I Spent A Year Secretly Grinding My Gaming Backlog

[@DarylTalksGames]

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? 👀

[@hinamiravenroot7162]

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

[@campthemvp]

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.

[@cantooron]

I think my favorite game from this year was Void Stranger

[@GameGod77]

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.

[@eliotanderson6554]

Bro what is ur monitor

[@MikeNeatMike]

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.

[@nightmarehunter8681]

Yesss!!! This exactly

[@oobynooby1]

bro thank you, i think this is the mindset that i need

[@erdngtn9942]

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?

[@YoshMaster]

Wow that’s a great analogy 😮 I love it!

[@erdngtn9942]

@@YoshMaster I too agree with those rumbling upon the tongue of MikeNeedsMike. Anything but neat, pleeaasse!

[@CorvusLiberatus]

Daryl: "You'll vote for one game" Me: Satisfactory! Daryl: "Please try to keep the HowLongToBeat like 30 hours or less" Me: Damnit.

[@DarylTalksGames]

@@CorvusLiberatus Vote for it anyways!

[@gsilver0]

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.

[@azuarc]

@@DarylTalksGames So I suppose suggesting Genshin Impact would be a foolish idea? 0=) edit: wait, that's actually on the list?

[@chips2786]

@@azuarc considering it is a live service gacha perhaps the most foolish

[@happymask8042]

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.

[@crytalfactory]

Sooo, same time next year? Ah ha ha, guess we'll see 😉

[@DarylTalksGames]

@@crytalfactory See you then 🎉

[@InnocuousDuke]

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

[@lijesewell764]

God's last stand?

[@HazyDefender98]

I vividly remember the time I first saw the last two come out, I'm okay with this new backlogs holiday

[@essneyallen6777]

​@@InnocuousDuke wait isn't that Razbuten??

[@adrianfridge]

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.

[@krisalis_]

rusty lake sweep babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[@meikahidenori]

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 😊

[@adrianfridge]

@ I relate to this so hard. Very liberating letting go of a genre I realize I’m actually not into anymore or ever

[@dragonicbladex7574]

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.

[@brandonsteele2826]

I've had some games on my wishlist since 2016. I'll get around to it someday I swear!

[@theslakemoth]

Bro you CANNOT just rip my heart straight outta my chest right at the end like that 😢 RIP Binx

[@wujo4443]

2023: Uses time limit; 2024: Learns time limit is bad; 2025: Uses time limit again, learns nothing.

[@DarylTalksGames]

@@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.

[@wujo4443]

@@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.

[@GreenlandRobot]

​@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.

[@J.RomeroLuna]

​@@wujo4443God damnit!!!!! I forgot about Spiritfarer!!! I should have voted for it! Well... voted for Okami instead at least

[@TheKiddtic]

hahahahaha

[@Asiago9]

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

[@Notfallkaramell]

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.

[@Rakka5]

I'd also like to add that it's also a great recommendation list for amazing games.

[@mikesue-kam-ling3980]

I rarely comment on KZbin, 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.

[@michaelpalin8953]

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?

[@PolitiClank]

​@@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.

[@pastapastel910]

wth is this do you have a time machine or something?

[@HawkeyeVoid]

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.

[@acidoric463]

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.

[@uncroppedsoop]

it becomes increasingly man... as the plot progresses and as you learn just how deep the tragedy of its world runs

[@XplosivDS]

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

[@DED_C]

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.

[@Hello-bg8hv]

Papa bless, it's time for this Daryl Talks Games start ugly crying by the end of the game.

[@chefkochkawasaki4127]

If you like slow burners you might enjoy the "Trails / Kiseki" Series

[@Anourka]

@@chefkochkawasaki4127a masterpiece

[@amandaphelps4293]

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.

[@thisWinglessAngel]

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.

[@adoniscreed4031]

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.

[@thisWinglessAngel]

@@adoniscreed4031 It is one of the best rpgs of all time for sure. Let's enjoy Daima. His final piece of work.

[@samsoneffect]

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.

[@annafawkes]

“milking the whole backlog thing” … yeah, i agree, and i’ll watch every single one. they’re VERY entertaining :)

[@rcraioveanu]

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]

@@rcraioveanu He lived a tremendous life, did everything, went everywhere, loved everyone. I’m honored he was ours ❤️

[@KarpfeDiem]

​@@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.

[@DarylTalksGames]

@ 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.

[@ApoMelon]

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

[@adoniscreed4031]

This!!! 🙌🙌🙌

[@AllTheNamesIPickedWereTaken]

This I got an Edgedancer tattoo a couple years back Can't wait for Winds and Truth ^^

[@Fe3hEnthusiast]

2 weeks until Wind and Truth WWWWWW

[@brianlinden3042]

​@@Fe3hEnthusiastHYYYYYYYPE!!!

[@dgevert]

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.

[@Alyx0.2]

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)

[@thatguythere1750]

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.

[@DavidFelipeAlvaradoSalas]

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

[@CreatrixTiara]

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.

[@Road_to_Dawn]

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.

[@CheeseBrie]

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.

[@harrybenson3400]

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

[@DarylTalksGames]

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 KZbinr sung its praises” awards

[@zachary20XX]

@@DarylTalksGames So thankful for the "niche KZbinr 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.

[@thechugg4372]

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?

[@essneyallen6777]

​@@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.

[@Zyyk0]

Crosscode being on that small distilled list is great! Everyone should play it.

[@OldEmixX]

Was definitely a "man..." game for me

[@sakarain]

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."

[@TheHishiro]

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.

[@danielsurvivor1372]

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 😅

[@nolo2484]

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.

[@Tubewatcherdude]

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.

[@dragonmaster1500]

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.

[@ShadowHunter002]

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]

The only reason why I didn't pick that is because it was already on both backlogs.

[@ShadowHunter002]

@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.

[@tahwington]

my favorite story ever, I hope more people can experience it, even if it doesn’t work for some people

[@helloguy8934]

@tahwington Yes dude it's always sad to see daryl miss it

[@Jayrhny758]

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! :)

[@DarylTalksGames]

@@Jayrhny758 Best of luck! Have fun!

[@toetaster3rd682]

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!!

[@Shifae_]

I'm sorry for your loss. It's good to see Binx had a long and happy life.

[@pullum2034]

I geniuenly feel like he would love Darkwood based on his recent endeavors with horror games. Just dont forget to respect the woods.

[@mVic8]

Good suggestion!

[@jalapenoofjustice4682]

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.

[@Ray36109]

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

[@dirtywhitellama]

Chrono Trigger is beautiful. Glad you found your way to it as I hope more people can. The idea of finishing a backlog is futile. It's all just a question of prioritization, and it's also good to be honest with yourself if you start something and realize it's a waste of your time. There's enough people in the world now making new things that there are new things to enjoy being made faster than anyone could ever enjoy them. Not just games, but books, shows, KZbin videos.... It's not possible to watch everything, to read everything. Some things will get missed. All you can do is try to pick the ones that are most worthwhile. Which is kinda difficult since that means very different things to different people...

[@dirtywhitellama]

My vote was FFVI. Ties with Chrono Trigger for my favorite SNES era game.

[@kosmickexx]

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.

[@Road_to_Dawn]

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.

[@jacobtrahan1993]

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

[@GCDeadshot]

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.

[@Riven-117]

I recently binged the entire Chronicles trilogy and I've gotta say, I'm extremely sad it's over. I wish there was more 😢

[@eletralad]

​@Riven-117 Xenoblade X is on the way my friend:)

[@dragonicbladex7574]

My backlog is probably 1000+ at this point I've given up on the idea of ever being able to finish it lol

[@joshuacrowley8887]

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.

[@cullenlatham2366]

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]

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.

[@cullenlatham2366]

@@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.

[@helloguy8934]

@@cullenlatham2366 dope

[@helloguy8934]

@@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.

[@cullenlatham2366]

@@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.

[@Caesar_]

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

[@dclobberandreik4376]

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!

[@GentlemanGamer94]

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.

[@sleeplessboy]

The Fujimoto mangas in the background 🎉🎉

[@DarylTalksGames]

@@sleeplessboy real recognizes real 🍻

[@BananaFlikFlak]

@@DarylTalksGames true man of culture! 🍷

[@MiOpp19]

@@DarylTalksGamesOnK artbook really the cherry on top

[@StephanieAwesom]

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.

[@Nadav_Vardiel]

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

[@Mobster589]

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.

[@connorhale341]

Shout out to Stormlight! That series rocks. Can't wait for book 5

[@bigred738]

Only a couple more weeks!

[@OwenOrNewo]

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!

[@mattlo9443]

This could easily become my favorite yearly tradition

[@XplosivDS]

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 seccion on the next Backlog video would be enough Thanks Daryl!

[@Yomu84]

Easily my favorite types of videos that you do. So glad it is becoming a series.

[@weewer3369]

1) your first video in this series is one of my favorite YT videos 2) I would LOVE a Stellar Blade video. That game is not done justice by internet discourse

[@SensDen]

I'm so glad you played 1000xResist and can't wait to see you talk about it more. It's easily my game of the year and there's very little talk about it and it makes me so sad. Great video as usual!

[@CthUwU09]

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.

[@agustindanielgimenez9483]

The OG backlog youtuber is back

[@AllFloofAndNoThoughts]

Seeing Boise State's Statue of Liberty fills me with pure nostalgic joy. I was not expecting that

[@spencersonnier1]

Daryl actually made another video about college football games a few years back. It’s on his channel. Titled “The Game I Never Talk About”

[@LostInWalrus]

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)

[@LostInWalrus]

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

[@Road_to_Dawn]

@@LostInWalrus A great first Final Fantasy to play! FF9 is my favorite, not including 14.

[@jacobhuffman2923]

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!

[@vaguetype]

i cannot wait for the 1000xresist video. that game changed me.

[@RwnEsper]

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.

[@SPOOFY_D]

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.

[@RwnEsper]

@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.

[@furiouscorgi6614]

​@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

[@vaguetype]

WE ARE SO BACK!!!

[@brentsacks]

We never left 😎😎😎

[@justarandomtomato_]

We are so back, baby! Hahahahah

[@militarykobold]

We are so back(log)

[@Nadav_Vardiel]

Crosscode, the time has come. Seriously this game is so special and great, its one of the best indie

[@StormSnakeMG]

The Piglet game during the Silent Hill section made me laugh. Someone also watched Eurothug's video I see.

[@MimouFirst]

Xenoblade chronicles 3, estimated time 62 hours 😂😂 My first playthrough was 110 hours and that was no where near complete. Still one of the games I loved the most these past years.

[@yuki_musha]

"Please try and keep the HLTB like 30 hours or less" -> me voting for Final Fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn (from 2.0 to 2.57) :V

[@RonaldBradycptgmpy]

My dude, I have been watching videos on this channel since the very first psych of play. And I 100% have loved everything you put out even if I thought it was weird or wasn't something I would play just because the perspective you bring to the Endeavor has always intrigued me. To that point, this video has made me want to look at my immense backlog and make a list of games that I think I would genuinely get something out of and work my way through those this year and take that approach. This video was literally inspiring man. I know some years are pretty rough, but I'm happy to see that you found a source of buoyancy throughout life. Keep up the great work dude!

[@greenhydra10]

"Why am I thinking about my inevitable death!?" * Insert Funger joke here *

[@jindraws]

I loved the previous backlog vids so I was genuinely happy to see this show up in my feed. Been tackling a backlog of 40 games this year & so far I’m at 18 games completed. 8 of those were not on the list either & one replay as well. It’s been really fun cataloging it all so looking forward to next year!

[@danielvan12]

41:55 sphere to square sister

[@cheersimmer1233]

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.

[@rocketmancmbn]

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.

[@Drostaluna]

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

[@dmjdragon25]

You tempted fate too many times. Kingdom Hearts is in your future.

[@qoganjacks146]

I'm gonna be so happy if this backlog thing become an annual. Your previous two videos inspired me and many others. It drove us to go play many amazing games that staring right at us this whole time. Because of that, we're blessed with all those "MAN" experiences that we could've miss out on otherwise. I even able to share the games i love through a Facebook page thanks to that. Finding your channel was the start of, what i like to call, "My Gaming Renaissance" and it's one the best things that ever happened to this miserable life of mine. Thanks you from the bottom of my heart for all this amazing videos. Love all the way from Myanmar ❤

[@ivanbluecool]

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]

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

[@ivanbluecool]

@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.

[@katria2412]

"Beautiful strong characters" - cut to Dimitri and Claude from Fire Emblem Three Hopes. I highly approve this message.

[@LaterBloxxer]

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.

[@norellireveron3670]

Yeah I second this!

[@mulletman9570]

Such a missed opportunity to only play Tunic once. I guarantee there's still so much more that you've missed.

[@MiamiGeecko]

I'm now realizing how much I've missed this series! I love hearing about other's experiences with backlog and yours is truly special. I'm playing my backlog religiously for 15+ years and let me tell you: the destination doesn't matter AT ALL, it's all about the travel. Do as many detour as you feel like, go at your own pace and have a lot of fun. I've played like this since forever and I'm still looking forward to the next one on the list, it's a wonderful feeling. This year I met a wonderful person I'm in love with and I've played less than half the games I wanted. It just doesn't matter, I've someone whom to share my passion and I still played some MAN games like Alan Wake 2 and Outer Wilds. Thank you for sharing this video, I'm SO looking forward to the future of this channel and I wish you'll play a lot more amazing games!

[@lightsideofsin8969]

Thank you for continuing this fun experiment :) Last year I felt stuck in playing the same game over and over again because nothing in my backlog really grabbed me. This year I was able to pick out more things that I wanted to play and added a little more variety and that alone has revitalised me so much. It has also made me put the controller down every once in a while, which is also nice. Money is a real concern for me and I can't buy a new game whenever I want. I used to have such choice paralysis every time I did come by some spending money, unable to decide what should be next and worried about wasting it on something I won't like. Keeping a list has helped me out of that funk a lot because now I always know what games I still want. I can't afford to take a gamble on something that I might not enjoy. Also ruminating on a new game for a while before buying it makes the whole process more enjoyable. You can really decide if you want it because you'll like it or if you just want to because you get FOMO. Waiting for stuff to go on sale (and let's be honest, waiting for stuff to finally be patched into a playable state) is really rewarding and definitely leads to finishing or even 100%ing more games in the long run.

[@kaiton3141]

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!

[@IrfanFakhrianto]

LETS FUCKING GOOOOOO 1000XRESIST

[@BryanSolo_1]

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!

[@Notfallkaramell]

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?

[@DarylTalksGames]

@@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!

[@Notfallkaramell]

@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.)

[@skubo]

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

[@steven.d6492]

The part 2 video was how I found this channel! SO HYPE FOR PART 3

[@sarim.97]

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 🍉

[@preston1088]

Last year's video got me inspired to try my own backlog. And i really only properly got to around 18 or so games (one of which i had to drop). Honestly really glad to see you try this again (and a third time which i wish you the best on). Sorry to hear about your loss, just seeing that last tribute brought out a whole lot of tears, and i guess that just shows that if they were able to make me and countless others cry within just a few seconds of knowing him then they truly were a "man" dog.

[@jonaskristiansen781]

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.

[@cano_92]

Today I was having a terrible day, one of those days where you rethink your entire life. While watching your video I have started thinking about my own backlog and other things I want to do/experience, and now I no longer see life that grey anymore (for now at least). Your video has reminded me that there's always a place where we can find some peace for ourselves. Now Im looking forward to my gaming life in 2025, as much as yours. Thank you Daryl, and great content as usual!

[@Searaw_]

Funnily for me, I discovered your backlog video in June and it convinced me to put Persona 4 Golden, that I had never finished, in my 2024 backlog. Two days ago I finally finished (and enjoyed) it. Now I stumble across this video which just released. Like, either the algorithm knows well what it's doing, or I'm synced with your videos idk.

[@HumbertTheMage]

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.

[@seanmichaelmilligan2525]

I seriously got the biggest grin on my face when I saw this video pop up in my feed. I'm so glad you're making this an annual series; the previous one is probably my all-time favorite video of yours. Afraid I *did* have to cast my vote for ME2, as the _Mass Effect_ trilogy is absolutely at the top of my list when you ask about games that it's a crime that you haven't yet played. (ME3 is actually my favorite of the series, but I was hardly going to vote for you to skip the middle entry.) Here's to another year of gaming!

[@spriddlez]

I don't know why but these videos as much as I love them and identify with many of the struggles in them -sweats in buying a house in the new year- they always make me anxious AF. I'm only at Aug and i've had to take two breaks for my sanity already haha. It's silly because it's just my free time and how I spend it and I'm much better at going "if you are enjoying whatever you are doing, it isn't a waste of time" but when I think of those "Man." moments I get all worked up and want to play all the things and have that moment again soon

[@sonnieslim5973]

Your video 2 years ago inspired me to make a spreadsheet (220 games rn) and work on it this year. No time limit and I don’t mind abandoning or adding games throughout the year. Im 40% of the way through 77 games beat this year and 90 since last October 💪🏻 Love these videos man. Thank you.

[@redseve]

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

[@lucaomo_]

Sometimes, I lose my love for single-player games, stories, and the like… and I go through phases where I’m all about live-service games or sim racing. But every time you drop a video, you manage to rekindle that love I feel for finishing a game for its story, diving into its lore, uncovering its secrets, and exploring the world behind it

[@kuzunohaxiv7912]

That Chrono trigger part at the end made legitimately hopeful for the future and emotional, thanks Daryl

[@lillydoodle6195]

I just wanted to say that your original backlog video really inspired me to finally commit to my backlog. I organized a spreadsheet similar to yours made a list of about 100 games that I own (not every game I owned at the time but still a good variety) and took all of this year to work through my midlog (games I started but hadn’t finished) at lot changed for me this year but my backlog, and making slow but steady progress on it, was always on my mind. I’m still working on it and wont be close to finishing my list for a while but I managed to finish and review 12 games so far this year (the most I ever have in a single year) and I have you to thank for that. Keep on working on your backlog and keep on making amazing stuff! Thank you

[@Beeyo176]

All I saw was a tiny picture of Chrono Trigger and I clicked. Didn't even realize it was a DTG video 45:25 Squueeeee Very happy it came when it did in the video, because I have barred myself from looking at anything related to the game before it until I can play it myself.

[@atakji_art]

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.