Looking for some advice regarding my backlog.

Hey, everyone.

I'm looking for some advice regarding my backlog. I'll start by giving you some background info about me and my gaming habits, and then you could possibly give me some advice that is best for me rather than just telling me what you do because what works for you won't necessarily work for me.

First things first. I'm an adult with a job where I usually work 40 hours a week. On my days off, I usually have other obligations, too. So, it's not like have time to game 8+ hours a day. I'd say I probably have around 3-5 hours a day to game (sometimes more if I have day off from work with no other obligations).

Second, I tried to go through my backlog before, but was unsuccessful. Part of it was me getting burned out and losing interest. Another part of it was things happening in my life that was beyond my control and distracting me from gaming (needing to find a job, for instance). When I was trying to get through my backlog (which by the way is around 30 or 40 games), it got to a point where it wasn't fun anymore, and I was just playing a game to get to the ending rather than enjoying it like it's intended to be enjoyed.

Third, I tried a few different strategies. I tried playing a game and not moving on to the next until I finished it. I tried juggling the games in my backlog by playing one for a short while then moving onto the next one on my list and repeating the process; this didn't really work out for me because I would forget about what was happening in the previous games I played.

Fourth, when I get to a game on my list that I know is going to be long, I get intimidated by it's length and am afraid to even start it because I'm worried that it will take to long to beat, and I won't get to any other games on my list.

So, with that said, what's your advise to me that can help me not only efficiently get through my backlog, but also allow me to actually have fun doing so because it's no fun if it just feels like a chore, and I'm only playing a game for the sake of beating it. I want to be able to get through my backlog without feeling burned out by doing so.

My backlog has games that go all the way back to the SNES up until last gen. My one rule right now is that I want to play the 2D games in a series before I play the 3D ones because I want to experience (or re-experience that jump from 2D to 3D. I also think I should play the games from one generation before playing games from succeeding generations.

It's hard to tell anything without knowing what sort of games you've been playing. OK they're 2d games but what else? What are the genres and what are the games specifically?

This is my list of games in my backlog: (The Metroid Prime games are all a part of Metroid Prime Trilogy)

i've heard from other people here before to avoid RPGs and first focus on shorter games to help get through your backlog, which i think is a good idea.

Also if your playing one of those games and you don't like it, don't force yourself to finish it and move onto the next one on the list. Thats a big list you got there, so be picky about the games and don't get stuck on a one you don't like.

@psx2514:

I agree with Goose, but to a point. My X360 backlog is well over 100 games...and counting thanks to Games with Gold. It'll be months before I get to the Witcher 2, even though I've wanted to play it for a couple of years or so by now.

Anyway, I disagree with not trying the longer games. I just cracked open Saints Row 4, and I'm having an absolute blast. I haven't had this much fun slugging through purchased games in a while. So, even though it'll be a 30-35 hour game all-in, it's easily worth my time. Also, just play what you're having fun playing until YOU are ready for something different. For example, I bought both PvZ Garden Warfare and Titanfall relatively recently for about $10 each. Rather than "grind through" my list before playing them, knowing that they'll never be deleted unless they are bad, I went ahead and started playing PvZ then Titanfall. Now, after about forty hours of Garden Warfare, I've started to tire of it, thus allowing me to try something else on the pile.

I have even less gaming time than you do. I just pick a game to play, if I initially don't like it, I still give it some time to catch me, but I don't give over five-ish hours to any game I'm not enjoying anymore, even if I purchased others in the same series. Otherwise, it quickly leads to the burn out you described. (My example, I was really bored playing Batman Arkham Asylum, but I already bought Arkham City. Just because it felt like a waste, I gave the game about eight hours. That was eight hours wasted that could have been enjoyed playing something else.)

Summary:
1) Don't give a game too long to grab you if you're not enjoying it. You have others to play.
2) Don't be afraid to play a lengthy RPG or an unending multiplayer/sports experience. It doesn't need to be deletable to be playable.
2a) Remember, it's about your enjoyment, not about reducing titles on a list.

P.S. I still struggle with #2. I still can't bear to start the Mass Effect series knowing how many games will be piled on while I'm playing the series, if I like it. :D

1- Never play through two big, time consuming and/or tonally similar games in a row. If you played Xenoblade, pick up Viewtiful Joe next, for example.

2- This one usually works for me; Try and think about what you are currently into outside of video games. For example if you are currently into science fiction movies/books, feed that high with a game that borrows themes or visual cues from that genre. Like Bioshock maybe.

3- Don't go back to back on sequels. Even if you still feel fresh out of playing Prime, chances are you will be burnt out halfway through Prime 2 or 3, because those three games were never meant to be played in one run.

4- Before starting a game from a known IP, do some research on its history. For example, before playing Silent Hill 2, watch some of the better produced Youtube videos about the series to get in the mood and subconsciously giving the play through experience a bit more weight.

5- Never commit to a game that asks more of you than you are willing or are allowed to give it at any given time, even if you totally feel like playing it. If you want to play something like Shadow of the Colossus, but due to time constraints you can only play 10-20 minute bursts every other weekend, DONT PLAY IT. More than half of the impact of that game comes from being fully in tune with its vibe, with as little interruptions as possible between play sessions. Respect the strengths of a title or risk forever souring your first experience with it.

6- If after all this you still don't feel like playing Game A, and you only have it because you were told its amazing. Get rid of it. Life is short and your backlog isn't :P

Usually this is exactly what I'd say, but Xenoblade is on your list.... Just play that and you won't have to play any of the other games because you've played THE game.

You also won't have time for anything else for months since it's 80 hours long. But, you can do like I did and play the first half, quit for a couple months, then go back to it. It really is an awesome game.

Those are some good suggestions. But, I'd take it a step further. Do you REALLY think you are ever going to finish that backlog? Are you not buying games anymore? If you aren't buying games, then fine...as long as you don't plan on making what is released now your backlog for five years from now. Then sure, you can tackle it and have a great time.

But, I'm an adult like you with limited play time and a huge backlog. I finally came to the conclusion that I needed to cut my list. Sometimes when you have 100 choices to choose from, you are crippled by the overwhelming options. You can come up with a reason for every game why you "don't" want to play it at the moment....and then you just sit there, staring at the TV until you do something familiar (watching a show, playing a sports game that doesn't require progression, etc.).

So, I'd encourage you to be honest with yourself. Create a list for each genre of games and prioritize them. I ended up keeping 5 games in each genre and then would try to stick with one game in each genre until I finished it (or got far enough into the game to realize I really didn't need to finish it). For games that I wanted to see the ending to, but didn't want to slog through it all, I'd just watch videos on youtube or something. That is great for those games that you may decide to cut from your list.

There are just too many great games when you are going back several generations of consoles. Don't cripple yourself with a list that is frustrating to debate with yourself about. It's time to play some games.

Whenever I get a backlog developing I usually wait til the summer few games release at this time so I'm not adding to it. Also start with shorter games get them cleared first.

I have a sort of similar backlog and I have sort of the same problem. I play a game and it doesn't show me enough to keep me interested and I don't have the time to sit through it for all day long. So here's my humble suggestion.

You need to play some games that aren't overly complex at first. Games with simple structures and next to none forced sequences. I suggest you play them in this order.

Symphony of the night > Arkham City > MGS peace walker > Xenoblade > Okami > RE 4 > GTA vice city > Ninja Gaiden

My philosophy is genre switching but first you need to pick up a really great and accessible (but not easy) game with few forced sequences to make you feel in the mood for more gaming. Once you get that feeling switch genres. It doesn't have to be switching from action to adventure you can switch from si-fi to surreal for instance. Your next game needs to give you a completely different feeling if you don't want burnout.

@agrippi: I don't plan on buying any new games.

@psx2514: really??? Ever??? Or are you always planning on playing a few years behind? Not that you can't do that...just wondering if that is actually your intention or not. That definitely changes the way you approach this imo.

@agrippi: I don't plan on buying any new games probably for several years.

Good luck with that. I don't agree with that tactic, but to each his own. I just get too big of a kick experiencing the "now" games and hate trying to avoid spoilers on podcasts, etc. when I am behind.

Regardless, with the way you are approaching this, I really don't think any way is necessarily the right or wrong way. I think you answered your own question earlier...you want to play a game series from the earliest to the latest. You could stay within a console generation so you don't fatigue on a particular game style....or you can play a series back to back to see the progression. Either way will work for you. You obviously have plenty of time if you don't plan on buying any new games for several years.