What's your strategy for managing a large collection of games? And how do you feel about having a backlog of games to play?

[Nikalykos]

At this point in my life, I lack the time and enthusiasm to invest in playing video games. And when I do find the opportunity to play, I tend to stick to games I am already familiar with instead of trying out new ones.
Still, I find myself compelled to complete all the games I've amassed, many of them being lengthy RPGs and other genres that don't manage to captivate me. This raises the question - if I bought a game, shouldn't I feel obliged to see it through to the end?

In light of this dilemma, I have identified two potential strategies to address the issue.
The initial strategy involves accepting the fact that it might not be realistic to complete every game in my collection. Instead, the focus should be on moving forward without getting stuck on unfinished titles. With new and exciting games constantly being released each year, it's simply impossible for one person to play them all.
The second strategy requires pushing through the unfinished games, no matter how difficult it may seem, and ultimately releasing them as a burden of the past.

If you have encountered a similar situation in the past or are currently facing the same predicament as I am, what course of action would you recommend taking?

[potato]

managing? steam does it for me

[TheHogfather]

I make it so that steam usually only shows me the games I have installed locally and install a small backlog of games at a time

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

buy less games, dont feel obligated to play mistakes, sure the 10 year old game is 2.50 on sale but are you actually gonna play it

[Crazy Tiger]

I have my libraries in various collections. Part of the collections is the priority within the backlog. I generally keep the very high priority of my backlog installed. Sometimes I know what type of genre I want to play, but if not I just boot something random.

I have no issue with backlogs, been cutting down on mine for the past few years actually.

[Morkonan]

Originally posted by Nikalykos:

...What's your strategy for managing a large collection of games? And how do you feel about having a backlog of games to play?

If you have encountered a similar situation in the past or are currently facing the same predicament as I am, what course of action would you recommend taking?:wolfpaw:

1) Impulse Purchasing Control - Wishlist games you're very interested in and think you would likely want to play instead of impulse-buying them.

That's what I do, for the most part. And, you'll get notices when they go on sale, etc, so you won't be tempted to impulse-buy when they finally get a deep discount. You'll still have a "List," too, that you can glance over to remind yourself of those games you wanted to play, without having to buy them and stick them in your library for a "rainy day."

Lastly - Wishlisting a game truly does help the developer/publisher push their game up in the algorithm. So, if you're buying to "support the devs" then Wishlisting it s a very good alternative.

2) I don't "manage" my Library in any way. I don't have "hundreds" of titles, but I do have a good many. Most of them are older games or games I already own that I just wanted Steam versions for. Some are games I play on console, too. A few odd ones are impulse buys during deep sales, kind of like bulk/package deals and the like. If I'm looking for something to inspire me to play it, I'll scroll through the alphabetical list. (I have some software/apps I bought through Steam, too, but those are in their own tab.)

[Goldias]

If I don't have enough time to play I simply don't buy new games.
Might even get a nice discount later.

Best course of action is simple. Stop buying.

[bad_fur_day1]

Mayb you got it the wrong way around, start from the end goal of completing awesome games and work your way backwards.

[Dadpool]

Steam, EA app, Ubisoft Connect, GOG are pretty okay at storing most PC games, for games that are on consoles, on Nintendo, Playstation and Microsoft, for games that are in neither places, a well maintaned SSD drive with big size, for games that are in physical media like cartridges, well, a minimal furniture setting and smart planning depending on the place of living.

My backlog is infinite, even when I finish the game, do all the achievements, did a few speedruns and discovered a few glitches there's still something that I can do in this game so I could come back to this game even the next day, but I'm not gonna do that because I don't live forever, and there are other games that need playing, I'm pretty used to this feeling of never ending playing. I deal it in various ways, sometimes playing games from genres I know least about, sometimes playing my favorite games, sometimes playing games just to complete achievements, sometimes playing games that I will think will be my favorite.

Sticking to games that you already know seems to be a pattern for a lot of peeps, I have the same with games and music, it seems to happen with age.

You probably lack resolve or a good reason to actually play games, this itself is a problem, also both of options that you wrote are not exclusive, you don't have to choose, surely it would be good if there was an actual good reason behind a choice.

[Ni-Neith]

All these games, without exception, are designed to brighten up your leisure time. This is entertainment in its purest form.
You need to take it that way.
If you haven’t completed a game to the end or haven’t started this game at all, so much the worse for that game, but not for you. :)) put it aside and look at other games.
The main thing is that you feel comfortable.

[Riruru]

I usually just play what I like when I like, I've my entire life to go through the game library. But when I do start a game (that is play for more than 3 hours), I usually try to see it through fully without dropping it.

[Under there]

i pick game
i install game
i play game until i finish or get incredibly bored
i uninstall game
i repeat

[[H.E.] ✟ GrandEmperorVandheer ✟]

So glad you've asked.

I've been waiting a window of opportunity to arrive in time before you've posted this thread.
So here's how it works:

• Write Curator Reviews.
  
• Post lists into a form of sectors, vectors, and grids.
  
• Buy the games we want. (optional)
  
• Continue posting screenshots, guides, and artwork that are related to the games.
  
• Strengthening game communities without ceasing.

[Grønlænderen]

I have a ton of games. I play maybe 4 or 5 of them and rotate them (if I get sick of one, I'll go to another one of those 4 or 5, or if there is an event I like in one, I go to it). There's probably 10 or 12 of them I occasionally play when I want something different or if I'm running a game with a friend. There's a group of games I have that I bought, played once or twice, and never went back to. Then there's the bulk of them - probably 80% to 90% of my collection - that I never even played once. Those are mostly games I got free, or part of a package deal where I wanted one of the other games in the package, or stuff I got off a subscription service like Humble Bundle, and just wasn't at all interested in.

[Hammer Of Evil]

just wait till you're retired, i'm sure you'll have a lot of time then. it'll keep you out of trouble, too.

[Ȼħⱥꞥꞥēł8753452]

Originally posted by Nikalykos:

At this point in my life, I lack the time and enthusiasm to invest in playing video games. And when I do find the opportunity to play, I tend to stick to games I am already familiar with instead of trying out new ones.
Still, I find myself compelled to complete all the games I've amassed, many of them being lengthy RPGs and other genres that don't manage to captivate me. This raises the question - if I bought a game, shouldn't I feel obliged to see it through to the end?

In light of this dilemma, I have identified two potential strategies to address the issue.
The initial strategy involves accepting the fact that it might not be realistic to complete every game in my collection. Instead, the focus should be on moving forward without getting stuck on unfinished titles. With new and exciting games constantly being released each year, it's simply impossible for one person to play them all.
The second strategy requires pushing through the unfinished games, no matter how difficult it may seem, and ultimately releasing them as a burden of the past.

If you have encountered a similar situation in the past or are currently facing the same predicament as I am, what course of action would you recommend taking?:wolfpaw:

My strategy is......... absolutely nothing

anyways, I just put all the games I care about in one pile, sort by genre or franchise, very simple