Shrink-the-Log Challenge! 2024 Edition
KABOOOOOOOM~, and the backlog scum is gone! Shamelessly stolen from @Funbil and other folks using the format.
1. Play the first game added to your backlog
2. Play the last game added to your backlog
3. Play the game with the highest average rating
4. Play the game with the lowest average rating
5. Play a game from the 1980's
6. Play a game from the 1990's
7. Play a game from the 2000's
8. Play a game from the 2010's
9. Play a game from the 2020's
10. Shuffle your backloggd and play the first game that appears
11. Play an indie game by a developer you haven't played anything from
12. Play the game that is the most popular
13. Play the game that is the least popular
14. Play the game that was released the earliest
15. Play a game from your favorite genre
16. Play a game from your least favorite genre
17. Play a game with the most beautiful cover
18. Play a game that someone recommended to you
19. Play a game that was nominated for a Game Award in any category
20. Shuffle your backlog and play the first game that appears
1. Play the first game added to your backlog
2. Play the last game added to your backlog
3. Play the game with the highest average rating
4. Play the game with the lowest average rating
5. Play a game from the 1980's
6. Play a game from the 1990's
7. Play a game from the 2000's
8. Play a game from the 2010's
9. Play a game from the 2020's
10. Shuffle your backloggd and play the first game that appears
11. Play an indie game by a developer you haven't played anything from
12. Play the game that is the most popular
13. Play the game that is the least popular
14. Play the game that was released the earliest
15. Play a game from your favorite genre
16. Play a game from your least favorite genre
17. Play a game with the most beautiful cover
18. Play a game that someone recommended to you
19. Play a game that was nominated for a Game Award in any category
20. Shuffle your backlog and play the first game that appears
20 Games
1. Play the first game added to your backlog
The very first thing I did when setting up my Backloggd was check for PC-88 games. Punch Ball came up first. I'm curious as to what big changes Hudson made for this port, but also a tad bit scared.
The very first thing I did when setting up my Backloggd was check for PC-88 games. Punch Ball came up first. I'm curious as to what big changes Hudson made for this port, but also a tad bit scared.
2. Play the last game added to your backlog
Obscure Sunsoft for the win?
Obscure Sunsoft for the win?
3. Play the game with the highest average rating
Backloggd waits for three user scores before assigning a "proper" rating average to games pulled from IGDB. As a result, the first game on my list satisfying the pre-req was this cool source port/remake of classic X-COM. I need to give this more of a try now.
Backloggd waits for three user scores before assigning a "proper" rating average to games pulled from IGDB. As a result, the first game on my list satisfying the pre-req was this cool source port/remake of classic X-COM. I need to give this more of a try now.
4. Play the game with the lowest average rating
So the first choices with correct averages were Freedom Force (already covered in depth by Cadensia's review), Ancient Roman (which has a WIP English patch I want to wait for), and Metal Dungeon on Xbox which I don't think emulates properly. Supes 64 is the canonical Worst Game pick, though, and I really ought to subject myself for your reading pleasure.
So the first choices with correct averages were Freedom Force (already covered in depth by Cadensia's review), Ancient Roman (which has a WIP English patch I want to wait for), and Metal Dungeon on Xbox which I don't think emulates properly. Supes 64 is the canonical Worst Game pick, though, and I really ought to subject myself for your reading pleasure.
5. Play a game from the 1980's
Defaulting to what's most popular from each decade, this one's already shown up in my Most Popular Games (According to Backloggd) That I've Yet to Play From 1983 to 2023 list. For good reason!
Defaulting to what's most popular from each decade, this one's already shown up in my Most Popular Games (According to Backloggd) That I've Yet to Play From 1983 to 2023 list. For good reason!
6. Play a game from the 1990's
Ditto.
Ditto.
7. Play a game from the 2000's
Gonna cheat a bit and skip L4D 2 in favor of something I can play alone.
Gonna cheat a bit and skip L4D 2 in favor of something I can play alone.
8. Play a game from the 2010's
Whelp, this one will take a while. See ya on the other side!
Whelp, this one will take a while. See ya on the other side!
9. Play a game from the 2020's
Skipping Doom Eternal until I play its predecessor.
Skipping Doom Eternal until I play its predecessor.
10. Shuffle your backloggd and play the first game that appears
Fuck it, we ball. I could have gotten a much worse random pick.
Fuck it, we ball. I could have gotten a much worse random pick.
11. Play an indie game by a developer you haven't played anything from
Not gonna complicate things, though I hope to play through OG Metroid and Symphony of the Night beforehand.
Not gonna complicate things, though I hope to play through OG Metroid and Symphony of the Night beforehand.
12. Play the game that is the most popular
Technically I'd put Breath of the Wild here, but that's taken and Odyssey comes just after.
Technically I'd put Breath of the Wild here, but that's taken and Odyssey comes just after.
13. Play the game that is the least popular
To narrow this down, I went for the first game in my list featured in no lists, wishlists, and showing up on just one backlog (aka mine). This should add some much needed J-PC rep to the challenge, though I can't say I'm looking forward to Prajator except as an infamous kusoge.
To narrow this down, I went for the first game in my list featured in no lists, wishlists, and showing up on just one backlog (aka mine). This should add some much needed J-PC rep to the challenge, though I can't say I'm looking forward to Prajator except as an infamous kusoge.
14. Play the game that was released the earliest
There's a very faithful recreation of Jim Storer's original here, so thankfully I'm able to visit the '60s this year.
There's a very faithful recreation of Jim Storer's original here, so thankfully I'm able to visit the '60s this year.
15. Play a game from your favorite genre
Let's be real, I'm way overdue for some Trails hyperfixation. A few xRPGs qualified before it (albeit mostly sequels or games I can't play due to platform/language barrier), but I need to get back on track with Falcom anyway.
Let's be real, I'm way overdue for some Trails hyperfixation. A few xRPGs qualified before it (albeit mostly sequels or games I can't play due to platform/language barrier), but I need to get back on track with Falcom anyway.
16. Play a game from your least favorite genre
Finally, the true origin of the funky dancing numbers GIFs! This was the highest quiz/trivia game with a proper average, so there you go.
Finally, the true origin of the funky dancing numbers GIFs! This was the highest quiz/trivia game with a proper average, so there you go.
17. Play a game with the most beautiful cover
In this universe where there's just no end of jawdropping cover art for games, I'm still amazed by the JP/EU cover for Ico (not the lame NA one shown here).
In this universe where there's just no end of jawdropping cover art for games, I'm still amazed by the JP/EU cover for Ico (not the lame NA one shown here).
18. Play a game that someone recommended to you
Gotta have some STG on the list.
Gotta have some STG on the list.
19. Play a game that was nominated for a Game Award in any category
One of the least popular award-winners and something on my art-games list.
One of the least popular award-winners and something on my art-games list.
20. Shuffle your backlog and play the first game that appears
Heh, why the hell not?
Heh, why the hell not?