I have a sizeable backlog myself. The biggest reason for this is that I didn't get a PS3 until early 2013, and before that I mostly played MMOs so I never really beat much games on PC. Nowadays I'm almost exclusively a console gamer, but I didn't get a PS4 until last year. So as a result I'm now way behind. I did beat most of my PS3 collection, but then I discover more amazing games that I want to play, so it just keeps growing (haven't even touched the Mass Effect series, and I have all of them except Andromeda). I try to keep my PS4 collection to a minimum with games I'm 100% sure I'm going to like, because otherwise my backlog would grow endlessly. I never even get close to multiplayer because if I allow myself to go there I'll never finish my backlog (and honestly I'd take an immersive single-player experience over multiplayer any day).

The problem is that with some games you just can't jump in and start enjoying them, because there are 7 previous games in the series that you'll need to play first (I'm looking at you Assassin's Creed). I really, really want to play The Witcher 3, but I'll have to play the two previous games so I can fully enjoy the experience. So each game added to the backlog can bring along several others.

That said, I use Backloggery to keep track of my backlog, as well as wishlist (yay, more games coming to backlog!). I usually try to finish a few relatively short titles, although most of my games are at least 20-30 hours long, before committing to a 100-hour RPG, and I find it works perfectly for me.

Yeah can't disagree with that. I had forgotten how awesome it was. It did require a lot of planning and strategy, which I do miss now that you've reminded me of it.

As much as AC2 was an amazing game, I'll be honest that it didn't have my favorite setting, and that did take away from the experience for me. Colonial America is so far my favorite setting in any AC game, and the world just feels more alive. I think it's mostly the setting that's making me like this game, hehe.

@mrbojangles25: Good to know someone else fell in love with the setting. :) I haven't invested in the economy system much yet, but I can imagine it must not be that interesting (I personally didn't feel wow'd when they introduced it). Still, you could still play the game without it and enjoy the good parts. I chose to do the stuff I found interesting and fun and ignore the rest, like the side missions (never cared much for those in AC games, but still forced myself to do them).

Assassin's Creed was never a full-blown stealth game per se though. Stealth is a big part of the game, yes, but it's not the game's focus. As far as I know at least (I suck at stealth games though, lol).

I know the game is over 4 years old, but I only got to play it just now (I'm always a few years late to the party with video games). I'm about halfway through the story. I've been a fan of the series since the first game, and after seeing all the hate for AC3 I was going to skip it, but decided against it just for the sake of the story. I was initially planning on blasting through the story missions quickly and moving on, but since starting the game, I find myself putting a lot of time into it. I'm actually enjoying the game, contrary to most people's experience, it seems.

I mean really what's there to hate about the game? I'm really trying to find reasons to hate it, but to no avail. Yeah Ezio might have been a much more interesting character than Connor, but Connor's not really that bad. I'll admit he's a bit dull, but I don't totally hate his character. And to be honest, I was getting tired of Ezio with Revelations and the series was beginning to get stale and a bit boring, but thanks to the changes and fresh content introduced in AC3, I no longer feel this way about the series.

So, here's a list of reasons why I like the game:

• The setting. To me, this alone is enough reason to like AC3. I mean what's there not to like about colonial America? I'm seriously surprised people didn't seem to like an amazing setting such as this. I could be biased though since I really like that time period.
• Naval combat. 'nough said. You even get to captain your own ship! What more could you ask for?
• The frontier and wilderness. I thought it's pretty cool that there's a wilderness to explore. Hunting is nothing like RDR, but still a welcome addition (and no I don't think it's weird for an AC game, it fits Connor perfectly, since it's always been part of his life anyway). I also enjoyed meeting the natives.

Anyone else also enjoyed AC3? If yes, what made you enjoy it? If no, why not?

@drrollinstein: Yeah I guess you're right. But I still need to make time for studying for the course, so this leaves me with less free time. However, I think I can find 30 minutes to an hour on average a day if I cut out the time I spend messing around on the internet and watching YouTube and TV shows online.

Lately I've been trying to find a way to still have time for gaming with a lot going on in my life. I've started attending a course about 2 weeks ago (trying to build a career currently). It's only 2 days per week but during those days I'll be traveling to get to the city where the course takes place, so those are 2 days that I can't play video games at all. I also work 3-5 days a week, so since I started the course, I haven't been able to find any time to play video games. This is especially bad when considering long games, like RPGs, which is what I mostly like. Assuming I was able to play half an hour to an hour a day on average, a 100-hour RPG might take me well over 4 months to finish in this case, which is honestly half the length of the course (it's just 8 months long). So I'll be able to finish only 2 games in 8 months, lol.

Do you guys struggle to find time for gaming? And how can I make time to play video games? Gaming is my favorite hobby, and I've had to quit for over a year when I was in college. I'd hate to have to quit again now.

Okay, that clears it up. So I had misunderstood the meaning of the term entirely. Seems the guy in the article I read wasn't using it correctly. Mabybe he just meant that the games didn't feel "realistic."

@LuminousAether: If all what games become are cinametic, story-focused, and "realistic" (oooh) affairs, then I would just stop playing them. I hope games don't get to this... I cringe every time I read that someone liked Heavy Rain for example and how it's one of the best games, when it's not even a game in my eyes. You want something that can affect you emotionally? Read a damn book or watch a movie, and let us enjoy our games. I want to kill/behead/burn/whatever countless people, or creatures (preferably with health bars above their heads), using my super powers or magic, or a helicopter I just snatched from the air in video games, not roll in my sheets and cry, or feel like I'm basically living another life. I want to be a mass murderer, and I don't want it to make the slightest of sense. It's annoying how most other people want games to make real world sense.

Anyways, you sound a lot like me. I also like the things you mentioned. Video games are becoming more and more nonsense each day, and it makes me disappointed seeing the direction they're taking. But oh no, the mainstream public wants them this way, basically a movie with no sense of imagination, so why should developers care about the few of us who embrace games for their gameplay, ridiculousness, and lack of real world logic? Mainstream ruined music, and now the same thing seems to be happening to video games. Nice.

@Planeforger: Well that explains it better. I thought it just describes a game that wouldn't make sense in real life. I can see it making sense in the examples you gave. Though the second example could make sense in a fantasy RPG I suppose, provided there's an explanation in the plot why the doors are locked by 5 golden keys, lol.

And who said games are supposed to make real world sense? People who think this way should just live life with no forms of entertainment, or just watch reality TV or something, and let those of us who have a wide imagination enjoy games for what they are, unrealistic, ridiculous, lacking all kind of real world sense, and just plain awesome (to hell with story if it's going to ruin games). It boggles my mind how the majority of people seem to lack any sign of an imagination (which in turn affects those of us who do and wish to enjoy games for what they are). Yes, your health regenartes and the combat system and puzzles are ridiculous and make no sense in a real life context. Who the hell cares, as long as it's fun to play?