Balatro taught me to be open to suggestions.

summarize

• It's hard for me not to take feedback personally. But it's something I need to fix.

• Balatro is great.

• I want to play more balatro.

As you'd expect from a site that primarily covers video games. TheGamer's workplace chat is full of gaming tips. As well as watching movies or listening to music, we have an entire Slack channel dedicated to books. Focusing on indie games for viewing and even the food we eat And for the most part, I ignore them.

Not because I'm indifferent But because that advice always scared me. After biting the bullet and discovering one of my games of the year months after everyone told me to play it. Now I'm re-evaluating whether I should be more open to suggestions in the new year.

Don't tell me what to do.

Yakuza is one of those series that I avoided for a long time because I felt like I was expected to play it.

I've always hated feedback. Importance is not important. It can be a life-changing decision to choose a degree or a job that I apply for. To a small decision like, 'Hey Joe, you should watch this YouTube video,' and every fiber of my being would rebel against it. For others Seems like a disgusting hipster trait to me. It feels like a struggle to maintain your independence and maintain the self-esteem you already have.

One day I might play Metaphor: ReFantazio.

The mental gymnastics I jumped through was ridiculous. If someone else has to advise me on something, They must do so. clearly Please judge me because I am a miserable failure and have no taste. So I refused and ignored it. Put off playing games or watching movies until everyone else is no longer interested. After 30 years, it's ingrained in who I am. To the point that I don't even remember when I fell into this hole. Until it's too late

There are so many shows and movies that I don't watch because I feel like other people expect me to. I admit, I haven't played the game or seen the movie to raise many eyebrows. While this is an important cultural touchstone for many, recently I've slowly come to realize that the only person missing out is me.

This is why I hate award ceremonies too. The idea of ​​a panel of experts judging what is best is abhorrent. Even though it shouldn't be like that.

No more being a clown.

It was Balatro who finally broke the camel's back. Throughout this year TheGamer's friends and colleagues raved about how nice and attractive it was. I love roguelikes and I love card games. So it should be a slam dunk for me. And I was supposed to be there showing off this game with everyone else.

But I don't, just like I ignore Marvel Snap and Pokemon TCG Pocket when they talk about all their work. I just ignore Balatro. It's not worth paying attention to because I Can't find it. I can't have a game that skips me. It's everyone else's fault. Bad game. Who cares?

This is a very unfair way to respond to opinions I value and respect. I shouldn't take their understanding personally against me.

It wasn't until the Lead Jade King feature talked about Balatro with others that I finally decided to give it a try. Being an outsider to the conversation takes the pressure off of trying to have a conversation. A week later I sunk more than 30 hours into it and called it my game of the year.

It's time to be more open.

Every run feels refreshing. With the combination of Joker cards and other modifiers changing what is. In the end The stylish Skinner boxes into one of the best roguelikes in years. Balatro is truly incredible. and my own strange rebellion against others influencing me almost completely missed me.

So my resolution for 2025 is to listen to feedback in good faith. I won't be shutting down our game recommendations this year. And I might even try out some of the games my friends threw out. I will remind myself that not knowing video games before everyone else is not a personal failure. And following instructions doesn't make me an idiot.

This was the gentlest, most risk-free way I could think of to address one of my biggest personality flaws. Getting rid of a 30-year habit of avoiding desires is difficult. Sometimes I may not like the game. But finding flaws to cover up my insecurities for not being an elite tastemaker shouldn't be how I approach media anymore. Heck, maybe I'll even watch TGA next year. And don't care about the prize at all.

Maybe that last one was a bit too ambitious. Let's start by asking a friend what they should play next.