One of my personal goals going into 2023, was to play more games. As I noted in the State of Paper Dice Games article earlier this year, I was burned out at the end of 2022. So, to keep balance with the minimal “me-time” in my life, I dedicated more time to playing, and less to designing and running this hobby business.
And wow, did I play games! I have some quick numbers here which aren’t final (because 2023 isn’t quite over), but share a good snapshot of what I’ve been able to sit down and play over the last 12 months.
Total Tabletop RPG Sessions: 30 (2022 was 22)
I had some incredible Tabletop RPG campaigns this year! Highlights include finishing the wonderful Lost City campaign I started in 2022 – and rolling this campaign into a high level Spelljammer campaign. This Spelljammer campaign will continue into 2024, and I think we’ll find a natural resolution point sometime before the summer of 2024.
I also played a super fun Monsterhearts campaign which we finished early in 2023. Me and the group (who refer to themselves as the Dungeons and Divas) picked up Monster of the Week this fall, and are running a “sister-campaign” to what we finished with the Monsterhearts system.
I also played a little bit of My Little Pony with my kids. This was great fun, but we didn’t end up playing as much as I wanted us to. They were a bit scared by the campaign (great imaginations they have!), and when school started up our schedules got a lot busier.
Solo RPG Sessions: 2 (2022 was 7)
I didn’t play a lot of solo RPG sessions this year. This is something I am not sure I’ll be able to “fix” for next year. The reason is simple – at the end of the day, if I have time, I’ve been getting back into video games. At the end of a long day, it’s a bit easier to play video games than solo RPGs, and so I’m not sure where I’ll land with this next year.
I did get to continue my Pendragon campaign in 2023, and played (playtested) a West Marches campaign idea.
Board Games Played: 98 (2022 was 154)
I’ve played significantly less board games so far this year when compared to last year. I can explain why with three reasons – first, I’ve been playing more video games (see below). Second, I usually play quite a few boardgames over the winter holidays. And finally, I’ve played less of The Crew: Quest for Planet Nine compared to last year (20% of my board game plays were from the Crew in 2022).
I do have a monthly game group that I play with, where each month we get together and play. Spirit Island is currently our favorite. We’ve also played Lords of Waterdeep, as well as Terraforming Mars. Spirit Island is great though, and easily a top 5 game for me at the moment.
One notable exclusion this year was Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective. My wife and I, and another couple, usually get together to play this game a few times a year. This year, for whatever reason, it just didn’t happen. Both of us have kids, and bedtimes have become a bit less reliable over the last year, so that could be it. It’s something I would like to play again next year though.
Total Video Games Played: 20 (2022 was 8)
The biggest addition of gaming for me this year was video games. Part of the reason I explained above – I’ve found it easier to play video games at the end of the day when compared to tabletop gaming. The other reason, is I got a new gaming PC!
I have had some really fun gaming experiences this year through digital medium, but I want to highlight two. The first is Return of the Obra Dinn. This remains the best digital gaming experience I’ve ever had. The game does have a few minor flaws, but it’s an incredibly well designed mystery game that’s best experienced without any spoilers. I highly suggest you check it out!
The other gaming experience I’ve been completely obsessed with is Baldur’s Gate 3. All the game awards Baldur’s Gate 3 has been nominated for and won are well worth it. This game feels like playing 5th edition dungeons and dragons. It has both an incredibly complex and branching storyline, and the tactical combat has been amazing. But the thing that blows me away most is how many interactions there are between your character’s abilities, items, and the environment. More often than not, things just seem to work. If you have a goofy or zany idea (which so often occurs when playing D&D), it is feasible in Baldur’s Gate 3.
I’m having so much fun that I’m releasing my personal audio notes through my email list, which you can subscribe to here. If you want to listen to 10 episodes (4-5 hours) of audio notes that chronicle the adventures of my character Torna Egeas, last of the pagan bards, I highly suggest subscribing! Be warned – lots of spoilers!
Games to Play in 2024
Wrapping up my gaming history each year is always fun. It helps outline the experiences I have, and experiences I lack. It also helps me find out what I want to do more of next year.
In 2024 I will continue playing more digital games. I am very interested in exploring older games, and what made them fun. It’s incredible seeing the design behind older titles that have less technically to work with when compared to the game design engines that exist today. I’m also finding that a few game design ideas I have work better delivered through a digital medium, and I want to further explore that.
I also want to increase the amount of games I play with my family, and more specifically, my kids. They are old enough now where we can start enjoying some games that require decision making. I’m hoping to build fun family traditions and memories through gaming.
Finally, if I increase the amount of time I want to spend playing certain types of games, I’ll likely have to decrease the amount of time I spend playing other games. Right now, it looks like next year will be another slow year for solo RPGs – but we’ll see!
I’d be curious to hear what types of games you’ve enjoyed in 2023! Share in the comments below, or anywhere else you interact with my content or games!
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