What's the best way to keep track of games I've played?

Use three simple lists — currently playing, backlog in priority order, and completed with a rating and date. Keeping it simple is what makes the habit stick; you don't need tags or a 20-column spreadsheet.

Why do spreadsheets fail for tracking games?

Spreadsheets need upkeep, look poor on mobile and are easy to forget. Most people stop updating them within a few weeks. A dedicated tracker you can update in seconds is far more likely to last.

How do I keep a game tracker up to date?

Make logging frictionless: add a game the moment you start it, and when you finish, take 30 seconds to mark it complete and give it a 1 to 5 rating. That's the whole habit.

How to actually keep track of every game you play

If you've ever bought a game on sale, forgotten you owned it, then bought it again — you're not alone. The average gamer has dozens of unplayed titles spread across multiple platforms, a mental backlog that's impossible to keep straight, and a completed list they can't actually remember.

The solution isn't more willpower. It's a better system.

The problem with spreadsheets

Plenty of people start with a spreadsheet. It works for a while — you add columns for platform, status, rating. But spreadsheets require upkeep. You have to remember to open them. They don't look good. And on mobile, they're painful.

Eventually the spreadsheet stops getting updated, and you're back to square one.

The three lists you actually need

A good game tracking system only needs three things:

Currently playing — what you're in the middle of right now
Backlog — games you want to play, in priority order
Completed — everything you've finished, with a rating and date

That's it. You don't need tags, sub-categories, or a 20-column spreadsheet. Keeping it simple means you'll actually use it.

The habit that makes it stick

The hardest part isn't setting up the system — it's maintaining it. The trick is making updates as frictionless as possible. Log a game the moment you start it, not weeks later when you've already forgotten.

When you finish something, take 30 seconds to mark it complete and give it a rating. That's your whole "review" — a number from 1 to 5. You don't need a 500-word essay.

What to do with your backlog

A backlog only works if it's ordered. Dump everything in, then drag the games you actually want to play next to the top. Revisit the order every few months. Accept that some games will stay at the bottom forever — and that's fine.

The goal isn't to play every game on your list. It's to always know what you're playing next.

Try Save State — it's free

The simple game tracker built around this exact system. No spreadsheets, no fuss.

Start tracking →