Trying every unplayed game in my Steam backlog

In this video, Linus Tech Tips tackles a common gamer dilemma: the Steam backlog that grows due to sales, bundles, and impulse buys. He sets up a sponsored challenge with MSI to play through every unplayed game in his Steam library, using the MSI GE66 Raider and GS66 Stealth notebooks to handle the workload. The opening segment frames the problem, highlighting how humble bundles and frequent discounts lead to dozens of untouched titles, and Linus introduces the plan to work his way through them one by one. He also makes light of the hardware powering the experiment, noting the laptops’ high refresh rates, RTX graphics, and strong performance that allow rapid hardware testing without slowing the pace. The sponsor integration with MSI is acknowledged early, emphasizing the devices used for the marathon run and teasing the breadth of titles to come. By the end of the first stretch, viewers see the premise set, the hardware introduced, and the expectation that several games will be tested for performance as well as enjoyment, with an emphasis on learning which games still hold up despite years of neglect. As the main testing phase unfolds, Linus dives into a wide variety of titles, ranging from retro shooters to modern indies. The first portion features Avatar: The Game and Duke Nukem Forever, with commentary focused on how well older titles run on modern hardware and how their controls and pacing feel decades later. He shares candid impressions, from awkward gunplay and clunky interfaces to surprising moments of fun in titles like Cave Story and Garry's Mod. The playthrough mixes quick explorations with longer attempts, capturing both the novelty of revisiting long-forgotten games and the frustration of early access barriers or flaky launches. Throughout, Linus provides quick technical notes about drivers, benchmarks, and the laptop's ability to render at high settings without overheating, finishing certain segments with a verdict on whether the game is worth revisiting. By the time the midsection lands, viewers have glimpsed a spectrum of responses,from nostalgia and curiosity to outright amusement and occasional disbelief at how some titles aged. In the final stretch, Linus wraps up the exhaustive backlog tour with a mix of successes and misses. He notes specific wins like Garry's Mod and Shank that deliver entertainment even years after release, alongside failures like older racing and action games that refuse to cooperate with modern setups. The video effectively communicates the emotional journey of someone who loves the act of collecting games but wants to redeem a large portion of their library through play sessions. The closing remarks reflect on the personal and practical outcomes: some games will be revisited, some may be abandoned, and the experience demonstrates how a high-end laptop can act as a portable testbed for varied genres. The sponsor message reappears briefly as Linus thanks MSI, then invites viewers to explore the laptops via links in the description, while reaffirming the broader takeaway that backlog redemption is both feasible and enjoyable when supported by capable hardware.

Topics · gaming · hardware · laptop · technology · entertainment · reviews · backlog · video-essay