2025 release, while waiting for Avowed to drop. It proved quite captivating, and I really enjoyed its style and combat. But then, Avowed came along and that was that. Hindsight being 20/20, the switch probably wasn’t worth it, but I’m only human. Perhaps I can atone for my misstep by finishing the lovely little game that is Eternal Strands.
Hollow Knight
Of all the games here, me finishing Hollow Knight is wishful thinking at its best. These days, I don’t have the time or patience to sink into challenging platformers, and hoo boy, Hollow Knight is really up there as far as difficulty goes. I so love the look and characters of this game, and what I’ve seen of its award-winning sequel, Silksong, it’s hard to not want to become enthralled. Even though Hollow Knight remains at arms length for now, it’s never far from my thoughts.
Marvel’s Spider-Man
I have started and stopped Marvel’s Spider-Man so many times since it released in 2018, it’s almost a joke. Superhero fatigue has kept me away from it in recent years, but I should really just get on with it, right? I watched and liked a lot of its sequel featuring Miles Morales, so much so that I’d really like to play it (maybe more?), too. But, I’ve got to get over the hump with the first game. I know it has a great story, excellent controls, and fun combat, so the only thing stopping me is…me. [sigh]
Lede image captured by author during PS4 gameplay of Final Fantasy VII Remake (© Square Enix).
VIRTUAL BASTION 
These are some BIG games! Sometimes I stop playing something because I’m not ready for the scope of such a massive undertaking. So then I’ll choose a series of smaller games or revisit a few classics that feel more achievable.
I’m with you on Hollow Knight. I finished the generic ending but I know there is a lot more to explore. After being away from it for so long, I fear I’ll never have the capacity to get its true ending. It would take me a long time to relearn the world and all the games mechanics. Time to move on, I guess!
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Same! That sentiment – not feeling ready to tackle super-large games – is exactly why I quit three of the games here. And after quitting, I then purposefully seek out smaller games or revisit old favorites to regain a sense of accomplishment. This then often drives me back to a large game with renewed vigor!
It’s sometimes hard to see (or admit) when a ship has sailed with any particular game. And while regret might follow, it is always better to recognize the worth of one’s time. Does anyone want to spend a day of frustration that *might* result in rewards with a game like Hollow Knight, or is our precious free time better spent with a game that’s more immediately satisfying? These days, I go with the latter!
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Agree agree agree! Our time is precious. I think at the very least we’re in a unique position where we can write about our gaming experiences. So even if we play something terrible, we now have an outlet/hobby to share our thoughts about it. Buuuut I’d rather play something that I like and then also write about it, too!
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