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General discussion6 tips for managing your video game backlog!(101 posts)(101 posts)
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Posted January 11, 2021
So many great games to play and so little time – we’ve all been there, especially when the holiday shopping spree is over. If the growing list of must-play games in your library stresses you out, we’re here to help. Just read our list of 6 useful tips to reduce your gaming backlog in the upcoming months!

1. Slow down
Like an ancient wise man said once (and all life coaches since) – a big journey consists of small steps. It may sound a bit strange, but maybe you’re trying too hard to finish all the cool titles you own. Instead of rushing into games, and being frustrated by the lack of progress, try a more systematic approach. Shortening your gaming sessions may help them become more satisfying. There’s really nothing chasing you here. For example, if you spend an hour a day with one title that needs 10 hours to finish, you can beat it in just 2 weeks.



2. Start with shorter games
Another popular saying states that you should always tackle obstacles from their easier side. If your gaming backlog keeps growing, start chipping away at it by choosing to play the shorter, easier titles first. Just visit sites like HowLongToBeat and make a list of owned games in order of their length. After beating shorter titles, you can take on the longer, more elaborate ones without having to dwell on the other games you still haven’t finished.

3. Find a co-op friend
One of the popular bits of advice to all gym-avoiders is to take a friend with you. Many activities are more fun when enjoyed in bigger groups, so check if the game you’ve been avoiding for some time has a co-op mode. Even if you invite your friend for a gaming session just once a week, it will still help you take down overdue titles in a social and very enjoyable way.



4. Use tools to keep order
Make your gaming life easier by creating a convenient, easy-to-access list of games to finish. Apps like GOG GALAXY let you add bookmarks to your game collection across all platforms. Just create a bookmark titled “The Pile of Shame”… just kidding – “Games to Play” (let’s remember to stay positive), and watch as it gets smaller with each day.

5. Give your favorites a break
We all have them – games that are evergreen, ones that we love to return to from time to time. Well, if we want to make that game to-do list disappear, those darlings will have to sit in the back row for a bit. It’s time to open up to new experiences and, let’s be honest, those golden oldies aren’t going anywhere, right?



6. Take it easy
Ask yourself, do you want to beat a specific game quickly or do you just want to explore its lore and story. If the second answer is the correct one, you can just as easily choose “easy” or “story mode” in the difficulty section and simply have fun. If the game really draws you in, you can always revisit it in “nightmare mode” in the future.

How about you? Do you have any games that you wish to finally play and finish in the upcoming months? Write about them in the comment section below, and remember – fresh or overdue, the main goal of playing every game is to have fun!
Posted January 12, 2021
7. Get things while you can ... if the price is right.
You may need all the games you can collect, when that rainy day happens.
And because all our games (bar a tiny few) are DRM-Free, you can pass them onto your kids and grandkids after you leave this mortal coil.
And remember, just because you have them doesn't mean you have to play them ... someone else might one day, and thank you or your memory.
Gaming can be just as much about collecting as it can be about playing ... it's all a game in the end ... even life can be a game ... if a bit shitty at times. The journey of collecting is the important bit.
And never forget, that buying a game at GOG supports GOG and DRM-Free.
GOG is like bacteria ... they can be good for you one moment, bad the next ... they are in a constant state of flux ... this is normal and nothing to get overly concerned or excited about ... just stick to your dietary advice and you should be fine.

P.S. Somewhere along the way of writing this post, my tongue got stuck in my cheek a few times ... but not to worry, I think I am okay now. Hopefully after the medication wears off, they will even let me out .... for a while at least. ;)

P.S.S. I was hoping gogrepo.py would get a mention in the Tools and Galaxy section. But I was no doubt being a trifle optimistic with that notion. Still, dreams are what games are made of ... or is it the other way around .. even both maybe.
Post edited January 12, 2021 by Timboli
Posted January 12, 2021
high rated
1. BUY LESS.

Yep, this one should be obvious.
Less glutonny, more luxuriating.

Curate better your purchases. I learnt this now that I measure the hours it will take me to go calmly bur surely through the games I own, spending the average of time suggested by How Long to Beat, and see that I almost don't have enought lifetime left to do it if I also want to eat, sleep and do the other stuff I also enjoy in life.
Posted January 12, 2021
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chibizoid: Less glutonny, more luxuriating.
The thing about Gluttony, is that it is open to interpretation ... what it is, how it effects you and others.
Luxuriating to some minds is indulging in gluttony ... luxury not being a necessity.

In a biblical sense it might mean over-indulging, but in the real world there is a lot more to it than that.
Some see gluttony too simplistically and throw it around all too easily.
Gluttony is associated with bad or one of the seven deadly sins.

So how exactly is having a lot of games bad?
Clearly you have helped many by buying those games, maybe even helped reduce the costs to other buyers.

If I buy a game does someone go without?
Are games bad for you?
Are too many games bad for you?
What constitutes too many games?

Collecting is a form of saving. Is that bad?

Gluttony is supposedly harmful, but I fail to see that with a large game collection. Variety as they say, is the spice of life.

While Gluttony can apply to many things, it is usually mostly applied to food, where over-indulgence is unhealthy and you might be forcing others to go without. It often also applies to items that are a necessity, and making others go without because you have too many.

I really struggle to see the relation with digital items.

It is a bit like saying Nature is wasteful.
Post edited January 12, 2021 by Timboli
Posted January 12, 2021
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chibizoid: 1. BUY LESS.
Since I somehow have trouble simply stop buying new games, I made a deal with myself:

Complete (or quit for good) two to buy one. Separated by genre (Action, RPG, Adventure, Strategy, Puzzle), so I don't complete two short point&clicks and buy one 200h RPG...

There is a rather short "exceptions" list, games I'd instabuy if they ever come here, regardless if I completed enough games of their genre.
Posted January 12, 2021
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chibizoid: 1. BUY LESS.
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toxicTom: Since I somehow have trouble simply stop buying new games, I made a deal with myself:

Complete (or quit for good) two to buy one. Separated by genre (Action, RPG, Adventure, Strategy, Puzzle), so I don't complete two short point&clicks and buy one 200h RPG...

There is a rather short "exceptions" list, games I'd instabuy if they ever come here, regardless if I completed enough games of their genre.
I empathize with and understand totally that exceptions list of yours.

My equivalent is pretty much of "archival importance" reasoning. Like a historical game, or a cannonical one. Even if I am not entirely attracted to the game itself but I still recognize its importance in the development of this art, the videogamology.
To think in book terms...
Would the bibliotheca be proud of owning this rare or singular tome?
If I feel the answer is yes, then it is in my own exceptions list.
:)
Posted January 12, 2021
I don't know how many games are on my pile of shame, but it must be a lot, if I'm not sure about the correct number. :) My main problem is that I frequently return to the games that I've already finished. That doesn't help in going through my backlog. I'm also quite thorough when I play, so I can't play everything that I want to. Generally I like RPGs and the fact is that they're very time consuming. Thankfully my second favorite genre are FPSs. At least they're quite short. I've reconciled with the fact that I won't be able to play all of the games that I want. It's good that not only playing, but also collecting games brings me fun, so my backlog is not a huge problem. :)
Posted January 12, 2021
Choice paralysis is real. But, I would say games are a beautiful escape from the mundane and can let your thoughts wander off for a while. I would also say if a social event is up for grabs, go for it first. Games will be there for you when you need a bit of self-reflective solitude. Great topic GOG
Post edited January 12, 2021 by Oisin
Posted January 12, 2021
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Sarafan: My main problem is that I frequently return to the games that I've already finished.
I regularly replay my favourite games along with those i haven't played yet, but i don't see it a problem at all; i maintain a very healthy backlog though (just 3 games right now, a cRPG, a FPS and a great platform game that i may drop it sooner or later or put it to sleep for a while) to the point where my favourite-games-to-replay backlog is much, much bigger. :P
Posted January 12, 2021
I have put all the games I have access to over all the different PC stores and platforms on HowLongToBeat.com. The exercise was quite useful. Now I know for a fact I have to make choices. I don't have time for games I don't like, quite literally.
Posted January 12, 2021
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Vythonaut: I regularly replay my favourite games along with those i haven't played yet, but i don't see it a problem at all;
Well, it can be a problem if you want to go through your backlog. :) This is especially true if in your backlog there's a lot of RPGs. If you add to that the fact that replayed games are also RPGs, then it's very hard to find time for all this gaming.

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Vythonaut: i maintain a very healthy backlog though (just 3 games right now, a cRPG, a FPS and a great platform game that i may drop it sooner or later or put it to sleep for a while) to the point where my favourite-games-to-replay backlog is much, much bigger. :P
I have a lot, lot bigger backlog unfortunately. I have a habit to buy games when they reach their historical lowest prices even if I still have other games to play. My backlog is in fact getting bigger with every sale. But as I said, amassing games in my library brings me satisfaction, so the problem isn't huge. :)
Post edited January 12, 2021 by Sarafan
Posted January 12, 2021
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Vythonaut: i maintain a very healthy backlog though (just 3 games right now, a cRPG, a FPS and a great platform game that i may drop it sooner or later or put it to sleep for a while) to the point where my favourite-games-to-replay backlog is much, much bigger. :P
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Sarafan: I have a lot, lot bigger backlog unfortunately. I have a habit to buy games when they reach their historical lowest prices even if I still have other games to play. My backlog is in fact getting bigger with every sale. But as I said, amassing games in my library brings me satisfaction, so the problem isn't huge. :)
I did this too, especially when i joined GOG. There were simply so many classic games to be bought with pennies during the big sales, that i couldn't resist! It took me a while to go through them, and to be honest, i rushed some games when i shouldn't. When i eventually came back to replay some of them, i found out that i've had even more fun taking my time with them.

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Vythonaut: I regularly replay my favourite games along with those i haven't played yet, but i don't see it a problem at all;
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Sarafan: Well, it can be a problem if you want to go through your backlog. :) This is especially true if in your backlog there's a lot of RPGs. If you add to that the fact that replayed games are also RPGs, then it's very hard to find time for all this gaming.
I should have made it more clear that i was speaking about how i personally see it. Because yes, if you really want to make your (sizeable) backlog move a bit, it certainly *is* a problem. ;)
Posted January 12, 2021
7. GoG stops any kind of sales for 5 years.
Posted January 12, 2021
Well, I have a friend, who does have a GOG account with some games also some on Steam, yet he still plays only an browser type game and that since years. He is addicted to it*. Something with building cities or what... greek mythology and such.

He even installed the app version to his smartphone. So when he is not at home at his computer, he can play it on the phone.

*In that game he has (ten)thousand of hours invested. He plays it still every day... hours after he gets home from work.

How can such a person even finish his backlog? :p
Posted January 13, 2021
#1 rule should be: while playing, keep checking if you're still having fun. Sounds obvious, but it's easy to get swept away and forget. Remember why you play games in the first place. It's a pastime, not a list of chores. If you notice you're not fully enjoying the game anymore, dump that thing and do or play something else, it's not worth your time.

That also implies that I disagree with GOG's #5 (give your favourites a break). Why would you, if you're having fun? Why force yourself to play something you enjoy less?
Posted January 13, 2021
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chibizoid: 1. BUY LESS.

Yep, this one should be obvious.
Less glutonny, more luxuriating.

Curate better your purchases. I learnt this now that I measure the hours it will take me to go calmly bur surely through the games I own, spending the average of time suggested by How Long to Beat, and see that I almost don't have enought lifetime left to do it if I also want to eat, sleep and do the other stuff I also enjoy in life.
I am pretty much broke as it is.
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Community
General discussion6 tips for managing your video game backlog!(101 posts)(101 posts)
(101 posts)