A Month Out From Christmas: Are You Still Playing Your Holiday Games?

Sorry for the long break in the gaming BLOG space: will be trying to hit here more often as we try and push towards getting the GAMING things going again. I still think this is a valuable thing for gamers and families, so we don’t want to walk away from it.
There’s a strange moment that hits about a month after Christmas. The decorations are down, routines are back, and the gaming backlog you were so excited about suddenly feels different. The question quietly creeps in: are you still working through the games you unwrapped… or have you already moved on?

Holiday gaming always carries a certain optimism. Time off, new releases, gift cards burning holes in digital wallets. We tell ourselves this is when we’ll finally finish something. But a few weeks later, reality sets in. Some games stick. Others fade into that ever-growing “I’ll get back to it” list.

Right now, my own rotation reflects that shift. I’ve been spending time in ARC Raiders, dipping into its tense, methodical rhythm. It’s a very different headspace than the sports grind, which is probably why I’ve taken a break from Madden and College Football for the moment. Sometimes stepping away from something familiar helps you appreciate it more when you return.

At the same time, I’ve been leaning into puzzle games. Lumines: Arise is a return to something that I wasn’t aware I was really missing. Most puzzle games don’t demand marathon sessions or emotional investment. They ask you to slow down, think, and solve. And of course, some traditions never really stop. The daily Mario Kart Grand Prix is still rolling along, a familiar ritual that fits no matter what else I’m playing. With the new WWE game being announced, it feels like it’s time to walk away from WWE 2k25 already… it won’t be a multi-system buy for me this coming edition I don’t think.

That’s the interesting thing about post-holiday gaming. It becomes less about hype and more about honesty. What actually fits your life right now? What do you want to play when no one’s watching and no calendar is wide open?

A month out from Christmas, gaming settles into its truest form. Not a checklist. Not a backlog. Just play, shaped by mood, time, and curiosity. And honestly, that’s when it feels best.