Before you object, hear me out: Yes, I know January 1st is an arbitrary date to decide to adopt a new way of thinking or doing or being. Yes, I know some people are opposed to resolutions. But it’s a tradition, and it’s a tradition around here too, and since MMORPGs are supposed to be fun, there’s no real harm in failing to meet your resolution or goal. You can still set them or make a plan for what you’re aiming for.
So that’s what we’re doing this week for Massively Overthinking: I’ve asked our writers and readers to tell me their top goal or resolution relating specifically to MMORPGs in the coming year. What are you planning to make happen for yourself and the genre in 2026?
Brianna Royce (@nbrianna.bsky.social, blog): My goal is to play more selfishly, and I mean that! I tend to play for (or in alignment with) other people too much, either to suit my family or to make sure I have something novel to say on the podcast. In the end, I spend less time doing what I actually want to do in MMORPGs, which is counterproductive, so I’m going to work harder to avoid that in 2026. Will I succeed? Probably not.
Also, dangit, I really need to get back into Project Gorgon.
Carlo Lacsina (@UltraMudkipEX, YouTube, Twitch): The best way to achieve a resolution is to start preparing for it in November and then really put it into practice in January. For 2026, I really want to get Legendary Defender of Ascalon in Guild Wars 1 for my new Reforged character. I also want to finally complete the legendary cartographer title track. I’m literally sitting at 98% explored for all three regions, and I just need to do the texmod to find the spots I haven’t explored.
My most important resolution is to have fun with games. I need to be more mindful about the time I spend in my games, and more importantly, play only games that are fun. I spent too much time playing games I was just addicted to, but not necesarily having fun with.
Chris Neal (@wolfyseyes.bsky.social, blog): I contend that this is an extremely specific goal, but I’m hoping to have really fully gotten into the engineering side of Elite: Dangerous’ progression such that I’m rockin’ some kitted-out spaceships, space suits, and FPS weapons. Yes, I am effectively resolving to slot gems into gear, but considering the unlock and material grinds associated, I know it is very much a long-tail proposition.
Secondary to that, I’m hoping that I’ll have caught up with all of the story stuff in Guild Wars 2 and will have, at the very least, gotten unlocks enough that any alts I may have will have an easier time of things for the most part. We’ll see if I have the fortitude for that one. Odds aren’t good, I’m going to be real.
Colin Henry (@ChaosConstant.bsky.social): I’m hoping to get back into group content in GW2. I was doing strike missions pretty regularly a few years ago, as well as the occasional raid, but life happened the guild I was in kind of fizzled. I’m hoping the upcoming quick play group finder will help, but also to be more active with my new guild.
I am also on an eternal quest for a sci-fi MMO where I can make a second home. I made another try at getting into Destiny 2 again earlier this year, but it just didn’t click. I think I’m going to try to put some real time into Warframe in the coming year. I have high hopes that Stars Reach will fill that niche some day, but I don’t really expect it to be done this year. I would love to be wrong about that, though! It’s funny and a little sad how much of a chore it feels like to get into new MMOs these days, between the pull of the familiar growing ever stronger, and my pool of free time growing ever smaller, but I think it’s worth it to broaden my horizons.
Justin Olivetti (@Sypster, blog): I’ve been thinking about this a bit lately and don’t really have any good answers. Nothing super imminent and compelling is going to come out that I’m not already playing, so right now my plans are to keep trucking in World of Warcraft retail into Midnight and have a super amount of fun there, to roll up a Shaman in WoW Classic and have a super amount of fun there, and to finish the new Lord of the Rings Online expansion. Which boasts a super amount of fun.
MJ Guthrie (@MJ_Guthrie, blog): Looking at last year, I succeeded in half my goals — just like in 2024. I still think that’s a decent rate considering how life horns in on game time, but for 2026 I am going to go for a full clear!
My goals are simpler and centered around streaming and surviving: I’d like to add more streams to the calendar, restore Moria to its former glory (Lord of the Rings Return to Moria), and bring new life to a planet or two (Planet Crafter and expansion). And so help me, I am going to play my cat games this year! (I’m looking at you, Stray and Little Kitty, Big City.)
Sam Kash (@samkash@mastodon.social): Relating specifically to MMOs!? Really trying to stop me from telling you all about my plans for designing a new gaming app aren’t you! Well then, my first goal will be to make it to the endgame content in Ashes of Creation and Throne and Liberty. I really liked my brief stint in Throne, and I want to make it a real home this year.
Every week, join the Massively OP staff for Massively Overthinking column, a multi-writer roundtable in which we discuss the MMO industry topics du jour – and then invite you to join the fray in the comments. Overthinking it is literally the whole point. Your turn!