In a bold move, 2025 will be the year I “try” and work through my backlog… the year I stop buying games at launch only for them to sit on the shelf with numerous other games for months (or, in some cases, years) before finally getting played.

In an effort to keep me focused I’ve decided on my own approach to what is commonly known as “Backlog Golf” where starting games from your backlog knocks a shot off your score, and adding new ones adds a shot… the idea, as in Golf, is to be under par at the end of the game.

Scoring is thus:

• Start a game from the backlog -1
• Complete a game from the backlog -1
• Unlock the Platinum or score the full 1,000 Gamerscore -1
• Buy a new game +1
• Start a game not in the backlog (such as Gamepass) +1
• Start a newly purchased game +1
• Complete a newly purchased game -1
• Unlock full 1,000 Gamerscore or Platinum on newly purchased game -1

Start a backlog game and abandon it +1

Now… while there is a definite bias towards lowering the score there, the obvious hiccup will be buying new games… it’s early days and, despite myself, I’ve already added one to the list (+1) but have started and completed the base game on two others (-2 for starting, -2 for finishing) so I’m currently -3

If only real golf were so simple.

And it really is the buying games bit I’m going to struggle with… having played the Fasntasian: Neo Dimensions demo it’s certainly something I want to play… but on the Xbox it seems to be digital only, and currently £49.99

I’m not paying that for a game that I won’t touch before the summer at the earliest… and besides, I’ve only got £40 credit on my Xbox account waiting to be spent… so I can wait for a sale.

Hopefully.

Gamepass on the other hands may also be a stumbling block… Avowed coming up inside the next two weeks, Atomfall, South of Midnight and Expedition 33 all worth looking at… potentially Fable later in the year.

While I may have started well… chances of finishing under par look slim.