I don't remember whose restaurant review it was, but it dropped a serious truth bomb on me. The critic said that any resident of a major city would die before being able to dine at all the great restaurants in it. Most of us don't realize it, but there are just too many. That's not even taking into account all the ones that will go out of business before you eat there, even though they were incredible restaurants. There's also the matter of all the meals I'll eat at McDonalds, taking the time and money away from the five-star cafes I could be dining at.
I realized the same applies to so many aspects of our lives. It's a struggle to see all the great movies in a single genre, let alone make time to see them all. I laugh at the term "superhero fatigue." I've loved comic books since I was a tiny kid, and even I don't get to see every superhero movie in a year.
And yes, this absolutely applies to video games. One of my favorite genres is tactical strategy. I'm embarrassed to admit how many games are still on my bucket list, and how little progress I've made on it in 2025.
Grand Theft Auto 6 has hit me with another issue I wasn't ready to face. I'm 50 years old. If Rockstar stays on a pace of putting GTAs out every 15 years, I've got perhaps two more GTAs in me. It's an odd way to measure one's mortality, but for a gaming journalist, it's an accurate one. I have a lovely wife and three awesome kids, but most of you don't know them.
What am I leaving behind for most of the world at large? My thoughts on what upgrades Madden 27 should have. To be clear, I'm not advocating that Rockstar turn GTA into an assembly line ala Madden or Call of Duty. Their games are excellent because of the care they take.
No, my revelation here is to realize how finite the time we all have is. There's no guarantee I'll even see GTA 6, especially as its date keeps moving. It's a reminder to treasure all life's great moments. The incredible restaurants, the life-changing movies, and yes, even the Grand Theft Autos. Because that big game over screen is looming above all our heads.