Gaming

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A Misguided Guide To Finishing Your Gaming Backlog (youtu.be)

submitted 1 year ago by alehel@beehaw.org to c/gaming@beehaw.org

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Found this video really interesting as I have a relatively large backlog myself. Fortunately not nearly as large as this one.

Personally, I've only ever considered games I own to be part of my backlog, which makes my list much more manageable. That said, I have a large number of unplayed games on both Steam and GoG. So to start I've decided to play all my GoG games first (as that is still within reach). I've promised myself not to buy any more games untill all my GoG games are either completed or marked "did not finish" due to it not being my thing.

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[–] iusearchbtw@lemmy.sdf.org 19 points 1 year ago (6 children)

I don't really get the obsession with backlogs. Are you actually enjoying the games at that point? Are you playing this game because you want to play it, or because it's on your backlog and you want to be able to check it off the list and move on to the next thing - presumably, since your backlog is so big it warrants a guide - as quickly as possible? Just pick out a game you want to play and play it. Why spoil your own fun?

[–] alehel@beehaw.org 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My backlog consists of games I've bought because I want to play them. But because there's always something on offer I end up buying more than I can get through. So this will be a way to stop myself spending money when I already have enough games to get me through to the end of this year. If I find I'm not enjoying one of them, I'll mark it "dnf" and hide it from my library. So I've absolutely no plan to play a game if it turns out to not be any fun.

[–] bermuda@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

If I find I’m not enjoying one of them, I’ll mark it “dnf” and hide it from my library

I think this is what the commenter above is getting at. You say you want to play the game, but "dnf" means "did not finish" which alludes closer to just checking it off a list.

And, I'm just curious here, what happens when you get to a game that doesn't have a traditional win state? Like multiplayer only, or some sort of factorio "endless" management game. When do you mark it done? Is it always "in progress"?

[–] alehel@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think this is what the commenter above is getting at. You say you want to play the game, but “dnf” means “did not finish” which alludes closer to just checking it off a list.

My list is basically my library. I only buy games if I want to play them (I don't bother redeeming free games if I don't intend to play it). That said, just because I want to play a game doesn't guarantee I end up enjoying it. The great perhaps is one such game. Thought it was for me, didn't enjoy it, so won't bother finishing it.

[–] bermuda@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You didn't even answer the second half of my comment...

[–] alehel@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

We'll, excuse me 🤣...

I don't tag them with anything.

[–] BuoyantTrain37@lemmy.loungerat.io 4 points 1 year ago

Yeah, the idea of a "backlog" just sounds like a chore to me. I just try to not buy as many games anymore - I think Steam sales and similar events got people in the habit of buying dozens of games at a time, and then your library fills up with games you've never touched.

I don't really buy games anymore unless I'm going to start them within the next week or so.

[–] Version@feddit.de 4 points 1 year ago

Some people just do it this way. This doesn‘t mean they don‘t have fun. I noticed this happens with books too; people buy books and then track how many they‘ve read, set goals etc. Some people think it‘s stupid, but for some it‘s fun.

[–] chloyster@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

I agree with this. Except when it comes to games I've bought but not even touched. I've gotten a lot better about not buying games I won't get to for a while lol. But I still have a good chunk of games I want to at least start and see if I vibe with.

But yeah, if I'm not enjoying it, I won't force myself to finish

[–] EvaUnit02@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

Nor I. Honestly, I'd rather have a wealth of options I can play and never do rather than having a giant fuckin' chore list for something that is not supposed to be a chore.

I don't have to "get through my backlog" because it's not a backlog. It's an option set.

[–] any1th3r3@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

Obvious "this is what works for me and why I do it" disclaimer, but:

I have a growing collection of games which spans multiple consoles and physical/digital media alike, so I need a way to track what games I have and where, so as to not buy them multiple times (I don't believe this to be a typical use case, but I could be wrong?).
Aside from that practical element, I have a few lists on HLTB where I track what I (might) want to play next, but realistically it's pretty much always a case of checking out what I have and picking one based on my mood / gut feeling / whatever.
Lastly, it's about actually finishing games - getting started with some form of tracking helped me tremendously get past the "pick up and drop after a few hours" mentality (?). I wouldn't have gotten to experience some of the best games I've played in recent memories, were it not for my backlog, because I probably would have forgotten I had them / wouldn't have stuck with them.