Gaming and reading plans

I find myself in a very interesting predicament where as my two favorite hobbies often compete for the same periods of free time. I have done very nicely without much planning involved so far until the Summer Game Challenge, and since that worked quite well, I thought it may be useful to write down a list! For now it’s just for October, but we’ll see if it sticks.

A while back I saw a fair amount of YouTube videos and advice on dealing with the backlog, and they kept mentioning how planning ahead takes a significant burden away, clearing up headspace to actually do the thing.

Videogames

October is quite the spooky month, or so I hear! So I wanted to pick a couple of games that would be fit for the occassion. I should beat all these by November 8, 2026. A part of me wants to already give up, but I would love to get to them and actually try.

Of course, I will probably find time to go through the Fire Emblem, Zelda, and Kirby games that I’m also picking away at during this year, though I don’t expect to finish either of them. Here’s the list I wish to get through:

Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye

Completion time: 15 hours.

The DLC for the masterpiece that is Outer Wilds seems to be pretty much a whole sequel inside the base game, and it is apparently quite the scary title! So I believe it will fit nicely for this.

I would ideally play this on my TV at home, but I’m afraid I’ll have to compromise with handheld mode as my parents watch shows during the evening once I’m back from work.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Completion time: 12 hours.

I was told that I should beat a Castlevania, with the vampires and all that, I guess it can only be a good idea! Since Aria of Sorrow I’ve been itching to try another one.

This one will definitely be played on my Anbernic RG35XX SP. I would also try to get some achievements with it, but I’m not completeling it 100%, I’ll try to get the best ending though which is somthing I didn’t do with Aria.

Resident Evil 3

Completion time: 8 hours.

It’s about time I complete the original PS1 trilogy! I don’t think I need to explain why a survival horror would fit for this time of the year.

Even though I could complete this one on the Anbernic as well, and it’s probably the better choice… something about giving it a go on the PSP sounds interesting, The previous title is on PS1 as well, so maybe it makes more sense than this one?

Books

There’s only one book that could be considered “spooky” here, I already have plenty of progress on it, as well as another one here. Given the upcoming movie, the third choice only makes sense, since it shouldn’t be very long either..

The Left Hand of Darkness

Author: Ursula K. Le Guin—Time left: 4 hours.
Progress: 64%

I had my doubts when I could barely understand what was going on and the strange prose used throughout this work, but halfway there I’m fully hooked, and I have a better understanding of everything. This story is wild and its worldbuilding is awesome as well. Good concepts and still halfway there.

I’m reading this one on morning and evening, it has my full focus and will be completed very soon.

The House on the Borderland

Author: William Hope Hodgson—Time left: 4 hours Progress: 53%

I have been really enjoying reading this work of horror beyond understanding and the like, but it takes a bit of time for me,because the atmosphere it feels like something to read late at night, and so far, that hasn’t happened much.

A trick I could use too is listening to the soundtrack of the Resident Evil games while reading it, it can manage to tense things up very well! and since it’s still atmospheric more than stressful, it doesn’t ruin the mood or pacing of the book itself.

Dune: Messiah

Author: Frank Herbert—Reading time: 6 hours.

I want to read this one because of the upcoming movie in December, I think this would be a pretty ideal time to get to it! I have heard some people claim it’s better than the first book, and some others hate on it and the rest of the sequels after the original. I’m sure it’ll be fine though!

My original review talking about the first book and two movies was some very fun and inspired writing, I like to think, so I wonder if the sequel will capture me like that.

Finishing thoughts

I had made a table defining the actual schedule of every single thing, but it ended up being a little bit much. Especially because my progression per day can be a little hard to predict. The books I read can end up beaten much faster, and the videogames can end up taking longer when I get lost or something.

I started The House in the Borderland, a much shorter book, many weeks ago, and I’m already further ahead on Left Hand of Darkness in a matter of days! I don’t understand myself sometimes.

In any case, having a list of stuff is very helpful already, and thirty days should be more than enough, especially if I stop being distracted by my phone and my computer.

There is a vacation trip coming up late in the month where I will also put a lot of focus on these things, if I end up behind schedule, but I hope it doesn’t come to that!

If you have any thoughts about the books or games I bring up here, you are more than welcome to tell me about it, and if you have plans to play or read some other stuff during this month, share it as well!

This is day 48 of #100DaysToOffload