2021 - 12 Month Pile Program

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Welcome to the 2021 thread!

Remember that each of us track our progress differently, but kind of with the same idea. It's about recognizing what you have, being okay with throwing out titles that don't catch your interest or that you will never play, and trying to focus on what you already have; there's no hard and fast rule.

Reminder that this thread and the idea it incorporates aren't about stopping you from buying games. Let's be honest: that'd be a fool's errand. It’s about trying to enjoy what you have.

A little help for those new to managing such a list of games.

First, YOU decide whether or not something belongs on your pile; This isn't a collection to showcase, this is a list of games that will require your attention sometime in the future, even if that time is just spent deciding that you will never get to a certain title.

Secondly, just lumping them all together doesn't help anyone. Yes, make a list, but more than just that. You aren't buying groceries, you're committing your time. An invaluable, and ever-shrinking, resource. So, use some tools to help you understand what you may be in for. From sites like HowLongToBeat.com that tells you what to expect, time-commitment wise, to critical acclaim or notoriety, which may adjust when and where you aim your sights.

Third, You don't have to just sort your list alphabetically. Sort it by desire, zeitgeist, system preference, or anything else that you think makes sense to you. You're not building a web application, you're curating a very specific list of games.

Remember, it's your list, which means it's your rules. Wanna jettison a game because you don't like the box art? Do it. Does a 40 hour game seem like too much of a commitment? Boot it. Does it require 3 hours of boring at the start to get to the "good parts"? Nix it. If a game doesn't respect your time from the jump, then just be done with it. Does it mean you "wasted" money on it? No, not necessarily. The cost is your money plus your time, the latter of which is likely the most valuable.

Fourth, throw games off your pile like people throw coins into a fountain. You're not out to impress anyone. This isn't about monitoring your every move, waiting for your next post to see what titles have been kicked to the curb. It's about you being ok with saying "No" to commitments that are too much, and "Yes" to those that delight you.

Games should be fun. Enjoyable, even. Not wasting your time, feeling like a second, third, or fourth job. Those are signs that you need to walk away. Eject the disc, delete it from your hard drive, or put it into a "Jettisoned" folder on your system.

Finally, some games, you will be so excited for. Can't wait for the release. The arrival bears so much excitement. The public is going wild. Zeitgeist hasn't been like this for ages. And you just.... bounce off it. That is okay. I'm giving you permission to not like every game, to walk away without feeling guilty. Regardless of everything going on, some games just will not be for you. Even though you bought it day 1 digitally, you are allowed to be done with it before noon.

Clubs (Main threads only)

2021 Monthly Threads

  1. January
  2. February
  3. March
  4. April
  5. May
  6. June
  7. July
  8. August
  9. September
  10. October, November, and December

So, during the Steam winter sale, I bought several games and was gifted a few. The list to finish is:

The Witcher 3
Battletech
Ace Combat 7
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Mass Effect: Andromeda
Cloudpunk
The Red Strings Club
This War of Mine

I'm almost done with AC7, so I think I'll move that to the top of the list and try and finish it in the next week or two.

I'd argue it's about enjoying what we have, and maybe also enjoying it all together? m0nk3yboy had a plan to include club threads in the OP, would that be possible?

Prederick wrote:

So, during the Steam winter sale, I bought several games and was gifted a few. The list to finish is:
The Red Strings Club

It's short and a very interesting experience, definitely recommend it.

Welp, I started off the year by playing and finishing a game I've already played dozens of times, so.... progress?

I just think it’s fun to track things.

I’m starting off the year in MMORPG mode and probably will be for a bit. Good thing I bought all those games last year! /s

I'm taking a different approach this year. I created a pivot table with number of games per platform. It is not a pretty sight. But, going for low hanging fruit, I decided I should probably go for the older platforms and those that don't have that many games in them (namely: Game Boy, SNES, and original Xbox, with the added bonus that I'll be able to get rid of the Xbox after I'm done).

Then, I added the game with the longest estimated time for completion (Morrowind) to make sure I remove at least one of those infinite monsters from the list in 2021. Then, I added the games I already have in progress. The result is:

  • Assassin’s Creed III (PC) In progress (estimated completion: February)
  • Dragon Quest XI (PC) In progress (estimated completion: April)
  • Elder Scrolls III Morrowind (PC)
  • Final Fantasy Legend II (GB)
  • Final Fantasy Legend III (GB)
  • Jet Set Radio Future (Xbox)
  • Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero (PC) In progress (estimated completion: January)
  • Legend of Zelda Oracle of Ages, The (GBC)
  • Legend of Zelda Oracle of Seasons, The (GBC)
  • Ogre Battle (SNES)
  • Panzer Dragoon Orta (Xbox)
  • Ring Fit Adventure (SW) In progress (estimated completion: February)
  • Sakura Taisen 1 (Saturn)
  • Tales of Phantasia (SNES)

My current work contract ends in August, and I'm currently considering taking the rest of the year off after that, so I might have more time to play by that point (and possibly go on a trip, if the COVID situation allows it, and if I have received the vaccine by that point).

I'll be popping in to keep a track of a smallish pile of games defo want to play. Plus reporting back on what I've played and enjoyed, including a shortlist for 2021 goty.

Recently due to indecisiveness on what to play I seem to be browsing the eshop or PSN store sales pages more than is necessary. A place to remind me I have plenty of already purchased and perfectly good games waiting for me on that pre-picked pile should help, it has done in the past... Well sometimes

I do think the Goodjer game clubs help me focus on what to play a little too. I might not stick with a chosen game, but at least it's a decision made on what to start up. I'll try to follow along with the games already in the pile, but can't guarantee won't enable a purchase or two!

This year I'd like to have fun exploring my collection and yeah, sharing how I get on with that here.

Going to write a list this weekend, not too long, just somewhere to kick off from

With a busy family life that usually only allows gaming at night, coupled with approaching my mid-40s and all the reaction-time changes that brings, gaming has changed quite a bit for me in the past few years. Cognizant of this, I began a "bucket list" of games while bored at work a month or two ago.

Try to definitely finish (or play enough of to be "done" with it):

Spoiler:

Alien Isolation (PC)
Anachronox (PC)
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey (PC)
Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (PS4)
Beyond Good & Evil 2 (unreleased)
Blackwell Epiphany (PC)
Catherine (PS4)
Child of Eden (360/PS3)
Cyber-Core (TurboDuo)
Dead Space 2 (PS3)
Death Stranding (PS4)
Detroit: Become Human (PS4)
Deus Ex (PC)
Earthworm Jim (SNES)
Fatal Frame II (PS2)
Final Fantasy VII (Switch)
Final Fantasy IX (PSX)
Fire Emblem (GBA)
Freelancer (PC)
Freespace 2 (PC)
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams (PC)
Heavy Rain (PS3)
Hellblade II (most likely PC)
Kingdom Come: Deliverance (PC)
Last Guardian, The (PS4)
Last of Us II, The (either PS4 or PS5 remaster)
Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, The (NGC)
Mafia 3 (PC)
Metroid Prime (Wii)
No More Heroes (Wii)
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! 2 (NDS)
Panzer Dragoon Orta (XboX)
Panzer Dragoon Saga (Sat)
Punch-Out!! (NES)
Red Dead Redemption 1 or 2 (360/PS4)
Remember Me (PS3) - in progress
ReZ (PS4 VR) - never beat the final boss on Dreamcast
Silent Hill 2 (XboX) - working on it currently
Shadow of the Colossus (PS4)
Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl (PC)
Starfox (SNES)
Strider (NES)
Titanfall 2 (PC)
Virtue's Last Reward (3DS)
Wasteland 2 (PC)
Witcher, The (PC)
Witcher 2, The (PC)
Witcher 3, The (PC)
Wizardry VIII (PC)
Wolf Among Us 2, The (most likely on PC)
Xenoblade Chronicles (Switch)
Xenosaga Ep III: Also Sprach Zarathustra (PS2)
Yakuza 0 (PS4)
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders (PC)
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward (3DS)

Lesser priority games I'd like to finish:

Spoiler:

Alan Wake (PC)
Alice: Madness Returns (PC)
Castlevania: Bloodlines (Gen)
Cryostasis (PC)
Cyberia (PC)
Far Cry 3 (PC)
Jet Grind Radio (DC)
Kentucky Route Zero (PC) - currently working on
Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death (PC)
Mass Effect 3 (PC)
Prey (2017) (PC)
Psychonauts 2 (probably on PC)
Saints Row 4 (PC)
South Park: The Stick of Truth (PC)
Space Channel 5 (DC)
Steel Battalion (XboX)
System Shock 2 (PC)
Thief: Deadly Shadows (PC)
Transformers: Devastation (PC)

Hoping to make a dent in these lists in 2020. 10 of them marked off seems realistic.

Eleima wrote:

m0nk3yboy had a plan to include club threads in the OP, would that be possible?

And also links to the monthly threads as they pop up would be nice.

Well, in a year that's just staring at the projected workload is looking to be about 20% heavier than 2020's, I'm really going to have to juggle to get enough gaming time for my massive backlog. While I wait for three games that I've had on pre-order for a while now - chief among them Elden Ring, which appears to be the next Last Guardian by the looks of it (I do hope I'm wrong) - I will try to get the club games and some of my backlog back down to decent levels.

In 2021 I have a simple goal to return to my purchasing habits of only buying games I know I'll enjoy and want to play through when I purchase. 2020 had me doing a lot of retail therapy during sales and buying games just because they seemed moderately interesting. This resulted in some abandoned games, wasted money, and wasted time.

2021 I aim to purchase fewer games, but also tackle a pile of priority games across all platforms... which is going to be more difficult than ever, as I now am able to play on PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and PC.

PRIORITY PILE

  • Daemon X Machina (PC)
  • Salt & Sanctuary (PC)
  • Gears Tactics (PC)
  • Tales of Vesperia (PC)
  • Sakura Wars (PS4)
  • AI: The Somnium Files (PS4)
  • Crystar (PS4)
  • Code Vein (PS4, unless purchased on PC for cheap)
  • Okami HD (PS4)
  • Monster Hunter World (PS4)
  • The Witcher 3 (Xbox One)
  • Touhou Luna Nights (Xbox, PC)
  • Resident Evil VII (Xbox, PC)
  • Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition (Switch)
  • Grandia HD Collection (Switch)
  • Tokyo Dark: Remembrance (Switch)
  • Valkyria Chronicles (Switch)
  • SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech (Switch)
  • Pokemon Shield (Switch)

Witcher 3 and Xenoblade Chronicles are highlighted as games currently in progress. I will be starting Salt & Sanctuary as my Stream game on Monday evening, so that one will be worked on overtime. I may start a separate game on my Switch since Xenoblade is going to be quite long-term, but not sure at the moment since it's a bit of a "secondary" game while I tackle Witcher 3. We'll see how things turn out once the end of the month roles around.

2020 was largely a blur to me. It was easier a lot of the time just to do my dailies in Animal Crossing: New Horizions and call it good. That's about all I could focus on at least. Xbox Game Pass has been great but they add so many good things on a consistent basis that it was hard to finish anything. So I guess my goal is to stick to a set number of games before starting a new one?

Planned games to beat in 2021:

Spoiler:

Call of the Sea (Xbox Game Pass)
Ring Fit Adventure (Switch)
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age (Xbox Game Pass)
Yakuza 0 (Xbox Game Pass)
Black Mesa (Steam)
Half Life 2 (Steam) (Replaying)
Half Life 2: Episode 1 (Steam) (Replaying)
Half Life 2: Episode 2 (Steam) (Replaying)
Outer Wilds (Epic)
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling (Switch)
Overcooked! (Switch)
Overcooked! 2 (Switch)
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (PS4)
Kingdom Hearts 3 (PS4)
Assassin's Creed Origins (Uplay)
Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U)
Star Fox Guard (Wii U)
Hyrule Warriors (Switch)
God of War (2018) (PS4)
Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4)

A big list but I've made good progress on a few of them.

Wait, we’re supposed to make a list of what we’re gonna play? Because my elaborate plan is to play whatever I damn well please!

Eleima wrote:

Wait, we’re supposed to make a list of what we’re gonna play? Because my elaborate plan is to play whatever I damn well please! :)

For the last couple of years, I've been making a list of what would like to beat/finish/complete... Which clearly goes mostly out the window before the end of the first quarter.

A list helps me narrow down what I want to play but I don't sweat it if I don't get to it.

New years tradition. You are supposed to make a list, then abandon it at the first opportunity.

Made a shorter "tier 1" priority pile this year (cheating my brain to think I am progressing more!). More or less sorted.

Sayonara Wild Hearts - Finished a game in 2021, wohoo
Persona 5 Royal
Red Dead Redemption 2
Children of Morta
Heavens Vault
Tetris Effect
Fae Tactics
Rise of Industry
Age of Wonders Planetfall
A Hat in Time
Factorio
Icewind Dale EE
King of Dragon Pass
Chrono Trigger
Europa Universalis IV
Imperator Rome
Jurassic World Evolution

This is the current backlog, as defined by me and me alone.

  • 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
  • Darksiders III
  • Death Stranding
  • Else Heart.Break() (White Whale)
  • Homeworld Collection
  • Jurassic World: Evolution
  • King's Bounty: Crossworlds (White Whale)
  • King's Bounty: The Legend (White Whale)
  • Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition (White Whale)
  • Shadow Tactics
  • The Last of Us Part II
  • Yakuza Kiwami II

I'm hoping to knock Shadow Tactics off the list this month, and I'm not sure what'll come next, being I've got a bunch of big games I'm in the midst of playing that I'd like to finish first. Not to mention big RPGs coming out in March or so. But we'll see how it goes! If I could get all my white whales off the list this year, that would be wonderful.

Stele wrote:
Eleima wrote:

m0nk3yboy had a plan to include club threads in the OP, would that be possible?

And also links to the monthly threads as they pop up would be nice.

Once I get back to my desktop in the next day or so I will try and remember to update the OP.

Thank you so much, Trueheart!

So... a list that's narrowed down, huh? Okay, then, I'll bite! Here's what I'd really like to play this year...

  • Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Last Day of June (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Sayonara Wild Hearts (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/new.gif)IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Eliza (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • The Sexy Brutale (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Whispers of a Machine (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Resonance (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Kentucky Route Zero (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/new.gif)IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Unavowed (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Hob (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Eastshade (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/new.gif)IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Heaven's Vault (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Elsinore (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Nightshade (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Tropico 6 (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/new.gif)IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Ōkami (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Two Point Hospital (Steam) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)
  • Assassin's Creed Odyssey (uPlay) IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)

... I'm in trouble, aren't I?

Eleima wrote:

... I'm in trouble, aren't I?

IMAGE(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/evggxop1k1feldt/darkness+-+butters+-+southpark.gif)

Updated the OP. Dang, there are some clubs around here, huh? Let me know if I missed any clubs or their 2021-related threads.

IMAGE(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/b2blhbrnkwtd8ev/spongebob+-+hand+wipe.gif)

You have the thread for the JRPG Club's first-quarter game, but here's the main thread as well!

Here's a not-so-short list of games I'd like to beat this year. This is, of course, highly aspirational and likely will change during the year. But it will be interesting to look back and see where I started, I think.

To Beat:
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)2064: Read-Only Memories (PC)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Anodyne (PC)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Apotheon (PC)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)The Banner Saga (Switch)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Disco Elysium (PC)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age (PS4)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Fire Emblem Three Houses (Switch)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Kid Icarus Uprising (3DS)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Legend of Grimrock (PC)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Mass Effect (PC)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Might & Magic III: Isles of Terra (PC)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Ni No Kuni 2 (PS4)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Operencia (PC)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Pikmin 3 Deluxe (Switch)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Stardew Valley (PC)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)System Shock (PC)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Torchlight (PC)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Tyranny (PC)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)Vessel (PC)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unfinished.gif)The Witness (PC)

To Complete:
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/beaten.gif)Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/beaten.gif)Hades (Switch)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/beaten.gif)Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (PS4)
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/beaten.gif)Valkyria Chronicles 4 (PS4)

Stuff I Don't Own Yet, But Definitely Will Buy:
IMAGE(http://backloggery.com/images/unplayed.gif)Persona 5 Strikers (PS4)

LastSurprise wrote:

You have the thread for the JRPG Club's first-quarter game, but here's the main thread as well!

IMAGE(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/we67ufv21aoyqz9/hashtag.gif)

Regarding the adventure game club, you can just link back to the main thread, and I have a recap at the top with what's going on, that should be more than enough, and that way you won't have to update every month. One less thing to track and worry about.

Eleima wrote:

Regarding the adventure game club, you can just link back to the main thread, and I have a recap at the top with what's going on, that should be more than enough, and that way you won't have to update every month. One less thing to track and worry about.

Please do the same for the Strategy Club and once again thank you!

Whoops sorry for double thread.

I’m going to focus on the games I bought in 2019-2020 but didn’t finish. I’m also making a strong effort to beat all the club games I sign up for.

Hades
Crusader Kings 3
Age of Wonders Planetfall
Tyranny
Greedfall
World of Warcraft Shadowlands
Outer Worlds
WWE 2K19

Stretch Goals:

Mass Effect Series
Skyrim
Guild Wars 2 Path of Fire
Europa Universalis 4

jdzappa wrote:
Eleima wrote:

Regarding the adventure game club, you can just link back to the main thread, and I have a recap at the top with what's going on, that should be more than enough, and that way you won't have to update every month. One less thing to track and worry about.

Please do the same for the Strategy Club and once again thank you!

IMAGE(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/mvpmgefwywbj3nn/wipe+hands+-+finished+-+ariana+grande.gif)

Ok so I bought Animal Crossing New Horizons yesterday, this may affect my pile plans...

I did make a list of games I own and would like to get to this year but it's 56 games deep. That's just overwhelmingly silly to contemplate and isn't going to help tussle with my inability to pick and stick with games.

So a bite size shorter list containing a handful of games to have a crack at. As time goes by I can edit as I please at a leisurely pace that suits.

The first game listed is the opposite of bite size I know and it'll probably hang around for a good chunk of the year on and off. Same with the second probably.

Here we go...

Skyrim (PS4)
Animal Crossing (Switch)
Kentucky Route Zero (Switch)
A Short Hike (Switch)
Wargroove (Switch)
Dragon Quest XI (PS4, demo for starters)

That's a decent mix of genres and a couple club games thrown into the mix. Roll on 2021 good time gaming!

A game a week-ish. Go for it.

Stele wrote:

A game a week-ish. Go for it.

Skyrim and DQXI in a week would be a stretch...

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