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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 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 😢
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.
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!)
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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
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.
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.
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!!
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.
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
@@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.
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'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 doing a little presentation for my friends about all the games I played this year for the 3rd year now and I love how your backlog videos help me to reflect about the games I played. This year, similarly to you, I learned to take my time with games. Giving every game the chance to wow me, but also not pressuring myself to finish everything. Checking in with myself to see what game I want to play right now. No rushing through it, but instead taking it all in and reflecting what I like and what I dont like about this game I'm currently playing. My favorite game I played this year is Disco Elysium. I played it in March and it still sticks with me like no other game this year. Now I finally know why people love it. And the most fascinating: it's not the genre I usually play. But it still hit the right nerve for my "man" moment.
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.
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
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
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.
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 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 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 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!
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.
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.
A realization I have when it comes to the backlog is to not stress about it. Giving yourself time to savour and appreciate when those masterpieces come around is so important. The backlog for me has become more of a "suggestion" list of what to play next. When the new releases slow down, that's when I open the list and see what I should play next. Sometimes I get the urge to replay something, sometimes I feel like playing a retro classic. I basically just follow my mood, but I never abandon a game unless it's just not enjoyable at all. The last time I did it was last year when I played Alone in the Dark Inferno, I got half way and decided enough is enough.
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 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 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 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!
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 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.
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 🍉
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
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.
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.
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.
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).
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!
Man i just love this video series, maybe it's because it finds me in a time where i personally cannot commit as much time to all the entries across my own backlogs for all sorts of media as i'd want to but watching your journey kinda calms me down during the most stressful time of my own life while it appears like all the hype releases drop during this specific timespan. Instead of panicking that i miss out on all the cool things and never catch up like i initially did, watching your approach to deal with your backlog rather gives me excitement for the near future, when the stress of the current real life obligations is lifted and i gain some time to enjoy more of the games i was looking forward to during this period without them being unfinished stressing me out anymore. It also has shown me that the little time i used to play the couple of games i could within these past years holds a special value within my heart. Thank you for taking us on your journey!
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.
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.
Because you loved so much Outer Wilds and Tunic, I submitted Void Stranger. It's exactly the same type of progression based puzzle/exploration game like Tunic and Outer Wilds, wrapped inside a sokoban gameplay style (like baba is you or pokemon's strength puzzles if you dunno) and it has been the biggest MAN game for me. The only thing that I want to say is that there is always more to the game/story than you think (I reccomend taking notes!), and I sincerely think you'll enjoy your ride! The only thing to warn you is that the runtime of the game is between 28-35 hours, so it's a bit on the higher end but I really want to stress that it's a very cool and unique game. Don't ask how I know...
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.
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.
That Pokemon guide at 34:30 is simply sublime, Darryl! My guide for SMT Nocturne is literally falling apart from the hours I've spent with it; I see the wear and tear as a bit of a badge of honor, kind of like having frayed ankle hems on a pair of JNCO jeans back in the 90s.
I actually just made my backlog and Nocturne is on the list! I have a lot of JRPG'S on there (FF7/X, Xenoblade 1, P3, P4, SMT3) so I thinking I'm going just have a backburner JRPG slot like he mentioned doing with Xenoblade 3. Any tips for Nocturne/which of these would be good to start with? I own them all and have at least dipped my toes into most of them. P5 is the only JRPG I've ever actually completed though.
@SPOOFY_D Easy answer: FF7 Real answer: A lot of great games there, as for which to start with that's harder to say. What parts of P5 did you enjoy the most? What kind of games do you like in general? Also, which versions of these games? Nocturne is my favorite of the batch, but I have peculiar tastes.
@SPOOFY_D compared to Persona, SMT is much more prep-focus. You aren't picking from a short list of teammates, you're fusing your teammates the same way you would fuse a Persona. Try to avoid forgetting moves, because once you learn a move, Nocturne does not have a way to relearn skills that you forget
After watching your video last year I started my own backlog and while I’ve made some good progress on it, I am definitely not going to finish it this year. Anytime I started to stress about being “behind schedule” on it I would think of your words from last year. I gave up on trying to stick to the rigid structure and created 2 categories that I tracked data points for separately: planned and unplanned. It gave me the freedom to add things at will when I want to play them while also having a list to go back to when I was struggling to find something to play. For next year I will transfer over anything I didnt finish or remove what I may no longer have any interest in. As someone who has accumulated over 700 games on steam alone a backlog has helped me immensely with choice paralysis. Excited to continue to join you on your journey, while I keep on with my own.
I said it in my survey submission and I’ll say it here - Uncharted 1-4 is an amazing story! Modern day Indiana Jones meets Tomb Raider. Loads of fun, engaging plot points/cutscenes per each checkpoint, games only get better as you go, and it feels like you’re on a rollercoaster as in - you know you’re being led in a direction (so no real choice like an RPG, but the illusion of choice and direction is masterfully provided throughout each game). This series is my childhood and I will forever cherish it.
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
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!!
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 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.
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.
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.
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
your last backlog video inspired me to finally think of a system that works perfectly for me. Ive played about 60 games this year, around 90 if you count board games. Outer Wilds, the big catch tacklebox, deep rock galactic, gnorp apologue, Pikmin 4, tunic, no more heroes, rabbit and steel, superhot, subnautica. These all easily break in my top 50 and i played them all this year. the changes i made: - I started a list. The list contains all the games i want to play before i die. This drastic lens helps me focus on the games i REALLY want to play. it contains about 100 games now, 50 when i started. - I play the ones i want to play the most first. this helps me keep up a great momentum and keeps me optimistic. - I tick the game if i have played it for about 2 hours. This helped me immensly, since previously i lost all my momentum when a game became boring to me, cuz i did not want to start a new one, when the one before wasnt finished. now i tick the game when i feel i "got it" and play on if i want to play on. - I mark the games with a star when i really want to play them and a random emoji if i already own them. thats it, marking the playtime would be daunting to me and make it harder to pick up. - I wishlisted all the games on my switch and on steam and i check the list every day or two. I basically only buy a game when it falls below 10€ or gets a 90% discount. I really hope this helps someone :) (bonus tip: I try to keep up my mental health. i was feeling pretty down for two months this year and i actually did not manage to play a single game.)
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.
Hey Darryl, these videos are extremely comforting to me and your my favorite youtuber probably ever. I voted for Blanc as a game you and your wife should play as me and my fiance played and even with finishing it in a night, filled my heart and left me in pieces, it's worth playing even with how short it is
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.
You put that comment on the screen about someone praising your videos as a joke, but seriously you have an unusual talent, your videos really do make me feel things, they make me reflect and think, they've actually brought tears to my eyes which is not something that happens often. Thank you for the work you do, seriously
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.
Your video last year inspired me to start 2 lists! I have a "play for 3-6 hrs" list and then a "play next list" for the games that pass the 6hr mark and still hold my interest. I've found that if a game doesn't catch my interest in those first 3-6hrs I just don't want to force myself to play them. Thank you for inspiring me to "play more games I enjoy" instead of "beat more games just because I started them"
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?
You are one of my favorite creators on the platform. Up there with Jacob Geller, and your favorite son for me. Your writing is fantastic and often makes me self reflect on the way i play and digest games. Thank you for another great year of content.
Don't miss out on 20% off DeleteMe by using code DARYL at checkout! - joindeleteme.com/DARYL
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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 :)
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.
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.
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.
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.
I've had some games on my wishlist since 2016. I'll get around to it someday I swear!
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)
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
panning to dimitri (and claude) when saying “beautiful strong characters” is so real of you 25:45
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.
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!)
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 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.
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??
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.
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.
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.
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 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?
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.
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.
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!!
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.
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
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
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'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 doing a little presentation for my friends about all the games I played this year for the 3rd year now and I love how your backlog videos help me to reflect about the games I played. This year, similarly to you, I learned to take my time with games. Giving every game the chance to wow me, but also not pressuring myself to finish everything. Checking in with myself to see what game I want to play right now. No rushing through it, but instead taking it all in and reflecting what I like and what I dont like about this game I'm currently playing.
My favorite game I played this year is Disco Elysium. I played it in March and it still sticks with me like no other game this year. Now I finally know why people love it. And the most fascinating: it's not the genre I usually play. But it still hit the right nerve for my "man" moment.
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 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.
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
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
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
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 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 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 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!
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.
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.
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.
I'm sorry for your loss. It's good to see Binx had a long and happy life.
A realization I have when it comes to the backlog is to not stress about it. Giving yourself time to savour and appreciate when those masterpieces come around is so important. The backlog for me has become more of a "suggestion" list of what to play next. When the new releases slow down, that's when I open the list and see what I should play next. Sometimes I get the urge to replay something, sometimes I feel like playing a retro classic. I basically just follow my mood, but I never abandon a game unless it's just not enjoyable at all. The last time I did it was last year when I played Alone in the Dark Inferno, I got half way and decided enough is enough.
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
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 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 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 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!
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
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.
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 🍉
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
I can't believe how funny that "You hit New Game Plus" skit was, you made me snort-laugh man - the comedic timing was perfect
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
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.
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 :)
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.
This could easily become my favorite yearly tradition
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).
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!
Man i just love this video series, maybe it's because it finds me in a time where i personally cannot commit as much time to all the entries across my own backlogs for all sorts of media as i'd want to but watching your journey kinda calms me down during the most stressful time of my own life while it appears like all the hype releases drop during this specific timespan. Instead of panicking that i miss out on all the cool things and never catch up like i initially did, watching your approach to deal with your backlog rather gives me excitement for the near future, when the stress of the current real life obligations is lifted and i gain some time to enjoy more of the games i was looking forward to during this period without them being unfinished stressing me out anymore. It also has shown me that the little time i used to play the couple of games i could within these past years holds a special value within my heart.
Thank you for taking us on your journey!
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.
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.
The OG backlog youtuber is back
Because you loved so much Outer Wilds and Tunic, I submitted Void Stranger.
It's exactly the same type of progression based puzzle/exploration game like Tunic and Outer Wilds, wrapped inside a sokoban gameplay style (like baba is you or pokemon's strength puzzles if you dunno) and it has been the biggest MAN game for me.
The only thing that I want to say is that there is always more to the game/story than you think (I reccomend taking notes!), and I sincerely think you'll enjoy your ride!
The only thing to warn you is that the runtime of the game is between 28-35 hours, so it's a bit on the higher end but I really want to stress that it's a very cool and unique game.
Don't ask how I know...
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.
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!
Shout out to Stormlight! That series rocks. Can't wait for book 5
Only a couple more weeks!
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.
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
That Pokemon guide at 34:30 is simply sublime, Darryl!
My guide for SMT Nocturne is literally falling apart from the hours I've spent with it; I see the wear and tear as a bit of a badge of honor, kind of like having frayed ankle hems on a pair of JNCO jeans back in the 90s.
I actually just made my backlog and Nocturne is on the list!
I have a lot of JRPG'S on there (FF7/X, Xenoblade 1, P3, P4, SMT3) so I thinking I'm going just have a backburner JRPG slot like he mentioned doing with Xenoblade 3.
Any tips for Nocturne/which of these would be good to start with?
I own them all and have at least dipped my toes into most of them. P5 is the only JRPG I've ever actually completed though.
@SPOOFY_D Easy answer: FF7
Real answer: A lot of great games there, as for which to start with that's harder to say. What parts of P5 did you enjoy the most? What kind of games do you like in general? Also, which versions of these games? Nocturne is my favorite of the batch, but I have peculiar tastes.
@SPOOFY_D compared to Persona, SMT is much more prep-focus. You aren't picking from a short list of teammates, you're fusing your teammates the same way you would fuse a Persona. Try to avoid forgetting moves, because once you learn a move, Nocturne does not have a way to relearn skills that you forget
Crosscode, the time has come. Seriously this game is so special and great, its one of the best indie
After watching your video last year I started my own backlog and while I’ve made some good progress on it, I am definitely not going to finish it this year. Anytime I started to stress about being “behind schedule” on it I would think of your words from last year. I gave up on trying to stick to the rigid structure and created 2 categories that I tracked data points for separately: planned and unplanned. It gave me the freedom to add things at will when I want to play them while also having a list to go back to when I was struggling to find something to play. For next year I will transfer over anything I didnt finish or remove what I may no longer have any interest in. As someone who has accumulated over 700 games on steam alone a backlog has helped me immensely with choice paralysis. Excited to continue to join you on your journey, while I keep on with my own.
The Piglet game during the Silent Hill section made me laugh. Someone also watched Eurothug's video I see.
I said it in my survey submission and I’ll say it here - Uncharted 1-4 is an amazing story! Modern day Indiana Jones meets Tomb Raider. Loads of fun, engaging plot points/cutscenes per each checkpoint, games only get better as you go, and it feels like you’re on a rollercoaster as in - you know you’re being led in a direction (so no real choice like an RPG, but the illusion of choice and direction is masterfully provided throughout each game). This series is my childhood and I will forever cherish it.
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
@@LostInWalrus A great first Final Fantasy to play! FF9 is my favorite, not including 14.
I needed thisssss vid, Thankz 🖤!
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!!
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 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.
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.
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.
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
WE ARE SO BACK!!!
We never left 😎😎😎
We are so back, baby! Hahahahah
We are so back(log)
your last backlog video inspired me to finally think of a system that works perfectly for me. Ive played about 60 games this year, around 90 if you count board games. Outer Wilds, the big catch tacklebox, deep rock galactic, gnorp apologue, Pikmin 4, tunic, no more heroes, rabbit and steel, superhot, subnautica. These all easily break in my top 50 and i played them all this year.
the changes i made:
- I started a list. The list contains all the games i want to play before i die. This drastic lens helps me focus on the games i REALLY want to play. it contains about 100 games now, 50 when i started.
- I play the ones i want to play the most first. this helps me keep up a great momentum and keeps me optimistic.
- I tick the game if i have played it for about 2 hours. This helped me immensly, since previously i lost all my momentum when a game became boring to me, cuz i did not want to start a new one, when the one before wasnt finished. now i tick the game when i feel i "got it" and play on if i want to play on.
- I mark the games with a star when i really want to play them and a random emoji if i already own them. thats it, marking the playtime would be daunting to me and make it harder to pick up.
- I wishlisted all the games on my switch and on steam and i check the list every day or two. I basically only buy a game when it falls below 10€ or gets a 90% discount.
I really hope this helps someone :)
(bonus tip: I try to keep up my mental health. i was feeling pretty down for two months this year and i actually did not manage to play a single game.)
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
Hey Darryl, these videos are extremely comforting to me and your my favorite youtuber probably ever. I voted for Blanc as a game you and your wife should play as me and my fiance played and even with finishing it in a night, filled my heart and left me in pieces, it's worth playing even with how short it is
"Why am I thinking about my inevitable death!?"
* Insert Funger joke here *
30:29 *YESSS!* JUST IN TIME TOO!
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.
You put that comment on the screen about someone praising your videos as a joke, but seriously you have an unusual talent, your videos really do make me feel things, they make me reflect and think, they've actually brought tears to my eyes which is not something that happens often. Thank you for the work you do, seriously
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.
Your video last year inspired me to start 2 lists!
I have a "play for 3-6 hrs" list and then a "play next list" for the games that pass the 6hr mark and still hold my interest. I've found that if a game doesn't catch my interest in those first 3-6hrs I just don't want to force myself to play them. Thank you for inspiring me to "play more games I enjoy" instead of "beat more games just because I started them"
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.)
You are one of my favorite creators on the platform. Up there with Jacob Geller, and your favorite son for me. Your writing is fantastic and often makes me self reflect on the way i play and digest games. Thank you for another great year of content.
Crosscode needs some love bro, an excellent backlog item
YOU DID NOT POST THAT VIDEO TWO YEARS AGO. TIME DOES NOT PASS THIS FAST