We at the moment are previous the midway level by the yr. So right here, a few weeks into the second half, and already into the summer time doldrums, I believed I’d trot out the standard put up about how 2026 has gone for me to date on the gaming entrance. It has grow to be a part of my put up Steam Summer time Sale routine for the previous few years.
Welcome to 2026
Meaning it’s time to get out my spreadsheet and see what the totals are as much as the midway level of the yr. And it does seem like I’ve performed just a few issues in 2026.
- EVE On-line – 30.30%
- World of Warcraft – 12.97%
- No Man’s Sky – 11.71%
- Challenge: Gorgon – 7.61%
- Valheim – 7.44%
- Guild Wars – 6.94%
- Stardew Valley – 6.64%
- Forza Horizon – 5.20%
- Windrose – 3.43%
- Pokemon LeafGreen – 2.81%
- Civilization II – 2.51%
- Blue Prince – 1.14%
- Stars Attain – 0.34%
- Outbound – 0.31%
- NetHack – 0.27%
- Monsters & Recollections – 0.26%
- LOTRO – 0.07%
- WoW Traditional – 0.04%
That’s out of about 550 hours to whole time performed in the event you’re eager to do the calculations, and I’m forward of the curve in whole titles performed, a minimum of relative to previous mid-year check-ins. The title rely for previous years at this level was:
I didn’t do a put up in 2020, but it surely was a busy time with the group nonetheless doing sturdy in WoW Traditional and World Struggle Been opening up in EVE On-line with the primary of my 59 weekly abstract posts. I had heaps to put up about throughout Covid it appears.
Anyway, for 2026 I’m on the 18 title mark, which isn’t the best rely, but additionally isn’t far off the mark for that focus on.
Now, in fact, you would possibly think about the brink for what counts as truly “enjoying” a title. You possibly can make a robust argument that something previous the twelfth slot, Blue Prince, most likely shouldn’t rely… although I’m going to say that if I received a weblog put up out of my play time then it counts.
With that metric we will knock LOTRO and WoW Traditional off the listing, however every thing else is fairly stable.
I often zero in on the highest 5 as a key indicator of how the yr goes, however that isn’t flying so nicely for 2026. Challenge: Gorgon, Valheim, and Guild Wars I’ve just about stopped enjoying for now, and even World of Warcraft and EVE On-line are in a little bit of a hunch. CCP working the very same cookie-cutter occasion for the third time in 5 months just isn’t getting me to log in, so absent a battle in null sec I’m not placing a lot time into New Eden proper now.
In the meantime Stardew Valley, Forza Horizon 6, and Windrose are all nonetheless gaining time on my spreadsheet.
Trying ahead into the again half of the yr, it additionally appears doubtless I’ll be again into No Man’s Sky for no matter they’ve deliberate for the tenth anniversary occasion. Potshot and I nonetheless have far to go in Windrose.
I additionally count on to log a minimum of a bit extra time in retail WoW, if solely to get my essential to stage cap. Since I’ve not often had a lot curiosity in finish recreation stuff… I feel Wrath of the Lich King and Mists of Pandaria have been my major exceptions on that entrance, attending to stage cap will likely be sufficient for me in Midnight. My subscription there ends in September, so I’ve a little bit of time on that entrance.
Then there may be EVE On-line, which I preserve enjoying even when I’m not enjoying, if that makes any sense. I’ve a minimal threshold of exercise every month… I get on my one strategic fleet each month and get on a minimum of a few kill mails to show I’m alive… in addition to preserving my PI farms going. Although I’ve even been letting these fall fallow of late on account of low motivation. A few of that is that CCP/Fenris has been targeted on their shooter whereas additionally again on the path to punish null sec for… current I suppose. That hasn’t been motivating me in any respect. It’s beginning to make me really feel like enjoying a recreation for 20 years is likely to be sufficient.
In fact, I write that after which I get away Civilization II for a night. Can’t cease, received’t cease.
Even Forza, my gentle, low dedication, distraction title, has been slipping. I’ve one other wrist band to earn and yet another mascot to crash into, however the map out there to me appears fairly completely explored 30 hours into the sport.
I’m in a little bit of the summer time doldrums actually. Having hate performed by the final No Man’s Sky expedition… that sounds unhealthy, but it surely does invoke some ardour in me to do this form of factor… I actually don’t have something driving me on the sport entrance, nothing that’s preserving me up too late on every week night time as a result of I simply must preserve going. I’m typically a aim oriented participant and I’ve no actual objectives at the moment.
I really feel like I need one thing new to dig into… however I’m additionally a bit drained and never feeling like I can decide to one thing new.
Satirically, whereas I’m feeling like that I’ve a plethora of posts sitting in drafts. I’m not enjoying a lot however I’ve tons to jot down about.
Anyway, the world retains on turning, tomorrow is one other day, and I’m certain that subsequent factor will arrive finally.
