Summary
- Rushing through games can lead to burnout, missing crucial upgrades. Enjoy and savor games slowly.
- Story-rich games like Persona 5 require a slow pace due to exhausting gameplay mechanics.
- Take time to explore the vast worlds of games like Red Dead Redemption 2, finding hidden gems.
When a new game comes out, especially a story-heavy one, a lot of players will try to plow through it as fast as possible. They want to discuss it with friends, read articles, and avoid spoilers, most importantly. While it’s perfectly fine and fun to binge through a great game, it can also create a bad memory for players.
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Playing any game too much can cause burnout, and then maybe they won’t want to finish the game at all. To avoid exhaustion and to drink every ounce from these games, it’s best to play them at a slow pace. Overall, the goal is for everyone to enjoy themselves.
8 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
It’s A Long Road
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Released
- June 26, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach starts Sam in Mexico before advancing to Australia. Like the first game, Sam is given cargo to transport between bunkered societies, and delivering to story locations will link them into the Chiral Network.
Rushing through the game to get to the high antics of director Hideo Kojima is fine, but doing so will leave players out on getting important upgrades from side deliveries. Players shouldn’t get the game for the story alone, and instead make Sam into the best courier he can be in the post-apocalypse.
7 Donkey Kong Bananza
Smash Hard, Play Softly
Donkey Kong Bananza
- Released
- July 17, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch 2
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Donkey Kong Bananza is not that long of a game, even with collectibles, all things considered. The desire to smash through it as quickly as possible is there, but it’s best when the story is put on hold in favor of exploration.
Destroy the earth, look for resources, and look cool while doing it. Smashing has never felt so relaxing in a game before. Donkey Kong Bananza may be the last great Switch 2 exclusive players are going to get this year, so they should certainly savor it.
6 Indiana Jones And The Great Circle
Chase Knowledge, Not Rewards
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Released
- December 9, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- MachineGames
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a miracle of a licensed game, as most turn out to be bad, especially ones based on Indiana Jones. Now PlayStation and Xbox fans can enjoy it together, and those who have missed it so far should know a few things. It’s not quite an open-world game, but some places open up beyond linear quests.
If players choose to explore these areas thoroughly, they will be rewarded with engaging quests. The quest rewards aren’t as cool as the interactions, and that should say something for fans of this adventure-filled film series.
5 Persona 5
Can’t Rush Through Your Education
Persona 5
- Released
- September 15, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Persona 5 and its two predecessors can be some of the most exhausting RPGs possible. That’s because the game followed a linear day-by-day structure from going to school and answering questions to getting some free time in the afternoon to build key relationships. It’s a school simulator as much as it is a classic turn-based RPG with dungeons.
On average, it can easily take around eighty hours to finish, and that’s with doing a good amount of optional content. It is possible to binge it, but like school, players should take it easy to avoid stressing out for hours too much.
4 Pokemon Scarlet/Violet
It’s Finally Ready To Be Played
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
- Released
- November 18, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
When Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet were released for the Switch in 2022, there was a lot of backlash. It didn’t run the best on the system, prompting many to either put it down, ask for a refund, or simply wait for it. Either way, Nintendo finally answered fan prayers as an update dropped for the Switch 2, making both games look and run smoother than ever before.
So, before Pokemon Legends: Z-A launches in October, Switch 2 players should commit themselves to hunting and capturing every Pokemon in these games. Take it nice and slow and actually try to achieve the goal of Pokemon Master for once.
3 Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns
Daily Challenge Accepted
Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns
- Released
- September 19, 2019
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch
There was an affordable and addictive game that was released for systems like the DS and PSP in 2007 called Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords. Modern players can now experience it thanks to the remaster, Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns, but the original still rips, too. Players can choose to be several typical RPG classes, like a mage, which will give them skills in this match-three puzzle game.
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An RPG puzzle game may not sound interesting, but it’s the perfect brain buster to start and end a day with. That’s why Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns, or the original, is a good one to put on a portable device like a Steam Deck or Switch 2 to play over time.
2 Red Dead Redemption 2
Live Your Best Cowboy Life
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Red Dead Redemption 2 has a huge open world, but with seemingly not a lot in it. That’s where players are wrong, as Rockstar did an expert job hiding things from rare animals to murder trails. The open plains of the Old West have more secrets than the CIA.
Players should also remember that the game can be played like a life sim if they want to live out their days as a cowboy with old Arthur Morgan. However players engage with it, this is the gaming equivalent of whisky, which needs to be sipped and not gulped down.
1 Rogue Legacy 2
Build Your Family Castle
Rogue Legacy 2
- Released
- April 28, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Cellar Door Games
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Metroidvania
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Rogue Legacy 2 is the perfect roguelike for hardcore fans and newbies because of the reward system. When players die, they will return to the castle with money, which can be used to upgrade it. This can unlock classes, raise stats like HP, and so much more.
It’s such an obtainable reward system that players can 100% if they take their time. It may seem like a grind, but that’s why Rogue Legacy 2 is another great example of a portable compadre just waiting to be played on and off daily.
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