How do you tackle a video game backlog?

Why does the backlog keep growing?

Because buying a game feels like progress and playing one takes time. A cheap sale is a promise to your future self, and your future self has a job, a lawn and a group chat. Nothing wrong with that. It just means the pile needs a system, not more willpower.

Step 1: Put a pause on new games

Pick a stretch, maybe a month, with no new games. Wishlist anything that catches your eye instead. If you still want it when the pause ends, great. Often you won't.

Step 2: Sort into now, next and someday

Write down everything you own but haven't finished. Then sort it:

"Done with it" matters. Dropping a game you don't love clears room for one you will.

Step 3: One long, one short

A big open-world game and a short, tight one make a good pair. The long game is your slow burn. The short one gives you a win in a week or two, and finishing something feels good. Retro gaming is great for this. A lot of older games are made to be finished in a few evenings.

Step 4: Give it a time slot

"When I have time" never comes. A set window does: Tuesday and Thursday nights, or Sunday morning with an iced coffee. Treat it like a tee time. You show up, you play your round.

Step 5: Review once a month

Look at the lists. Move something from next to now. Drop anything that's been on now for months without being touched. Add a line about what you finished. That's the fun part.

When a template fits, and when it doesn't

Our Retro Video Game Tracker & Backlog Journal is built for exactly this. It pairs a 7-tab spreadsheet (game library, a backlog queue with a random picker, a dashboard, a wishlist, yearly goals and a session log) with a 25-page printable journal in US Letter and A4, for $6.99 on Etsy. It works with any setup, and the pages are undated.

It fits if you like checking boxes and want a year-long view of what you played.

Skip it if a notes app list does the job. Honestly, for a lot of people it does.

Planning play nights around a busy week? The 2027 Weekly Planner Printable has dated weekly pages. See how our planner formats compare in our 2027 calendar guide.

FAQ

Is it okay to quit a game without finishing it?

Yes. Your free time is limited, and dropping a game you aren't enjoying makes room for one you will. Move it to a done-with-it list and move on.

How many games should you play at once?

Two is a good number: one long game and one short one. More than that and progress on each slows to a crawl.

How do you stop buying games you won't play?

Try a pause on new purchases and add anything tempting to a wishlist instead. If you still want it when the pause ends, it was worth waiting for.