Don't miss out on 20% off DeleteMe by using code DARYL at checkout! - joindeleteme.com/DARYL International Plans - international.joindeleteme.com What are your "Man" games from this year and what will you be voting for me to play in 2025? 👀
My "Man" games were Yakuza 0, Uncharted 2, and the big one by far was Astro Bot. It's not thought-provoking or makes you question your existence, but my God it made me remember what I love about video games that seems to be missing from the general culture. It's the right length, gives the right incentive to collect everything, and excels in damn near every aspect, and that's not even considering how it is a huge love letter to PlayStation's software after Playroom was dedicated to hardware. In a cynical sense, did Sony really deserve this celebration considering the many mistakes it has made during the PS5's lifespan? No. But I'd rather see it from the perspective of the devs from Team Asobi, who really understand how to make a video game feel like an experience rather than a chore. I really hope that we see some of the dead franchises that made an appearance in Astro Bot come back at some point, but you know how it is. Good luck in 2025, I voted for Hi-Fi Rush.
The only "Man" game from this year was AI: The somnium files. The annihilation route is heart-wrenching! My vote has gone towards another Uchikoshi directed game that you took off the list last year, 9 hours 9 persons 9 doors. I think it's way better than sominum files tbh.
The way I see it, the backlog is not a to do list as it is not meant to be finished. It should be treated more like a wine cellar, constantly adding new games and picking one depending on the occasion. For some games that occasion may never come and that's fine.
@@wujo4443 Well I kind of *must* have a time limit since the video will need to get made in one year 😂 the difference is it’s a realistic goal this time. Plus I’m gonna prioritize the 11 fan games, if that’s literally all that gets played I’m not sweating it.
@@DarylTalksGames I get the part of scheduling video, but there is no need to put pressure on yourself that you're gonna *finish* the backlog. Just tell us what you've played, that's fine. But when the goal isn't making video, but finishing the list in arbitrary timeframe, it becomes source of stress and tiredness. BTW I threw in Spiritfarer, def man game.
@DarylTalksGames hopefully next year you can separate the video time limit from the backlog. We watch because love hearing your story about experiencing these games that matter to us, not because you skimmed them all. I would rather listen to you talk about 2 months of loving persona 4 than 8 games you skipped after 2 hours each.
Hey Daryl, I just wanted to say as someone who has a chronic worry of running out of time permanently and who has several family members who have the chance to because of health issues, I just wanted to say this video meant a lot to me. I haven’t necessarily been doing the best lately but hearing in your video how you managed to juggle things like Mimi, (also what I called my late grandmother,) passing away, buying a house with your wife and dog, and finding time to still not just play and finish, but enjoy and see beauty in games was very profound and an experience I greatly enjoyed watching play out. Anyway that’s my little introspective rant over, can’t wait to see how part 4 plays out! P.S. We fans will all sneak in KH or Yakuza or something pretty long somewhere
But we could all run out of time at any moment, health issues or not. Part of the human experience is being constantly aware of our mortality. There's no point worrying about it though, it's going to happen whether you want it to or not. Best to just get on with it and try to make the most of whatever time you have.
I'm in a sea of other comments here, but wanted to say that this video inspired me to start my own backlog, tracking my progress, and it's honestly brought such a new sense of joy and appreciation to this hobby. I'm playing more games, reflecting on them more, and looking forward to them more. Thank you for putting this out into the world, dude.
Same here. My backlog has helped me prioritize games more than try to clear the backlog. To make sure that the game recommended by a friend who really knows the type of games I like will at least be considered when looking for the next thing to play. To not forget the game I found that looks interesting over the games with the massive hype. That's where I've found the most value.
I will also vote for Satisfactory. You can play if for a while and set a goal for yourself on something cool the game lets you do, so don't feel compelled to play it forever. ...unless you want to.
4:30 this reminded me of an idea from Cal Newport’s “Slow Productivity”. When you’re setting a time limit, it was very hasty and stressful, which led to a “push” method, doing things as fast as you can. He instead recommends a “pull” method, where you just work your pace and pull new projects/games to do when you’re ready for them. A huge benefit is that the lowered strain doesn’t just give you more time, but more creative power to enhance your process and make better use of your time.
I...I dont know why but the way you talk, how you verbally describe your emotions, it genuinely choked me up at several points in the video. Even though I have no frame of reference, any relation at all to what specific game or event you were talking about you still got to me. I have only watched these Backlogs videos you have made but man...keep doing what you do, you were made for this I guess. (Also sorry if this didnt make any sense, english as a second language and all that. TLDR great vid, hope to see more in the future)
I feel like the reasons these videos get so many views specifically is that it's interesting to see how people handle their gaming backlogs, and a good overview of what games you played in the year that people like to know about partially through parasocial bonds
I love how nearly 30 years later we’re still talking about Chrono Trigger! A very significant game in the history of JRPGs (heck, gaming in general) that was way ahead of its time when it came out. I’m glad that it still holds up today!
I stopped watching when he was giving thanks then saw this comment and went back to see what I missed. I wish I didnt... the loss of pets hurts me more than anything 😢
I have no clue why I’ve never the words ‘chocolate’ and ‘breastmilk’ put together in a sentence like that before. I feel like I should have heard this in 2020 when everyone went mentally insane during the lockdown. Thanks for being the first person I’ve ever heard string a sentence like that, and Im sorry this was the information I absorbed the deepest. 10/10 video as always. Also sorry for your losses, take care.
The slow burn of playing a longer game over a long stretch of time is super underrated. I started Persona 3 Reload when it came out and am probably only gonna finish the game next week. But its allowed the impactful moments and the anticipation of knowing the end approaches to sink in and hit that much harder. Realizing that I'm not gonna be able to finish every social link despite all the time I've put in was an almost perfect encapsulation of this game's message telling me "hey, enjoy this time with these characters and this game and this world while you can, because it'll be over soon and it will always feel like you never had enough time. But that doesn't make any of the time you spent here unimportant" Kinda a perfect encapsulation of the concept of the backlog, too, now that i think about it.
So I picked up P3R around late July. Not to be a complete downer, because this is just what actually happened, I got a breast cancer diagnosis at the end of August while I was still slow burn playing P3R. It was caught early so I'm fine but I had to have a mastectomy and (P3R spoilers) experiencing my own inevitable looming loss on the horizon along with the characters and seeing how they deal with that trauma really helped me through some hard feelings leading up to my surgery. The characters all had legitimate emotional arcs that they experienced leading up to the end and the game allowing you to play out those days felt oddly cathartic. i dunno. I just played this game at the exact right time for me.
The persona games should all be played like this. The first playthrough is your tutorial. Once you get into NG+ then you truly start the first playthrough.
57:27 Noooo how could you whallop me like this at the end of the video! Like it was clear *something* had happened but… T.T RIP Binx, you seem like a really wonderful pup. (And thanks Daryl for continuing this series! Really enjoyed this one.)
@@DarylTalksGames I'm deeply sorry for your loss. We went through the same thing this year. I heard a saying that said that a soul isnt truly unlocked until you lose a pet. And since this year I can definitly say, thats this is true.
This series has really helped me grapple with the fact that video games are a legitimate hobby of mine. I've been so self-conscious about what it sounds like to say that I set aside time just to play Pokemon or whatever when I'm not working that I've felt like I need to find "real" hobbies to fill in whatever time I have left. But it's really nice to know that I'm not the only one who cares about time management and video games to the degree that I'll make a spreadsheet about it. Thanks, Daryl. I needed that.
Something I noticed about your backlog is it's very heavy on RPGs, which takes a lot of time and dedication. For me, I prefer shorter puzzle games, so essentially if I start a game on a weekend, I usually finish it the same weekend. This keeps my backlog extremely short. (There's no possible way this will win a vote, so I'm just gonna throw it here: If you want a spooky escape-room point-and-click game with a multimedia element to it, I highly recommend "Cube Escape: Paradox" by Rusty Lake) One part of your video that resonated with me is how if a game stays on the to-play list for too long, maybe it's not something you actually want to play. Recently I cleared out my Steam wishlist because there were games on there that just... didn't call to me anymore. Knowing how to weed a backlog is as important as knowing how to incorporate a front log.
I agree with the wish list clean ups. I do this when a Game is in a genre I thought I'd like but end up not enjoying so anything in my wishlist that's similar to that game I cull. It's actually been super helpful 😊
You should try insaniquarium deluxe, it's one of those short and sweet but novel and interesting old pc puzzle/strategy sort of games, like plants vs zombies sort of vibes. It's an absolute classic and it's criminal how few people have played it.
When you talked about game series that end and then suddenly revive, I thought of Ace Attorney. Nobody really expected the wave of ports in the past few years. But none of us expected The Great Ace Attorney to be localised, mainly due to suspicion over the Conan Doyle estate and how they'd handle Sherlock Holmes being a buffoon. But Capcom figured it out and released an English version and it is a masterpiece. I've added it to your vote log for this reason. What waa even more surprising, though, was the localisation of Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth. Especially the 2nd game. We all thought it was too niche to be brought to the local market. But now it's here. Remastered and localised and beautiful.
I only found out that they localized Edgeworth 2 just like a week ago and was absolutely STUNNED that it actually finally got an official English release. I *never* thought it'd happen.
I have grown to love these November backlog videos. Anyone hating on your process really misses the point. These have helped me organize my own backlog of games into spreadsheets
Your Chrono Trigger section brought a tear to my eye. With Akira Toriyamas passing he left multiple legacies and stories. I've started chrono trigger over so many times, happily, and have given it so many hours just to not finish each time. Usually because something else just comes up, but it'll be time to finally finish it up soon. I also just picked up Dragon Quest 3 after never really having an interest in the franchise until just recently. He may be gone but his work will continue to live on and inspire.
Chrono Trigger is my favourite game of all time. It is truly such a wonderful story. Please do yourself the favour of finishing that masterpiece!!! RIP Toriyama the legend. Watching Daima feels so bitter-sweet now that he left.
I got into a pretty bad phase around this time last year and was doing a lot of gaming for the cheevo streak and not for the joy of the games themselves - the streak was over 1000 days but that kind of made it stop being about the games. The game that broke me out of that was Chrono Trigger. When I started it I got a little weepy, I just felt the joy of *playing the game* come back. Game is 30 years old and it hasn't aged a day. Still my favourite since I first played it all the way back in 1995.
2023 made me a zelda fan. It wasn't my first time, but it was the first time I played a zelda game and it truly effected me. Off the back of of tears of the kingdom I went back while everyone played the shiny new game I went back and played Breath of the wild. It was an encredible time. It makes me excited for the future. I also started P3 remake this year and though it's a slow burn for me, it makes me happy. I won't finish SMT V vengeance this year. I won't finish p3 this year. They still help me understand myself better and allows me to show my son why I enjoy things he doesn't understand. I think I'll try tears of the kingdom soon. I don't think it will effect me the same way breath of the wild did, but that's okay. Thank you for all the work you do.
i'm doing laundry as i watch so sometimes i'm not looking at the screen. When 35:25 came i was like, ""wtf is that evil ass song/sound effect that just started" I turn and i immediately recognize Fear and Hunger and go "Oh."
I'm an aspiring game developer and decided to try out a little of everything out there before working on my own games. This past year I played almost 700 games, each getting to at least the meat of the gameplay loop which is about 30 minutes - 2 hours each. I only have a few hundred more to have tried every game that I own and am looking forward to revisiting and completing some of my favorites. I think what helped me get past the few hundred or so was treating it like a job since it felt like it was the worst way to experience gaming. But after a while it has become more and more fun, in a way they've all meshed together to become this one giant game with infinite nuance and unlimited content. What's been the best lesson I've learned is knowing exactly the mechanics and systems that I genuinely love and want to explore more with my own work one day. Anyway, I could probably write a book on my experience. Great video and it's nice to see how and why other people are tackling these colossal backlogs
I rarely comment on TH-cam, but I feel compelled to share my story in response to this video. I started an eerily similar journey ten years ago to clear my backlog by setting a goal to beat 30 games each year. The first time I tried it, I failed, finishing only 20. But I stuck with it and reached my goal the next year, finishing 32 games. However, my ability to streamline the process, make better decisions, and find better ways to play kind of snowballed and the original goal of 30 games is now a distant memory. I won't share the exact number of games I complete annually nowadays, but it well beyond the original 30. The exact number is irrelevant anyways, what is relevant is that you are sticking with this and I see the organic learning happening in these videos. I think you will surprise yourself in the future at what you are able to accomplish when you focus and set reasonable, but still aspirational goals. Best of luck with the backlog, and definitely remember to have fun and enjoy yourself.
It's wild to me that people talk about finishing games as it was a job. Why do you do this to yourself? I just buy and play the games I want to one at a time. I don't know ow many games I have finished this year and I don't care, I don't put limits to how much I want to play each game and I just play them when I feel like and my backlog is just zero. Why would you approach this any other way?
@@michaelpalin8953It is because many of us make poor purchasing decisions with games, acquiring them in sales or because of recommendations when we don't have the time to play them (I very often play 60-70% of a game I am enjoying, and then become too busy to finish before the next amazing release I am excited for arrives) and so we accidentally cultivate a sense of guilt over unfinished titles. I don't believe anyone thinks your approach isn't virtuous, but the nature of life has caused many gamers to form a slightly unhealthy relationship with completing titles - even in the games we enjoy.
I envy you can play games that way. For me the only way I can close a chapter on a game, is by gaining every achievement in the game. If I just roll credits I may have forgotten a side quest, I may not have visited every corner. I may have missed the most surprisingly stunning view or a heartbreak moment. I may have finished a game, but I may not have done it justice. Have gotten better at things. I can now push games aside if they are to buggy or if that last achievement is just more hassle than it is worth. But my backlog is no longer holding me hostage that I have to play. It now exists to make sure I don't buy more games I may not care enough to play in a week or so. If I finish 2 games and a game is with heavy discount under 5 bucks, I get to buy it. Untill then, still have 500 or so games.
This is one of the most entertaining, beautifully paced videos i’ve seen on this platform. you made me interested in so many different titles while at the same time taught me that games are meant to be fun not a box to check off the list. keep it up man!!
30:28 STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE WWWWWW. It looks daunting but it’s so worth it!! One of my favorite series of fantasy books of all time. On top of that, it takes place in a shared universe known as the Cosmere where some of his other series takes place on different planets altogether, but will interconnect later down the line
I want to read it, but I learned my lesson a few decades ago as a fan of The Wheel of Time. I'm not investing time in a book series before it's finished.
Honestly I don't mind you turning this into an annual series. This is a constant conundrum every gamer faces and it's cool seeing how you approach your backlog each year!
Yessss, I love that you played 1000x Resist! There needs to be waaay more buzz about this game. It's like if Yoko Taro directed an interactive theater production of Everything, Everywhere, All at Once. Hair to hair.
Agreed, the game is such a narrative masterpiece I can't believe it's their first project. Happy to hear that a video from Daryl is coming! Sphere to square
It's rare that I see a video and immediately get super excited for it. But this was one of those videos. It's hard to describe, but your backlog videos give me this profound sense of longing. Like I'm finding something I lost. Something magical that's difficult to find. A lost part of myself that I can't share with anyone else. After watching the entire video, I guess the only thing I can say is... Man.
I think the section about Chronotrigger in this one actually resonated more with me than any of the previous segments of the two backlog videos. I recently picked up half-life for the first time, a game that I've heard and read so much about over the years but never took the time to play. Learning about so many of the references and small things that made the game and Valve into the behemoths that they are was a very eye opening experience. One that I'm glad I waited until I was old enough to appreciate.
I only found these year this month, and it got me really motivated to tackle my backlog myself. There are so many games I haven't played that I want to, as well as games I just never finished... A lot of the techniques shown in these videos for compiling these backlogs seem super useful for someone like me who can't decide on anything to save my life lol So I guess, I'll compile my own spreadsheet, and at the end of next year I'll be back on the next video to report on my own progress.
I love this series. I’ve been using these tips to finally try to “finish” my backlog. I’ve been having a blast finally playing some games that have been on my list for years. Please keep making these!
I want to thank you. I made my own version of my backlog. As someone who worries a lot about everything it's a huge stress relief just being able to open my list and visually see what I want to play/prioritize. And this has made me realize there's some games that aren't meant for me. Ultimately I don't finish them and/or stay away from their sequels/similar games. And for games I truly love I don't rush and enjoy them at my own pace. Also, to keep my brain from getting bored of the same thing all the time I have been playing several games at the same time and it's been working really well for me.
It's so fucked up that 1000xresist didn't get nominated for best narrative, or best score and music, or games for impact, or best independent game, or best debut indie game.
There are all games that we’ve played that just go completely under the radar for the rest of the world. A game doesn’t have to be nominated for some arbitrary award for it to mean something for you
Yeah it didn’t have the big media coverage firepower to make a run for any of that but it’s absolutely a hit in every way. I think it will win a lot of “niche TH-camr sung its praises” awards
@@DarylTalksGames So thankful for the "niche TH-camr sung its praises" representation on this game though. I play only a couple new games a year sadly, and I wouldn't have known about it otherwise. It was truly something so special, and I still think about it regularly months after finishing it. A truly special piece of art.
I have legitimately NEVER HEARD of this game in any way shape or form and apparently it's like an overwhelmingly positive game what? Why is no one talking about this?
@@DarylTalksGames if Jacob Geller counts as niche he definitely threw his weight behind this game! Only other outlet I follow that covered the game was Second Wind in their 3min reviews.
Daryl you've done it again, this video had me beaming and randomly contemplating the beauty of life and games like four times 😭 I'm also trying a new approach to the backlog in 2025, but following a more vibes-based approach this year I still knocked mine down from 83 to 56-with genuine memories and thoughts from each game I beat! It's a fun little project, and fun to grapple with whether or not to even call it something as formal as a project. I'll be rooting for you, following along, and eagerly waiting for next year's backlog video. You're a storyteller I appreciate, my sir. Rest easy Binx and have yourself a damn good one. Also I'm making you play Yakuza 0 I'm still upset it got knocked off last year, you'll love it trust me 🍉
I am really bad at completing video games. I usually buy them and just let them sit idly by. However, this year, I am proud to say that I have beaten an average of 1 game a month, which is huge for me. These backlog videos are great and I am glad I can finish mine alongside you!
23:12 What's interesting is that for us poor people, wishlist IS the backlog 😢, so I'm surprised to see someone else also use wishlist as the new backlog 😅
I'm on the end of the totem pole too but games are pretty cheap on Steam. I wait years for 75-90% discounts and still got a massive backlog. But I also still have like over 700 games on my wishlist lol.
dude... the first backlog video you did was unbelievable such an amazing video. I was like when is he going to do another one, and here it is. Thanks for everthing you do daryl
Your backlog videos have been a huge inspiration to me over the last couple of years. I started making a spreadsheet 2 years ago of games to beat each month and all of this year I've been writing my thoughts on them once they're done! It was great to see NieR Replicant in your video this year, such an amazing game
Something that I've found really fun this year, thanks to Darryl's previous backlog vid and Transparency Boo's video "You Don't Need a Backlog", is using a spreadsheet to track the games I played that year and my thoughts on it. Tackling a giant list of games I want to play and trying to whittle that list down can feel stressful and daunting. Creating a list of my gaming experiences and adding to it over time, however, is a lot of fun! It's really cool looking back at the games I played, and seeing what did or did not land with me over the course of the year.
I beat 14 games this year so far and also really enjoyed multiple multiplayer games with my friends. It was a great gaming year and your last video really inspired me. Being a new parent, I don't get as much gaming time as I used to, but even with that said, I beat so many games and had countless great memories. I am looking forward to 2025 immensely.
I started it a few years ago & had dropped it for whatever reason, I don't remember. I wasn't even very far in it. It's funny I see it brought up now since I decided last week to give it another go & actually get through it.
After the first dungeon I looked up the last puzzle in a video and gave up. First game that genuinly made me feel like missed IQ points. It's cute af tho.
I think it's a crime that you haven't played Return of the Obra dinn! I played it this year and it was amazing! Your brain will be thinking so hard solving the mystery of the obra dinn in a super creative art style. I LOVED it! (it's by the same guy who made papers please, another great game)
My chosen pick is The house in fata morgana. It is the best story I have ever experienced, even better than Berserk. This reviewer summarized it best: Sublime writing, beautiful artwork, and a haunting soundtrack combine to undertake one most nuanced and thoughtful explorations of all the best and worst of the human condition-disturbing and intense, but ultimately hopeful, and with a level of care and humanity that’s rare to see in a game that goes to the dark places this one does. Perhaps most of all, it’s a perfect example of how much visual novels can push the boundaries of videogames as a medium and as an art form, both because and in spite of their “gameplay” constraints. The House in Fata Morgana is, quite simply, a masterpiece on every level.
@helloguy8934 A fair answer, I mean, there are many other games @DarylTalksGames could try too. However. The House in Fata Morgana had an extremely profound effect on me. After playing both the main game and A Requiem for innocence, I started to do volunteer work, I looked for and bought my own home, I did more exercising, I started looking seriously for a relationship. To this day, I still do not fully understand why this story in particular made me change my actions and habits, but it is a game that is very near and dear to me and is the ONLY game that ever made me change myself for the better and I have played more than 470 games in my life. I truly am not the same person before and after this game. Moreover, I am hoping that he makes a video on it, because I believe he is the perfect content creator for it and would love to see his reaction to it. I also think that the game deserves more widespread attention, hence why I want a big content creater like @DarylTalksGames to talk about it. It is up to him whether he wants to do that of course, but one can hope. I believe that he may have a similar experience, especially since he is a fan of manga too (noticed goodbye eri and Oshi no Ko in the background at the end). Although this comment was not necessary, I felt that my original comment could use some more explanation, so I hope to have given you more reason on why I chose it, even though it is on both backlogs. Also, from my experience, it is a game that I also played MUCH later than when I originally bought i. So I wanted to give him more motivation to play it and I hope that, through my comment, more people will give this game a go.
Off of the back of your first backlog video, I created my own spreadsheet and tackled my own backlog. I learned a lot, and managed to play to completion (or decide to abandon forever because I didn't like it) 100 games. I think the biggest takeaway for me was that I learned what type of games I really enjoy, and which I don't. Going forward, I won't waste money on countless games that I know I probably won't even like let alone get to playing. Also, I have found that having 2 or more games on the go at the same time really helps. Don't feel like playing that heavy RPG today? Just boot up Balatro instead. Thanks for the inspiration, and good luck!
I am happy to report that I slashed my backlog in half this year, from 72 to 36. I am also currently playing Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and it feels amazing.
As someone who constantly craves something that I fell can never be fully satisfied in media, I have come to accept that a backlog gives me comfort in knowing there’s something I can always dream and ponder on that is unknown to me. Nothing is worst than chasing the ghost of something you’ve experienced. I’m learning to be happy with my backlogs and cherishing the history on why I wanted to play or watch and seeing that idea years later and revisiting the feeling and mind I had at the time.
Daryl, these videos have helped me out so much! I've usually been very tight and organized with my entertainment backlog, but I haven't been so in life--where it really matters: finances, relationships, opportunities. I've had... a rough three years--the last six months, especially. Some of those challenges were outside of my control, and many were caused by deep character flaws that I didn't even know I had until recently. The lessons learned have been hard, and have come with severe consequences, to the point where I essentially need to start over completely. Even the games and other interests that I used to get a sense of identity from seem to be falling away to make room for something new. I discovered your channel only a few weeks ago, and many of the realizations I've had, and the changes I've decided to make, have been re-contextualized through your videos. It wasn't just your Backlogs: I went through your entire video library and cherry picked the ones that stuck out to me; I've been slowly watching them throughout this week, and they've brought me on quite a journey. I'm sure you get this a lot, but thank you! Thanks to you and a few other sources, including a handful of close friends who've remained with me, I've begun to see my path forward and gain the courage to try again--this time, with the determination to build a life that lasts. Your content truly came into my life at just the right time!
I discovered this channel a few years ago and have devoured every video, it's fantastic! And this series ...Man... So happy to hear you're considering making it a yearly tradition!! For my pick, I was torn between voting/insisting between 2 of my GOATS Final Fantasy 6 or Mass Effect 2, but ultimately decided to try for a ...Man... game, and voted for: To the Moon. 4hrs according to HLTB, hope you find the room for this little indie gem! Love your content! Beautiful doggo, may Binx RIP.
Oh man. To the Moon. I've heard about it, seen a trailer, and listened to a synopsis. I don't think I'd ever be able to bring myself to play it. I know it'd be incredible, but I legitimately don't think I'd be able to emotionally handle it.
@@Road_to_Dawn I highly recommend it! It is a bit soul-crushing, sure, hahaha, but it's a well rounded experience in the end. Definitely a ...Man game!
Your last backlog video stressed me the hell out, but also inspired me greatly. To not do what you did. A year later it seems like we've ended up in the same place. I've used a backlog to reignite my love for games and storytelling through them. No time lines, no stress, just a reminder of what i love. Watching this video gives me the same feeling that thinking back on this year does. I love this medium so much. So many wonderful moments. Here's to another year. (Actually i started in February so I've got a little while to go. Still! 21 games and counting!)
Prior to your video last year, I was in a major gaming slump; I was literally only playing Stardew Valley, despite having over 50 games in my steam library I had never touched. But your video inspired me to step out of my cozy comfort zone and play through my own backlog. Organizing everything into a spreadsheet and seeing how many hours it would take to beat each game helped immensely. Begone decision paralysis! I think what helped me the most was making peace with the fact that this list would never truly be “done” and I needed to be okay with rolling games over to next years list. Giving it a deadline would just stress me out and I’d be playing games just to check them off, not to enjoy the experience. Though I knew going into it that playing every single game I owned in one year just wouldn’t be feasible (and the list only grew during steam sales), I’m happy to report I rolled credits on 30 games this past year! My “man” games were definitely Undertale and Earthbound, finally playing through those for myself was an experience I’ll never forget. Excellent video as always, thanks for inspiring me and many others, and I’m excited to see how the restructured format works out next year!!
As someone who works with spreadsheets frequently, I do see the need to take note of the games you've beaten, what you liked and what you didn't. It can help in understanding one's self and their tastes. My take away, and my own experience is that making a list of games you HAVE to play is the easiest way to make gaming your least favorite activity. Also, my vote is to add "The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa" to next year's list.
I know it already was on this year's list but I cannot die until I see Crosscode get the recognition it deserves. My dream would be a whole video discussing all the spoilery stuff that the plot tackles but just a section on the next Backlog video would be enough Thanks Daryl!
I've kind of stopped caring about my backlog, now whenever I have a slot open for a new game to play I just look through the games I own and see what I wanna start playing. This year I also took a different approach and just started playing through some entire series since I had access to them. Got through Yakuza 0 - Like A Dragon all in a month (this is what unemployment does to a person), I also played all 5 2D Metroid games and am now a superfan of the series, and I'm close to finishing up the 5th Mario & Luigi game in preparation for Brothership (it's already out but I don't have it yet) And sometimes I just play something random to pass the time like Picross or I might even replay some games. Basically, I no longer have that pressure of so many games I gotta get through and I've been very much going at my own pace. Sometimes I struggle to continue with a game even if I really want to keep with it, so I just do something else for a bit, whether that's a new game, a replay of an older one, maybe I even just go watch some anime instead.
I think the one thing I took away from your video last year was the cataloging my thoughts into a spreadsheet, to really ruminate on my time with a game. That alone, I feel like my relationship with games (along with kicking my Destiny 2 habit) really has allowed me to connect back to this hobby in a way I haven't in a long time. Thanks for these vids, super fun to see what you get into, and love to learn about myself in the process!
I felt this exact same way about anime when I first got introduced to the medium. (with dandadan so only like 2 months ago lol) I had developed such a huge list of things to watch and my cousin did not help when he gave me his crunchyroll account. I watched like 3 animes in just one month to try and finish all of the ones I wanted to watch. Later I realized that I really wasnt experiencing TV that well and going straight from one season to another where the character aged like seven years was giving me major whiplash. So now I'm watching one episode everyday and switching animes (and any other show I watch) everytime a new season starts, just so I can actually think about what I watched. It definitely helps me experience the shows to the fullest, at least it worked really well for DeathNote and now Vinland. I know ill never watch all my animes if I watch 1 or 2 episodes a day but I'm definitely enjoying it a lot more. On a side note, not really backloggy, but I really recommend limiting the amount of episodes of a show you watch everyday. I cycle between an animated show, a drama/action, and a comedy, so even if I watch one episode a day I have about 2 hours of content to watch, so I can always watch a show if I really have time to.
I love this idea esspecially in our culture of binging, if i wanna watch media i want it to man something to me and for it to take time for me to finish
man, every glimpse of the list left to be completed reminds me just how much crosscode is overlooked. an amazing game that it feels like no one has played, but those who do sing its praises. It is pretty rare for me to follow a game from the very beginning (outside of massive series like zelda), but the crosscode demo made it one of the few (if not the only one) to fit that description. A "man" game for me, easily, but one i worry the push would ruin for others.
@@helloguy8934 without knowing exactly where you are stuck, i can only give platitudes and generalized tips, even more so because the game makes a joke at its own expense about defining the temples by the elements, but if that is what you are seeking, i have 2 points to mention. 1) puzzles, if not fights, are designed around using the main 8 directions (N, NW, W, SW, S, SE, E, NE), with a max of 3 ricochets unless something resets that count (mostly re-direction portals). That doesnt mean the angles in between dont work for specific puzzles, but they are usually a result of over-complicating the puzzle. 2) if it gets in the way too much, you can always check accessibility options, including the ability to "slow down puzzles", though i dont have much point of reference for what exactly that means when i chose to rise to the challenge instead. Bonus) The boss door room is always the most complicated puzzle of a dungeon, and if you cant immediately see the answer, look at the floor design of the room and trace the path the shot has to take before committing to the puzzle itself. On a blind run, it WILL ALWAYS take multiple tries before you can master the execution, as that is just the process of learning.
@@cullenlatham2366 also is the rest of the game like this? I swear I wasn't struggling this hard in the ice temple. Feels like a need a guide for damn near every puzzle.
@@helloguy8934 "like this" is a bit vague to really comment on. Each area has its own unique gimmicks that may or may not be more or less intuitive than the last, but it isnt a game to hold your hand, either. Generally speaking, the game expects that if you cleared a challenge before, you have the skills to take it up a notch. Yes, the puzzles get ever more complicated, but the boss door rooms are their own beasts. They are the "final exam" of an area, and you are not really expected to perform at a higher level than each boss door room... until you find the next one. Side quests are probably a better metric; they are not easy, and you are free to come back later, but if you can handle them when they first appear, you can likely handle anything the game throws at you (minigames as a bit of an exception because of some finicky changes to the formula like on-rails shooters). The platforming DOES get more complicated, but it is one with the most obscure helpful tip of the bunch: use aiming to judge elevation. If the aim shows a bounce, it is above you. If the drop shadow angle is off in comparison to the actual aim, it is below you. Combat is the other point that is not immediately obvious. When in doubt, change equipment, look at the skill tree, or grind. Equipment is much more relevant than it first looks, especially the passives, and equipment level is the better judge of your strength than your inherent level... until you start talking about the dlc epilogue.
1000xResist is the best written game I've ever played and is so criminally under the radar, thank you for covering it. If you're reading this comment and on the fence, halfway through our playthrough my wife and I had to make a 10 hour drive. We spent the entire 10 hours discussing the game non-stop. It's that well written.
can we just appreciate how much effort is put into this, even though you were trying to have fun while doing it you've clearly put so much effort finishing the games, writing your thoughts, voicing, editing. And you're such a chill guy as well. I subbed
I am finding my way to, "I'll play them when the time is right by following my heart", but Daryl making backlog unpacking a yearly tradition couldn't make me any happier! One more thing to look forward to in life and I'm grateful for it
I just love listening to you talk about your passion and life changing experiences in games. Your videos really are the "Man" part of TH-cam I look for ❤
I did the SAME thing this last year - made a list of my games from my backlog to finish, but more often than not, I'd wind up picking up something new and getting sidetracked with it, and I even abandoned some of those and they will likely wind up in a future "backlogged games to finish" list. Come to think of it, that's pretty much my entire approach to gaming.
I put my vote in for The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky. The first game, which originally came out in 2004, is the start of a super long JRPG series that fits the textbook definition of 'slow burn worldbuilding'. Seriously, we're 12 games into the Trails series now and it's probably some of the best worldbuilding and character writing I've seen in video games (no I have not played Nier Automata yet, that's on my backlog). Each story arc takes place in a different country, but the same world so the stories, and characters, and worldbuilding just accumulate over time. Its great. Not all of them are 'Man...' games, but there were definitely a few that gave me that feeling.
Thank you for the original video and all the sequels since! Building a backlog sheet helped me focus my leisure time + be more intentional in my gaming, and I even started using the same sheet + methodology to manage other aspects of my life (parenting, health care, domestic work, etc etc).
So happy that you shed light on 1000*Resist. It is one of the few games that actually deserves being called one of a kind. It deserves soooo much more attention. GOTY for me. Looking forward to vids on it.
Stellar Blade is a masterpiece of gaming. A shining jewel placed atop a mountain. 10/10 and that’s final. It’s like a game that was specifically made at gamers request. The character design, world and level design, combat, music, and bosses are all spectacular. The dialogue fits perfectly in a world full of androids. It’s feature complete, no MT bs, and regularly updated with new features FOR FREE. It’s packed to the gills with outfits for Eve and they’re all earned in game, once again NO MT. It has fishing for gods sake. It’s a perfect game.
I tried to do my backlog similar to you last year because of your video and meticulously ordered a list of games and was playing them by how many hours an average playtime takes and it worked for about a month until I was on my 4th game and felt burnt out because I made it all about completing the game instead of enjoying it. This month I started a new list but I hand selected each game with care and thought about what I actually want to experience and then I downloaded an app that puts it all into a spinning wheel essentially taking the choice out of my hands and so far I've been having a great time. (Sorry about the lack of punctuation I am stupid)
I have so far finished Kingdom Come Deliverance in preparation of it sequel next year and am now on my first ever playthrough of Final Fantasy 9 my first Final Fantasy game
Hey, just wanna say it's been a great time following this journey. Like many others it inspired me to make a backlog all be it a lot less detailed than yours and it helped me immensely. I was a pretty big gamer with loads of free time in the past but suddenly family illness and having a child around the same time made it hard for me to manage my hobby. Going from all the free time in the world to very little was overwhelming. Since making a backlog and tracking stats like how long to beat and anticipation it's made me a lot less stressed about it and helped me prioritise what to play when I do have time to sit down so thanks! Looking forward to next year's video!
I'm so glad to have discovered this channel this year, you really did make my 2024 much better. Watching your backlog of videos made my day most of the time so I appreciate that.
Such a missed opportunity to throw Tunic to the side. It's truly a unique experience that you only play once since it's a knowledge-based game and it's very worth going through it. I never knew I loved puzzle games until this game.
I just want to say you're amazing. I really love your approach to content creation. Been following you for 4 (or 5?) years and I've loved every single video.
Voting for Katawa Shoujo. You said you are inclined on visual novels. I know a lot of people that still keep a fond memory of this silly 4chan project that became a wave of positivity and tolerance for many.
I don’t even keep track of my backlog, but every time a video in this series pops up, it still puts me in a state of reflection of the past year, and everything that has happened since I saw the last video. Cheers to you and your hard work bro👍
Last year's video got me inspired to try my own backlog. And i really only properly got to around 18 or so games (one of which i had to drop). Honestly really glad to see you try this again (and a third time which i wish you the best on). Sorry to hear about your loss, just seeing that last tribute brought out a whole lot of tears, and i guess that just shows that if they were able to make me and countless others cry within just a few seconds of knowing him then they truly were a "man" dog.
I am one of many who started a backlog spreadsheet modeled after your original video. What’s interesting is that from the jump I found myself using it as more of a master list of games I’ve played, am currently playing or am interested in. If a game not originally on the list catches my eye, I’ll simply add it when I start playing it. My time this year was pretty evenly split between “original backlog” games and ones that interested me in the moment so I booted them up. I like being able to see what I’ve accomplished without feeling constrained to only the games on the list.
I usually tend to play a game until I finish it completely then move on. I like when I got a big list of games to beat since most of the time my game library is finished and takes a while to loop back around when I wanna replay them.
@thechugg4372 I wouldn't call a game with unlimited content unfinished. I mean gacha games are basically that until they shut down I enjoy rouge likes I got a few that I play from time to time like the yohane card game that I'd basically a unique adventure each time on what rng you get each run. Other times I want a shirt adventure I can finish in a day or two to get it done. But most of the time I like long running RPGs that I can play again with better skill the next time.
After watching this series 3 years in a row, I think it's time I actually subscribe. Thank you so much for making it and sharing your whole flow with playing games
Back at it, Daryl! Out of inspiration of your last two Backlog videos, I also made a Backlog. That taught me more about Excel than my IT teacher. Well, I also had a goal, 16 specific games, the front log. Chosen to avoid Choice Paralysis. While your goal got screwed by Persona 4 Golden, my front log got frozen by Persona 5 Royal, which I still haven't beaten. I also added the rule that I can only buy a game when I've beaten one. Eh, failed that part, partly because I took advantage of the Xbox 360 Marketplace Closure sale. Ah, so many games for 2 bucks each... 9 games off the Front log, Nr. 10 is being played and 5 games gave been played but ditched. So theoretically I kicked 14 off the list?
I'm gonna be so happy if this backlog thing become an annual. Your previous two videos inspired me and many others. It drove us to go play many amazing games that staring right at us this whole time. Because of that, we're blessed with all those "MAN" experiences that we could've miss out on otherwise. I even able to share the games i love through a Facebook page thanks to that. Finding your channel was the start of, what i like to call, "My Gaming Renaissance" and it's one the best things that ever happened to this miserable life of mine. Thanks you from the bottom of my heart for all this amazing videos. Love all the way from Myanmar ❤
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What are your "Man" games from this year and what will you be voting for me to play in 2025? 👀
By the way you have a face that would look totally rad with a longer haircut. Like metal head long hair for example would look stupendously good
My "Man" games were Yakuza 0, Uncharted 2, and the big one by far was Astro Bot. It's not thought-provoking or makes you question your existence, but my God it made me remember what I love about video games that seems to be missing from the general culture. It's the right length, gives the right incentive to collect everything, and excels in damn near every aspect, and that's not even considering how it is a huge love letter to PlayStation's software after Playroom was dedicated to hardware. In a cynical sense, did Sony really deserve this celebration considering the many mistakes it has made during the PS5's lifespan? No. But I'd rather see it from the perspective of the devs from Team Asobi, who really understand how to make a video game feel like an experience rather than a chore. I really hope that we see some of the dead franchises that made an appearance in Astro Bot come back at some point, but you know how it is. Good luck in 2025, I voted for Hi-Fi Rush.
I think my favorite game from this year was Void Stranger
The only "Man" game from this year was AI: The somnium files. The annihilation route is heart-wrenching!
My vote has gone towards another Uchikoshi directed game that you took off the list last year, 9 hours 9 persons 9 doors. I think it's way better than sominum files tbh.
Bro what is ur monitor
The way I see it, the backlog is not a to do list as it is not meant to be finished. It should be treated more like a wine cellar, constantly adding new games and picking one depending on the occasion. For some games that occasion may never come and that's fine.
Yesss!!! This exactly
bro thank you, i think this is the mindset that i need
Can your name change to MikeMeatmike or mikesmeat*mikesrules. A very distinguished change and I’d adore you. Wouldn’t that be so lovely, good chap?
Wow that’s a great analogy 😮 I love it!
@@YoshMaster I too agree with those rumbling upon the tongue of MikeNeedsMike. Anything but neat, pleeaasse!
“milking the whole backlog thing” … yeah, i agree, and i’ll watch every single one. they’re VERY entertaining :)
2023: Uses time limit;
2024: Learns time limit is bad;
2025: Uses time limit again, learns nothing.
@@wujo4443 Well I kind of *must* have a time limit since the video will need to get made in one year 😂 the difference is it’s a realistic goal this time.
Plus I’m gonna prioritize the 11 fan games, if that’s literally all that gets played I’m not sweating it.
@@DarylTalksGames I get the part of scheduling video, but there is no need to put pressure on yourself that you're gonna *finish* the backlog. Just tell us what you've played, that's fine. But when the goal isn't making video, but finishing the list in arbitrary timeframe, it becomes source of stress and tiredness.
BTW I threw in Spiritfarer, def man game.
@DarylTalksGames hopefully next year you can separate the video time limit from the backlog. We watch because love hearing your story about experiencing these games that matter to us, not because you skimmed them all. I would rather listen to you talk about 2 months of loving persona 4 than 8 games you skipped after 2 hours each.
@@wujo4443God damnit!!!!! I forgot about Spiritfarer!!! I should have voted for it!
Well... voted for Okami instead at least
hahahahaha
Hey Daryl, I just wanted to say as someone who has a chronic worry of running out of time permanently and who has several family members who have the chance to because of health issues, I just wanted to say this video meant a lot to me.
I haven’t necessarily been doing the best lately but hearing in your video how you managed to juggle things like Mimi, (also what I called my late grandmother,) passing away, buying a house with your wife and dog, and finding time to still not just play and finish, but enjoy and see beauty in games was very profound and an experience I greatly enjoyed watching play out.
Anyway that’s my little introspective rant over, can’t wait to see how part 4 plays out!
P.S. We fans will all sneak in KH or Yakuza or something pretty long somewhere
@@dgamer0949 It’s an honor reading comments like this, I’m so glad this meant so much to you!
Yeah we gotta strap him in and play Yakuza! Change his channel name to DarylTalksBallsOutGaming.
But we could all run out of time at any moment, health issues or not. Part of the human experience is being constantly aware of our mortality. There's no point worrying about it though, it's going to happen whether you want it to or not. Best to just get on with it and try to make the most of whatever time you have.
Sooo, same time next year?
Ah ha ha, guess we'll see 😉
@@crytalfactory See you then 🎉
Keep in mind according to his videos about what games he plays each month it’s July so November is in just a few months
God's last stand?
I vividly remember the time I first saw the last two come out, I'm okay with this new backlogs holiday
@@InnocuousDuke wait isn't that Razbuten??
I'm in a sea of other comments here, but wanted to say that this video inspired me to start my own backlog, tracking my progress, and it's honestly brought such a new sense of joy and appreciation to this hobby. I'm playing more games, reflecting on them more, and looking forward to them more. Thank you for putting this out into the world, dude.
Same here. My backlog has helped me prioritize games more than try to clear the backlog. To make sure that the game recommended by a friend who really knows the type of games I like will at least be considered when looking for the next thing to play. To not forget the game I found that looks interesting over the games with the massive hype. That's where I've found the most value.
Daryl: "You'll vote for one game"
Me: Satisfactory!
Daryl: "Please try to keep the HowLongToBeat like 30 hours or less"
Me: Damnit.
@@CorvusLiberatus Vote for it anyways!
I will also vote for Satisfactory.
You can play if for a while and set a goal for yourself on something cool the game lets you do, so don't feel compelled to play it forever.
...unless you want to.
@@DarylTalksGames So I suppose suggesting Genshin Impact would be a foolish idea? 0=)
edit: wait, that's actually on the list?
@@azuarc considering it is a live service gacha
perhaps the most foolish
I thought about suggesting Mario Rabbids, Banjo Kazooie, or Halo, but I noticed he's never played Borderlands 2 so I had to go with that.
"Beautiful strong characters" - cut to Dimitri and Claude from Fire Emblem Three Hopes. I highly approve this message.
4:30 this reminded me of an idea from Cal Newport’s “Slow Productivity”. When you’re setting a time limit, it was very hasty and stressful, which led to a “push” method, doing things as fast as you can. He instead recommends a “pull” method, where you just work your pace and pull new projects/games to do when you’re ready for them.
A huge benefit is that the lowered strain doesn’t just give you more time, but more creative power to enhance your process and make better use of your time.
I...I dont know why but the way you talk, how you verbally describe your emotions, it genuinely choked me up at several points in the video. Even though I have no frame of reference, any relation at all to what specific game or event you were talking about you still got to me. I have only watched these Backlogs videos you have made but man...keep doing what you do, you were made for this I guess.
(Also sorry if this didnt make any sense, english as a second language and all that. TLDR great vid, hope to see more in the future)
I feel like the reasons these videos get so many views specifically is that it's interesting to see how people handle their gaming backlogs, and a good overview of what games you played in the year that people like to know about partially through parasocial bonds
I only really care about the Backlog talk, but you never know if Daryl played a game I could be interested in. Namely an indie I haven't heard about.
I'd also like to add that it's also a great recommendation list for amazing games.
I'll add it also points out past videos you might have missed
I love how nearly 30 years later we’re still talking about Chrono Trigger! A very significant game in the history of JRPGs (heck, gaming in general) that was way ahead of its time when it came out. I’m glad that it still holds up today!
Bro you CANNOT just rip my heart straight outta my chest right at the end like that 😢
RIP Binx
I stopped watching when he was giving thanks then saw this comment and went back to see what I missed. I wish I didnt... the loss of pets hurts me more than anything 😢
man i had the video running on a second monitor so i didnt notice that wtf man
RIP Binx
I have no clue why I’ve never the words ‘chocolate’ and ‘breastmilk’ put together in a sentence like that before. I feel like I should have heard this in 2020 when everyone went mentally insane during the lockdown. Thanks for being the first person I’ve ever heard string a sentence like that, and Im sorry this was the information I absorbed the deepest. 10/10 video as always.
Also sorry for your losses, take care.
The slow burn of playing a longer game over a long stretch of time is super underrated. I started Persona 3 Reload when it came out and am probably only gonna finish the game next week. But its allowed the impactful moments and the anticipation of knowing the end approaches to sink in and hit that much harder. Realizing that I'm not gonna be able to finish every social link despite all the time I've put in was an almost perfect encapsulation of this game's message telling me "hey, enjoy this time with these characters and this game and this world while you can, because it'll be over soon and it will always feel like you never had enough time. But that doesn't make any of the time you spent here unimportant"
Kinda a perfect encapsulation of the concept of the backlog, too, now that i think about it.
Papa bless, it's time for this Daryl Talks Games start ugly crying by the end of the game.
If you like slow burners you might enjoy the "Trails / Kiseki" Series
@@chefkochkawasaki4127a masterpiece
So I picked up P3R around late July. Not to be a complete downer, because this is just what actually happened, I got a breast cancer diagnosis at the end of August while I was still slow burn playing P3R. It was caught early so I'm fine but I had to have a mastectomy and (P3R spoilers) experiencing my own inevitable looming loss on the horizon along with the characters and seeing how they deal with that trauma really helped me through some hard feelings leading up to my surgery. The characters all had legitimate emotional arcs that they experienced leading up to the end and the game allowing you to play out those days felt oddly cathartic. i dunno. I just played this game at the exact right time for me.
The persona games should all be played like this. The first playthrough is your tutorial. Once you get into NG+ then you truly start the first playthrough.
panning to dimitri (and claude) when saying “beautiful strong characters” is so real of you 25:45
57:27 Noooo how could you whallop me like this at the end of the video! Like it was clear *something* had happened but… T.T RIP Binx, you seem like a really wonderful pup. (And thanks Daryl for continuing this series! Really enjoyed this one.)
@@rcraioveanu He lived a tremendous life, did everything, went everywhere, loved everyone. I’m honored he was ours ❤️
@@DarylTalksGames I'm deeply sorry for your loss. We went through the same thing this year. I heard a saying that said that a soul isnt truly unlocked until you lose a pet. And since this year I can definitly say, thats this is true.
@ oh man, I’m so sorry for your loss as well. You’re absolutely right. They really take a part of you with them when they go.
This series has really helped me grapple with the fact that video games are a legitimate hobby of mine. I've been so self-conscious about what it sounds like to say that I set aside time just to play Pokemon or whatever when I'm not working that I've felt like I need to find "real" hobbies to fill in whatever time I have left. But it's really nice to know that I'm not the only one who cares about time management and video games to the degree that I'll make a spreadsheet about it. Thanks, Daryl. I needed that.
Something I noticed about your backlog is it's very heavy on RPGs, which takes a lot of time and dedication. For me, I prefer shorter puzzle games, so essentially if I start a game on a weekend, I usually finish it the same weekend. This keeps my backlog extremely short. (There's no possible way this will win a vote, so I'm just gonna throw it here: If you want a spooky escape-room point-and-click game with a multimedia element to it, I highly recommend "Cube Escape: Paradox" by Rusty Lake)
One part of your video that resonated with me is how if a game stays on the to-play list for too long, maybe it's not something you actually want to play. Recently I cleared out my Steam wishlist because there were games on there that just... didn't call to me anymore. Knowing how to weed a backlog is as important as knowing how to incorporate a front log.
rusty lake sweep babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
I agree with the wish list clean ups. I do this when a Game is in a genre I thought I'd like but end up not enjoying so anything in my wishlist that's similar to that game I cull. It's actually been super helpful 😊
@ I relate to this so hard. Very liberating letting go of a genre I realize I’m actually not into anymore or ever
You should try insaniquarium deluxe, it's one of those short and sweet but novel and interesting old pc puzzle/strategy sort of games, like plants vs zombies sort of vibes. It's an absolute classic and it's criminal how few people have played it.
yup my backlog is big because my favorite genre are rpgs. Decided to pick up Super Mario
This is the backlog redemption arc that we needed. So happy to see you matured
When you talked about game series that end and then suddenly revive, I thought of Ace Attorney.
Nobody really expected the wave of ports in the past few years. But none of us expected The Great Ace Attorney to be localised, mainly due to suspicion over the Conan Doyle estate and how they'd handle Sherlock Holmes being a buffoon. But Capcom figured it out and released an English version and it is a masterpiece. I've added it to your vote log for this reason.
What waa even more surprising, though, was the localisation of Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth. Especially the 2nd game. We all thought it was too niche to be brought to the local market. But now it's here. Remastered and localised and beautiful.
I only found out that they localized Edgeworth 2 just like a week ago and was absolutely STUNNED that it actually finally got an official English release. I *never* thought it'd happen.
I played the game with a fan traduction, what a masterpiece
I have grown to love these November backlog videos. Anyone hating on your process really misses the point. These have helped me organize my own backlog of games into spreadsheets
Your Chrono Trigger section brought a tear to my eye. With Akira Toriyamas passing he left multiple legacies and stories. I've started chrono trigger over so many times, happily, and have given it so many hours just to not finish each time. Usually because something else just comes up, but it'll be time to finally finish it up soon. I also just picked up Dragon Quest 3 after never really having an interest in the franchise until just recently. He may be gone but his work will continue to live on and inspire.
Chrono Trigger is my favourite game of all time. It is truly such a wonderful story. Please do yourself the favour of finishing that masterpiece!!!
RIP Toriyama the legend. Watching Daima feels so bitter-sweet now that he left.
@@adoniscreed4031 It is one of the best rpgs of all time for sure.
Let's enjoy Daima. His final piece of work.
I got into a pretty bad phase around this time last year and was doing a lot of gaming for the cheevo streak and not for the joy of the games themselves - the streak was over 1000 days but that kind of made it stop being about the games.
The game that broke me out of that was Chrono Trigger. When I started it I got a little weepy, I just felt the joy of *playing the game* come back. Game is 30 years old and it hasn't aged a day. Still my favourite since I first played it all the way back in 1995.
2023 made me a zelda fan. It wasn't my first time, but it was the first time I played a zelda game and it truly effected me. Off the back of of tears of the kingdom I went back while everyone played the shiny new game I went back and played Breath of the wild. It was an encredible time. It makes me excited for the future. I also started P3 remake this year and though it's a slow burn for me, it makes me happy. I won't finish SMT V vengeance this year. I won't finish p3 this year. They still help me understand myself better and allows me to show my son why I enjoy things he doesn't understand. I think I'll try tears of the kingdom soon. I don't think it will effect me the same way breath of the wild did, but that's okay. Thank you for all the work you do.
i'm doing laundry as i watch so sometimes i'm not looking at the screen. When 35:25 came i was like, ""wtf is that evil ass song/sound effect that just started" I turn and i immediately recognize Fear and Hunger and go "Oh."
I'm an aspiring game developer and decided to try out a little of everything out there before working on my own games. This past year I played almost 700 games, each getting to at least the meat of the gameplay loop which is about 30 minutes - 2 hours each. I only have a few hundred more to have tried every game that I own and am looking forward to revisiting and completing some of my favorites.
I think what helped me get past the few hundred or so was treating it like a job since it felt like it was the worst way to experience gaming. But after a while it has become more and more fun, in a way they've all meshed together to become this one giant game with infinite nuance and unlimited content. What's been the best lesson I've learned is knowing exactly the mechanics and systems that I genuinely love and want to explore more with my own work one day.
Anyway, I could probably write a book on my experience. Great video and it's nice to see how and why other people are tackling these colossal backlogs
I rarely comment on TH-cam, but I feel compelled to share my story in response to this video. I started an eerily similar journey ten years ago to clear my backlog by setting a goal to beat 30 games each year. The first time I tried it, I failed, finishing only 20. But I stuck with it and reached my goal the next year, finishing 32 games. However, my ability to streamline the process, make better decisions, and find better ways to play kind of snowballed and the original goal of 30 games is now a distant memory. I won't share the exact number of games I complete annually nowadays, but it well beyond the original 30. The exact number is irrelevant anyways, what is relevant is that you are sticking with this and I see the organic learning happening in these videos. I think you will surprise yourself in the future at what you are able to accomplish when you focus and set reasonable, but still aspirational goals. Best of luck with the backlog, and definitely remember to have fun and enjoy yourself.
It's wild to me that people talk about finishing games as it was a job. Why do you do this to yourself? I just buy and play the games I want to one at a time. I don't know ow many games I have finished this year and I don't care, I don't put limits to how much I want to play each game and I just play them when I feel like and my backlog is just zero. Why would you approach this any other way?
@@michaelpalin8953It is because many of us make poor purchasing decisions with games, acquiring them in sales or because of recommendations when we don't have the time to play them (I very often play 60-70% of a game I am enjoying, and then become too busy to finish before the next amazing release I am excited for arrives) and so we accidentally cultivate a sense of guilt over unfinished titles. I don't believe anyone thinks your approach isn't virtuous, but the nature of life has caused many gamers to form a slightly unhealthy relationship with completing titles - even in the games we enjoy.
wth is this do you have a time machine or something?
I envy you can play games that way. For me the only way I can close a chapter on a game, is by gaining every achievement in the game. If I just roll credits I may have forgotten a side quest, I may not have visited every corner. I may have missed the most surprisingly stunning view or a heartbreak moment.
I may have finished a game, but I may not have done it justice.
Have gotten better at things. I can now push games aside if they are to buggy or if that last achievement is just more hassle than it is worth.
But my backlog is no longer holding me hostage that I have to play. It now exists to make sure I don't buy more games I may not care enough to play in a week or so.
If I finish 2 games and a game is with heavy discount under 5 bucks, I get to buy it.
Untill then, still have 500 or so games.
Isn't it funny the challenges we set for ourselves as humans now that basic needs are so easily met?
This is one of the most entertaining, beautifully paced videos i’ve seen on this platform. you made me interested in so many different titles while at the same time taught me that games are meant to be fun not a box to check off the list. keep it up man!!
30:28 STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE WWWWWW.
It looks daunting but it’s so worth it!! One of my favorite series of fantasy books of all time. On top of that, it takes place in a shared universe known as the Cosmere where some of his other series takes place on different planets altogether, but will interconnect later down the line
This!!! 🙌🙌🙌
This
I got an Edgedancer tattoo a couple years back
Can't wait for Winds and Truth ^^
2 weeks until Wind and Truth WWWWWW
@@Fe3hEnthusiastHYYYYYYYPE!!!
I want to read it, but I learned my lesson a few decades ago as a fan of The Wheel of Time. I'm not investing time in a book series before it's finished.
Honestly I don't mind you turning this into an annual series. This is a constant conundrum every gamer faces and it's cool seeing how you approach your backlog each year!
Yessss, I love that you played 1000x Resist! There needs to be waaay more buzz about this game. It's like if Yoko Taro directed an interactive theater production of Everything, Everywhere, All at Once. Hair to hair.
Agreed, the game is such a narrative masterpiece I can't believe it's their first project. Happy to hear that a video from Daryl is coming!
Sphere to square
It's rare that I see a video and immediately get super excited for it. But this was one of those videos. It's hard to describe, but your backlog videos give me this profound sense of longing. Like I'm finding something I lost. Something magical that's difficult to find. A lost part of myself that I can't share with anyone else. After watching the entire video, I guess the only thing I can say is...
Man.
I think the section about Chronotrigger in this one actually resonated more with me than any of the previous segments of the two backlog videos. I recently picked up half-life for the first time, a game that I've heard and read so much about over the years but never took the time to play. Learning about so many of the references and small things that made the game and Valve into the behemoths that they are was a very eye opening experience. One that I'm glad I waited until I was old enough to appreciate.
Glad to see 1000xResist mentioned! Red to blue, sister!
Also, ZeroRanger spotted in the wishlist 👀, great choice!
not sure if its really a 'man...' game, but ULTRAKILL is genuinely one of the best playing games, and it still has a lot of emotion in it.
it becomes increasingly man... as the plot progresses and as you learn just how deep the tragedy of its world runs
He tried it last year and left it behind, maybe next year will be the chance we got to make him play it, hope he enjoys it
I only found these year this month, and it got me really motivated to tackle my backlog myself. There are so many games I haven't played that I want to, as well as games I just never finished...
A lot of the techniques shown in these videos for compiling these backlogs seem super useful for someone like me who can't decide on anything to save my life lol
So I guess, I'll compile my own spreadsheet, and at the end of next year I'll be back on the next video to report on my own progress.
Hey Daryl! I just wanted to say that this series has inspired me to start my own backlog and I’ve been loving it. That’s it thank you! :)
@@Jayrhny758 Best of luck! Have fun!
I love this series. I’ve been using these tips to finally try to “finish” my backlog. I’ve been having a blast finally playing some games that have been on my list for years. Please keep making these!
I'm sorry for your loss. It's good to see Binx had a long and happy life.
I want to thank you. I made my own version of my backlog. As someone who worries a lot about everything it's a huge stress relief just being able to open my list and visually see what I want to play/prioritize. And this has made me realize there's some games that aren't meant for me. Ultimately I don't finish them and/or stay away from their sequels/similar games. And for games I truly love I don't rush and enjoy them at my own pace. Also, to keep my brain from getting bored of the same thing all the time I have been playing several games at the same time and it's been working really well for me.
It's so fucked up that 1000xresist didn't get nominated for best narrative, or best score and music, or games for impact, or best independent game, or best debut indie game.
There are all games that we’ve played that just go completely under the radar for the rest of the world. A game doesn’t have to be nominated for some arbitrary award for it to mean something for you
Yeah it didn’t have the big media coverage firepower to make a run for any of that but it’s absolutely a hit in every way. I think it will win a lot of “niche TH-camr sung its praises” awards
@@DarylTalksGames So thankful for the "niche TH-camr sung its praises" representation on this game though. I play only a couple new games a year sadly, and I wouldn't have known about it otherwise. It was truly something so special, and I still think about it regularly months after finishing it. A truly special piece of art.
I have legitimately NEVER HEARD of this game in any way shape or form and apparently it's like an overwhelmingly positive game what? Why is no one talking about this?
@@DarylTalksGames if Jacob Geller counts as niche he definitely threw his weight behind this game! Only other outlet I follow that covered the game was Second Wind in their 3min reviews.
Daryl you've done it again, this video had me beaming and randomly contemplating the beauty of life and games like four times 😭 I'm also trying a new approach to the backlog in 2025, but following a more vibes-based approach this year I still knocked mine down from 83 to 56-with genuine memories and thoughts from each game I beat! It's a fun little project, and fun to grapple with whether or not to even call it something as formal as a project. I'll be rooting for you, following along, and eagerly waiting for next year's backlog video. You're a storyteller I appreciate, my sir. Rest easy Binx and have yourself a damn good one.
Also I'm making you play Yakuza 0 I'm still upset it got knocked off last year, you'll love it trust me 🍉
I am really bad at completing video games. I usually buy them and just let them sit idly by. However, this year, I am proud to say that I have beaten an average of 1 game a month, which is huge for me. These backlog videos are great and I am glad I can finish mine alongside you!
23:12 What's interesting is that for us poor people, wishlist IS the backlog 😢, so I'm surprised to see someone else also use wishlist as the new backlog 😅
I'm on the end of the totem pole too but games are pretty cheap on Steam. I wait years for 75-90% discounts and still got a massive backlog.
But I also still have like over 700 games on my wishlist lol.
dude... the first backlog video you did was unbelievable such an amazing video. I was like when is he going to do another one, and here it is. Thanks for everthing you do daryl
Your backlog videos have been a huge inspiration to me over the last couple of years. I started making a spreadsheet 2 years ago of games to beat each month and all of this year I've been writing my thoughts on them once they're done!
It was great to see NieR Replicant in your video this year, such an amazing game
Something that I've found really fun this year, thanks to Darryl's previous backlog vid and Transparency Boo's video "You Don't Need a Backlog", is using a spreadsheet to track the games I played that year and my thoughts on it.
Tackling a giant list of games I want to play and trying to whittle that list down can feel stressful and daunting. Creating a list of my gaming experiences and adding to it over time, however, is a lot of fun! It's really cool looking back at the games I played, and seeing what did or did not land with me over the course of the year.
I beat 14 games this year so far and also really enjoyed multiple multiplayer games with my friends. It was a great gaming year and your last video really inspired me. Being a new parent, I don't get as much gaming time as I used to, but even with that said, I beat so many games and had countless great memories. I am looking forward to 2025 immensely.
Crosscode being on that small distilled list is great! Everyone should play it.
Was definitely a "man..." game for me
I started it a few years ago & had dropped it for whatever reason, I don't remember. I wasn't even very far in it. It's funny I see it brought up now since I decided last week to give it another go & actually get through it.
All along was, all you absolutely need to play on that list is CrossCode and ChronoTrigger and I'll be satisfied
After the first dungeon I looked up the last puzzle in a video and gave up. First game that genuinly made me feel like missed IQ points.
It's cute af tho.
I think it's a crime that you haven't played Return of the Obra dinn!
I played it this year and it was amazing! Your brain will be thinking so hard solving the mystery of the obra dinn in a super creative art style. I LOVED it!
(it's by the same guy who made papers please, another great game)
My chosen pick is The house in fata morgana. It is the best story I have ever experienced, even better than Berserk. This reviewer summarized it best:
Sublime writing, beautiful artwork, and a haunting soundtrack combine to undertake one most nuanced and thoughtful explorations of all the best and worst of the human condition-disturbing and intense, but ultimately hopeful, and with a level of care and humanity that’s rare to see in a game that goes to the dark places this one does. Perhaps most of all, it’s a perfect example of how much visual novels can push the boundaries of videogames as a medium and as an art form, both because and in spite of their “gameplay” constraints. The House in Fata Morgana is, quite simply, a masterpiece on every level.
The only reason why I didn't pick that is because it was already on both backlogs.
@helloguy8934 A fair answer, I mean, there are many other games @DarylTalksGames could try too. However. The House in Fata Morgana had an extremely profound effect on me. After playing both the main game and A Requiem for innocence, I started to do volunteer work, I looked for and bought my own home, I did more exercising, I started looking seriously for a relationship. To this day, I still do not fully understand why this story in particular made me change my actions and habits, but it is a game that is very near and dear to me and is the ONLY game that ever made me change myself for the better and I have played more than 470 games in my life. I truly am not the same person before and after this game.
Moreover, I am hoping that he makes a video on it, because I believe he is the perfect content creator for it and would love to see his reaction to it. I also think that the game deserves more widespread attention, hence why I want a big content creater like @DarylTalksGames to talk about it. It is up to him whether he wants to do that of course, but one can hope. I believe that he may have a similar experience, especially since he is a fan of manga too (noticed goodbye eri and Oshi no Ko in the background at the end).
Although this comment was not necessary, I felt that my original comment could use some more explanation, so I hope to have given you more reason on why I chose it, even though it is on both backlogs. Also, from my experience, it is a game that I also played MUCH later than when I originally bought i. So I wanted to give him more motivation to play it and I hope that, through my comment, more people will give this game a go.
my favorite story ever, I hope more people can experience it, even if it doesn’t work for some people
@tahwington Yes dude it's always sad to see daryl miss it
Off of the back of your first backlog video, I created my own spreadsheet and tackled my own backlog.
I learned a lot, and managed to play to completion (or decide to abandon forever because I didn't like it) 100 games.
I think the biggest takeaway for me was that I learned what type of games I really enjoy, and which I don't.
Going forward, I won't waste money on countless games that I know I probably won't even like let alone get to playing.
Also, I have found that having 2 or more games on the go at the same time really helps. Don't feel like playing that heavy RPG today? Just boot up Balatro instead.
Thanks for the inspiration, and good luck!
I am happy to report that I slashed my backlog in half this year, from 72 to 36. I am also currently playing Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and it feels amazing.
I recently binged the entire Chronicles trilogy and I've gotta say, I'm extremely sad it's over. I wish there was more 😢
@Riven-117 Xenoblade X is on the way my friend:)
My backlog is probably 1000+ at this point I've given up on the idea of ever being able to finish it lol
@@Riven-117 x is next year :)
As someone who constantly craves something that I fell can never be fully satisfied in media, I have come to accept that a backlog gives me comfort in knowing there’s something I can always dream and ponder on that is unknown to me.
Nothing is worst than chasing the ghost of something you’ve experienced. I’m learning to be happy with my backlogs and cherishing the history on why I wanted to play or watch and seeing that idea years later and revisiting the feeling and mind I had at the time.
I geniuenly feel like he would love Darkwood based on his recent endeavors with horror games. Just dont forget to respect the woods.
Good suggestion!
Ooh I'd vote for that if I didn't already pick Banjo Kazooie
Replying to please the algorithm
Daryl, these videos have helped me out so much! I've usually been very tight and organized with my entertainment backlog, but I haven't been so in life--where it really matters: finances, relationships, opportunities. I've had... a rough three years--the last six months, especially. Some of those challenges were outside of my control, and many were caused by deep character flaws that I didn't even know I had until recently. The lessons learned have been hard, and have come with severe consequences, to the point where I essentially need to start over completely. Even the games and other interests that I used to get a sense of identity from seem to be falling away to make room for something new.
I discovered your channel only a few weeks ago, and many of the realizations I've had, and the changes I've decided to make, have been re-contextualized through your videos. It wasn't just your Backlogs: I went through your entire video library and cherry picked the ones that stuck out to me; I've been slowly watching them throughout this week, and they've brought me on quite a journey. I'm sure you get this a lot, but thank you! Thanks to you and a few other sources, including a handful of close friends who've remained with me, I've begun to see my path forward and gain the courage to try again--this time, with the determination to build a life that lasts. Your content truly came into my life at just the right time!
I discovered this channel a few years ago and have devoured every video, it's fantastic! And this series ...Man... So happy to hear you're considering making it a yearly tradition!! For my pick, I was torn between voting/insisting between 2 of my GOATS Final Fantasy 6 or Mass Effect 2, but ultimately decided to try for a ...Man... game, and voted for: To the Moon. 4hrs according to HLTB, hope you find the room for this little indie gem! Love your content! Beautiful doggo, may Binx RIP.
Oh man. To the Moon. I've heard about it, seen a trailer, and listened to a synopsis. I don't think I'd ever be able to bring myself to play it. I know it'd be incredible, but I legitimately don't think I'd be able to emotionally handle it.
@@Road_to_Dawn I highly recommend it! It is a bit soul-crushing, sure, hahaha, but it's a well rounded experience in the end. Definitely a ...Man game!
Your last backlog video stressed me the hell out, but also inspired me greatly. To not do what you did.
A year later it seems like we've ended up in the same place. I've used a backlog to reignite my love for games and storytelling through them. No time lines, no stress, just a reminder of what i love. Watching this video gives me the same feeling that thinking back on this year does. I love this medium so much. So many wonderful moments.
Here's to another year.
(Actually i started in February so I've got a little while to go. Still! 21 games and counting!)
This could easily become my favorite yearly tradition
Prior to your video last year, I was in a major gaming slump; I was literally only playing Stardew Valley, despite having over 50 games in my steam library I had never touched. But your video inspired me to step out of my cozy comfort zone and play through my own backlog. Organizing everything into a spreadsheet and seeing how many hours it would take to beat each game helped immensely. Begone decision paralysis! I think what helped me the most was making peace with the fact that this list would never truly be “done” and I needed to be okay with rolling games over to next years list. Giving it a deadline would just stress me out and I’d be playing games just to check them off, not to enjoy the experience. Though I knew going into it that playing every single game I owned in one year just wouldn’t be feasible (and the list only grew during steam sales), I’m happy to report I rolled credits on 30 games this past year! My “man” games were definitely Undertale and Earthbound, finally playing through those for myself was an experience I’ll never forget. Excellent video as always, thanks for inspiring me and many others, and I’m excited to see how the restructured format works out next year!!
As someone who works with spreadsheets frequently, I do see the need to take note of the games you've beaten, what you liked and what you didn't. It can help in understanding one's self and their tastes. My take away, and my own experience is that making a list of games you HAVE to play is the easiest way to make gaming your least favorite activity.
Also, my vote is to add "The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa" to next year's list.
I'm so sorry for your losses
Thanks for sharing your journey! Can't wait to hear what you've enjoyed next year :)
I can't wait for you to play Crosscode till the end this time, seriously one of the best indie games out there and one of my favorite
Sheeit. I need to beat the fire temple someday.
I know it already was on this year's list but I cannot die until I see Crosscode get the recognition it deserves.
My dream would be a whole video discussing all the spoilery stuff that the plot tackles but just a section on the next Backlog video would be enough
Thanks Daryl!
I've kind of stopped caring about my backlog, now whenever I have a slot open for a new game to play I just look through the games I own and see what I wanna start playing. This year I also took a different approach and just started playing through some entire series since I had access to them. Got through Yakuza 0 - Like A Dragon all in a month (this is what unemployment does to a person), I also played all 5 2D Metroid games and am now a superfan of the series, and I'm close to finishing up the 5th Mario & Luigi game in preparation for Brothership (it's already out but I don't have it yet)
And sometimes I just play something random to pass the time like Picross or I might even replay some games. Basically, I no longer have that pressure of so many games I gotta get through and I've been very much going at my own pace. Sometimes I struggle to continue with a game even if I really want to keep with it, so I just do something else for a bit, whether that's a new game, a replay of an older one, maybe I even just go watch some anime instead.
I think the one thing I took away from your video last year was the cataloging my thoughts into a spreadsheet, to really ruminate on my time with a game. That alone, I feel like my relationship with games (along with kicking my Destiny 2 habit) really has allowed me to connect back to this hobby in a way I haven't in a long time. Thanks for these vids, super fun to see what you get into, and love to learn about myself in the process!
The OG backlog youtuber is back
I felt this exact same way about anime when I first got introduced to the medium. (with dandadan so only like 2 months ago lol) I had developed such a huge list of things to watch and my cousin did not help when he gave me his crunchyroll account. I watched like 3 animes in just one month to try and finish all of the ones I wanted to watch.
Later I realized that I really wasnt experiencing TV that well and going straight from one season to another where the character aged like seven years was giving me major whiplash. So now I'm watching one episode everyday and switching animes (and any other show I watch) everytime a new season starts, just so I can actually think about what I watched. It definitely helps me experience the shows to the fullest, at least it worked really well for DeathNote and now Vinland. I know ill never watch all my animes if I watch 1 or 2 episodes a day but I'm definitely enjoying it a lot more.
On a side note, not really backloggy, but I really recommend limiting the amount of episodes of a show you watch everyday. I cycle between an animated show, a drama/action, and a comedy, so even if I watch one episode a day I have about 2 hours of content to watch, so I can always watch a show if I really have time to.
I love this idea esspecially in our culture of binging, if i wanna watch media i want it to man something to me and for it to take time for me to finish
Omg I just watched the video and he talks about dandadan on this channel?
man, every glimpse of the list left to be completed reminds me just how much crosscode is overlooked. an amazing game that it feels like no one has played, but those who do sing its praises. It is pretty rare for me to follow a game from the very beginning (outside of massive series like zelda), but the crosscode demo made it one of the few (if not the only one) to fit that description. A "man" game for me, easily, but one i worry the push would ruin for others.
I uhh have gotten about 15 hours in, but man some of the puzzles are a little annoying. I'm still in the fire temple.
@@helloguy8934 without knowing exactly where you are stuck, i can only give platitudes and generalized tips, even more so because the game makes a joke at its own expense about defining the temples by the elements, but if that is what you are seeking, i have 2 points to mention.
1) puzzles, if not fights, are designed around using the main 8 directions (N, NW, W, SW, S, SE, E, NE), with a max of 3 ricochets unless something resets that count (mostly re-direction portals). That doesnt mean the angles in between dont work for specific puzzles, but they are usually a result of over-complicating the puzzle.
2) if it gets in the way too much, you can always check accessibility options, including the ability to "slow down puzzles", though i dont have much point of reference for what exactly that means when i chose to rise to the challenge instead.
Bonus) The boss door room is always the most complicated puzzle of a dungeon, and if you cant immediately see the answer, look at the floor design of the room and trace the path the shot has to take before committing to the puzzle itself. On a blind run, it WILL ALWAYS take multiple tries before you can master the execution, as that is just the process of learning.
@@cullenlatham2366 dope
@@cullenlatham2366 also is the rest of the game like this? I swear I wasn't struggling this hard in the ice temple. Feels like a need a guide for damn near every puzzle.
@@helloguy8934 "like this" is a bit vague to really comment on. Each area has its own unique gimmicks that may or may not be more or less intuitive than the last, but it isnt a game to hold your hand, either. Generally speaking, the game expects that if you cleared a challenge before, you have the skills to take it up a notch.
Yes, the puzzles get ever more complicated, but the boss door rooms are their own beasts. They are the "final exam" of an area, and you are not really expected to perform at a higher level than each boss door room... until you find the next one. Side quests are probably a better metric; they are not easy, and you are free to come back later, but if you can handle them when they first appear, you can likely handle anything the game throws at you (minigames as a bit of an exception because of some finicky changes to the formula like on-rails shooters).
The platforming DOES get more complicated, but it is one with the most obscure helpful tip of the bunch: use aiming to judge elevation. If the aim shows a bounce, it is above you. If the drop shadow angle is off in comparison to the actual aim, it is below you.
Combat is the other point that is not immediately obvious. When in doubt, change equipment, look at the skill tree, or grind. Equipment is much more relevant than it first looks, especially the passives, and equipment level is the better judge of your strength than your inherent level... until you start talking about the dlc epilogue.
1000xResist is the best written game I've ever played and is so criminally under the radar, thank you for covering it.
If you're reading this comment and on the fence, halfway through our playthrough my wife and I had to make a 10 hour drive. We spent the entire 10 hours discussing the game non-stop. It's that well written.
Shout out to Stormlight! That series rocks. Can't wait for book 5
Only a couple more weeks!
can we just appreciate how much effort is put into this, even though you were trying to have fun while doing it you've clearly put so much effort finishing the games, writing your thoughts, voicing, editing. And you're such a chill guy as well. I subbed
WE ARE SO BACK!!!
We never left 😎😎😎
We are so back, baby! Hahahahah
We are so back(log)
I am finding my way to, "I'll play them when the time is right by following my heart", but Daryl making backlog unpacking a yearly tradition couldn't make me any happier! One more thing to look forward to in life and I'm grateful for it
The Fujimoto mangas in the background 🎉🎉
@@sleeplessboy real recognizes real 🍻
@@DarylTalksGames true man of culture! 🍷
@@DarylTalksGamesOnK artbook really the cherry on top
I just love listening to you talk about your passion and life changing experiences in games.
Your videos really are the "Man" part of TH-cam I look for ❤
Va-11 Hall-A is one of my favorite games and it's not that long, so I was kinda waiting for it this whole video lol.
Same the amount of times I saw him zoom in on it or saw it pass by on screen gave me hope. Hopefully next year he plays it
I did the SAME thing this last year - made a list of my games from my backlog to finish, but more often than not, I'd wind up picking up something new and getting sidetracked with it, and I even abandoned some of those and they will likely wind up in a future "backlogged games to finish" list. Come to think of it, that's pretty much my entire approach to gaming.
I put my vote in for The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky. The first game, which originally came out in 2004, is the start of a super long JRPG series that fits the textbook definition of 'slow burn worldbuilding'. Seriously, we're 12 games into the Trails series now and it's probably some of the best worldbuilding and character writing I've seen in video games (no I have not played Nier Automata yet, that's on my backlog). Each story arc takes place in a different country, but the same world so the stories, and characters, and worldbuilding just accumulate over time. Its great.
Not all of them are 'Man...' games, but there were definitely a few that gave me that feeling.
Wonder if it is worth him waiting for the remake.
Thank you for the original video and all the sequels since! Building a backlog sheet helped me focus my leisure time + be more intentional in my gaming, and I even started using the same sheet + methodology to manage other aspects of my life (parenting, health care, domestic work, etc etc).
So happy that you shed light on 1000*Resist. It is one of the few games that actually deserves being called one of a kind. It deserves soooo much more attention. GOTY for me. Looking forward to vids on it.
Stellar Blade is a masterpiece of gaming. A shining jewel placed atop a mountain. 10/10 and that’s final.
It’s like a game that was specifically made at gamers request. The character design, world and level design, combat, music, and bosses are all spectacular. The dialogue fits perfectly in a world full of androids. It’s feature complete, no MT bs, and regularly updated with new features FOR FREE. It’s packed to the gills with outfits for Eve and they’re all earned in game, once again NO MT. It has fishing for gods sake. It’s a perfect game.
If you go into it (like me) looking for another dose of Nier, you'll be deeply disappointed. But it's a solid game if you take it for what it is.
I tried to do my backlog similar to you last year because of your video and meticulously ordered a list of games and was playing them by how many hours an average playtime takes and it worked for about a month until I was on my 4th game and felt burnt out because I made it all about completing the game instead of enjoying it. This month I started a new list but I hand selected each game with care and thought about what I actually want to experience and then I downloaded an app that puts it all into a spinning wheel essentially taking the choice out of my hands and so far I've been having a great time. (Sorry about the lack of punctuation I am stupid)
I have so far finished Kingdom Come Deliverance in preparation of it sequel next year and am now on my first ever playthrough of Final Fantasy 9 my first Final Fantasy game
@@Goovytalks A great first Final Fantasy to play! FF9 is my favorite, not including 14.
Hey, just wanna say it's been a great time following this journey. Like many others it inspired me to make a backlog all be it a lot less detailed than yours and it helped me immensely. I was a pretty big gamer with loads of free time in the past but suddenly family illness and having a child around the same time made it hard for me to manage my hobby. Going from all the free time in the world to very little was overwhelming. Since making a backlog and tracking stats like how long to beat and anticipation it's made me a lot less stressed about it and helped me prioritise what to play when I do have time to sit down so thanks! Looking forward to next year's video!
The Piglet game during the Silent Hill section made me laugh. Someone also watched Eurothug's video I see.
I'm so glad to have discovered this channel this year, you really did make my 2024 much better. Watching your backlog of videos made my day most of the time so I appreciate that.
Such a missed opportunity to throw Tunic to the side. It's truly a unique experience that you only play once since it's a knowledge-based game and it's very worth going through it. I never knew I loved puzzle games until this game.
Yeah I second this!
Such a missed opportunity to only play Tunic once. I guarantee there's still so much more that you've missed.
I just want to say you're amazing. I really love your approach to content creation. Been following you for 4 (or 5?) years and I've loved every single video.
Voting for Katawa Shoujo. You said you are inclined on visual novels. I know a lot of people that still keep a fond memory of this silly 4chan project that became a wave of positivity and tolerance for many.
Maybe Dies Irae as well. Alongside Katawa Shoujo it was the one that introduced me to visual novels.
I'm in- I was thinking of Doki Doki Literature Club, but Katawa Shoujo hits different
I don’t even keep track of my backlog, but every time a video in this series pops up, it still puts me in a state of reflection of the past year, and everything that has happened since I saw the last video. Cheers to you and your hard work bro👍
"Why am I thinking about my inevitable death!?"
* Insert Funger joke here *
Last year's video got me inspired to try my own backlog. And i really only properly got to around 18 or so games (one of which i had to drop). Honestly really glad to see you try this again (and a third time which i wish you the best on). Sorry to hear about your loss, just seeing that last tribute brought out a whole lot of tears, and i guess that just shows that if they were able to make me and countless others cry within just a few seconds of knowing him then they truly were a "man" dog.
YOU DID NOT POST THAT VIDEO TWO YEARS AGO. TIME DOES NOT PASS THIS FAST
I am one of many who started a backlog spreadsheet modeled after your original video. What’s interesting is that from the jump I found myself using it as more of a master list of games I’ve played, am currently playing or am interested in. If a game not originally on the list catches my eye, I’ll simply add it when I start playing it. My time this year was pretty evenly split between “original backlog” games and ones that interested me in the moment so I booted them up. I like being able to see what I’ve accomplished without feeling constrained to only the games on the list.
I usually tend to play a game until I finish it completely then move on. I like when I got a big list of games to beat since most of the time my game library is finished and takes a while to loop back around when I wanna replay them.
You know it's pretty easy to get a permanently unfinished library, just buy Muse Dash or a similar game that has almost unlimited content
@thechugg4372 I wouldn't call a game with unlimited content unfinished. I mean gacha games are basically that until they shut down
I enjoy rouge likes I got a few that I play from time to time like the yohane card game that I'd basically a unique adventure each time on what rng you get each run. Other times I want a shirt adventure I can finish in a day or two to get it done. But most of the time I like long running RPGs that I can play again with better skill the next time.
After watching this series 3 years in a row, I think it's time I actually subscribe. Thank you so much for making it and sharing your whole flow with playing games
Back at it, Daryl!
Out of inspiration of your last two Backlog videos, I also made a Backlog.
That taught me more about Excel than my IT teacher.
Well, I also had a goal, 16 specific games, the front log. Chosen to avoid Choice Paralysis. While your goal got screwed by Persona 4 Golden, my front log got frozen by Persona 5 Royal, which I still haven't beaten.
I also added the rule that I can only buy a game when I've beaten one.
Eh, failed that part, partly because I took advantage of the Xbox 360 Marketplace Closure sale. Ah, so many games for 2 bucks each...
9 games off the Front log, Nr. 10 is being played and 5 games gave been played but ditched.
So theoretically I kicked 14 off the list?
@@Notfallkaramell Haha it’s never as simple as you want it to be is it? 😂 take your time on Persona 5, such a great game!
@DarylTalksGames Yes, it is. And I take my time, I started it back in May. I'm already planning a New Game Plus run. (I missed a few confidants.)
I'm gonna be so happy if this backlog thing become an annual. Your previous two videos inspired me and many others. It drove us to go play many amazing games that staring right at us this whole time. Because of that, we're blessed with all those "MAN" experiences that we could've miss out on otherwise. I even able to share the games i love through a Facebook page thanks to that.
Finding your channel was the start of, what i like to call, "My Gaming Renaissance" and it's one the best things that ever happened to this miserable life of mine. Thanks you from the bottom of my heart for all this amazing videos. Love all the way from Myanmar ❤