Is your gaming backlog looming over you, haunting your dreams, and just generally stressing you out when choosing what to play? Well fear not, we’ve got some suggestions to help you overcome choice paralysis and conquer that gaming backlog!
Stop buying new games
One of the main reasons backlogs get out of control is the constant influx of new games. It’s easy to be tempted by the latest releases, or to fall into the trap of buying games on sale because they’re such great deals. I’m looking at you Steam Sales. To take control over your backlog, you’ve got to resist the urge and put a temporary stop to purchasing new games. By doing this, you’ll be able to focus on the games you already own and make significant progress in clearing your backlog.
Schedule times to play
Life can be hectic, and gaming often takes a backseat to responsibilities. Thanks, adulthood. To make progress on your backlog, set aside dedicated times in your schedule to sit down and game. Treat these time blocks as you would any other appointment, and commit to using them exclusively for gaming. Heck, you can even Pomodoro timer it, if you want. Consistency is key here; even just an hour or two each week is better than nothing and can lead to substantial progress over time. Plus, having scheduled playtime prevents your gaming sessions from feeling rushed or sporadic.
Finish shorter games first
I try to stick to a rule that if a task will take 5 minutes or less, do that first before other, longer ones. You can apply this to your backlog as well. Start by playing shorter games that can be completed relatively quickly. This should help to provide a sense of accomplishment, and motivate you to continue clearing your list. As you finish shorter titles, you’ll create momentum that carries over into taking on longer and more immersive games.
Use an online tool to pick what to play
The sheer number of games in your backlog can sometimes leave you paralyzed by choice. This is where online tools come to the rescue. Steam has a ‘Play Next’ shelf in your library that gives a list of recommended titles to play. Another option to try is Playnite, a video game library manager that has filtering tools that lets you sort games by certain criteria and then roll a die to choose one. By leaving the decision-making process to chance, you can eliminate the stress of choosing and simply dive into whatever gets selected. Then, once you complete a game, simply rinse and repeat to continue crossing games off the list.
Play the most recent game you bought and work backward
If you’re having trouble deciding which games to prioritize, consider playing your most recent purchase first and working your way backward. This allows you to experience your latest titles while they’re still fresh in your mind. This method can also provide insight into your gaming preferences over time and how they’ve evolved.
Tackling your gaming backlog requires determination, organization, and a bit of strategy. By implementing one or more of these methods, you can make significant headway in actually playing and enjoying the games you’ve collected over the years, instead of just gawking at them on the shelf or in your digital library. While the ultimate goal here is to clear out the backlog, don’t just rush through these games so you can put a checkmark next to them. You should still play and enjoy each game to the fullest. So, dust off those titles and start enjoying the games that have been waiting for you.
