The Math Behind My 15-Game Backlog: How Long Will It Actually Take?

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Harvey

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After outlining my overwhelming 15-game stack and developing a strategic approach to tackle it, the inevitable question emerged: how long will this actually take? With 4-6 hours of daily gaming time, a structured schedule, and some serious platinum hunting ahead, it’s time to do the math and set realistic expectations.

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Breaking Down the Stack by Completion Type

Not all games in my stack require the same level of commitment. Understanding the different completion types is crucial for accurate timeline estimates.

Quick Completions (Story Only)

These games have straightforward goals with no platinum aspirations:

Quick Completion Total: 2 months

Medium Completions (Story + Extra Content)

Games requiring more than just story completion but not full platinum runs:

Medium Completion Total: 4-5 months

Platinum/Challenge Runs (The Heavy Hitters)

The most demanding games requiring significant time investment:

Platinum/Challenge Run Total: 21-30 months

Special Cases

  • Tekken 8 character study: Ongoing (12+ months for full roster mastery)

Daily Gaming Structure Impact

My daily gaming structure significantly affects completion timelines. With 4-6 hours of daily gaming time, here’s how it breaks down:

Typical Daily Schedule

  • Tekken 8: 30 minutes (non-negotiable daily anchor)
  • Monthly Focus Challenge Run: 1-2 hours (limited due to mental demand)
  • Mood Gaming/Variety: 2-4 hours (less stressful games)

Weekend Schedule

  • Tekken 8: 30 minutes (always)
  • Monster Hunter Focus: 3-5 hours (dedicated grinding sessions)
  • Optional variety: Remaining time

This structure is crucial because challenge runs are mentally demanding and require limited daily exposure to prevent burnout. I can’t just dedicate 6 hours to Bloodborne chalice dungeons – that’s a recipe for frustration.

The Resident Evil Marathon Factor

From September through February, I’m running a special Resident Evil marathon to prepare for Resident Evil 9:

  • September: Resident Evil 3 Remake + RE2 Remake continuation (This will still probably take a month to complete)
  • October: Resident Evil 4 Remake (I plan to do the harder difficulty together with the normal one for a completionist run and also do a speed run for both normal and hard. I do not plan to do a professional mode run this time as I have already done it and completed it during my platinum run. So RE4 Remake would probably still take me a month)
  • November: Resident Evil 5 (Just story including the DLC. I could finish all those in less than a month giving room for my variety games)
  • December: Resident Evil 6 (Again just story. Probably will take me less than a month)
  • January: Resident Evil 7 (Again just story. Probably will take me less than a month)
  • February: Resident Evil 8 (Again just story. Probably will take me less than a month)

Critical Point: September and October will have RE games taking up most of my variety game time, but November through February will leave room for other variety games since those RE entries can be completed in less than a month each. This means the displacement of other games is less severe than initially calculated.

The Real Numbers: Parallel Gaming Calculations

Here’s where the math gets interesting. Because I can play multiple games daily, many completion timelines overlap:

September-February (6 Months)

During this period, I’m simultaneously:

  • Completing the RE marathon (as variety games)
  • Tackling 3-6 challenge runs (as monthly focus games, 2-3 months each)
  • Maintaining Tekken 8 character study
  • Continuing weekend Monster Hunter sessions

Post-February Timeline

After the RE marathon ends, I still need to complete some variety games, but the displacement is less severe than initially calculated:

  • Remaining challenge runs: 15-20 months
  • Medium completions (some can fit in Nov-Feb gaps): 2-3 months
  • Quick completions (can fit in Nov-Feb gaps): minimal additional time needed

Running Parallel Throughout

  • Tekken 8 character study: 12+ months (ongoing regardless)
  • Monster Hunter sessions: Weekend slots don’t interfere with weekday progress

Alternative Timeline: No Trophy Hunting

What if I decided to skip platinum hunting entirely and just enjoy the games for their stories and core content? Let’s break down that scenario:

Story Completions Only:

Longer Completions:

  • Witcher 3 side content: 2-3 months
  • RE2 Remake speed runs: 2 months

RE Marathon: 6 months (September-February)

Total without trophy hunting: 19-20 months (excluding Tekken 8 character study)

Timeline Comparison

The difference between approaches is striking:

  • Story completions only: 19-20 months (1.5-2 years)
  • With platinum hunting: 25-30 months (2.5 years)
  • Including Tekken 8 mastery: 30-35 months (2.5-3 years)

Trophy hunting adds approximately 5-10 months to the timeline, while the ongoing Tekken character study extends it even further. This puts the time investment of platinum pursuits into perspective – they significantly extend completion time but offer much deeper engagement with each game.

Final Realistic Timeline: 25-30 Months

When accounting for the more efficient RE marathon schedule, the complete stack breakdown looks like this:

Year 1: Focus on challenge runs while completing RE marathon. November-February provide room for variety games alongside RE stories.

Year 2: Continue challenge runs (including Monster Hunter platinums), complete remaining variety games.

Year 2.5: Finish remaining games and complete Tekken roster mastery.

Total Expected Timeline: 25-30 months (approximately 2.5 years)

Reality Check: The Sale Factor

Let’s be honest about one thing: this timeline assumes I stop buying new games. Given my philosophy of purchasing games only during sales, and my track record of jumping on good deals, the timeline will inevitably extend.

New purchases tend to jump to the front of the rotation due to natural excitement. A major sale could easily add 3-6 months to the timeline, and that’s perfectly fine. The stack will grow, but so will the variety and options.

Why This Timeline is Actually Reasonable

Thirty months might seem like a long time, but consider what we’re talking about:

  • Ten full platinum trophy completions (including both Monster Hunter games)
  • Multiple challenge runs requiring precision and patience
  • A complete Resident Evil marathon leading up to RE9
  • Comprehensive mastery of an entire fighting game roster
  • Hundreds of hours of premium gaming content

This isn’t rushing through games for completion’s sake – it’s a methodical approach to experiencing some of gaming’s best content at a sustainable pace. The structure ensures I’m always making progress while maintaining enjoyment and avoiding burnout.

The Journey vs. Destination Mindset

The real value isn’t in clearing the stack as quickly as possible – it’s in having a diverse, exciting rotation of games that keeps gaming fresh and engaging. Some weeks, Bloodborne’s gothic nightmare will captivate me completely. Other weeks, I might dive deep into Witcher contracts or perfect Tekken combos.

This timeline provides structure without pressure, goals without stress, and progress without rushing. In a world where gaming backlogs often become sources of anxiety, approaching them with realistic expectations and flexible timelines transforms them into sources of excitement.

Bottom Line

My 15-game stack represents roughly 2.5 years of structured, enjoyable gaming. Factor in inevitable new purchases, and we’re looking at an even longer multi-year journey through some of the best experiences gaming has to offer.

The math is clear, the structure is solid, and the timeline is realistic. Now it’s time to stop calculating and start playing. After all, the best gaming sessions aren’t the ones that check boxes – they’re the ones that create memories.

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