How To Beat Your Backlog

GP writer Marcus Estrada discusses tips to help gamers beat their backlogs.

[MmaFan-Qc]

backlogs is a real shame for respectable gamers, its hard to admit but it is.

..and how to beat your backlog? put your big boy pant and clear that god damn backlog no matter what game is released.

its hard to resist the temptation to jump on a new game, but i know you can, just do it.

DO IT!!

[Welshy]

I'm a sucker for new title regardless of my "pile of shame" as i call it.

Between buying new games and picking up games i may have missed at a good price, it all piles up super quickly.

My current backlog consists of: Prince of Persia HD, GOW HD, GOW3, Max Payne 3, Darksiders 2, Sleeping Dogs, Borderlands 2, AC3, AC3: Liberation (Vita), Gravity Rush, Shadows of the Damned, Rayman Origins, Lego Batman 2 and FEAR 3, The Witcher 2...

Seeing that in righting makes me realise how ridiculous that is and how i'll never even scrape the surface before MG Rising or Bioshock ='(

Edit: Not to mention Vanquish, Bulletstorm, RDR, Crysis 2, Darksiders, Space Marine, Shift 2 and Tomb Raider from PS+ Instant Game Collection.

I'm royally f*cked. #1stWorldProblems

[Ezz2013]

you think you are f*****
i downloaded 25 games from psn+ on my 500GB
i have yet to play

[GamePodunk]

I think one of the main issues that contributes to a lot of backlogs is the fact that most people can't resist a good deal on a game that they're interested in, even if they already have tons of other games to play.

Couple that with the fact that some games have limited print runs (if they're unavailable through downloadable means) like Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story, Metroid Prime Trilogy, and others, and people usually want to make sure they have a copy to play for later before the game becomes super rare (and expensive). I'd wager those two reasons are why many backlogs exists.

[WildArmed]

It's weird, when I try to plan my gaming time.. I feel overwhelmed by my backlog and am like screw it.

When I play games on the fly, I seem to get a lot of gaming done.

[Cam977]

I stick to 1 new game at a time on each platform, right now, it is Hitman on the PS3 and Uncharted on the Vita. But with regards to beating your backlog, simply buy PS+ and you'll get everything in your game-backlog plus more at a great, wallet-friendly price.

My backlog is fairly small at this point in time, it is The Saboteur (I'm going for the platinum, those FP events are so monotonous to do at once), DARK SOULS (NG+ platinum run), Monster Hunter: FU (I bought this last month for my Vita), GRAND THEFT AUTO: VCS (I had this on PSP but bought it on Vita thanks to a sale on the PSN), Tomb Raider 1 (again, I have this on my Vita but I stumped at "The Cistern" level - I need to jump back in) and that is it. I've probably had a larger backlog in the past but right now it is not too bad, it'll take time.

Good article!

[Reaper9937]

Dude Monster Hunter FU is the devil, it is the sole reason I have a backlog of about 56 titles across 7 platforms. Do yourself a favour and don't start playing that game.

Come March and the release of MH3U my backlog will grow substantially and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it...

[Klopek]

I've got a huge collection of games to get through. It's completely overwhelming. Unfortunately now I seem to find myself researching and reading about games far more than I do actually playing them.

[BigStef71]

Same here. It's kinda crazy if you think about it lol. There's just so many good games to play with so little time that it's hard to get to all of them

[BigStef71]

Gotta horde as many of the good games as possible because once next gen kicks in the games that are currently out will be hard to find

[E2S]

Amazing sales is what keeps my backlog alive. How can I resist the temptations of ps+, newegg, and amazon?

[deafdani]

I surely would be able to beat many of the games in my backlog if I didn't waste so much damn time browsing gaming sites (N4G, IGN, Kotaku, etc). A bit ironic, ain't it?

[Convas]

So true man, so true.

[turgore]

My backlog is of unfinished titles is Darksiders 1, FF13, Stacking, KOF13, Quantum Conundrum, Dark Souls.
Games that I didn't even touch: MGS HD collection, Dead Space 2, super street fighter 4, Okami HD.

Currently playing assasins creed 3.

[mochachino]

Stop buying games, that's what I did. Now I'm on this perfect schedule where every game I get is discounted at least $20 because it's several months old.

It's wonderful and makes me less critical of minor flaws. At $60 I was like "this game better be f'ing perfect" at $20-$40, I'm like, "for the price, this game is amazing".

[N4g_null]

Novel solution, yet you are really just saying don't buy on hype along.

The old Nes trick works. Open them all and play with some one not along. Get stuck and put another one in. These games are more time sinks than skill based anyway.

[Drainage]

mant people with backlogs arent even gamers, they are collectors that happened to get into collecting games. They like to buy games on launch, play them a week or two, then talk about the 'new' game releasing in 2 months. Some like to talk about games more than play them.

[Welshy]

Or perhaps backloggers are more the "real" gamers because they buy every single title and are enthusiastic about everyone, but obviously with time restrictions (work, school etc) takes time to get through them?

[boybato]

50 plus games, no backlog however I only have 3 plats. haha(2 of which is from the same game; MGS3 from the collection for my PS3 and Vita)

[CrescentFang]

My backlog really consists of older console games. I mean you can find a bunch used PS2, GCN and GBA games for a few bucks and whatnot nowadays.
Though I do have a fair amount of current gen games included in my backlog as well...

[Williamson]

I have a backlog of about 24 games for my ps3/psv/wii and 2 more games getting shipped to me. I was beginning to think that i needed to get some serious help lol, but after reading all these comments i see how common of an issue this is for gamers. I also need to clear out my dvr as well.

[ShaunCameron]

I don't keep backlogs. I play a game, beat it, then move on with the day.

[Y_5150]

I never had such a backlog until now. The PS+ collection of games and Black Friday deals made that happened! I am switching between +7 games and how do I ever deal with it you ask? Well I just play what I feel like playing. Backlog can also happen if you're a completionist, If you like earning all the trophies/achievements in a game and still buy tons of new games while doing so, you are screwed! :P

[Tres21]

yea my backlog has got 2 the point(thanx best buy gamers unlocked & black friday) that i keep gettin threatin they're gonna take my games 2 the pawn shop i wont miss em & i keep buyin download games & gettin em free & the pawn shop here has great deals that im just lost on what 2 do & i hav a few games i wanna play thru again on the hd versions i had planned 2 start halo 4 campaign, god of war saga, el shaddia, socery, work on dishonored now, try more xcom, & thats just the stack i pulled from disc games not includin fighter caliber & doa5...a dude above me is right writing this stuff out just makes the joke pretty sad not funny.

[Tres21]

ooops i 4got i got hooked on dragons of atlantis from the dumb side bar on good ole dumb n4g & i finalyy gav up mafia wars o woe is me.lol

[Spenok]

Not as useful as I was hoping it would be :/