7 Types of Gamers Who Keep a Game Backlog – Which One Are You?
As we grow older and enter the working world, many of us eventually run into the same problem—we finally have the money to buy the games we’ve always wanted, but we no longer have the time to actually play them.
Before we know it, our Steam libraries, PlayStation collections, and Nintendo Switch game catalogs continue to grow into enormous backlogs. Some games were bought because everyone was talking about them. Others were simply too cheap to ignore during a sale. And for some people, just seeing the game’s icon sitting in their library is already satisfying.
Believe it or not, the way we build our gaming backlog says a lot about our personalities. So which type of backlog gamer are you?
1. The Steam Sale Hunter – Buy First, Play Later
This type of gamer rarely pays full price for a game.
But the moment a massive Steam Sale or an 80% discount appears, all self-control disappears.
Reviews? Genre? Whether they’ll actually enjoy the game?
None of that matters.
If the price feels like a bargain, it’s going straight into the shopping cart.
The classic excuse is always the same:
“I’ll buy it now before the sale ends. I’ll play it someday.”
Unfortunately, that “someday” often arrives years later—sometimes after the game has already been given away for free.
2. The Hope Collector – No Time to Play, But It Feels Nice to Own
Working adults probably relate to this one the most.
They already know their schedule is packed.
They know they probably won’t touch the game anytime soon.
Yet they still buy it.
Why?
Because seeing a brand-new game sitting in the library somehow makes everything feel better.
It’s like buying hope for the future.
One day, life will slow down.
One day, they’ll have time.
Until then, that Install button quietly waits.
3. The Day One Buyer… Then Never Again
These gamers simply cannot resist hype.
Whether it’s a blockbuster AAA title or the latest indie sensation, they’ll preorder immediately and jump in the second servers go live.
Launch night?
They’re playing until sunrise.
Screenshots flood social media.
Everyone knows they’re playing.
Then…
The next day arrives.
The excitement fades.
The game gets abandoned somewhere around Chapter 2 while their attention shifts to the next upcoming release.
4. The Story Lover Who Watches YouTube Instead
This gamer genuinely loves story-driven games.
They happily buy legitimate copies to support the developers.
But when it’s finally time to play…
The gameplay feels too complicated.
Grinding becomes tiring.
Getting lost becomes frustrating.
So instead, they open YouTube.
They watch walkthroughs.
Story summaries.
Streamers.
By the end, they know every major plot twist, every ending, and every secret.
Meanwhile…
Their own save file still says one hour played.
5. The Completionist Who Burns Out
This gamer refuses to finish anything halfway.
Every achievement.
Every side quest.
Every collectible.
Every hidden corner.
Everything must reach 100%.
At first, motivation is sky-high.
But after dozens of hours chasing collectibles and clearing every objective, exhaustion eventually kicks in.
The irony?
Many completionists never actually finish the main story because they become burned out before reaching the ending.
Skipping optional content isn’t an option either.
It just doesn’t feel right.
6. The One Who Doesn’t Want the Journey to End
Not every unfinished game comes from laziness.
Some gamers stop because they simply don’t want the experience to end.
They’ve fallen in love with the characters.
The world.
The music.
The adventure.
Eventually they reach the final dungeon.
The last boss waits.
Instead of walking through the door…
They save the game.
Close it.
And never return.
Because as long as the final boss remains undefeated, the adventure technically isn’t over.
7. The Marketing Victim
Last but certainly not least…
The collector.
These gamers don’t necessarily buy games because of the gameplay.
They’re buying the bonuses.
Limited-edition skins.
Digital art books.
Exclusive soundtracks.
Pre-order cosmetics.
Collector’s editions.
Special wallpapers.
If the bonus content looks good enough, the purchase is already justified.
Whether they actually play the game afterward becomes a completely different question.
The rewards are safely sitting in the account.
Mission accomplished.
The game itself?
Still waiting to be launched.
So… Which One Are You?
If you recognized yourself in one—or maybe several—of these categories, don’t worry.
Keeping a backlog has become part of modern gaming life, especially for working adults.
There’s nothing wrong with owning more games than you can finish.
Sometimes buying a game is less about immediately playing it and more about supporting the developers or simply giving yourself something to look forward to after a long day at work.
After all, gaming isn’t a race.
Whether you finish one game a month or one game a year, what matters most is enjoying the experience when you finally find the time.
Now it’s your turn.
Which type of backlog gamer are you?
Or do you have an even stranger backlog habit that wasn’t on this list?
