Gamers vs Backlogs: How to Defeat Your Backlog - Retro Bird

If you play video games, then you probably have a backlog. In this video, I give some tips as well as provide some perspective on how to handle your backlog.
How to Defeat Your Video Game Backlog - Retro Bird / Gaming Backlog
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[@RetroBirdGaming]

Here is the video about consolidation that I was talking about: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKvXh4eqZqiAf7c Games played: Super Metroid (0:00), Mega Man X4 (0:25), Power Stone 2 (0:34), Sunset Riders (0:53), Diddy Kong Racing (1:12), Castlevania III (1:45), Super Mario Bros. Wonder (5:47), Battletoads (11:00)

[@CLINTSTER77COX]

You just added to my backlog😠 I looked up Power Stone 2 .( I don’t have a Dreamcast) But I can’t unsee the fact it is included in a PSP collection and I have a psp ☹️🙁😕dirty dog you😂😅

[@aveztruz3d]

I'm convinced that collecting games and playing them are two different hobbies

[@Cableguy15]

Sometimes, it's not even the collector's fault. I remember about 10 years ago, I excitedly loaded up on some of the best retro multiplayer games I could find. I had a bunch of people over and... they had zero interest in trying any of them. They all wanted to play Smash Bros. and Mario Kart. lol

[@theblubus]

Completely agree

[@lowmax4431]

100%

[@xgmbx3468]

My ten year old self having access to a massive game library is driving this.... Despite my almost zero hours a week available to play anything.

[@SandwichGlitch]

​@@Cableguy15that reminds me of a trip with some buddies almost 2 decades ago... 😢 One brought a N64 with Mario party and Mario kart............. We played International Superstar soccer deluxe and Mario Kart on the SNES 😂

[@Random_Person684]

ME with 50 games "lets buy 20 more"

[@64bitRewind]

Isn’t that the same for most women with shoes? 😂 wait, can I make a comment like that anymore? 🤔

[@onetwo6039]

Guilty. ✋

[@FTChomp9980]

I'm currently trying to do that with the Switch Library of mine.

[@Barney_rubble983]

​@@64bitRewind you can, it's teue.

[@poopikins]

Those are rookie numbers

[@picklerick589]

It was scary how relatable this video was, espescially the part about just staring at your games until it’s time to goto bed. Hahaha.

[@bstoker9468]

Yup, I even do that with my Steam games sometimes...

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I'd like to think I know you all pretty well!

[@kevingoodwin9204]

Yep, I have totally been there.

[@StrangeDad]

- What's your hobby? - I play video games. -What's your favourite type of game? - Staring contest with my collection.

[@justapeasant8949]

Yep. Let's see what I have on Steam and Epic Games Store. What could start with? Glancing look at the list on both platforms and... oh boy... where do I even begin? Ok, I'll start with Nioh: The Complete Edition. A Japanese title... wait, Japanese?! Backlog of Manga and Anime?!🤯 I... I... I need a time to mentally process all of this😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@Kain5th]

“Treat your backlog like rental store’ ohh nice one! I like that

[@Kain5th]

@12:50

[@TsengFayt]

Retro Bird's comedy just hits different. Between the hilarious Jim Carrey-esque facial expressions and the incredible timing and delivery it never fails to make me laugh. Super relatable topic this week as well, it hit the nail on the head in so many ways. We love you RB!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thank you for that! And yes, Jim Carrey's facial expressions were a big influence on me growing up :)

[@joeyfarris2543]

​@@RetroBirdGamingAll righty then👍👍🍌🍌

[@cultivatedgamer]

I know. It is really good. He really has a good sense of humor. He also doesn't feel the need to curse and swear, which is something I really respect.

[@mickael486]

"Time to stare at my games until it's time to go to bed" 😂 #Truth

[@SandwichGlitch]

With me it's more like "stare at the PSN Store sales"

[@damian9303]

Something that definitely helps with midlog games would be watching a gameplay of one upto the point you were last on, not only can it help familiarize you with the story without replaying the actual game all over again but evaluating someone else’s gameplay of it could help you to get better at it too. Not like we still have gaming magazines anymore to give all those tips for us like back when these games were new

[@RetroBirdGaming]

That can definitely help! Sometimes even just watching a little bit of the game right before where you were at too.

[@MrChristianDT]

That's not a bad idea. One of the biggest issues I have with starting a new one is feeling like the proverbial dog that got left at home & feeling annoyed that I have no clue how close to the end I am, so it may as well be forever. I normally don't like to watch a video, unless I get stuck, but maybe just doing that first would help actually motivate me. Lol

[@damian9303]

@@MrChristianDT Definitely, especially those that are story-driven! It’s like when you watch an anime and it has a prologue of what happened from the episode previous, so then once the new episode starts you’re kicked right back to the action until next time

[@timmymorris91]

Quickly becoming one of my favourite channels on KZbin

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Very flattered to hear it!

[@sanderkoekkoek9866]

@@RetroBirdGaming The start of our saterday morning ^^

[@SeanieDhaDhinnear]

You're never getting your game back Timmy

[@zacharymoore2910]

This video makes so many points that hit home…time, being tired, the midlog…dear bananas the midlog! That might be my greatest issue. I know I need to stick with one or two at a time, but it’s just so tempting to pick up something else. Also, when I’m truly exhausting it feels much easier to watch a handy dandy Retro Bird video than to use the mental energy to play a game. As always, another incredible video from my absolute favorite creator.

[@GreyMatterShades]

Yeah the midlog is rough! I'm trying to learn to be honest with myself about just not wanting to complete some games. As someone with completionist tendencies, it can be tough to walk away from anything I've started, but realistically some of those games just didn't grab me and I'd rather play something else. I think it would help to scrub those from the midlog/backlog. After all, I think you can be finished with a game without actually finishing the game, ya know?

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thank you! Glad you resonated with the video :)

[@AstralWolf86]

I got adhd I feel your pain

[@zacharymoore2910]

@@GreyMatterShadesthe problem is a number of those games I’ll get the urge to play a month or two later and then I have after a while I drift away again creating a never ending cycle. I think I might have to gain comfort in the joy of playing without worrying about having to finish them. I love your statement “you can finish with a game without finishing.” I

[@spaceyrat]

The midlog gets me... I have Death Stranding, Persona 4 Royal, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 MOSTLY done.

[@jacobbaranowski]

8:29 "your never getting your game back Timmy" 😂

[@kmatlockii]

Helping us with our backlogs too? Retro Bird is a national treasure and must be protected at all costs!

[@Atais_UKBM]

So much respect for anyone who can say “my suggestion” without following it up with “keep your distance” cause I for sure can’t

[@jjmini]

My strategy on getting through backlogs is as simple as "just do it" We spend a lot of our day not optimizing our time or spending it on things that suck up our time without realizing it. Yes, work, sleep and responsibilities take up a ton of time but if you even can manage 2-3 hours a day/night for your game you can knock it out in a week or two at most depending on the game size. My best advice is to put the phone away, close the tabs and clear your mind so you can clear your backlog. Also, never prioritize gaming over sleep. There is nothing worse than nodding off while forcing yourself to play a game especially when you consider how bad your performance and reactions become when tired. Love the content mr bird

[@timwasylyszyn9838]

Loved the video! Being in my 40’s backlog is a real and relatable issue. Sometimes I do just stare at my games and wish I had time to play them. 😂

[@PowerSynopsis]

Buddy, I dumped a couple hundred hrs in BotW and still haven't finished it and defeated Gannon. A couple days ago I picked up TotK again, determined to finish it off. This situation *_IS_* a full on log jam.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Haha fair enough :)

[@RunMeThrough]

Just poured myself an IPA and I’m going to recline and enjoy this video!!!! But maybe I should be working on my backlog instead…🤔

[@jacealbine]

Why not both?

[@commentresurrection1841]

Backlogs? I'm still working on my front log!

[@thedeadpoolwhochuckles.6852]

Phrasing!

[@Brandon-bc5um]

giggity

[@stevenewsome5306]

My brain- do I start on my movie backlog or game back log. Reality- I’ll just watch a KZbin video and think about it. Oh look retro bird posted. 🍌 🔥

[@tonyp9313]

The problem is video games & movies are too long to watch. If you're working a full time job, & you get very tired, you don't want to be doing thibgs that take a lot of time.

[@stephenhughes5156]

Play a video game if you have the energy. If you just wanna lay back and chill, stick on the movie. Also, controversial opinion: you don't HAVE to watch a movie in one sitting. Yes, that's how they are 'supposed' to be watched, but there's nothing wrong with splitting it into 2 of 3 parts.

[@mikem2132]

Sometimes I'm too tired for video games, but I'm never too tired for Retro Bird!

[@SMCwasTaken]

Wind Waker is still there on my Wii U Maybe i will continue it one day

[@thinkhector]

That's a really long game. I thought it I just bought a bunch of short games, and just a few long ones I would be good. Now I have hundreds of short games, and dozens of long games to get to.

[@GalaxyCat42]

The ending is worth it!

[@crystalwater505]

I don't see a backlog being a negative thing really, anymore. I'm grateful to have a life where I'm able to have one. Games are fun to play and shouldn't be seen as a chore. I'm someone that doesn't try to take things for granted in life. I'm grateful for having all of my limbs, good eye sight, a nice windy warm day, a beautiful sunny sky, just admiring when it's peaceful and quiet, etc. It could be a lot worse. Be thankful you don't live in the Congo or something, or North Korea. If you have a backlog, be grateful you live in a country and have a comfortable enough life to have one I say!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Great attitude! With perspective, a backlog is nothing to be too worried about :)

[@edwardnarro3323]

My back log helps me stop buying more games, every time I get the itch to buy a new game, I remind myself that I have loads still to play.

[@metroidmayhem8463]

One tip I've found useful in my 30s is. If you have a desire or itch to play a certain game. Jump on it. Now that feeling may pass but push yourself to first save area after intro bologna is done. If you still desire to play press on. Otherwise you have a fresh start ready to go. Then the next time that itch comes up to play it. Theres no intro or wait just jump in. Really helps me cause I'm a parent and full time employee with little spare time.

[@andrewdiles2152]

For me, watching Let's Plays has been a nice compromise to knock off games that have been on my back log for too long. Can multitask food prep and cleaning chores while watching. I understand playing a game and watching it played are quite different, but if a game has been on the back burner for 4 years, I'm probably not going get around to playing it.

[@mattl.9955]

I was unintentionally eating a banana for about half of the video 😂 Keep doing what you’re doing, RB! Love the content!

[@Grahambo87]

This video is horrifyingly accurate. Last night was a first night in a long time I had some free time. Wife is out of town with my two boys and so after work, It was just me alone with the whole night ahead of me. I went to my room and just looked at my massive collection thinking of what game I could play. Unfortunately, I was struck with choice paralysis and was overwhelmed and just sat there, staring until I went to bed.

[@chrisagu28]

This video is what I needed in my life. Especially the part about the pressure of finishing the backlog. Just reminds me that it is something that never ends and with raising a family along with work, it’s just something I need to come to terms with. It’s just something that will always be there and the only pressure I am feeling is from myself. Thank you for the amazing comedy and well thought out video on this never ending topic!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Really glad you found the messaging to be helpful! Sometimes being able to take a step back and hear it from someone else can do the trick :)

[@therealeatz]

Writing down an actual list is important for huge backlogs! Also when choosing a new game, I just pick the first thing that sounds fun. If the game isn't as fun as you thought it would be don't be afraid to immediately scrub it from your backlog. Another great video from Mr. Consolidation!

[@MattAkiyama1]

Usually my go to games are ones I replay, ones I have a craving for. But there's times when I have to make a leap and try playing something I never played before and risk wasting time if it wasn't worth playing. And there's tons of games I want to explore. Problem with this is that I don't rely on a craving. I'm kinda forcing myself to play something new and unknown and hoping it would be satisfying.

[@rockguitarist931]

I'm the worst about getting stuck in the middle of a game and moving on to another one, but when I do well at older games it's a real self-esteem booster because I've never been very good at gaming lol.

[@truthhurts6343]

I've taught myself to pick one long game and pick a short game to play on days in between. Keeps things fresh and getting stuck doesn't bother me as much anymore. Also since we're now living in an era in which you can buy a bunch of games for cheap during Steamsales: Just only buy the games you really really want. Don't buy games you're not sure about "but it looks cool" or something. You're going to play the games you really wanted to play anyway and everything else just piles up in your backlog.

[@blorfenburger]

2:00 i fell asleep while driving. In GTA. I fell asleep at the wheel, must have hit a decent curb, flipped, and the explosion woke me up

[@DECKERS112]

Defeating my backlog is near impossible... it never ends lol

[@Apanblod]

Yeah those perpetual sales and generational cross-play have made the library of games fairly ridiculous in scope. Not to mention all the games in the ps+ library. It's pretty much a given that most games will remain unplayed.

[@Z00keeper54]

One thing that helped me was I made a big spreadsheet of all the games in my backlog. I realized there were many games that I was interested in, but knew I would never play, due to things like being on old hardware I don't have set up or because it's a long game with tedium (RPGs). I then flagged these as "watch a Let's Play" or "watch a speedrun" depending on how much I truly cared about the game. I watch these videos during breakfast, lunch, or dinner sometimes. It's better than mindlessly scrolling and hoping for something entertaining to pop up, and it helps give me an appreciation for games I would've never played otherwise.

[@iHoisd]

I just recently realized that you color-code your shirts for the thumbnails to green/yellow/red/blue, crazy dedication. It's down to the very first video.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I sure do! I almost didn't want to do any shorts because I was worried it would mess it up. Seems like the shorts are usually categorized into their own tab though.

[@gaylordfocker7990]

"Staring at your games until it's time to go to bed." Lol, this is what I imagine collecters doing.

[@Drew_Peacock]

My problem is that I have a game and book backlog. You're right about having unrealistic goals and just taking it one month or so at a time. Thanks for the video Mr. Consolidation!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thank you for watching!

[@itsdeonlol]

The best way I tackle my Backlog is to make a list of what games I really need to play at this moment and a list I can put on hold for a bit longer.

[@matthewsisk]

You were on fire in this one, easily one of your best!! 🎉🎉

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thanks!

[@NYCHeavyHitz212]

I didn’t come here for an answer to my backlog problem; I came here for the comedy.

[@Apanblod]

I came here for the nudity. I guess you can imagine my disapointment.

[@JerryBaezAlchemus]

I’m so glad I chose “How To Defeat Your Backlog” on this week’s poll, because this video turned out to be GOLDEN!! 😂😂

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Glad you liked it!

[@chrisfarri8914]

Your videos are absolutely perfect. Hilarious. Informative. And never bothering people for subs and comments. Just gold mate.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thank you very much!

[@ProjectGameVault]

This is one of the best videos i've seen on this topic, things that helped me a lot with backlog is the playlist app, getting rid of a lot of games, and using the steam deck

[@tripodtrousers7842]

Great advice, and even better content. This man is a retro gaming wizard, fueled by banana-mana..

[@brisingr14]

I knew something was missing from my friday 🧐

[@wallyrocket87]

One of my favorite KZbin channels. I love the line, staring at your games until you go to bed. lol always funny dude! Seriously love the fun and the jokes. Keep it up!!!! 👍

[@mcbaby]

Sounds like it's easier to finish my backlog of bananas first before jumping into any games

[@tr1bes]

Definitely, all food products have expiration and deterioration date.

[@crystalwater505]

Yep, not to mention it's much quicker to eat a meal than it is to finish a game and a lot less involved.@@tr1bes

[@Mikalia_chan]

I totally relate to this. Not only do I want to play a game, I also want to draw. 😅

[@matthewheupel8960]

I still say the best way is to consolidate and prioritize. I've taken that route and slowed way down on my buying and it has really improved my gaming experiences. I no longer have the guilt of having a backlog and don't feel rushed with every game I play. Sometimes if I really like a game I may even, (gasp) replay it... But I guess that's just me. This was another fantastic video Bird, thank you and please keep them coming.

[@tanside979]

Ah Mr. Consolidation with another banger! 😂🍌

[@akiraokami]

For me, a lot of my issues stem from my mood dictating in the moment what I want to play, and I don't really seem to have any way to control it, so I could be planning on picking up for instance Fate/Samurai Remnant, a game I got as a gift for Christmas from a friend who'd like to see me play through it, but my mood is telling me to play a platformer, or a shooter or similar

[@VicariouslyRetro]

The black eye @6:33 lol, brilliant

[@mrkarbon]

6:01 „with 2 to 3 hours a day.“ 😳 Okay… i‘ll never be free again. One of the best episodes yet. And reading through the comments is a bit of a personal relief. 🆙

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Yeah, we're all more alike than we might think sometimes :)

[@jesseglenn8803]

Game choice paralysis has taken so many hours of my life... your build up into the discussion had my anxiety rising... thanks as always for the great content rb!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

That choice paralysis is very real!

[@jesseglenn8803]

@@dagerry man thanks for the advice!

[@joefiore8932]

What helps for me, is to have a "now playing" shelf with the games I'm planning to play. I also have a shelf with dvds and vhs I want to watch. There's limited space on the shelf so my backlog can't get too backed up. But the backlog that I pull games/movies from for the shelf is a bottomless pit. It works for me.

[@Xero36]

I still absolutely love your channel. Thanks for continuing to put out videos. I'll be here watching them as long as you're munchin nanners, playing games, and discussing. Cheers

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I appreciate it! Glad to have you here and thank you for watching for so long :)

[@cultivatedgamer]

I feel the pain of the backlog. I have games that I still want to get to on the NES, SNES, Genesis, PS2, PS3 (like 50 of them on that console). I find that when a new system comes out, I end up buying all the games that I wanted to play on the current system for really cheap, but then it takes literally years to get to them all. Another great video by Retro Bird!

[@JD.78]

I came to terms with an ever-growing backlog years ago when i decided to split the backlog into two categories. The main one being games i really want to play and finish, and the other one being games i'd like to play. The list of games i'd like to play is far bigger than the list of games i'd like to finish. I'm getting there, and though the road is long, it works for me. Great, fun and interesting video as always, cheers.

[@rodrigo53]

I love games, and my backlog is already huge, the problem is I just started gaming 1 and a half years ago so I suck at gaming, it takes me forever to get anywhere in a game and that prevents me from playing every I’d like to play. I’ve started maybe 20 games since, but finished only 3. Maybe I’m too old to have picked this hobby so late in life.

[@chriskater]

Great video. We have all been there. My simple theory is, when kids, we could barely afford games; we usually owned a couple and then played our friends' games. Now as adults we have much more capacity to buy any games that come out, and we all get excited when we see the trailers and believe that the game will be very exciting so we just bite the bait, and the cycle never ends.

[@mattb6522]

Awesome video! I appreciate all the advice! A lot of these tips are extremely helpful. I definitely have learned that focusing on one or two longer games at a time can make things much more enjoyable. I also have changed my tune from when I was younger in that I will only now play games I _really_ want to play. It is nearly impossible to play every game you are mildly interested in as new games will always be coming out. In fact, I'm at the point where I don't really care too much about new consoles being released as I have plenty to play on my current consoles to last me many years! I do really like the idea of focusing on playing games you want on a specific console or handheld. I do like Retro Bird's point that many classic 8 and 16 bit games actually aren't actually too long, so those can be tackled whenever (with the exception of some RPGs). The idea to treat your games like rentals is a brilliant idea as well!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Glad you found the tips to be helpful!

[@leomariano2735]

Eating bananas for breakfast on command while watching retro bird in the morning, that’s life

[@tonyp9313]

Yeah so true. When you are a kid you have a lot more passion playing video games & you don't have that many to play & games back in the 80's & 90's were a lot shorter too.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Yeah, it was such a different time then.

[@andrewdowell6474]

I used to have a blog about my backlog where I'd write about my experiences playing each game I checked off my list. It was a great motivator to try new games I hadn't played but was sitting on for years.

[@brianhatcher2799]

That’s actually a great idea!! Thanks for sharing with all of us 😊

[@klausschwab11]

I admittedly have a backlog of hundreds of games across multiple platforms. I am almost 38 and has only gotten larger as time has past. This video hit hard on game choice paralysis. It is very real at times. It is true to about managing what you are playing because you never want to make a game fall into the midlog category because it will seldomly ever gets finished and the longer you wait the harder it gets. Working 60 hours a week makes it tough to put long hours into a game these days too so it is all about time management. Lastly I find myself only playing games that make me feel like I am having fun. It can still be challenging of course but the moment I feel like I am not having fun I will drop it. I won't force myself to keep playing something I care nothing about and or offers complete frustration. Life is too short and video games are supposed to relax me after a long day of reality.

[@tonyp9313]

60 hours a week is a lot. I would reduce the hours of work if I were you & start being a lot more frugal.

[@klausschwab11]

@@tonyp9313 I work in the car business. 50-60 hour work weeks are normal. Any less and you are looking for a different career.

[@tonyp9313]

@@klausschwab11 Damn ok. I work at Amazon preparing packages for drivers. I only work 30 hours a week, a lot of times lesser like 24-27 hours a week. Depending if I take days off. Which now I want to only work 4 days a week when they let me. I feel working a lot more than 30, it gets me really tired.

[@tonyp9313]

@@klausschwab11 I don't know what age you are at, that'll catch up to you & you'll feel very tired not wanting to do anything.

[@klausschwab11]

@@tonyp9313 I like to live comfortably and have a very expensive car hobby so yes I work in the auto industry which pays me very well even though the hours are long. I am almost 38. I would not be able to afford my hobbies working at Amazon 30 hours a week. No offense but that's not a full time career. Good for you I suppose but not my cup of tea.

[@megamob5834]

I used to focus on a single game or two at a time and made sure i finished at least one of them before moving on to something else. But lately I’ve been jumping around all over the place and stranding many a game on midlog island… This video may be the kick in the pants I needed to get that focus back. Thanks RB! 🍌 🐦

[@RetroBirdGaming]

No problem and I hope it ends up helping!

[@GamesTuesday]

Man, your face while gaming tired due to lack of sleep is an accurate statement about how I spent my weekend at an ice cold cabin with some Sega Saturn this past weekend. Oh I also drove for more time than I spent at the cabin (not including minimal sleep). I've could've made a solid dent in my backlog if there would stop being jew games I also want to play, but it's a good problem to have. My plan this year is to prioritize 1 game for each of my 24 or so systems (including handheld & PCs) that way I can start to make progress on not just games but also hardware that hasn't gotten the love it deserves.

[@GreyMatterShades]

Some great suggestions here! When I got into PSVR, I joined a discord community around it, and some of us formed a Backlog-Club. It's sort of like a book club, but for our backlogs. We'd vote for which games to play each week, then have a discussion thread at the end of the week where we could share our thoughts on it. It's been a lot of fun, and really helped with my decision paralysis and motivation for a while, but I fell off for a bit, and now I have a Backlog-Club backlog! 😬

[@bananieldiamonds1921]

i am the type of person that i can remember exactly what i was doing in a game even 10 years later. so hopping in and out is natural for me.

[@TwoEyesOpen]

I'm not able to watch this at this moment, but I saved it to my watch later. I wanted to let you know, I tried Mischief Makers earlier today because of you and it's fantastic!! I am in awe of how unique it is.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Glad you're liking Mischief Makers. I love that game.

[@TwoEyesOpen]

@@RetroBirdGaming It's been really great so far. It took me awhile to figure out/get used to the controls, but this game is unique in that once the controls click, they *really* click and make sense. I have been playing it on a modded Wii, and using the Wii Classic Controller's big D-Pad feels perfect for this game. Also this video was great! It inspired me to go to HowLongToBeat and make a spreadsheet of the games I'm currently playing to try to make a plan to play through everything I want to play through. I'm one of those people who has a LOT of games on my 'midlog', so this hit home, haha. I'm wanting to start a gaming channel this year (you're a big inspiration for that!) and so I better start getting more organized, lol.

[@Lord_Darkson]

I suffer from all these conditions & I was doing some of the things mentioned before the video. I enjoy the humor & I like knowing that these actually happen to people. Thanks for the advice. Always good content here.

[@Cableguy15]

Timmy's gonna be out for blood if he ever finds these videos. 😂

[@__Guyver01__]

I pulled out about a stack of 10 games that I actually want to play and attempt to beat. Spending at least a modest amount of time (enough to be considered an attempt to beat). Right now my stack consists of games that I haven't even started before, some are still sealed.

[@tonyp9313]

Damn

[@__Guyver01__]

@@tonyp9313 one of my new years resolutions: play my games instead of adding to the pile.

[@abouncyfrog]

This past December my partner and I decided to invest in a bunch of retro consoles and games that we were interested in playing, along with a smattering of games we had both enjoyed in our childhoods. I tried starting with something brand new and enticing to me, but my heart just wanted to re-experience my old loves. I’ve beaten three whole games since then, and I’m on my fourth, and I couldn’t be happier! I love remembering these old games and if that means I won’t get to finish three or four in the future, then so be it!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I enjoyed hearing this. If you're having a great time, then I'd say to just stick to what you're doing. It ultimately comes down to going with what will bring you the most enjoyment :)

[@drztopgun]

😂 this is so true. Sometimes, I get home from work and turn on my Series X to then doze off 20 minutes after starting. There goes the " there is always tomorrow"

[@j.d.thorne8708]

The thing I'm trying this year is making a "mini-backlog": basically a list of 20 games that I want to beat by the end of the year. I chose a good variety of eras and genres to avoid burnout (everything from 90s point-and-clicks to 00's RPGs to modern survival horror), and I think I'll get through it if I keep pace. (Rn I'm on Metal Gear Solid, really cool game)

[@TheMichaelFelton]

You make incredible consistent content. Appreciate you!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thank you for that!

[@Jarod_Schultz]

I keep about 10-12 games on my practice list, and I rotate them. Having that many games on the list allows me to play games I otherwise may not get to if I'm only focusing on one game at a time. But by rotating games I don't get tired of the same one.

[@jorgeserna8411]

What worked for me was to make 3 lists: will definitely play, may play and won't play. I own up to 920 games and the idea of even trying all of them was stressing. But i realized I really wanted to play about 100 of those.

[@ryangray363]

I’ve actually been implementing a strategy for getting through my backlog that I came up with about 4 years ago that’s worked pretty well so far. What I’ll do is allow for up to 3 “slots” for games to play through at any given time, and when all 3 slots are filled up I won’t allow myself to start any other games until I finish at least one of the 3 I’m already playing. This way If I start feeling burnt out on a certain game I can switch over to another one. Also I try not to let any of the games I have in my rotation be on the same console as each other so I don’t have to worry about getting any of that “game choice paralysis” when I need to decide which of the games I should go with when I turn the system on. This strategy probably won’t work for everyone but so far I’ve been able to finish about 24 games per year on average.

[@GamebooAdvance]

What helps me mentally with my backlog is only viewing games I'm actively playing as "in my backlog" instead of "every game I have and want to play is in my backlog". Much less choice paralysis that way

[@martinh4982]

Another good way of completing - or even just playing - some of your games is to join or form a community of like-minded people. Pick a game that everyone plays for a week or two and pay the game. I find it helps keep people motivated because you can chat to people about hard sections, get help if you're stuck, compare high scores etc. It's like when you were back at school :)

[@arenschultz]

I changed my view of back logs. Instead of an ever growing list that will never be complete. It’s just my collection of games that I love and cherish and when I’m ready to play them all the way through I will. Like you mentioned, you have your whole life to play them and eventually you’ll have the time for it. There’s no reason to rush it now

[@jayjones9225]

These are all great tips. 2 other tips I’d share: 1. Don’t feel guilty about watching walkthroughs on KZbin for help when you’re stuck. 2. Mixing in a sports or fighting game between long and more difficult games is a good refresher

[@dgates8097]

Favorite new retro video game channel. You are one unique and hilarious fellow and I love it! No one on planet Earth has the style and approach you do. Kudos man!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Wow, thank you!

[@nickatmacomb8965]

TIMMY! That was great. Totally agree. My backlog is just endless. Good ideas!

[@NimhLabs]

As a fan of both books _and_ retro games... there is a surprising amount of crossover between the two interests in how people do stuff Including the staring at your collection until it is bedtime Except nobody gave you pizza for beating a game x3

[@RetroBirdGaming]

A few other people have mentioned books as well!

[@chaosonic1]

My personal method for maintaining a backlog is to flip the concept on its head. I have a "trophy case" document that only tracks games I've managed to beat. That way, the only documented list (an intimidating factor of a backlog) is of games that have already met the success criteria. It's also just fun to watch the number of games I've beaten go up, which helps motivation to beat other games.

[@johnl8634]

Something that I recently did was use a random number generator to decide what game to play next. It also makes things interesting since my next game is usually a surprise. If I’m not happy with the selection, then I rethink if it is actually something that should be on my backlog.

[@jarridkamphenkel2117]

This channel is so underrated, it’s crazy.

[@BeastCake1349]

The thing that always sways me from playing many games is that in the past I get all excited about playing a game then as I making progress I get to a point in the game that I just can’t get past. Be it a boss that seems impossible or an item that I needed a while back or something that just can’t seem to make me get any further. Ugh! I hate that. So nowadays I go into a game anticipating that I’ll never be good enough to beat it that way I’m prepared mentally and I just play it to play it and not beat it. If I beat the game then it’s a bonus.

[@Gr00t]

Adding all your games to howlongtobeat then sorting by rating and looking for the shorter games with a high rating is how im getting through mine. Been doing it for a couple years, gone from 400~ games down to 289 now.

[@mausmalone]

I really need to get back to writing down my backlog. I was scrolling through my screenshot album on the Switch the other day and I totally forgot that I had started Yoshi's Wooly World and abandoned it when Tears of the Kingdom came out. That's probably an easy enough game to go back to but I've already moved on to another very long RPG.

[@chikanchuui]

This is why I mostly stick to fighting games nowadays. The rounds per game only last a few minutes at most, making it much easier to at least get a few games in if I'm on limited time.

[@latt.qcd9221]

Being too tired to play games is why I appreciate games that are relaxing rather than challenging, nowadays. When I was a kid, I could spend days and days trying to master a single level in Ninja Gaiden or get through certain levels of Halo 2 on Legendary. Nowadays, I just want something relaxing. Lack of time, though, is also why I don't play as many lengthy JRPGs, anymore, either; they just go straight to my midlog. I always check HowLongToBeat, as well, to see if I have the time to commit to finishing the game before starting it.

[@dbzfanatic278]

Retro collector here. I have roughly 14 game systems and over 200 games. My back catalog is ridiculous and i work full time so god knows when ill ever have time to play them all.

[@Silpiobaire]

*looks at backlog* Let’s attack aggressively!

[@eternalrewind2190]

Oh yeah I definitely got a backlog I've been trying to dig at for a while now haha

[@GameBoyGuru]

I've already resigned myself to never finishing my backlog, in the sense that I own more games than I will ever play. I'm okay with that. For me, it's about focusing on the stuff I want to play, mixing in some cool stuff here and there between new games, "new to me" games, old favorites, and comfort food games. Lately I've been going through some FPS games I missed because I wasn't into the genre at the time, so playing Call of Duty 2 and 3 has been an interesting experience over the last few months of a Saturday afternoon here or there when I had time to squeeze them in. I moved on to Medal of Honor: Frontline over this past weekend to stay with the WWII theme for now, but at some point I'll probably mix it up and do something different to add variety. It's all about making sure you still have fun with the games, and get what you want out of them.