It saves battery and your eyes, idk why anyone avoids dark mode. There’s also toooons more blue light in white than black, especially on OLED type screens where the pixels turn off for black
Not only do I do the "I gotta play 1 and 2 before 3" thing, but I actually convinced myself that playing a more recent, shinier game from the backlog will somehow diminish the experience of playing an older title later on, so I tend to play them in chronological order (for the most part). It makes no sense, and yet I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking this way.
I thought I was alone in this regard until people started joining our discord server with the same mindset. For the longest time, I've been this way. To the point I just straight up am not interested in newer releases until I'm familiar with, or at least ATTEMPT older versions. Recently, I grinded through the original Suikoden, so I could get into Suikoden 2. Even though I read many times you don't need the background to enjoy 2, I couldn't help myself.
This is my exact thinking. I also deal with obsessive thinking and have adhd, so there's probably a correlation there between reading too far ahead too quickly and overthinking possible negative outcomes.
I tip I learnt which helped me a ton. Whenever you pick a game, pick a different genre, different company and different franchise. Don't keep playing fps games in a row, don't play like 5 ubisoft games and don't play a franchise constantly like re1-8 etc. Personally I pick 5 games I am currently interested in. I pick 1 fps, 1 adventure, 1 rpg, 1 fighter and 1 hack and slash. You can change this to any genre you want so maybe swap fps for horror or fighter for puzzle or racing etc. Then try to avoid those 5 games being by the same company and franchise. So don't pick re4 and then re8 just because its a fps over a third person, its still basically the same just different camera angles and it's in the same franchise. Instead play re4 first then play something like zelda or mortal kombat before eventually picking up re8. I got through 2 games so far that have been in my list for over a 2 year period now and I'm enjoying them.
That's a great idea. In another video, I talked about how I played Uncharted 1-3 and I burned out so hard that I don't want to go back to play 4. You are wise to try a bunch of genres at once to keep things fresh. Great idea!
I could try this. I have over 700 games over many platforms that I don't feel like buying any more games for a while and it's been a problem picking which game to play.
Great idea. I unconsciously do this and didn’t even realize it until you laid it out in words. If I just played survival horror, I’ll switch tracks to an action FPS like Boltgun to mix things up before I return to horror, and even then I’ll pick a different type of horror, maybe something more like a walking sim or psychological horror. It keeps things fresh and I end up playing more games and also enjoying them a lot more.
This is one of the best, and most relatable videos for me as an older gamer with a family, ADHD, an overthinking and over analytical brain, and a library around 2,000 games where I've maybe played 30% of them and completed much less. Thank you.
30% is a great number though! Glad this video was helpful. Feel free to stop by the Discord server where we work together to beat our backlogs! I've found the community there is super helpful for encouragement and challenge. I totally relate to balancing family/adhd/life/etc, so I'm glad this video could be helpful for you. Thanks for watching!
That's totally fair! If anything, most 7 out of 10s have something to contribute, especially toward getting an overall sense of game design and how a specific mechanic can be repeatedly implemented in game after game. Rougelikes, for example, I've played so many of these, and many many many of them are 7 out of 10s (probably bc I've played so many of them), but even if they play mostly the same, you start to get a sense of what makes up the genre and what the cornerstones look like.
Yeah. I hear you on this. I play RPGs and I have recently been LOOKING for the 7's out of 10's. Not just considering them, but picking them over more highly rated entries solely because they're more likely to give me something I haven't seen in a genre I've played to hell and back.
This is why I love eurojank. The games are just so ambitious that they can't help but be charming despite their flaws. It's interesting to see them even partially realizing their potential and anyway I'd much rather support that than a cookie cutter AAA game.
PSA: it’s okay to stop playing games for a while until you actually genuinely want to play them. It’s also okay to never play certain games. They’ll always be there if you ever decide to come back. Explore other hobbies and interests if games aren’t drawing you in anymore.
Huge agree on this. Often, we game out of habit, but don't take time to step away for a bit. I took two breaks during 2021 and found a lot of insight about myself after stepping away from something that was so engrained into my life. The nice thing is you can come back with fresh eyes and maybe only get into stuff you really like.
This video is just me in a nutshell. Analysis paralysis, ADHD, being a maximizer and always having to pick the absolute best option or else it would be "wrong". Thanks for making this.
Your friend is right about beating games. To me, a backlog is a double edged sword; Yeah it helps me try out games that I bought and haven't touched at all, but also gives me a forced sense of urge to finish certain games, especially if I really don't like playing it. I mean, who wants to play a video game that they dread going back to after a long day of work, right?
This is a really good point that I was mulling over while editing. There is a temptation to focus on your backlog simply because you have one. My video pushes ppl to play their backlog instead of doing other things, but ultimately, if you want to spend the evening chillin and scrolling social media, who cares? It’s fine!
My solution to this is to abandon certain games if they don't interest me and to rotate between multiple games if I'm not in the mood to play a specific one. I do limit the amount of games I can play using this method though, otherwise I wouldn't finish anything
@@Jabroni_14 I do the exact same. I also come back to games I dropped to give em a 2nd (maybe even 3rd) chance later on. Sometimes they finally click. Others just don't so I basically put them in my "ignore" list
Thanks! Yes, I thought the article I had read was super interesting and applying it to gaming would only be one aspect of its uses. Glad this was helpful!
I'm thinking more like a 'Choice' Overload, Choice Paralysis or Overchoice than 'Analysis' Paralysis, but I guess they are almost the same phenomenon. Great video!
I’m a very drastic maximizer, and on top of that I’m a lead game dev, so I subconsciously make it mandatory to go through mediocre games to learn the good on them. Great video man!
That's a good approach. I think you can learn a lot, even from garbage tier games. I've found it really helpful to think through ways to improve crappy systems in crappy games, instead of just complaining about them.
@@ChrimChrimbo I'm sure its tough especially when the message is "play what you already have" instead of "buy this new thing with my referral link". It may not rake in big bucks but its good stuff 👍🏼
I don't actually have this problem with games, but one of the reasons I play games is because they help me stop overthinking other things, at least during the evening when I play. Watching this video actually helped me reflect more on the decision fatigue I get while grading, which is the big focus of my analysis paralysis and decision fatigue. Hearing these productivity tips applied to my hobby/something I already feel I have a handle on is actually really helpful!
That's awesome! Glad to hear it. I think I'm slowly getting over the AP hump with games, but I see it in many other areas of my life. The cool thing about figuring it out with non-important stuff like games means you can figure it out in more important areas (like grading!). Thanks for your comment, cool to read!
This video made me really think about the problem I have with regard to, making decisions. I didn’t expect a dive into psychology but here it is. Thank you.
So far, this is the only thing that has worked for me: *1)* Make a new category on Steam and put all the games you want to finish in there (you know the ones). Make sure they are games that are 'beatable' or have some sort of "end-state" (ie, not something like Hunt: Showdown, Phasmophobia, etc.), and install all of them or at least as many as you can. *2)* Whenever you have time to play and don't immediately decide just think "what kind of game do I feel like playing?". RPG? Action? Story-focused? A niche-indie title? *3)* Look at your list and just click play on the genre you just thought about. Seriously. Just do it. Don't feel bad about only playing a game for a little while before dropping it. If you put at least 2 hours into it and don't feel like continuing then don't. Cull it from the list. Maybe you'll come back to it later, maybe not, but you gave it a good try. Don't be afraid to play more than one game at a time. If you played a lot of one game but want a different grenre today, then go for it. If you enjoyed something then leave it on the list and play something else. Forcing yourself to play something to completion when you're feeling something else will not only stop you from starting another game in your list, but could make the experience of what you're trying to finish less enjoyable.
This is good advice. I find I pick up and drop a lot of games but some just stick til completion (usually puzzle games). A lot of games aren't worth finishing. I think they show their stuff early and I don't have enough time in life to play them all to completion.
One way to choose a game is to first recognise that you already made the choice to play the game when you bought it. So the choice is which one from the backlog. So don’t make that choice - you can let fate decide, or rather a random game selector (like on HLTB). If you aren’t liking it after a couple of hours, retire it and move on. It’s actually quite fun to see where it’ll take you, and often you’ll find great games that you probably never would have got around to playing.
I've suspected I have ADD for many years, there's many many signs and symptoms, but hearing how you describes your backlog problems made me realize my case is a hit worse than I thought. Felt like if you were describing my mind set and thought progress. I decided to seek profesional help in the near future. And also tackle my backlog.
This is a great video, and is applicable to more than just games but over-analyzing and analysis paralysis in general. I can't believe it took me until hearing you say it that no, I don't have to play all of the games that came before to enjoy the current one. I've long suffered from a long backlog and barely even wanted to think about all the games I "wanted" to play (or the ones that were recommended to me), and I already know this video is going to help me on that journey and beyond that into other aspects of my life as well. I'll definitely be coming back to this video. Thank you. Also, you may or may not have inadvertantly added several titles to that list via clips from this video. P.S. The Return of the Obra Dinn is an incredible game; played it with a friend of mine and we both had a blast. Highly recommended to anyone who might be reading this.
Obra Dinn is AMAZING. I was sad when it was over. Yes, it's OK to not play everything that came prior, though I understand the temptation. Best of luck!
My first instinct to the realization in the video where I need to just pick something to play was to create a excel sheet of my entire backlog and rate each game according to priority to help improve the game choosing process. So I definitely understand the overthinking dilemma, lol
Thank you so much for helping me put a name on something that I thought was nameless. I am a maximizer. I didn't know there was a community of other likeminded folks. Can't wait to look into your other videos in my attempt to be better about playing my games instead of starting and stopping like have done for so many titles.
Welcome! Maximizing is my greatest folly. We have a ton of people in a similar situation. Even though I'm not posting on UA-cam, the Discord is as healthy as it's ever been. Hope we can help!
i just want you to know, this has been one of the most impactful youtube videos i've seen. this spoke to me not only as a gamer but as a person in general. super cool stuff, thank you for these videos :)
It’s funny how picking a game echoes how we make decisions in real life, and how so many of us feel like our to-do list grows faster than it can be addressed. Games echo reality and that’s why decisions can be so hard.
When TVs went HD around mid 2000’s, i got rid of all older games & consoles that i was done with to make way for HD consoles & games. Work, family life, and researching games have created/caused the greatest backlog situation, and i couldnt be happier. My advice is forget finishing games, and stop chasing trophies or achievements. “The Witness” clips in your video made me smile; slow burn that one, but not worth finishing.
This is good advice. I need reminded I don't need to check every corner in a game. I can just move on. PS I watched a video that spoiled some of the biggest things in The Witness and now I'm a lump of emotion because I didn't get to figure it out myself.
the first one is a perfect explanation how I almost always beat my friends in cardgames. They take 15 MINUTES or more for a turn. I take ~1 minute at best. They spend an extreme amount of time overthinking their next move, the ifs and the if ifs and dont realize that all of this doesnt matter if they cant even get the base started. There is still enough time for the if ifs later.
Absolutely fantastic video. So take it from me, as someone who waited waaaay too long to be diagnosed with OCD, you very likely have the same. I would see a specialist! I’ve played (and suffered through) every final fantasy in order just so I don’t miss ANYTHING when I play the later ones. This is despite, not wanting to play the earlier ones! I just had to do everything the “complete and right way”.
For me this is more applicable to trying to solo D&D since group play isn't usually good and I have heaps of stuff because I love the idea of the game.
Actually true story: this video sat in my "watch later" playlist for a long time. One time I even booted it up while pooping but because I was scrolling other stuff at the same time, none of the words spoken by that soothing voice went into my head. I finally played this video while procrastinating on an essay, found it really interesting, and started typing this vary comment 2:01 into the video (I checked). I will go back to the essay now, but I WILL return and finish watching this. At some point. I will. I swear.
Also, I clean up my WatchLater regularly so that it doesn't go over the limit like my sister's who has ADHD. The reason this video survived after multiple clean-ups is because the text in the thumbnail continued to pique my interest. All that to say, props to your thumbnail game. It worked and it worked wonders.
Another scary note: I literally got home from a long day of work, longed for a break with playing a game, but felt guilty about not making more progress on the essay (which I already found time to work on after my shift and before I commuted home), told myself "I'll play games after writing for half an hour", so I wrote for about 20mins, and spent 30mins on UA-cam, thought to myself "Ok final video" which happened to be this one, and now I've spent about 10 mins commenting on this vid which I've only watched 2 mins of so far. OK now I'm rly gonna go back to the essay, which I will follow with some Zelda. I swear.
That quote in tip 8 was really good. For me, the most helpful tip was to just get started and get playing something, even if you don’t feel ready for it. Thanks for your kind words!
I've been paralyzed since 3 years. I've occasionally played a few old games to completion, but the new games just bore me out midway before I can even finish. Sometimes I blame it on the quality of games going down over the years, but nowadays I see its hard to pick even an old game I considered legendary. Plus the fact that now I'm grown up, and there's work now. back then when I was in school there were no responsibilities or pressure. Now when I play a game, I even feel guilty, thinking I should be doing something more productive.
I get that. People are designed to work, but we also need to rest. I’ve found that if I work hard, the rest feels more deserved than if I’m lazy with work. It’s definitely fine to play games for rest, and hope you’ve been able to work through that!
That point u made about play the first game of sequels is so relatable, i like to do that aswell cause i want to feel how the game progressed along the volumes even if it was in a bad way
Nice video! I can relate to pretty much everything you mention. 😄 I've been struggling with a constantly growing backlog since PS2 and Dreamcast were my main consoles. Still have plenty of untouched games for those old machines, plus many, many more for Xbox, X360, PS3 and PS4, but luckily my PC gaming days are long gone. I'm also always hesitant to play newer backlog games before older ones, and on top of that have this weird "rule" that I can't start playing a different game until I've finished the one I'm currently committed to, although I can (or at least used to be able to) make an exception for sport- and/or racing titles, since they generally lack storyline and I never aim to completely beat them. Yeah... it quickly becomes complicated and silly, and when you also factor in that I'm likely the SLOWEST gamer on planet earth (no joke) it's pretty much impossible to make any measurable progress with the monstrous backlog. I'll probably enjoy a few more hours of Half-Life 2 this weekend though, because (as we all know) choosing to replay old favorites is usually the most effective tactic to make a dent in the backlog... 😄 🤔
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm finding my backlog grew exponentially once I got a gaming PC, and I don't have as many older console titles to play, but I'm seeing a lot of other people have a lot of console stuff to finish. I think your rule makes sense, especially considering how easy it is to fall off a game and never return. I kind of want to start implementing that for myself. Thanks for the comment!
Really hit me with the Hitman part. I stopped playing The Witcher 3 when it came out to read the (at the time) eight books first because I loved what I'd played and felt like I couldn't really appreciate it without reading the novels and playing the first two games first. Years later, I've read 7/9 (soon to be 10) Witcher novels and have played 0/3 Witcher games.
Not gonna lie, a bunch of my backlog are games I purchased mainly because of "community pressure" praising a particular game for how amazing it is, rather than it being a game I was genuinely inspired to play, all at a time in my life when I didn't have the mental capacity to destinguish between my authentic desire to play a certain game, vs "wanting" to experience something others say is so amazing.
So true. I get stuck in this too. The hype cycle can be really exhausting. I recommend finding a community of gamers that aren't obsessed with the hype cycle. It's so much more grounded.
I don't how or why this vid popped up on my recommended list. But I'm glad it did.... I have always thought I am alone with this problem... My backlogs kept growing and growing. Now you can add me to your list of subscribers.
I thought I was alone too! Then I discovered r/patientgamers and realized it was widespread. This is a big reason we started a discord, to provide community around backlog beating. Thanks for joining!
i hate being a maximizer, i've been so stuck with gaming for the past year i can't play anything and i always wanna buy a new game but i feel extremely guilty bc i have about 100 games in my backlog and i just don't play anything new, only junk sandbox games
Survival/Crafting games are really a bane to backlog gaming. They are either early access or don't have an endpoint. I've found it best to just write off certain genres for long periods of time until a really exciting one strikes my fancy. Don't give up!
The Greatest way I found to beating a backlog is to literally limit the space available for it, whether intentional or unintentional. For instance, the PS4 I play on only has around 500GB give or take all the screenshots, videos, services, and old save data floating around on it. There are only 5-10 games that are actually playable on it. Any more will not be able to download or install due to low storage. This forces you to either make the decision to simply cut your losses, but not your save, and remove it in favor of another. Or persevere and see it through to the end. When I get back to it though, I'm making sure I can remove at least half those games so I can make space for half more. Especially one my friend really wants to enjoy.
I don't suffer from the inability to make a choice, however I do tend to wait for a sale and then buy more games than I have time to play. Couple that with being a completionist and I have a swelling backlog to conquer. I have to talk to every NPC, explore every hallway, get every item, beat the optional bosses, see all the endings etc. My solution has been to stop buying new games until I finish a few of the ones collecting digital dust in my Steam library.
Good solution. For me, it depends on the game, but I realized I was getting in the completionist cycle, and that REALLY slowed down my ability to get games beat. I've tried moving away from it, but it's tough. What is it about completing a game that you really enjoy? Or do you even enjoy it?
This was a really helpful video. For me, I'm currently playing Tower of Fantasy, Gwent, Hearthstone, Marvel Snap, Raft & Vampire Survivors. I realized that most of the time I suffer from FOMO on online games with battle pass, daily missions etc. Sometimes they feel like a to do list, like "okay I completed the daily quests on Hearthstone, I can now move on to another game" and I play them not because I enjoy them, but because I don't want to miss those rewards lol. This is stupid when you think about it. So for my own good I decided to remove Tower of Fantasy (which is a gacha game and not a very healthy one) and Hearthstone because I enjoy the other card games more and they don't feel like a chore. Obviously, I don't have this feeling with single player games because there is basically no FOMO. I think I should play 1 or 2 multiplayer games at once MAX.
Totally on the same page with you. I end up grinding achievements or in-game currency to unlock whatever DLC or anything I can. It's so dumb and I don't even have fun half the time. Moving down to a game or two IS THE WAY, totally agree.
I was already identifying with this video as a person with ADHD and a huge backlog between my steam library and emulation, and then you got tot the part about Maximizers, and wow... I feel personally called out, dragged, and scalped. Mary... that's me
Thank you so much for this video. I also struggle with ADHD and since anxiety keeps me up to date with work tasks I’ve been OK but still having trouble having fun for a long time, if that’s make any sense
I feel seen. I've played thorugh all Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Thief and Hitman games out there for the exact same reason that I couldn't convince myself to just start with a later title
Paralysis of choise has became a big issue for myself when you could first purchase game online. Buying games in a store made me have alot less impulse buys. Usually it would be buy 1 game and play the hell out of it when i got home. This helped because i game the games more time as i wouldnt have much else to do. Also spoilers where practically impossible before youtube so even if you played a game a few years old, you would still get the excitement from its story. Nowadays there is so much choise it can be so overwhelming, like you said you now worry if you choose right, so occasionally i feel like im rushing a game just so i get to another one just incase im missing out, which rushing like this probably ruins my experience.
I definitely start to rush games if I'm tired of the mechanics. Even if I'm only halfway done. This is why I tend to appreciate progression systems in games. Often, it helps for the game to switch itself up some over time.
This video is me to a T. I can never make a decision on my backlog and I tend to waste my whole evening not playing anything and just waiting on UA-cam or social media. Crazy.
Last month I was able to finish Returnal, and to think I spent days and even weeks procrastinating whether or not to give it a try. Just because it looked hard. Honestly this game should've won game of the year or best soundtrack. Very underated
Sometimes are brains are too smart for their own good. Like trying to "optimise" having fun which ends up making us not have fun, and even quite the opposite becoming stressed and overwhelmed about it. I really struggle with this especially with making the "right" choice in games and then need to go back to a save instead of just enjoying the "mistake" and living with it. It won't kill me and technically it hasn't even affected anyone else, and it shouldn't affect me the way it does. Anyway just a little ramble.
I feel this. I've been emulating retro games recently and sometimes I find myself mindlessly reloading save states the second something sub-optimal happens. While older games are generally crummy at valuing your time, I do feel like there is something to be said about mistakes and living with them, even in a digital context.
Actually I'm watching this video because UA-cam likes to suggest these videos xD I'm happy just playing Splatoon 3 and TotK. I have a very productive day since I use to-do lists and a routine app along with Google Calendar so I always know what I want to do. I'm able to get a lot of things done and not spend too much time on social media. I play games after doing my responsibilities because its my reward for working hard in the day. It allows me to focus on gaming without much worry. Other than having Pokemon Sleep, I won't have anything open in bed. Start journaling, get stuff out of your head, you can focus on anything. I am a little bit between satisficer and maximer. Here I try to optimize my day but I settle for something at first before it becomes more optimal. There's always time to do things, just gotta plan and be realistic. 2 hours of playing everyday really builds up. I play games to have fun. Either to get immersed in the game, compete or relax. I really like relaxing games after a long day.
You sound like me! Glad to hear you have priorities straight. Journaling has been on my mind lately and you are getting me to think I should try it out!
@@ChrimChrimbo I find Backloggd to be pretty fun to use for gaming journaling. Keeps it all in one place too for the games you play. My main journal is just for everything and I can copy and paste the gaming journals there xD
for the past few years ive been going through steamDBs top rated list and just playing through those, ive found some of my favorite games that i wouldve never tried out through that.
I feel like I spend more time scrolling through sales and buying new games instead of playing the ones I have. Every time I open a new game, I go “Oh but what if I wanna leave this as best for last?” or “I really want this to be a ‘Save for a rainy day’ type of game” which ends up with me being paralysed to even start and I’ll end up scrolling through the sales page again 😅
WOW I'M LATE TO THIS COMMENT SORRY. Definitely have been there myself. Sometimes you just need to have something downloaded so when you sit down at your PC, just hit Play.
My issue is that when I wnvat to game, I start something but every game I open I'm tired with after 2 minutes because it doesn't catch my attention. Back in the day this was unheard of for me, now it's a miracle if I actually sit down and play so. Ehring for a view hours and get back to it
Lately I found a lot of videos who desrcibe the same problem you described. And I asked myself, why I don't have this problem. I set some rules up, for buying a new game. First of all, don't buy games because there on sales. I did it once ore twice and never touched them. The reason to buy a game should never be, because it's cheap. Don't buy games you don't have the time to play now. I don't buy games were I think will play them this month or this year. How do I know if I'm still interested in this game after this time? So I buy a game I want to play now and I have time to play now. Don't buy two or more games in one rush. Decide for one game, buy it and play it. (Maybe you can get two if you know you have the time to play them). It's hard to decide between two games I really want to play. But in the end I always have to make the decision, because I have limited time and I can just play one game. So I make the decision earlier. And I don't have to make it when I want to play a game. Make a limit of how many games you can buy in a specific time. For example I decided, I can buy a game after two months when I bought the last game. It's not super strict and depending on how big the last game was. (For example if the last game took an hour to complete I will not wait 2 months for a new game), but it makes "getting" a new game more exciting and you give yourself time to play the game. There is no presse to play a nother game because there is no other game (that you spend money on it) you have to play. A lot of this things are that way because I go to the university and don't have much money. I had I short time when I could buy more and I did it and it wasn't a good idea so I try to stick to my rules. I also don't have a backlist. I have a list, I can got to if I want to buy and play a new game and I don't have any idea which to get.
Thanks for all your tips! I really like the one about buying a game now you will play now. I've been trying that recently, and it makes things so much more manageable. I think setting rules around what/why/when you buy is PROBABLY a much better approach than just having a lot of stuff and not knowing what to do with it.
I tried Crosscode, couldnt get past two hours due to how fast the combat was, and the puzzles were obnoxious to me. The story was gripping me to keep going, so I did up to 29 hours, but I said, "Enough, I will just watch a UA-cam series skipping the gameplay and just watching the story unfold." I then realized how difficult it was for me to stick with it since the game was pretty long. I am now playing Death's Door and South Park The Stick of Truth, and both of them together are even shorter to complete than Crosscode is alone. It helps that since SP and DD are two different games, my attention is more focused than with CC. So Im playing the shortest games first, never playing more than two at a time, then focusing on longer titles one at a time.
Interesting point on Crosscode because I really like that game (the little I've played of it). It can be tougher with longer games, but sometimes you just have to be in the right mindset. You've got me thinking about Stick of Truth now though....
Damn bro, I related hard to that segment where you were saying all the things you need to do because you work from home. Even down to the cat vomit. I need to take her to the vet...
My biggest issue with modern gaming is that my brain has changed from just enjoying the game to focusing on achievements/trophies. And I haven't figured out how to fix this yet and I really hate it.
I was stuck here too. At the end of the day, trophies and achievements are just random manmade bits of code that tick off dopamine. I'm finding it's much more enjoyable to both be selective about which games to 100% and ALSO pick and choose which parts of a game I want to 100% (for example, beating every difficulty level instead of finding all the audio logs, etc)
I have a problem where I’ll be playing a game then there is a decision in-game that I’m so conflicted over I’ll quit the game and not finish it because I couldn’t decide past that decision…I need help
So I have a problem...i got so used to playing online games like wow and destiny, and showing off my great and whatnot, that i have a hard time playing any game unless i can show off my accomplishments in it... so i started platinum hunting, but now i cannot convince myself to play ANYTHING unless I'm chasing a platinum.... it really frustrates me because i know I'm missing a lot of great pc and xbox games and i even have an RoG Ally, but I'm always thinking "even if i beat this, no one will know about it so what's the point?"
You should join our Discord server! We have a lot of folks who are trophy chasers. It's good to be around people who play the same stuff and perhaps go after the same goals as you.
The way i get through my backlog is to play games on easy or story mode that way i just get to see the ending and i can move on. Difficulty in single player games are overrated and i dont want to try to be better at a SP game without any leaderboards or way to show off my improvement, save that for multiplayer PVP games.
This is a really good mindset that I find hard to get on board with. I love challenging difficulties for the most part but I’m stuck on a game for way too long.
One thing that helped me is to limit myself to only download 5 games instead of over 100, this made me actually enjoy games like celeste that fealt unbearable before
The best way to beat your backlog is to STOP BUYING GAMES. If it's on sale NOW it will be on sale LATER. You all know how the sales work. The games are on EVERY sale. It's not going to disappear. If anything it might be even cheaper later on. Play what you have until it's gone or play three or four backlog games before you buy AND PLAY a new game, then do the backlog again.
Man I’m inbetween mgs4 and 5 and I cannot bring myself to finish peacewalker. But the urge to know all possible lore before 5 is far too overwhelming. Then there’s cyberpunk, RDR2 and Witcher 3, ff14, ff6. all looking at me half finished like wtf man
I recently got my ps5 after ps1 then I dont know why but I keep on purchasing games. Games that I will play probably 1 hr or 2 then going to the next game again and again. I remember when I was a kid I can finish a same game like digimon world 1 or pepsiman or crash bandicoot many times without thinking that I keep on repeating the same game. I just enjoy. But now I don’t know why I have a lot of backlogs wether physical or digital. Still I can’t help my self buying games.
4:23 glad to hear it isn’t just me that’s like this😅I bought Hogwarts Legacy a few months back, was having fun with it, then thought ‘I bet I’d enjoy this much more if I watched the Harry Potter movies first’ & haven’t done anything with the series since
I'm in exactly the same position with Hitman saga^^ I have almost finished Contracts, but I'm lost in a level, with guards in alert. And it appears so boring to return to this freaking mission like that... or restarting the mission from the beginning. And I've already did half of Silent Assassin in PS3. It feels boring to do it again on PC, just to have acess to the rest of the game.
@@ChrimChrimbo If there’s one I like a lot it tends to stick and I’ll finish it but I generally don’t view beating games as that important unless I’m engrossed the entire time.
Another way to get past needing to play old titles before you play the new one is to look for let’s plays or analysis videos of them. If the first game in the series is a slog (looking at the Witcher series here) then let someone else play it while you make dinner. Then you know what happens and you learned it during non game time.
GENIUS. I used to need to play everything in a series, but I've been getting more comfortable with watching a playthrough, especially if it's an OLD OLD game that sucks to play.
Just do spring cleaning every year and sort out what games you'd like to try once every few months, every week and delete/sell/donate what you'll never do again. Completion is impossible given the diffusion of choice and stealth releases.
Yes. I'm finding I prefer completion in two areas: 1) if it's a game I REALLY like that has reasonable objectives to reach within a reasonable amount of time/investment. 2) Picking only certain aspect of a game to complete. For example, currently I'm playing Elder Scrolls Online. To actually 100% it would be braindead, so I'm opting for 100%ing each zone I visit by completing the zone guides. It's manageable, but it's not everything.
@ChrimChrimbo that's a lot to aim for. I just play all I buy once and go on whims to see if I wanna bother again. Samurai jack threw repetitive enemies at me so I'm probably gonna opt out. Then of course new games like etrian odyssey has quality of life the older ones don't, so similar stuff (long boot/load times even on modern hardware, slow animations and unforgiving save systems get old fast imo) may get tedious as well.
0:46 😮 i was about to write OK but qhat should i do as a person with executive dysfunction (one nasty part of ADHD. I have ADHD) then BAM! You said...lets keep watching then!
![How to Deal with your Overwhelming Backlog - [SuperSamBams]](/img/n.gif)
Am I dumb because I don't use dark mode when browsing UA-cam?
Yes 😜😜
Just kidding, I don't use myself.
i mean no, but its better tho
i could never. my eyes hurt.
You are blind now though
It saves battery and your eyes, idk why anyone avoids dark mode. There’s also toooons more blue light in white than black, especially on OLED type screens where the pixels turn off for black
Not only do I do the "I gotta play 1 and 2 before 3" thing, but I actually convinced myself that playing a more recent, shinier game from the backlog will somehow diminish the experience of playing an older title later on, so I tend to play them in chronological order (for the most part). It makes no sense, and yet I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking this way.
I thought I was alone in this regard until people started joining our discord server with the same mindset. For the longest time, I've been this way. To the point I just straight up am not interested in newer releases until I'm familiar with, or at least ATTEMPT older versions.
Recently, I grinded through the original Suikoden, so I could get into Suikoden 2. Even though I read many times you don't need the background to enjoy 2, I couldn't help myself.
@@ChrimChrimbo And here I am beating all God of War games from the begining just because of Ragnarok xD
@@chingoedw88 ngl, I considered it after seeing some footage from Ragnarok!
@@ChrimChrimbo and those times where a remake is about to get release. of course you have to play the original one before😢
This is my exact thinking. I also deal with obsessive thinking and have adhd, so there's probably a correlation there between reading too far ahead too quickly and overthinking possible negative outcomes.
I tip I learnt which helped me a ton. Whenever you pick a game, pick a different genre, different company and different franchise. Don't keep playing fps games in a row, don't play like 5 ubisoft games and don't play a franchise constantly like re1-8 etc.
Personally I pick 5 games I am currently interested in. I pick 1 fps, 1 adventure, 1 rpg, 1 fighter and 1 hack and slash. You can change this to any genre you want so maybe swap fps for horror or fighter for puzzle or racing etc.
Then try to avoid those 5 games being by the same company and franchise. So don't pick re4 and then re8 just because its a fps over a third person, its still basically the same just different camera angles and it's in the same franchise.
Instead play re4 first then play something like zelda or mortal kombat before eventually picking up re8.
I got through 2 games so far that have been in my list for over a 2 year period now and I'm enjoying them.
That's a great idea. In another video, I talked about how I played Uncharted 1-3 and I burned out so hard that I don't want to go back to play 4. You are wise to try a bunch of genres at once to keep things fresh. Great idea!
I could try this. I have over 700 games over many platforms that I don't feel like buying any more games for a while and it's been a problem picking which game to play.
Great idea. I unconsciously do this and didn’t even realize it until you laid it out in words. If I just played survival horror, I’ll switch tracks to an action FPS like Boltgun to mix things up before I return to horror, and even then I’ll pick a different type of horror, maybe something more like a walking sim or psychological horror.
It keeps things fresh and I end up playing more games and also enjoying them a lot more.
Me who was literally in analysis paralysis while watching this video in the background and having videos auto-play💀.
that's what I'm here for. HEARTS
This is one of the best, and most relatable videos for me as an older gamer with a family, ADHD, an overthinking and over analytical brain, and a library around 2,000 games where I've maybe played 30% of them and completed much less. Thank you.
30% is a great number though! Glad this video was helpful. Feel free to stop by the Discord server where we work together to beat our backlogs! I've found the community there is super helpful for encouragement and challenge. I totally relate to balancing family/adhd/life/etc, so I'm glad this video could be helpful for you. Thanks for watching!
I find that the "7 out of 10s" can be pretty interesting because they have something about them that people overlook.
That's totally fair! If anything, most 7 out of 10s have something to contribute, especially toward getting an overall sense of game design and how a specific mechanic can be repeatedly implemented in game after game.
Rougelikes, for example, I've played so many of these, and many many many of them are 7 out of 10s (probably bc I've played so many of them), but even if they play mostly the same, you start to get a sense of what makes up the genre and what the cornerstones look like.
So true! Even games that people said really sucked can be good sometimes, or give you a good laugh
Yeah. I hear you on this. I play RPGs and I have recently been LOOKING for the 7's out of 10's. Not just considering them, but picking them over more highly rated entries solely because they're more likely to give me something I haven't seen in a genre I've played to hell and back.
This is why I love eurojank. The games are just so ambitious that they can't help but be charming despite their flaws. It's interesting to see them even partially realizing their potential and anyway I'd much rather support that than a cookie cutter AAA game.
PSA: it’s okay to stop playing games for a while until you actually genuinely want to play them. It’s also okay to never play certain games. They’ll always be there if you ever decide to come back. Explore other hobbies and interests if games aren’t drawing you in anymore.
Huge agree on this. Often, we game out of habit, but don't take time to step away for a bit. I took two breaks during 2021 and found a lot of insight about myself after stepping away from something that was so engrained into my life.
The nice thing is you can come back with fresh eyes and maybe only get into stuff you really like.
This video is just me in a nutshell. Analysis paralysis, ADHD, being a maximizer and always having to pick the absolute best option or else it would be "wrong". Thanks for making this.
Yes, it's so tough but there's hope at the end of the tunnel! It takes a lot of practice and reminding yourself that a sub-optimal choice is still OK!
Your friend is right about beating games. To me, a backlog is a double edged sword; Yeah it helps me try out games that I bought and haven't touched at all, but also gives me a forced sense of urge to finish certain games, especially if I really don't like playing it. I mean, who wants to play a video game that they dread going back to after a long day of work, right?
This is a really good point that I was mulling over while editing. There is a temptation to focus on your backlog simply because you have one.
My video pushes ppl to play their backlog instead of doing other things, but ultimately, if you want to spend the evening chillin and scrolling social media, who cares? It’s fine!
@@ChrimChrimbo absolutely. Sometimes you get burnt out and too tired to play so you end up watching UA-cam which is a mood
My solution to this is to abandon certain games if they don't interest me and to rotate between multiple games if I'm not in the mood to play a specific one. I do limit the amount of games I can play using this method though, otherwise I wouldn't finish anything
@@Jabroni_14 I do the exact same. I also come back to games I dropped to give em a 2nd (maybe even 3rd) chance later on. Sometimes they finally click. Others just don't so I basically put them in my "ignore" list
I just immediately quit. I don’t care how much I spent. Wasting time on it helps nobody.
A lot of the advice in this video pertains to more than just gaming, but decision making in general. Great vid, subbed
Thanks! Yes, I thought the article I had read was super interesting and applying it to gaming would only be one aspect of its uses. Glad this was helpful!
I just turned 30 and this is the best "how to beat your backlog" and also "how to get excited about games again" video I've seen so far
juicy!
I've been playing all of my childhood games lately and I'm having a blast. It really made gaming fun for me again.
Totally. That's been me this last year. Lots of old retro stuff. Such a wealth of games out there!
I'm thinking more like a 'Choice' Overload, Choice Paralysis or Overchoice than 'Analysis' Paralysis, but I guess they are almost the same phenomenon. Great video!
It's definitely more of a decision paralysis, but introduces a general analysis paralysis as a result.
Thanks for watching!
I’m a very drastic maximizer, and on top of that I’m a lead game dev, so I subconsciously make it mandatory to go through mediocre games to learn the good on them.
Great video man!
That's a good approach. I think you can learn a lot, even from garbage tier games. I've found it really helpful to think through ways to improve crappy systems in crappy games, instead of just complaining about them.
Now this is the kind of niche content I needed. Eloquent, practical, and helpful. Thank you!
It's hard to make niche content because it doesn't reach as many people, so comments like this are so kind and nice to read. Thank you!
@@ChrimChrimbo I'm sure its tough especially when the message is "play what you already have" instead of "buy this new thing with my referral link". It may not rake in big bucks but its good stuff 👍🏼
@@TheDukeofDan definitely. It’s also a hard message in a culture that obsesses over a new things every couple days. Appreciate your comment!
I don't actually have this problem with games, but one of the reasons I play games is because they help me stop overthinking other things, at least during the evening when I play. Watching this video actually helped me reflect more on the decision fatigue I get while grading, which is the big focus of my analysis paralysis and decision fatigue. Hearing these productivity tips applied to my hobby/something I already feel I have a handle on is actually really helpful!
That's awesome! Glad to hear it. I think I'm slowly getting over the AP hump with games, but I see it in many other areas of my life. The cool thing about figuring it out with non-important stuff like games means you can figure it out in more important areas (like grading!).
Thanks for your comment, cool to read!
You're so underrated. Thank you so much for this video. It really gave me reflection on my neverending backlog.
That's so kind, thank you! I hope the videos help you think smarter and more critically about your gaming habits!
I came here for help with my videogame backlog...I wasn't expecting some life lessons...thank you!
Glad I could help!
This video made me really think about the problem I have with regard to, making decisions. I didn’t expect a dive into psychology but here it is. Thank you.
I've mentioned it elsewhere, but when you start sorting out one of these issues, it becomes easier to see the pattern and work on it as a whole.
@@ChrimChrimbo - That’s true! Here’s to working things out one by one. 😊
So far, this is the only thing that has worked for me:
*1)* Make a new category on Steam and put all the games you want to finish in there (you know the ones). Make sure they are games that are 'beatable' or have some sort of "end-state" (ie, not something like Hunt: Showdown, Phasmophobia, etc.), and install all of them or at least as many as you can.
*2)* Whenever you have time to play and don't immediately decide just think "what kind of game do I feel like playing?". RPG? Action? Story-focused? A niche-indie title?
*3)* Look at your list and just click play on the genre you just thought about. Seriously. Just do it.
Don't feel bad about only playing a game for a little while before dropping it. If you put at least 2 hours into it and don't feel like continuing then don't. Cull it from the list. Maybe you'll come back to it later, maybe not, but you gave it a good try.
Don't be afraid to play more than one game at a time. If you played a lot of one game but want a different grenre today, then go for it. If you enjoyed something then leave it on the list and play something else. Forcing yourself to play something to completion when you're feeling something else will not only stop you from starting another game in your list, but could make the experience of what you're trying to finish less enjoyable.
This is good advice. I find I pick up and drop a lot of games but some just stick til completion (usually puzzle games).
A lot of games aren't worth finishing. I think they show their stuff early and I don't have enough time in life to play them all to completion.
One way to choose a game is to first recognise that you already made the choice to play the game when you bought it. So the choice is which one from the backlog. So don’t make that choice - you can let fate decide, or rather a random game selector (like on HLTB). If you aren’t liking it after a couple of hours, retire it and move on. It’s actually quite fun to see where it’ll take you, and often you’ll find great games that you probably never would have got around to playing.
Totally. Picking random stuff (depending on the mood) is a great idea.
I've suspected I have ADD for many years, there's many many signs and symptoms, but hearing how you describes your backlog problems made me realize my case is a hit worse than I thought. Felt like if you were describing my mind set and thought progress. I decided to seek profesional help in the near future. And also tackle my backlog.
Wow that’s awesome you are going to get it checked out. It’s really freeing to get a professional opinion. Best of luck to you!
This is a great video, and is applicable to more than just games but over-analyzing and analysis paralysis in general. I can't believe it took me until hearing you say it that no, I don't have to play all of the games that came before to enjoy the current one. I've long suffered from a long backlog and barely even wanted to think about all the games I "wanted" to play (or the ones that were recommended to me), and I already know this video is going to help me on that journey and beyond that into other aspects of my life as well. I'll definitely be coming back to this video. Thank you.
Also, you may or may not have inadvertantly added several titles to that list via clips from this video.
P.S. The Return of the Obra Dinn is an incredible game; played it with a friend of mine and we both had a blast. Highly recommended to anyone who might be reading this.
Obra Dinn is AMAZING. I was sad when it was over.
Yes, it's OK to not play everything that came prior, though I understand the temptation. Best of luck!
It's not only a useful guide for videogames. It's a useful guide for life in general. Great vid !
Thanks!
My first instinct to the realization in the video where I need to just pick something to play was to create a excel sheet of my entire backlog and rate each game according to priority to help improve the game choosing process.
So I definitely understand the overthinking dilemma, lol
Yes. It's sometimes helpful to just pick something and go for it!
I've found answers to a part of myself I didn't realize I needed. Thanks for making the video!
Glad it was helpful!
Loved this! Looking forward to the next backlog video.
Glad you enjoyed it! I have more in my… backlog.
Thank you so much for helping me put a name on something that I thought was nameless. I am a maximizer. I didn't know there was a community of other likeminded folks. Can't wait to look into your other videos in my attempt to be better about playing my games instead of starting and stopping like have done for so many titles.
Welcome! Maximizing is my greatest folly. We have a ton of people in a similar situation. Even though I'm not posting on UA-cam, the Discord is as healthy as it's ever been. Hope we can help!
A really solid video on tackling the backlog,
and decision making in general. Thanks
Thanks! Getting better at beating decision paralysis takes time but you can do it!
i just want you to know, this has been one of the most impactful youtube videos i've seen. this spoke to me not only as a gamer but as a person in general. super cool stuff, thank you for these videos :)
That's so great to hear! Glad you enjoyed it and glad it was helpful!
It’s funny how picking a game echoes how we make decisions in real life, and how so many of us feel like our to-do list grows faster than it can be addressed.
Games echo reality and that’s why decisions can be so hard.
Yes. I think getting good at one means you are learning to get good at the other too.
I am really glad about finding thid channel. Been looking for this kind of content for a long time
Welcome!
When TVs went HD around mid 2000’s,
i got rid of all older games & consoles that i was done with
to make way for HD consoles & games.
Work, family life, and researching games
have created/caused the greatest
backlog situation, and i couldnt be happier.
My advice is forget finishing games,
and stop chasing trophies or achievements.
“The Witness” clips in your video made me smile; slow burn that one,
but not worth finishing.
This is good advice. I need reminded I don't need to check every corner in a game. I can just move on.
PS I watched a video that spoiled some of the biggest things in The Witness and now I'm a lump of emotion because I didn't get to figure it out myself.
the first one is a perfect explanation how I almost always beat my friends in cardgames. They take 15 MINUTES or more for a turn. I take ~1 minute at best. They spend an extreme amount of time overthinking their next move, the ifs and the if ifs and dont realize that all of this doesnt matter if they cant even get the base started. There is still enough time for the if ifs later.
I feel called out hahahahaha. I take forever on my turns.
Absolutely fantastic video. So take it from me, as someone who waited waaaay too long to be diagnosed with OCD, you very likely have the same. I would see a specialist!
I’ve played (and suffered through) every final fantasy in order just so I don’t miss ANYTHING when I play the later ones. This is despite, not wanting to play the earlier ones! I just had to do everything the “complete and right way”.
maybe.......
Oh my god this video speaks to me 1000 percent. Thank you for making this!
Of course, glad it was helpful!
For me this is more applicable to trying to solo D&D since group play isn't usually good and I have heaps of stuff because I love the idea of the game.
Now you have Baldurs Gate 3!
Actually true story: this video sat in my "watch later" playlist for a long time. One time I even booted it up while pooping but because I was scrolling other stuff at the same time, none of the words spoken by that soothing voice went into my head. I finally played this video while procrastinating on an essay, found it really interesting, and started typing this vary comment 2:01 into the video (I checked).
I will go back to the essay now, but I WILL return and finish watching this. At some point. I will. I swear.
Also, I clean up my WatchLater regularly so that it doesn't go over the limit like my sister's who has ADHD. The reason this video survived after multiple clean-ups is because the text in the thumbnail continued to pique my interest.
All that to say, props to your thumbnail game. It worked and it worked wonders.
Another scary note: I literally got home from a long day of work, longed for a break with playing a game, but felt guilty about not making more progress on the essay (which I already found time to work on after my shift and before I commuted home), told myself "I'll play games after writing for half an hour", so I wrote for about 20mins, and spent 30mins on UA-cam, thought to myself "Ok final video" which happened to be this one, and now I've spent about 10 mins commenting on this vid which I've only watched 2 mins of so far. OK now I'm rly gonna go back to the essay, which I will follow with some Zelda. I swear.
Thanks for telling me you were pooping.
This was a fantastic video. Complete rush of serotonin with Tip #8.
That quote in tip 8 was really good. For me, the most helpful tip was to just get started and get playing something, even if you don’t feel ready for it. Thanks for your kind words!
I've been paralyzed since 3 years. I've occasionally played a few old games to completion, but the new games just bore me out midway before I can even finish. Sometimes I blame it on the quality of games going down over the years, but nowadays I see its hard to pick even an old game I considered legendary. Plus the fact that now I'm grown up, and there's work now. back then when I was in school there were no responsibilities or pressure. Now when I play a game, I even feel guilty, thinking I should be doing something more productive.
I get that. People are designed to work, but we also need to rest. I’ve found that if I work hard, the rest feels more deserved than if I’m lazy with work.
It’s definitely fine to play games for rest, and hope you’ve been able to work through that!
I use physical media. Every Sunday I choose 5 movies I want to watch and 5 games I want to play. The rest is stored. Hope it helps
This is actually a really good idea. So you plan your week of entertainment in advance?
That point u made about play the first game of sequels is so relatable, i like to do that aswell cause i want to feel how the game progressed along the volumes even if it was in a bad way
Exactly. Blessing and curse.
I feel like this video was made for me. Thank you so much loved it :)
Of course! Glad to help.
Nice video! I can relate to pretty much everything you mention. 😄
I've been struggling with a constantly growing backlog since PS2 and Dreamcast were my main consoles. Still have plenty of untouched games for those old machines, plus many, many more for Xbox, X360, PS3 and PS4, but luckily my PC gaming days are long gone. I'm also always hesitant to play newer backlog games before older ones, and on top of that have this weird "rule" that I can't start playing a different game until I've finished the one I'm currently committed to, although I can (or at least used to be able to) make an exception for sport- and/or racing titles, since they generally lack storyline and I never aim to completely beat them.
Yeah... it quickly becomes complicated and silly, and when you also factor in that I'm likely the SLOWEST gamer on planet earth (no joke) it's pretty much impossible to make any measurable progress with the monstrous backlog. I'll probably enjoy a few more hours of Half-Life 2 this weekend though, because (as we all know) choosing to replay old favorites is usually the most effective tactic to make a dent in the backlog... 😄 🤔
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I'm finding my backlog grew exponentially once I got a gaming PC, and I don't have as many older console titles to play, but I'm seeing a lot of other people have a lot of console stuff to finish.
I think your rule makes sense, especially considering how easy it is to fall off a game and never return. I kind of want to start implementing that for myself.
Thanks for the comment!
" ..I'm likely the SLOWEST gamer on planet earth" You haven't met me.🙃😉
Really hit me with the Hitman part. I stopped playing The Witcher 3 when it came out to read the (at the time) eight books first because I loved what I'd played and felt like I couldn't really appreciate it without reading the novels and playing the first two games first.
Years later, I've read 7/9 (soon to be 10) Witcher novels and have played 0/3 Witcher games.
Tell me about it. My plan was to beat all the mainline Final Fantasy games. I'm now a year in and I've beaten 2 of them and given up on 2 others.
Thanks for the helpful video. I literally have zero gaming friends, but much of this is still relevant. Backlog is the big bad boss!
Welcome to Discord! Hopefully you can find like-minded folks to help you through your backlog journey. Glad to help!
People that don’t have this issue scare me
Yeah, what's up with that?
Boo.
When I notice I'm just wasting time trying to pick something I instantly make sure to lower my standards and just try to pick something
Yes. Our standards are unencroachably high sometimes. Sometimes that's a good thing, but it's a good practice to let them lower for some things.
Not gonna lie, a bunch of my backlog are games I purchased mainly because of "community pressure" praising a particular game for how amazing it is, rather than it being a game I was genuinely inspired to play, all at a time in my life when I didn't have the mental capacity to destinguish between my authentic desire to play a certain game, vs "wanting" to experience something others say is so amazing.
So true. I get stuck in this too. The hype cycle can be really exhausting. I recommend finding a community of gamers that aren't obsessed with the hype cycle. It's so much more grounded.
I don't how or why this vid popped up on my recommended list. But I'm glad it did.... I have always thought I am alone with this problem... My backlogs kept growing and growing. Now you can add me to your list of subscribers.
I thought I was alone too! Then I discovered r/patientgamers and realized it was widespread. This is a big reason we started a discord, to provide community around backlog beating. Thanks for joining!
No video on UA-cam has ever hit this close to home oh my god get out of my WALLS
I'VE BEEN WATCHING YOU FOR A LONG LONG TIME MUSHY.
i hate being a maximizer, i've been so stuck with gaming for the past year i can't play anything and i always wanna buy a new game but i feel extremely guilty bc i have about 100 games in my backlog and i just don't play anything new, only junk sandbox games
Survival/Crafting games are really a bane to backlog gaming. They are either early access or don't have an endpoint. I've found it best to just write off certain genres for long periods of time until a really exciting one strikes my fancy. Don't give up!
The Greatest way I found to beating a backlog is to literally limit the space available for it, whether intentional or unintentional. For instance, the PS4 I play on only has around 500GB give or take all the screenshots, videos, services, and old save data floating around on it. There are only 5-10 games that are actually playable on it. Any more will not be able to download or install due to low storage.
This forces you to either make the decision to simply cut your losses, but not your save, and remove it in favor of another. Or persevere and see it through to the end.
When I get back to it though, I'm making sure I can remove at least half those games so I can make space for half more. Especially one my friend really wants to enjoy.
That’s a great idea. I like limiting my options. Definitely helps to make a decision.
I don't suffer from the inability to make a choice, however I do tend to wait for a sale and then buy more games than I have time to play. Couple that with being a completionist and I have a swelling backlog to conquer. I have to talk to every NPC, explore every hallway, get every item, beat the optional bosses, see all the endings etc. My solution has been to stop buying new games until I finish a few of the ones collecting digital dust in my Steam library.
Good solution. For me, it depends on the game, but I realized I was getting in the completionist cycle, and that REALLY slowed down my ability to get games beat. I've tried moving away from it, but it's tough. What is it about completing a game that you really enjoy? Or do you even enjoy it?
thanks man, I needed to hear this
subbed
Glad to help!
This was a really helpful video.
For me, I'm currently playing Tower of Fantasy, Gwent, Hearthstone, Marvel Snap, Raft & Vampire Survivors.
I realized that most of the time I suffer from FOMO on online games with battle pass, daily missions etc.
Sometimes they feel like a to do list, like "okay I completed the daily quests on Hearthstone, I can now move on to another game" and I play them not because I enjoy them, but because I don't want to miss those rewards lol. This is stupid when you think about it.
So for my own good I decided to remove Tower of Fantasy (which is a gacha game and not a very healthy one) and Hearthstone because I enjoy the other card games more and they don't feel like a chore.
Obviously, I don't have this feeling with single player games because there is basically no FOMO.
I think I should play 1 or 2 multiplayer games at once MAX.
Totally on the same page with you. I end up grinding achievements or in-game currency to unlock whatever DLC or anything I can. It's so dumb and I don't even have fun half the time.
Moving down to a game or two IS THE WAY, totally agree.
I was already identifying with this video as a person with ADHD and a huge backlog between my steam library and emulation, and then you got tot the part about Maximizers, and wow... I feel personally called out, dragged, and scalped. Mary... that's me
that is exactly how I felt making the video! welcome to the club!
Thank you so much for this video. I also struggle with ADHD and since anxiety keeps me up to date with work tasks I’ve been OK but still having trouble having fun for a long time, if that’s make any sense
Yes! It does make sense. It's tough out there.
This video was really helpful. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.
I feel seen. I've played thorugh all Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Thief and Hitman games out there for the exact same reason that I couldn't convince myself to just start with a later title
Yep. Sometimes they are worth it (hitman) but maybe not with all of them.
Paralysis of choise has became a big issue for myself when you could first purchase game online. Buying games in a store made me have alot less impulse buys. Usually it would be buy 1 game and play the hell out of it when i got home. This helped because i game the games more time as i wouldnt have much else to do. Also spoilers where practically impossible before youtube so even if you played a game a few years old, you would still get the excitement from its story.
Nowadays there is so much choise it can be so overwhelming, like you said you now worry if you choose right, so occasionally i feel like im rushing a game just so i get to another one just incase im missing out, which rushing like this probably ruins my experience.
I definitely start to rush games if I'm tired of the mechanics. Even if I'm only halfway done. This is why I tend to appreciate progression systems in games. Often, it helps for the game to switch itself up some over time.
This video is me to a T. I can never make a decision on my backlog and I tend to waste my whole evening not playing anything and just waiting on UA-cam or social media. Crazy.
Yep, I'm finding that building out a schedule to stick to helps in more areas than just playing backlog games.
Last month I was able to finish Returnal, and to think I spent days and even weeks procrastinating whether or not to give it a try. Just because it looked hard. Honestly this game should've won game of the year or best soundtrack. Very underated
That's so cool about the backlog. Finding those games that you otherwise would have passed over. Glad you found a good one!
Instantly subscribed.
yasssssssssssss
Sometimes are brains are too smart for their own good. Like trying to "optimise" having fun which ends up making us not have fun, and even quite the opposite becoming stressed and overwhelmed about it. I really struggle with this especially with making the "right" choice in games and then need to go back to a save instead of just enjoying the "mistake" and living with it. It won't kill me and technically it hasn't even affected anyone else, and it shouldn't affect me the way it does. Anyway just a little ramble.
I feel this. I've been emulating retro games recently and sometimes I find myself mindlessly reloading save states the second something sub-optimal happens. While older games are generally crummy at valuing your time, I do feel like there is something to be said about mistakes and living with them, even in a digital context.
Actually I'm watching this video because UA-cam likes to suggest these videos xD I'm happy just playing Splatoon 3 and TotK. I have a very productive day since I use to-do lists and a routine app along with Google Calendar so I always know what I want to do. I'm able to get a lot of things done and not spend too much time on social media. I play games after doing my responsibilities because its my reward for working hard in the day. It allows me to focus on gaming without much worry.
Other than having Pokemon Sleep, I won't have anything open in bed.
Start journaling, get stuff out of your head, you can focus on anything. I am a little bit between satisficer and maximer. Here I try to optimize my day but I settle for something at first before it becomes more optimal. There's always time to do things, just gotta plan and be realistic. 2 hours of playing everyday really builds up.
I play games to have fun. Either to get immersed in the game, compete or relax. I really like relaxing games after a long day.
You sound like me! Glad to hear you have priorities straight. Journaling has been on my mind lately and you are getting me to think I should try it out!
@@ChrimChrimbo I find Backloggd to be pretty fun to use for gaming journaling. Keeps it all in one place too for the games you play. My main journal is just for everything and I can copy and paste the gaming journals there xD
for the past few years ive been going through steamDBs top rated list and just playing through those, ive found some of my favorite games that i wouldve never tried out through that.
Genius. I love organizing my library by rating and playing stuff that way. You are right, you find a lot of great stuff that way!
A really great video. Thanks
Of course! Hope it was helpful.
Far out this is so relatable.
Glad it was helpful! It was a big video to put together.
I feel like I spend more time scrolling through sales and buying new games instead of playing the ones I have. Every time I open a new game, I go “Oh but what if I wanna leave this as best for last?” or “I really want this to be a ‘Save for a rainy day’ type of game” which ends up with me being paralysed to even start and I’ll end up scrolling through the sales page again 😅
WOW I'M LATE TO THIS COMMENT SORRY. Definitely have been there myself.
Sometimes you just need to have something downloaded so when you sit down at your PC, just hit Play.
My issue is that when I wnvat to game, I start something but every game I open I'm tired with after 2 minutes because it doesn't catch my attention. Back in the day this was unheard of for me, now it's a miracle if I actually sit down and play so. Ehring for a view hours and get back to it
Yep, it's so true. I try to make sure I'm at my PC desk. I usually can stay awake longer that way.
I usually figure out what I'm going to play in the morning the night before and play it no matter what.
that's a great way to do it!
Lately I found a lot of videos who desrcibe the same problem you described. And I asked myself, why I don't have this problem.
I set some rules up, for buying a new game.
First of all, don't buy games because there on sales. I did it once ore twice and never touched them. The reason to buy a game should never be, because it's cheap.
Don't buy games you don't have the time to play now. I don't buy games were I think will play them this month or this year. How do I know if I'm still interested in this game after this time? So I buy a game I want to play now and I have time to play now.
Don't buy two or more games in one rush. Decide for one game, buy it and play it. (Maybe you can get two if you know you have the time to play them). It's hard to decide between two games I really want to play. But in the end I always have to make the decision, because I have limited time and I can just play one game. So I make the decision earlier. And I don't have to make it when I want to play a game.
Make a limit of how many games you can buy in a specific time. For example I decided, I can buy a game after two months when I bought the last game. It's not super strict and depending on how big the last game was. (For example if the last game took an hour to complete I will not wait 2 months for a new game), but it makes "getting" a new game more exciting and you give yourself time to play the game. There is no presse to play a nother game because there is no other game (that you spend money on it) you have to play.
A lot of this things are that way because I go to the university and don't have much money. I had I short time when I could buy more and I did it and it wasn't a good idea so I try to stick to my rules.
I also don't have a backlist. I have a list, I can got to if I want to buy and play a new game and I don't have any idea which to get.
Thanks for all your tips! I really like the one about buying a game now you will play now. I've been trying that recently, and it makes things so much more manageable.
I think setting rules around what/why/when you buy is PROBABLY a much better approach than just having a lot of stuff and not knowing what to do with it.
I tried Crosscode, couldnt get past two hours due to how fast the combat was, and the puzzles were obnoxious to me. The story was gripping me to keep going, so I did up to 29 hours, but I said, "Enough, I will just watch a UA-cam series skipping the gameplay and just watching the story unfold." I then realized how difficult it was for me to stick with it since the game was pretty long.
I am now playing Death's Door and South Park The Stick of Truth, and both of them together are even shorter to complete than Crosscode is alone. It helps that since SP and DD are two different games, my attention is more focused than with CC.
So Im playing the shortest games first, never playing more than two at a time, then focusing on longer titles one at a time.
Interesting point on Crosscode because I really like that game (the little I've played of it). It can be tougher with longer games, but sometimes you just have to be in the right mindset.
You've got me thinking about Stick of Truth now though....
@Chrim Chrimbo It's underrated if you ask me. Very few pure RPGs have gameplay like this one, and of course, the South Park humor never gets old.
THIS IS THE CHANNEL I NEEEDED AHHHHHRRGHHHHHHH
welcome.
Damn bro, I related hard to that segment where you were saying all the things you need to do because you work from home. Even down to the cat vomit. I need to take her to the vet...
Work from home life is a good one, but it definitely leads to long to do lists. Also thanks for reminding me bc I need to get my cat to the vet too...
My biggest issue with modern gaming is that my brain has changed from just enjoying the game to focusing on achievements/trophies. And I haven't figured out how to fix this yet and I really hate it.
I was stuck here too. At the end of the day, trophies and achievements are just random manmade bits of code that tick off dopamine. I'm finding it's much more enjoyable to both be selective about which games to 100% and ALSO pick and choose which parts of a game I want to 100% (for example, beating every difficulty level instead of finding all the audio logs, etc)
I have ADD and just bought the first two Hitman games on Steam for the same reason 😂 I feel target but I also Subscribed immediately
I made this for you Chris Nelson. didn't you know?
@@ChrimChrimbo 😂😂😂
I have a problem where I’ll be playing a game then there is a decision in-game that I’m so conflicted over I’ll quit the game and not finish it because I couldn’t decide past that decision…I need help
I have not had this issue before, but it sounds paralyzing.
does anybody know what the game at 4:27 is?
A Short Hike!
So I have a problem...i got so used to playing online games like wow and destiny, and showing off my great and whatnot, that i have a hard time playing any game unless i can show off my accomplishments in it... so i started platinum hunting, but now i cannot convince myself to play ANYTHING unless I'm chasing a platinum.... it really frustrates me because i know I'm missing a lot of great pc and xbox games and i even have an RoG Ally, but I'm always thinking "even if i beat this, no one will know about it so what's the point?"
You should join our Discord server! We have a lot of folks who are trophy chasers. It's good to be around people who play the same stuff and perhaps go after the same goals as you.
The way i get through my backlog is to play games on easy or story mode that way i just get to see the ending and i can move on. Difficulty in single player games are overrated and i dont want to try to be better at a SP game without any leaderboards or way to show off my improvement, save that for multiplayer PVP games.
This is a really good mindset that I find hard to get on board with. I love challenging difficulties for the most part but I’m stuck on a game for way too long.
One thing that helped me is to limit myself to only download 5 games instead of over 100, this made me actually enjoy games like celeste that fealt unbearable before
Literally so smart. I started doing this last year and it’s been such a tremendous help.
4:26 :( same, so much unanswered questions
I'M NOT ALONE!
The best way to beat your backlog is to STOP BUYING GAMES. If it's on sale NOW it will be on sale LATER. You all know how the sales work. The games are on EVERY sale. It's not going to disappear. If anything it might be even cheaper later on. Play what you have until it's gone or play three or four backlog games before you buy AND PLAY a new game, then do the backlog again.
That’s too logical man
I appreciate this comment so much a day before the steam summer sale begins lol . Too many In my backlog
Man I’m inbetween mgs4 and 5 and I cannot bring myself to finish peacewalker. But the urge to know all possible lore before 5 is far too overwhelming. Then there’s cyberpunk, RDR2 and Witcher 3, ff14, ff6. all looking at me half finished like wtf man
I do NOT have this issue bc when I think I'm close to the end of a game, I push to finish it.
I recently got my ps5 after ps1 then I dont know why but I keep on purchasing games. Games that I will play probably 1 hr or 2 then going to the next game again and again.
I remember when I was a kid I can finish a same game like digimon world 1 or pepsiman or crash bandicoot many times without thinking that I keep on repeating the same game. I just enjoy. But now I don’t know why I have a lot of backlogs wether physical or digital. Still I can’t help my self buying games.
I've tried to move to just buying games I want to play in the moment. It's been pretty helpful overall!
4:23 glad to hear it isn’t just me that’s like this😅I bought Hogwarts Legacy a few months back, was having fun with it, then thought ‘I bet I’d enjoy this much more if I watched the Harry Potter movies first’ & haven’t done anything with the series since
Classic.
I'm in exactly the same position with Hitman saga^^
I have almost finished Contracts, but I'm lost in a level, with guards in alert. And it appears so boring to return to this freaking mission like that... or restarting the mission from the beginning.
And I've already did half of Silent Assassin in PS3. It feels boring to do it again on PC, just to have acess to the rest of the game.
Same. The older games can be tough, but they can also be so fun.
Wow this video is great
Thank you!
I like to jump between different types of games. I’ll play max Payne, re4 remake, Pokémon leaf green, halo infinite and Mario Wonder at the same time
You are brave. I never finish any games when I do this.
@@ChrimChrimbo If there’s one I like a lot it tends to stick and I’ll finish it but I generally don’t view beating games as that important unless I’m engrossed the entire time.
Another way to get past needing to play old titles before you play the new one is to look for let’s plays or analysis videos of them. If the first game in the series is a slog (looking at the Witcher series here) then let someone else play it while you make dinner. Then you know what happens and you learned it during non game time.
GENIUS. I used to need to play everything in a series, but I've been getting more comfortable with watching a playthrough, especially if it's an OLD OLD game that sucks to play.
I choose a few favorite ones I’d like to play and then play inny-meanie-miini-mo. Childish, but I’ve been doing since I was a kid. It works
Genius. If it works, it works.
11:44 will the return of obra dinn ever be in a bundle? Or go on sale more?
Ask them devvies, boi
Just do spring cleaning every year and sort out what games you'd like to try once every few months, every week and delete/sell/donate what you'll never do again. Completion is impossible given the diffusion of choice and stealth releases.
Yes. I'm finding I prefer completion in two areas:
1) if it's a game I REALLY like that has reasonable objectives to reach within a reasonable amount of time/investment.
2) Picking only certain aspect of a game to complete. For example, currently I'm playing Elder Scrolls Online. To actually 100% it would be braindead, so I'm opting for 100%ing each zone I visit by completing the zone guides. It's manageable, but it's not everything.
@ChrimChrimbo that's a lot to aim for. I just play all I buy once and go on whims to see if I wanna bother again. Samurai jack threw repetitive enemies at me so I'm probably gonna opt out. Then of course new games like etrian odyssey has quality of life the older ones don't, so similar stuff (long boot/load times even on modern hardware, slow animations and unforgiving save systems get old fast imo) may get tedious as well.
Buying a Steam Deck really helps with this as well.
YES. The number of games I wouldn't have even touched if not for my Steam Deck. CRAZY. I love it. Welcome, fellow Decker.
0:46 😮 i was about to write OK but qhat should i do as a person with executive dysfunction (one nasty part of ADHD. I have ADHD) then BAM! You said...lets keep watching then!
OF COURSE.
2:10 I'm doing that right now by watching this video!
ah yisss
This is so true! I am everything your described haha.
It's comforting to know other people are in a similar position!
I really cannot realte and I am so happy that I can't. :D Glad I watched the video if only for this.
Good. It's too stressful.