A calmer backlog / iPlayed guides
Build a backlog you actually want to play
Start small, use a few meaningful statuses, and give yourself permission to move on.
Start with what is on your mind
A useful backlog helps you choose your next game. It does not need to be a complete record of every game you have ever encountered. Start with the games you are playing now, a few you want to try next, and anything you regularly forget you own.
Search for a title in iPlayed and add a copy with the platform and medium you use. Add the rest gradually, or import your Steam library from Settings → Library if you want a larger starting point. Your Steam account needs to be connected first.
Give each status a clear job
Use playing for games you are actively returning to, backlog for games you own and still want to start, and finished when you have reached your own stopping point. Wishlist can hold games you might acquire later. Status is free text, so you can choose words that match the way you play.
Keep the playing list short enough that it helps you make a decision. A game you have paused can return to backlog. Dropped is also a useful outcome: it records that you tried something and decided to spend your time elsewhere.
Use tags for the next decision
Statuses describe progress; tags can describe the kind of session you want. Try short-session, couch-coop, or weekend. Pick a handful you will actually use, rather than designing a large taxonomy before you start.
Tags belong to individual copies. A local multiplayer tag might make sense for the console copy you play with friends, while a travel tag belongs on a handheld copy. The library’s My tags filter helps you narrow the list when you are ready to choose.
Leave a note for your future self
Before putting a game aside, write down where you stopped, the next objective, or the control you keep forgetting. A useful note can be one sentence: ‘At the northern gate; find the key before returning to town.’ Record hours if they help you, but do not turn tracking into homework.
Revisit your backlog occasionally and remove things you no longer want to play. Export a CSV from Settings → Library if you want a separate snapshot. A library earns its place by helping you enjoy your games, not by asking you to complete every row.