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.
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
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.
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.
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
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!
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!
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?
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!
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 TH-cam or social media. Crazy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
@@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.
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)
Man this paralysis thing is legit. I cannot start a new game and end up playing Skyrim for 10 minutes instead. I miss the old days...the new Metroid Prime remastered totally had me hooked , I played it straight through. I just don't like the new games they make. I tried Xenoblade Definitive 3 times . I wanna like it but it just never works out.
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.
This is pretty common. If you have completed your work, responsibilities, chores, etc, I think it's pretty vital to acknowledge the time you are spending on a hobby is valid. Humans are built to have periods of rest. The issue is when we ignore our responsibilities and the people around us. That's when things get dicey. Of course, gaming can be a distraction and time-waster, but it doesn't have to be that way. Game smart and be thoughtful about it.
'Replaying Dark Souls for the tenth time' man replaying the games i currently own multiple times would save me so much wasted time and money. Get so jealous of friends who can go all year without buying a new game because they're replaying RDR2, going for all achievements in The witcher 3 or doing their 2000th run in hades. Im sat here with all those games and more.....and i still keep buying new ones
Stop buying more games than you have time to play. I've actually sold off part of my collection for this very reason. Too much choice. Oh, and too much stuff taking up space.
I'm currently dealing with my 2nd major Steam backlog due to being engrossed in a couple of games for "too long" (the first being Skyrim, the second Ark Survival Evolved). I'm yet again sorting my games in an excel spreadsheet, listed chronologically, and breaking the time order to mix up game type (1st vs 3rd person, action vs stealth, serious vs casual, short vs long etc). This video is good in that it's highlighted my maximising tendencies, but I stand by that approach as being better than meandering aimlessly through life. That said, I'm 45, been playing games since I was around 8 years old, and I'm now constantly evaluating how I spend my time / "wasting" more of my life. I'm now really asking myself if I'm enjoying myself or just getting through the experience, and for the first time ever I'm putting some games into the "leave" category. I still though seriously beat myself mentally when replaying a game as that's time I could / should spend clearing my backlog of new titles or just doing something more productive / lasting. I love games but addiction to them and the consequent over-reliance of escapism isn't healthy in every regard. I have decades of awesome gaming memories, but my life really hasn't moved on in that time, so I'm now giving myself a good long look in the "life mirror", looking at myself from another perspective, and I need to change as I'm not entirely happy with what I see. What really got my thoughts going was by bumping into an old friend, and the only thing he could ask of me was if I'd played any good games - that was all I have been known for. Obviously moderation is normally key, so we have to weigh up and remove imbalances to achieve that. When game use has become game abuse (using for the wrong / unintended reason / outcome) then change really needs to happen. Thank you for this video though, at the very least it's comforting (in an slightly unwanted way) to know that I'm not alone with these thoughts and problems.
The more I think of this matter, the more I identify factors - this is one deep rabbit hole!! To go back to playing games in chronological order, I think this makes perfect sense. Not only is this the "natural release timeline order" regardless of if the stories / progression falls in line, but there's so much more to it than that. Older games could well be better than their sequels (when Borderlands 2 came out I was going to start these games there and skip 1, but I decided last minute to play 1 first and I way prefer that game over 2). You ideally also don't want to play a later game in a series first not only to avoid spoilers or miss out on backstory, but playing a later game with better graphics and often better gameplay mechanics can make the earlier games seem very old, if not too old and janky to bother with. So for myself I will play all the games in the series, even if there's several titles to get through, but it's not to make the newer titles make more sense, it's just so that I don't miss out & appreciate what could be better games. That said, if it the timeline goes too far back, such as I loved Skyrim (plus Fallout 3 & NV) so much that I later tried Oblivion and it was too old & janky so I haven't bothered. Some games need to be played around when they're released as they break new ground, but when played years later they're simply nothing special anymore due to more games following in their footsteps (and possibly / probably doing a better job too). I even play games that are known to be complete rubbish, just so I can asses how bad it is and how accurate the reviews & reviewers were. That might sound crazy to some, but I've played games that were supposed to be bottom of the barrel (Aliens Colonial Marines, Duke Nukem Forever) and thought they weren't as bad as reviewers made out. I guess when you were brought up on ZX Spectrum games, crappy PC games still hold technical merit at the least! I also made 4 groups in Steam: Play, Replay, Leave & Racing (I'll always love the latter) and I think that this is important to do as it clearly defines and shoves in your face what you plan to deal with. As a consequence of seeing 30+ AAA 40+ hour long games in your Play section I'm now extremely mindful of if I'm going to bother with every game there or if I'll send it to the leave pile (which can actually be very satisfying / relieving to do)! I'm also analytical of annual release franchises, say Assassin's Creeds - I'm way behind on them as I burned out on them all so my next game in AC Syndicate, but I watch spoiler-free reviews before purchase to see if each release is distinct and worthy enough to buy. Better yet, comparison videos available due to hindsight can be awesome when the highlight if a sequel doesn't bring anything new and can simply be skipped (for AC I'll play Syndicate and Origins, but plan to skip Odyssey and Valhalla). The last factor that comes to mind is also backlogs are practically encouraged nowadays by post-release patching / fixing and Steam sales - simply wait a couple of years and games will by then actually be finished, as bugless as reasonably possible, and much cheaper, all adding up to greater sized backlogs compared to if they were absolutely fine and bought day 1 at full price. Buying 6 games on sale for the price of 1 at release is obviously a bargain, but comes with that extra cost of adding to the backlog even more!
Sorry I’m just now reading your comment! Totally in the same boat. I love games but it’s more than a hobby sometimes. It’s really healthy to examine things from time to time and boot them for awhile or switch them up. Sounds like you are on the right track. I think backlogs get unhealthy when we obsess over 100%ing it. It’s gonna be a better experience (and not such a life-suck) if we enjoy our time with it instead of make it a chore. Your idea of making games into a Leave category is brilliant. I typically call it “abandon” but the idea is the same. Also FWIW-if you are still playing the same four games, like that’s totally fine. The amount of times I’ve replayed the dark souls series, or that I’m about to start a second playthrough of BG3, whatever. I think you are getting your monies worth, plus you are enjoying it, so why move on to something else?
@ChrimChrimbo Thank you very much for your reply. No worries about being late, I forgot that I left a comment. In response to what you said (just as my feedback).... Going completionist / 100% to me is reserved only for games that I love so much that it deserves experiencing everything it has to offer, plus I get suckered into wanting that Platinum trophy (on PlayStation) to demonstrate this. That said, I love Souls games too but left the platinum trophy for DS3 due to the massive grind for covenants. I agree with you though that In my opinion, feeling a need to 100% everything just to tick those boxes is frankly probably compulsive obsessive disorder. Just wanting to get through every owned games main story is bad enough as it is. The matter of replaying good old games Vs playing inferior new ones to me is a double edged sword. While going back and reliving a great experience is truly awesome, I personally feel this should also be reserved for special games. Reminiscing too often obviously puts people into the trap of living in the past with a fear of the future. Saying that, modern games are often simply complete crap so going backwards into backlogs / replays might be "inevitable" anyway. Lastly, as for the mentality of "if you're having fun then why change" - I used to think exactly like this, but now I'm middle aged I'm left wondering of if life could be even better if I changed my ways. Just because something is good, settling for that may lead to compromises that we don't see as we're blinded by the good. I want to return back to writing music as it was a passion of mine, but I've never achieved anything with that whatever as I've allowed having fun all the time take not only priority but complete dominance. I don't really regret having fun for so long, but I now think there comes a time when you have to moderate that and try to achieve more in life as life has so much more to offer than just games 😊
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.
Its so hard to be a Maximizer when u love jrpgs .... So I got into The legend of heroes, xeno, Ys, Monster Hunter and FF games and im like holyfuck TLH has like 16 games ... and cant play a sequel w/o playing the previous games, but the first games are awful xDDD so i get stuck, postpone and never play sht.
No kidding. I got hard stuck on Ys after I played through Origin and I and II. I'm on Celcetta rn but haven't touched it in quite a while. I've found it's helpful to just watch a recap sometimes so you don't have to suffer.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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'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'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.
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!
I blame skyrim and fallout 4 for my backlog. Man, modding is infinite playthroughs. However, i managed to solve my backlog. See, skyrim and fallout 4 needs me on my main computer, at home. But when im at work, or free time? I bought a steamdeck. So i play some games on the road. I managed to clear some games now. I guess planning your time, and using your time wisely.
Excellent. I love my Steam Deck. It's great for so many reasons. I recently got into modding Morrowind, and that's been a whole thing. Some of those longer games with mods kill the backlog, but it's still cool if you are enjoying yourself and trying new things, even if they are just mods.
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 👍🏼
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.
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”.
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
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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 TH-cam, the Discord is as healthy as it's ever been. Hope we can help!
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Actually I'm watching this video because TH-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
"Life is too short to play 7 out of 10s" When you have a backlog that is super big, you aren't always going to have 8s, 9s and 10s. If anything, life is too short to play 4 and 5 out of 10s. Interesting videos nonetheless.
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!
For once in my life i'm glad to not have enough money to just buy tons of games left and right. I may only buy buy around 3 new games a year but by god i will play them all lol
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
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 TH-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....
Am I dumb because I don't use dark mode when browsing TH-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.
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 TH-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.
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!
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 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!
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.
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 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!
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!
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?
I am really glad about finding thid channel. Been looking for this kind of content for a long time
Welcome!
Oh my god this video speaks to me 1000 percent. Thank you for making this!
Of course, glad it was helpful!
No video on TH-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.
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!
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.
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 TH-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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
This video was really helpful. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.
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.
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.
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.
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)
Man this paralysis thing is legit. I cannot start a new game and end up playing Skyrim for 10 minutes instead.
I miss the old days...the new Metroid Prime remastered totally had me hooked , I played it straight through.
I just don't like the new games they make.
I tried Xenoblade Definitive 3 times . I wanna like it but it just never works out.
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.
How to play without feeling guilty and without thinking ur doing nothing constructive
This is pretty common. If you have completed your work, responsibilities, chores, etc, I think it's pretty vital to acknowledge the time you are spending on a hobby is valid. Humans are built to have periods of rest.
The issue is when we ignore our responsibilities and the people around us. That's when things get dicey. Of course, gaming can be a distraction and time-waster, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Game smart and be thoughtful about it.
'Replaying Dark Souls for the tenth time' man replaying the games i currently own multiple times would save me so much wasted time and money. Get so jealous of friends who can go all year without buying a new game because they're replaying RDR2, going for all achievements in The witcher 3 or doing their 2000th run in hades. Im sat here with all those games and more.....and i still keep buying new ones
I have friends like that too! My problem is replaying games but not playing the new games I’m buying.
Stop buying more games than you have time to play. I've actually sold off part of my collection for this very reason. Too much choice. Oh, and too much stuff taking up space.
This is a great solution. I suppose I'm more of a collector than an enjoyer!
6 and 7 hits different
It hits different this time.
I'm currently dealing with my 2nd major Steam backlog due to being engrossed in a couple of games for "too long" (the first being Skyrim, the second Ark Survival Evolved). I'm yet again sorting my games in an excel spreadsheet, listed chronologically, and breaking the time order to mix up game type (1st vs 3rd person, action vs stealth, serious vs casual, short vs long etc). This video is good in that it's highlighted my maximising tendencies, but I stand by that approach as being better than meandering aimlessly through life. That said, I'm 45, been playing games since I was around 8 years old, and I'm now constantly evaluating how I spend my time / "wasting" more of my life. I'm now really asking myself if I'm enjoying myself or just getting through the experience, and for the first time ever I'm putting some games into the "leave" category. I still though seriously beat myself mentally when replaying a game as that's time I could / should spend clearing my backlog of new titles or just doing something more productive / lasting. I love games but addiction to them and the consequent over-reliance of escapism isn't healthy in every regard. I have decades of awesome gaming memories, but my life really hasn't moved on in that time, so I'm now giving myself a good long look in the "life mirror", looking at myself from another perspective, and I need to change as I'm not entirely happy with what I see. What really got my thoughts going was by bumping into an old friend, and the only thing he could ask of me was if I'd played any good games - that was all I have been known for. Obviously moderation is normally key, so we have to weigh up and remove imbalances to achieve that. When game use has become game abuse (using for the wrong / unintended reason / outcome) then change really needs to happen. Thank you for this video though, at the very least it's comforting (in an slightly unwanted way) to know that I'm not alone with these thoughts and problems.
The more I think of this matter, the more I identify factors - this is one deep rabbit hole!! To go back to playing games in chronological order, I think this makes perfect sense. Not only is this the "natural release timeline order" regardless of if the stories / progression falls in line, but there's so much more to it than that. Older games could well be better than their sequels (when Borderlands 2 came out I was going to start these games there and skip 1, but I decided last minute to play 1 first and I way prefer that game over 2). You ideally also don't want to play a later game in a series first not only to avoid spoilers or miss out on backstory, but playing a later game with better graphics and often better gameplay mechanics can make the earlier games seem very old, if not too old and janky to bother with. So for myself I will play all the games in the series, even if there's several titles to get through, but it's not to make the newer titles make more sense, it's just so that I don't miss out & appreciate what could be better games. That said, if it the timeline goes too far back, such as I loved Skyrim (plus Fallout 3 & NV) so much that I later tried Oblivion and it was too old & janky so I haven't bothered. Some games need to be played around when they're released as they break new ground, but when played years later they're simply nothing special anymore due to more games following in their footsteps (and possibly / probably doing a better job too). I even play games that are known to be complete rubbish, just so I can asses how bad it is and how accurate the reviews & reviewers were. That might sound crazy to some, but I've played games that were supposed to be bottom of the barrel (Aliens Colonial Marines, Duke Nukem Forever) and thought they weren't as bad as reviewers made out. I guess when you were brought up on ZX Spectrum games, crappy PC games still hold technical merit at the least! I also made 4 groups in Steam: Play, Replay, Leave & Racing (I'll always love the latter) and I think that this is important to do as it clearly defines and shoves in your face what you plan to deal with. As a consequence of seeing 30+ AAA 40+ hour long games in your Play section I'm now extremely mindful of if I'm going to bother with every game there or if I'll send it to the leave pile (which can actually be very satisfying / relieving to do)! I'm also analytical of annual release franchises, say Assassin's Creeds - I'm way behind on them as I burned out on them all so my next game in AC Syndicate, but I watch spoiler-free reviews before purchase to see if each release is distinct and worthy enough to buy. Better yet, comparison videos available due to hindsight can be awesome when the highlight if a sequel doesn't bring anything new and can simply be skipped (for AC I'll play Syndicate and Origins, but plan to skip Odyssey and Valhalla). The last factor that comes to mind is also backlogs are practically encouraged nowadays by post-release patching / fixing and Steam sales - simply wait a couple of years and games will by then actually be finished, as bugless as reasonably possible, and much cheaper, all adding up to greater sized backlogs compared to if they were absolutely fine and bought day 1 at full price. Buying 6 games on sale for the price of 1 at release is obviously a bargain, but comes with that extra cost of adding to the backlog even more!
Sorry I’m just now reading your comment!
Totally in the same boat. I love games but it’s more than a hobby sometimes. It’s really healthy to examine things from time to time and boot them for awhile or switch them up. Sounds like you are on the right track.
I think backlogs get unhealthy when we obsess over 100%ing it. It’s gonna be a better experience (and not such a life-suck) if we enjoy our time with it instead of make it a chore.
Your idea of making games into a Leave category is brilliant. I typically call it “abandon” but the idea is the same.
Also FWIW-if you are still playing the same four games, like that’s totally fine. The amount of times I’ve replayed the dark souls series, or that I’m about to start a second playthrough of BG3, whatever.
I think you are getting your monies worth, plus you are enjoying it, so why move on to something else?
@ChrimChrimbo Thank you very much for your reply. No worries about being late, I forgot that I left a comment.
In response to what you said (just as my feedback)....
Going completionist / 100% to me is reserved only for games that I love so much that it deserves experiencing everything it has to offer, plus I get suckered into wanting that Platinum trophy (on PlayStation) to demonstrate this. That said, I love Souls games too but left the platinum trophy for DS3 due to the massive grind for covenants. I agree with you though that In my opinion, feeling a need to 100% everything just to tick those boxes is frankly probably compulsive obsessive disorder. Just wanting to get through every owned games main story is bad enough as it is.
The matter of replaying good old games Vs playing inferior new ones to me is a double edged sword. While going back and reliving a great experience is truly awesome, I personally feel this should also be reserved for special games. Reminiscing too often obviously puts people into the trap of living in the past with a fear of the future. Saying that, modern games are often simply complete crap so going backwards into backlogs / replays might be "inevitable" anyway.
Lastly, as for the mentality of "if you're having fun then why change" - I used to think exactly like this, but now I'm middle aged I'm left wondering of if life could be even better if I changed my ways. Just because something is good, settling for that may lead to compromises that we don't see as we're blinded by the good. I want to return back to writing music as it was a passion of mine, but I've never achieved anything with that whatever as I've allowed having fun all the time take not only priority but complete dominance. I don't really regret having fun for so long, but I now think there comes a time when you have to moderate that and try to achieve more in life as life has so much more to offer than just games 😊
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!
Its so hard to be a Maximizer when u love jrpgs .... So I got into The legend of heroes, xeno, Ys, Monster Hunter and FF games and im like holyfuck TLH has like 16 games ... and cant play a sequel w/o playing the previous games, but the first games are awful xDDD so i get stuck, postpone and never play sht.
No kidding. I got hard stuck on Ys after I played through Origin and I and II. I'm on Celcetta rn but haven't touched it in quite a while.
I've found it's helpful to just watch a recap sometimes so you don't have to suffer.
Just got life schooled
That’s what I’m here for.
This video is so like me.
ooooooooo
Nice vid
Thanks, mr. Mike.
I havent even loaded up miles morales , god of war 2 , hogwarts and zelda
have you done it yet?
@@ChrimChrimbo i loaded up hogwarts lol.
need more adhd tips, this not only occurs when i want to play games, it also occurs at work etc
Sure! I just posted another video about ADHD stuff and gaming backlogs.
@@ChrimChrimbo thanks for the info imma go watch it rn
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
People that don’t have this issue scare me
Yeah, what's up with that?
Boo.
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
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?
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'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'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!
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!
I blame skyrim and fallout 4 for my backlog. Man, modding is infinite playthroughs. However, i managed to solve my backlog. See, skyrim and fallout 4 needs me on my main computer, at home. But when im at work, or free time? I bought a steamdeck. So i play some games on the road. I managed to clear some games now. I guess planning your time, and using your time wisely.
Excellent. I love my Steam Deck. It's great for so many reasons.
I recently got into modding Morrowind, and that's been a whole thing. Some of those longer games with mods kill the backlog, but it's still cool if you are enjoying yourself and trying new things, even if they are just mods.
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!
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.
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.......
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 TH-cam, the Discord is as healthy as it's ever been. Hope we can help!
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.
ty for helping a maximizer who has ADHD and want to clean his backlog =)
4:22 That's me... or even the whole video... xD
Good luck on your quest!
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.
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.
Step 1. Buy slay the spire
Step 2. Play for just 10 mins
Step 3. You won’t want to play anything else.
I relate to this.
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!
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. 😊
Actually I'm watching this video because TH-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
I came here for help with my videogame backlog...I wasn't expecting some life lessons...thank you!
Glad I could help!
"Maximizers" don't maximize the most important resource... time.
Darnit....
"Life is too short to play 7 out of 10s"
When you have a backlog that is super big, you aren't always going to have 8s, 9s and 10s.
If anything, life is too short to play 4 and 5 out of 10s.
Interesting videos nonetheless.
I find the 4 and 5s are much more rare to find. It's mostly incomplete games or concept games. the 7s feel so so so common these days.
@@ChrimChrimboWhat does 7/10 mean to you?
I Hate being a Maximizer
but soooooometimes it pays off
it mostly sucks tho haha
WELCOME.
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!
For once in my life i'm glad to not have enough money to just buy tons of games left and right.
I may only buy buy around 3 new games a year but by god i will play them all lol
YES. Never give up.
This is the most productive anti-productive thing ever
I love helping you spend the time you are wasting well.
Who is your friend that reviews board games? Two worlds just possibly collided for me lol
Derek Thompson! He reviews for Geeks Under Grace.
@@ChrimChrimbo awesome!
Stuff like this is so much worse for us 100%ers.
I find asking "why do I want to 100% this, and what happens if I don't?" is really helpful.
thanks man, I needed to hear this
subbed
Glad to help!
You're so underrated. Thank you so much for this video. It really gave me reflection on my neverending backlog.
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!
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!
to have something 2 do, to get trophies, and the entertainment
For sure.
I like the term junkfood game lol gta is mine 🤣
Junkfood games kill the backlog, but they too fun ya know.
does anybody know what the game at 4:27 is?
A Short Hike!
Holy fuck he's just like me frfr
LET'S BE BESTIES.
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 TH-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.