Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
The Outer Worlds 2 screenshot showing companion Aza standing before a moon that hangs in the sky. GamesRadar+'s Best of 2025 logo sits in the top right-hand corner of the image
RPGs Obsidian hopes to stand alongside CD Projekt and Larian by making "best-in-class" reactive RPGs, says The Outer Worlds 2 director: "I don't know if we're there yet, but I'd love to get there"
GamesRadar+ Best Games of 2025 hero image
Games The 25 Best Games of 2025
Ghost of Yotei gameplay showing Atsu sitting on her horse between bright pink cherry blossoms, looking at a distant fortification built against a mountain
Open World Games Best open world games to play right now and completely forget real life exists
Avowed
RPGs "RPGs can be divisive": Obsidian chats all things Avowed – how it overcame the Skyrim comparisons, why there's no Baldur's Gate 3-style romance, and what's next for the 2025 gem
Final Fantasy 14 Dawntrail launch trailer screenshot showing the Warrior of Light, a man with tied-back brown hair and a sword, standing against a blue backdrop with clouds
MMO Games Final Fantasy 14's Yoshi-P says it's "time to go back to school" as the MMO builds to its next expansion and turns away from the "summer vacation" that was its mixed Dawntrail expansion
Best PC games: Screenshots of Baldur's Gate 3, Helldivers 2, Split Fiction and the Resident Evil 4 Remake
PC Gaming Best PC games: The 25 greatest PC games to play right now
Upcoming Xbox Series X games header image featuring State of Decay 3, Fable 4, The Outer Worlds 2, and South of Midnight
FPS Games Upcoming Xbox Series X games for 2025 and beyond
Best of 2025 Year in Review hub image with games, movies, TV, comics, and hardware represented
Games Year in Review: The Best of 2025
Arc Raiders blueprints
Third Person Shooters The ultimate Arc Raiders guide and survival handbook
Red Dead Redemption 2
Adventure Games 25 best adventure games to get swept up in right now
Upcoming PC games 2025 header imagine featuring InZoi / Split Fiction / Elden Ring: Nightreign / Dune: Awakening
PC Gaming Upcoming PC games: New PC games for 2025 and beyond
Steam Deck review
Games I'm too broke to buy Donkey Kong Bananza, so if you're sharing my FOMO here are the best Steam Deck games I'm playing instead
Baby Steps protagonist Nate in a gray onesie
Open World Games For the creators of Baby Steps, one of 2025's best and weirdest games, there's no room or reason to surrender creativity to AI: "The player is in communion with a human designer"
Arc Raiders
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders roadmap confirms new map Stella Montis, expanded quests, 2 new Arcs to fight in November, and a new Raider Deck battle pass for December
Toem 2 screnshot showing the photographer climbing up little hillsides with goats roaming
Games Upcoming indie games for 2025 and beyond
Trending
  • Best Games of 2025
  • Fallout Season 2
  • Gift Guides
  • New Games for 2025
  • The Forge codes
  1. Games
  2. Action

Let's talk: What are your summer gaming goals?

Features
By GamesRadar Staff published 3 July 2013

Let's go to the beach, beach

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Summertime, when the livin's easy

Summertime, when the livin's easy

Summer means different things to different people. For children it's an excuse to play outside in the bright sun. For teens it's an excuse to lock yourself inside and play video games. For adults it's... well, it's still an excuse to lock yourself inside and play video games. Hey guys, video games!

What it means for the gaming industry, though, is a drought--a deep breath before the scream that is the holiday lineup. It's your last chance to play what you want guilt-free, instead of what you should because you don't want stuff spoiled for you. How are you going to spend it? Here are our summer gaming goals.

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Lucas Sullivan will play his 3DS or die

Lucas Sullivan will play his 3DS or die

As the recent--and quite proud--owner of a Nintendo 3DS XL, I feel as though I've been ushered into a new age of handheld gaming. Oh sure, I bought a DS Lite back in the day--but I only really played it when I was suffering from soul-crushing boredom in the Irish countryside (true story). But I made a classic blunder when buying a new console: buying more games than I could ever have time for. Triple-A backlog be darned--I need to get my money's worth from games like Etrian Odyssey IV, Fire Emblem: Awakening, Final Fantasy IV, 999, and Tales of the Abyss. Not like I could finish all those in a year of free time, let alone four months.

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Ryan Taljonick wants to finally play through Dragon's Dogma

Ryan Taljonick wants to finally play through Dragon's Dogma

I have two summer goals when it comes to video games: First, I'm gonna go pro in League of Legends (belee dat). Second, I want to finally get around to playing Dragon's Dogma. It's been on my to-do list since it came out, but jumping into a 50-plus hour game is a daunting proposition. Lately I've been hankering for a meaty RPG, and I think the mix of action combat and deep RPG elements the game has to offer is exactly what I need. That, and a nice, cold beer.

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Henry will work on his backlog (if he can ignore Animal Crossing)

Henry will work on his backlog (if he can ignore Animal Crossing)

If I'm not careful I'll likely spend the majority of my summer gaming hours with Animal Crossing: New Leaf. If I can manage to avoid that, then it's time to chip away at my backlog, only my current backlog is of 2013 games. Early on in 2013 I decided that this year I'd do my best to stay current with this year's games, and outside of recording my RadarPlays Retro videos, I've pretty much stuck with playing the high profile titles of 2013. Hopefully by summer's end I'll have completed Injustice, Deadpool, Metro, Project X Zone, Remember Me, and Dead Space 3. Or I could just go fishing in Animal Crossing. I mean, sharks are going for a premium today...

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Sophia Tong wants to learn how to play MOBAs

Sophia Tong wants to learn how to play MOBAs

Seasons all kind of blend together for me, but if there is a summer lull, I want to take the time to learn how to play a MOBA. When Starcraft II came out, I wanted to hone my RTS skills and well, I can beat the computer on hard, but against a human is a totally different story. I only recently got the urge to play after having messed around with Infinite Crisis at a pre-E3 event. I've dabbled in League of Legends but theres something about playing a licensed game where you actually kind of know what youre getting into. Thats why I love Battle of Middle Earth II so much--the units were pretty obvious. I highly doubt Ill stick to this plan though. Ill most likely be playing Animal Crossing all summer.

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Dave Muoio will be abandoning his 360

Dave Muoio will be abandoning his 360

The new generation's on the way, but I feel like I've only experienced half of the old one. My 360's chugging along with plenty of first-party titles and is still the best place to meet my friends online, there's no denying that. Regardless, Sony's been calling my name every since I abandoned my PS2, and it's finally time to pay them a visit. Spending the summer living with friends means that I now have access to not just one, but TWO PS3s. I've already hit up Journey, survived The Last of Us, and thwarted the Origami Killer. I could dive into Uncharted or try Killzone. Maybe I'll check out God of War. Is Resistance worth my time, or am I better off hitting the indie scene?

The possibilities are endless.

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Lorenzo Veloria will be getting more in tune with the Force

Lorenzo Veloria will be getting more in tune with the Force

The long lull of gaming releases gives me some time to get caught up on all of the gems that I (so far) haven't had time for, like The Last of Us and Metro: Last Light. Though I have had the hankering to go back and play some Star Wars games, simply because the Star Wars: Battlefront announcement at E3 got me super hyped. Therefore, I'm looking into repurchasing Battlefront 2, and downloading Call of Duty 4 on Steam so I can mod it out with Call of Duty: Galactic Warfare. If you don't know what Galactic Warfare is, think Call of Duty with laser guns set in maps modeled after environments like Mos Eisley and Bespin. Summer is going to be glorious!

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Tom Magrino is going to keep playing League of Legends

Tom Magrino is going to keep playing League of Legends

So I've, erm, been a little preoccupied with League of Legends for the past couple of months. That, in turn, has led me to fall so far behind with this year's releases that nothing short of throwing space-time into stasis is going to get me back on track. From here, I have one of two options: a) I can continue to feed my LOL addiction, and in so doing hammer into Silver, or b) Regain some measure of respectability and blow through The Last of Us, Metro: Last Light, BioShock Infinite, Grid 2...

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Hollander Cooper wants to demolish his 2013 backlog

Hollander Cooper wants to demolish his 2013 backlog

I've kept up fairly well with the biggest games of 2013. Most of the AAA games were trampled underfoot mere days after release. The Last of Us? Gone. BioShock Infinite? Taken care of. Tomb Raider? Tomb raided. But despite my best efforts, some games fell through the cracks, and I do not want to go into the holiday season with any stragglers. I'm leaving 2012 in the dust and focusing on the games that I didn't have a chance to beat. Remember Me, Metro: Last Light, Company of Heroes 2, and several more are still waiting to be played, and I really want to make sure I take care of them before the holiday season begins.

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Enjoy responsibly

Enjoy responsibly

And if you're looking for more, check out 8 reasons Assassin's Creed games are secretly about cats and the normal stuff we can't see without thinking about video games.

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
CATEGORIES
Android iPad iPhone PC Gaming Wii-u Nintendo PlayStation PS4 Xbox Xbox One Platforms Mobile Gaming
PRODUCTS
Final Fantasy XV The Last of Us Metro: Last Light BioShock Infinite Deadpool: The Game The Sims 3 Island Paradise Magic The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014
GamesRadar Staff
Social Links Navigation

GamesRadar+ was first founded in 1999, and since then has been dedicated to delivering video game-related news, reviews, previews, features, and more. Since late 2014, the website has been the online home of Total Film, SFX, Edge, and PLAY magazines, with comics site Newsarama joining the fold in 2020. Our aim as the global GamesRadar Staff team is to take you closer to the games, movies, TV shows, and comics that you love. We want to upgrade your downtime, and help you make the most of your time, money, and skills. We always aim to entertain, inform, and inspire through our mix of content - which includes news, reviews, features, tips, buying guides, and videos.

Read more
Divinity
Baldur's Gate 3 director follows up Divinity's big reveal by teasing fans as Larian gets back to work on the RPG
 
 
Fall is my favorite season and these are the 10 autumnal games I just can't stop coming back to at this time of year
 
 
Gaming books stacked on a wooden desk with Fallout and Pokemon figures on top
These are the gaming books you need to read this holiday season, from my shelf to yours
 
 
Helldivers 2 screenshot of two soldiers cheering in the desert
"The beaches will dry before the Helldivers do": Helldivers 2 players made Seyshel Beach the new Malevelon Creek, complete with propaganda and a stunned response from Arrowhead
 
 
Upcoming PC games 2025 header imagine featuring InZoi / Split Fiction / Elden Ring: Nightreign / Dune: Awakening
Upcoming PC games: New PC games for 2025 and beyond
 
 
Hades 2 protagonist Melinoe, a woman with pale grey skin, short blonde hair, and red/green eyes
The best games to play on a laptop right now
 
 
Latest in Action
007 First Light
007: First Light is "not a role-playing game" because it's James Bond's story
 
 
A shot from below as Lara Croft leaps across a chasm in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis leads say it’s essential to adjust the original’s difficulty for "modern player tastes"
 
 
Lara Croft holding two guns while smiling during the teaser for Tomb Raider: Catalyst.
Tomb Raider: Catalyst is Crystal Dynamics' "largest" Lara Croft game yet, and there's "no homework" required to jump in
 
 
GTA 6 Lucia
As Rockstar asserts ex-devs leaked "specific game features," IWGB union says its "statement is littered with falsehoods"
 
 
Lara Croft with her dual pistols in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
Following Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis reveal, series co-creator says he prefers "exploring new lost worlds"
 
 
A Locust Drone screaming into the face of Marcus during the Gears of War: E-Day trailer.
Gears of War: E-Day was a no show at The Game Awards, but The Coalition reiterates the prequel is still coming in 2026
 
 
Latest in Features
Best RPGs of 2025 list, featuring Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
From Avowed to Hades 2, the best RPGs of 2025 are the cream of the role-playing crop
 
 
Fallout On the Radar hero image showing different Fallout characters in a collage
Have Your Say: Help us determine what the greatest Fallout game of all time really is
 
 
Photo of the white Kraken Kitty V3 Pro headset sitting amongst the branches of a Christmas tree.
These are the cutest Razer headsets that any cozy gamer would love to see under the tree this Christmas
 
 
Deku powered up in My Hero Academia season 8
My Hero Academia's final episode cements the Shōnen anime as one of the all-time great superhero stories
 
 
Citizen Sleeper 2 key art with orange GamesRadar+ Best of 2025 badge in upper right
From Citizen Sleeper 2 to Hollow Knight: Silksong, the best sequels of 2025 expanded upon their predecessors
 
 
It: Welcome to Derry
It: Welcome to Derry episode 8 explained – Who dies? How does it connect to The Shining?
 
 
  1. Key art for Skate Story showing the glass skater boarding through a dark underworld filled with spikes towards a door of light
    1
    Skate Story review: "A beautiful and unique skateboarding game with great, stylized visuals set in a grungy underworld"
  2. 2
    Octopath Traveler 0 review: "The strongest entry in this retro-styled JRPG series yet, I love the greater focus on tactical battles"
  3. 3
    Sleep Awake review: "An all-timer horror premise is let down by tired stealth that I feel like I'm sleepwalking through"
  4. 4
    Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review: "The series' atmosphere has never been better, while being dragged down by a boring overworld and clunky psychic powers"
  5. 5
    Routine review: "This imperfect but wonderfully atmospheric moon-based horror leaves a strong impression"
  1. Freddy Fazbear in Five Nights at Freddy's 2
    1
    Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
  2. 2
    Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
  3. 3
    Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"
  4. 4
    The Running Man review: "Some fun action and Glen Powell's star power aren't enough to energize this disappointing Stephen King adaptation"
  5. 5
    Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
  1. Noah Schnapp as Will Byers and Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna in Stranger Things season 5
    1
    Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 review: “Can the Duffer brothers stick the landing? It’s sure looking like they will”
  2. 2
    Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
  3. 3
    The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
  4. 4
    IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
  5. 5
    Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...