Your backlog is not homework. Some games are worth finishing, some games are worth revisiting, and some games are perfectly fine being left unbeaten while you enjoy the parts that matter most to you.
Welcome back to The Gaming Backlog, our weekly look at some significant Nintendo news stories, the games worth playing this weekend, and the save files I am currently working through.
This week, I have been thinking a lot about the pressure we put on ourselves to beat games. Not just play them. Not merely enjoying games. Finishing them.
I do not think every game needs to be beaten to be meaningful. Sometimes, a game earns its place in your life because you keep returning to it, experimenting with it, wandering through it, or building your own goals inside of it.
That is important for busy players. When gaming time is limited, the question should not always be, “What can I complete this weekend?” Sometimes, the better question is, “What would I actually enjoy spending time with?”
The Player Perspective
What if your backlog is not actually a list of games you failed to finish, but a collection of worlds you are allowed to enjoy on your own terms?
I talk a lot about balance in The Gaming Backlog, specifically the challenge of balancing a busy lifestyle with a hobby that can demand a lot of attention. Some games are so large, or ask for so much time, that beating them can feel like a herculean task.
And you know what? Sometimes that is perfectly fine.
I am of the opinion that when you buy a game, you purchase the right to enjoy that game however you see fit, and enjoying a game does not inherently mean completing it.
In fact, I would go as far as to say that maybe some games are best left unbeaten.
Hear me out.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is one of my favorite games of all time. I have poured hours of enjoyable time into that world. I have started new save files countless times, explored different paths, and found myself returning to the game again and again. But I have never actually beaten the main story.
Skyrim is one of those huge games that feels endlessly enjoyable, and I do intend to beat it at some point. But for me, a lot of the joy comes from meandering through side stories, wandering into unexpected quests, and letting the game become whatever kind of adventure I want it to be that day.
And that is kind of the point.
Skyrim, for me, is one of those games I do not need to beat in order to feel satisfied. What games make you feel that way?
Another example for me is Pokémon. I know, that is a pretty stark difference from Skyrim, but hear me out. As a Pokémon fan, I have always enjoyed playing through the story, but I also enjoy creating additional rulesets that I follow as I progress through the games, like completing a Shiny Badge Quest.
That kind of challenge makes the game much longer, but it also changes the way I experience it. Suddenly, I am not just rushing toward the credits. I am spending more time with each route, each badge, each team member, and each little moment that would normally pass by much faster.
At the end of the day, you have the right to enjoy a game however you want to enjoy it. Whether that means speedrunning through the story, slowly exploring every corner, replaying the same opening hours again and again, or creating your own personal challenge, I am not here to judge.
I just think enjoying a game is more important than completing a game, and there is no shame in not finishing something you are still genuinely enjoying.
Slow Down the Nintendo News Cycle
The Input Lag Weekly is for readers who want more than headlines. Each week, we unpack the Nintendo stories worth thinking about, playing, and discussing.
The Save File
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle just released earlier this week on Nintendo Switch 2, and it feels like one of those games that could really test the system.
So far, reviews seem to be positive on both the game itself and its performance, but I have not had the chance to get my hands on it and truly test it for myself yet. I love the Indiana Jones movies, and a game of this scale feels like the kind of release that could shake things up on Switch 2.
In other words, I cannot wait to whip up a new save file for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
I have made some progress in my Pokémon Shiny Badge Quest, and I am still working my way through it.
After finding Rudania, our shiny Charmander in Pokémon LeafGreen, I finished EV training and battled Brock. I say “battled,” but that makes it sound like the fight was anything other than completely one-sided.
Now, I am locked in on Route 3, hoping to find a shiny Nidoran or shiny Jigglypuff before challenging Misty in Cerulean City. I am definitely in the grind section of the Shiny Badge Quest now, sitting at just over 4,000 encounters into the next phase.
Keep those fingers crossed for me that I avoid a shiny Spearow.
This Week's Nintendo Checkpoint
Nintendo is reevaluating the price of some of its products due to global market conditions and business impacts, including the Nintendo Switch 2 system.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to see price increases globally throughout the year, with the earliest increase beginning at the end of the month in Japan.
While not all the details have been released yet, this decision could make the system more difficult for some consumers to purchase. It may also push some players to buy the console sooner rather than later, especially if they were already considering picking one up.
At this point, there is officially a price tag for waiting too long to buy a Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo announced a new bundle that will begin rolling out in early June. Participating retailers will offer the Nintendo Switch 2: Choose Your Game Bundle for the suggested retail price of $499.99.
The bundle includes a Nintendo Switch 2 system and a download code that can be redeemed for one select Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive game. Players will be able to choose between Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Pokémon Pokopia.
For players who have not purchased a Nintendo Switch 2 yet, this bundle could make a meaningful difference. Instead of being locked into one pack-in game, this gives players a little more flexibility while still offering a better value than buying the system and game separately.
That is significant because the Switch 2 is already a major purchase, and giving players the ability to choose the game that fits them best makes the entry point feel a little more approachable.
Weekend Picks
I have a few suggestions for games you could play this weekend. Since May the Fourth earlier this month, I have had Star Wars on my mind, and Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection feels like an easy recommendation if you are short on time.
At its core, Battlefront is a classic Star Wars shooter built around simple, satisfying objective-based matches. I spent hours playing this game with my brother growing up, and it is still a great game to pick up if you only have a few minutes.
Sometimes, you do not need a massive weekend project. Sometimes, you just need to jump into a quick match, capture a command post, and enjoy being dropped into the middle of a Star Wars battle.
If you have a little more time this weekend, allow me to suggest The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening on Nintendo Switch.
This charming little adventure packs in a lot of exploration, challenge, and mystery, and it is a wonderful fit for players who want something meaningful without committing to a massive open-world game. It has that classic Zelda rhythm where every dungeon, item, and discovery feels like it matters.
And if you want to add a little extra pressure, I challenge you to try completing the story without getting a single game over screen so you can unlock the game’s secret ending.
Where do I even begin with Donkey Kong Bananza?
This game is massive, satisfying, and incredibly enjoyable. However, Donkey Kong Bananza was also one of those games for me where I beat the main story, set it down for a long time, and still knew there was plenty waiting for me whenever I decided to come back.
There is a lot to explore outside of the main path, including tracking down every Banana and making steady progress toward completion. Maybe this weekend is a good time to monkey around, dive back into Donkey Kong Bananza, and enjoy a little bit of small but satisfying progress.
Before You Log Off
So, what games are you planning on enjoying this weekend? Whether you finish something, revisit an old favorite, or simply make a little progress, remember this: the end credits are not the only proof that a game was worth your time. Have a great weekend, and enjoy the games that fit your life right now.
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About the Author
Scott (Scotty) Greenhalgh is the founder and owner of Input Lag, an independent Nintendo-focused publication. Scotty brings a player-first perspective informed by years of hands-on experience with Nintendo games to his reviews, rankings, and editorial coverage. His writing focuses on how games feel to play, their long-term value, and the impact Nintendo’s creative and business decisions have on players.
Outside of Input Lag, he also creates Pokémon-focused content online under the name Gr3atScotty.
