So I started buying the new CoD every year without noticing it, the most memorable being CoD: Ghosts as it was the first one I purchased after moving out of home and I loved it. Since then I made it a conscious effort to get the new CoD every year since.

It’s a simple formula, but I enjoy them and it’s always a good stress relief to rack up kills during the Christmas period after putting up with the general public and the usual scorching heat.

Some people give me flack for it but I enjoy the games, always in the top 10 best selling games every year so it’s not like it’s just me buying them.
The soccer fans that buy FIFA every year feel the same way.

So what are your gaming traditions? Are franchise you always support fat 1 no matter what? A time of year where you get together and play a certain retro game with family/friends? Attend midnight launches?

I've never played a COD before. It's actually something I want to address and I've been low-key buying a lot of games I missed towards the end of high school/start of uni.

My big tradition is that every December I'll try and play through at least one Zelda game. The only exception in the past 10 years was last year where I just got too hooked on CyberPunk to get to Spirit Tracks. The tradition started back in 2011 and was based on OoT, Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword all coming out around the holiday season.

2011: Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword
2012: OoT Master's Quest
2013: A Link Between Worlds
2014: Majora's Mask (I remember this well because I was recovering from wisdom teeth surgery during it - protein shakes and KFC potato and gravy)
2015: Link's Awakening
2016: Legend of Zelda, Legend of Zelda II, A Link to the Past
2017: Oracle of Seasons and Ages
2018: Minish Cap
2019: Phantom Hourglass
2020: Corona'd
2021: Spirit Tracks

I usually fit in a OoT playthrough around there as well. I can usually beat it in three (child, water temple, ending) sessions and typically try to listen to the Wrestling Observer Live Christmas Show while doing it.

I'll usually find time through out the year to replay Mario 64, Kingdom Hearts, Tales of Symphonia etc.

I'd say one of my old traditions was buying the latest WWE SmackDown games. That started when I got my first PS2 for Just Bring It and lasted through till SmackDown vs. RAW '09 before my PS3 and 360 broke the following year. I've had mini revivals of that tradition with WWE '12 and '13 respectively. Some of my coziest memories are printing off old CAW formulas and taking bits of paper and booking cards for Shut Your Mouth and Here Comes The Pain. So much so, I actually bought SmackDown vs. Raw (2005, the original) with the idea of doing the same thing but CyberPunk happened.

For the longest time every Smackdown/2K game was a day 1 purchase. Then it became day 1 retail with last years game.

Just here to give a head nod to the KFC mashed. A staple post dental procedure for sure.

For a big time brand new sequel release, I usually find time and try and revisit(Or a brand new playthrough) all of the games(Well if possible) of the series. Did it with Ratchet & Clank series leading to R&C: Rift Apart, did it with The Last of Us 1, Left Behind leading to The Last of Us 2. Did it with Devil May Cry 1-4 leading to Devil May Cry 5. Try to avoid burnout by playing them straight back to back but I want to gain the context necessary to "get" the sequel lore wise and try and compare it.

Pokemon release day every single game. I don't plan on missing a single one.