As 2026 dawns, gamers across the UK are facing a familiar dilemma: a towering pile of unplayed titles. One reader, matc7884, has shared his personal mission to finally conquer six key games from his backlog, alongside a fresh wishlist for the year ahead.
The Backlog Battle: Six Games in the Queue
For many, the new year is a time for fresh starts, but in the gaming world, it often means confronting past purchases. Our featured gamer has outlined a clear plan to give six specific titles a proper chance in 2026.
At number six is Baldur's Gate 3, a purchase he now considers one of his worst. Swept up by the hype, he bought it at nearly full price for the Steam Deck and now owns it on the Legion Go. While not a bad game, he struggles with the complex combat, having no prior experience with similar RPGs. He admits he might need tutorial videos, but the game's sheer scale is a significant time commitment.
In fifth place is Cyberpunk 2077. Despite multiple attempts, he's never progressed far, with his furthest attempt being on the Switch 2. He wants to enjoy it but hasn't been gripped, leaving him at a crossroads: commit fully or finally let it go.
The Plucky Squire sits at number four. Instantly sold by its trailer, he bought it on release but found it merely "fine." While visually appealing, he finds the stealth elements annoying. However, hearing it's only a few hours long has convinced him to push through to the end.
Revisiting Favourites and New Adventures
The third spot is reserved for a double bill: Resident Evil 7 and Village. Having played both before—Village twice—he aims to replay them before the anticipated release of Resident Evil Requiem. He considers the Resident Evil 2 remake the series benchmark but believes both 7 and Village are worthy successors.
At number two is Marvel's Spider-Man 2. As a huge fan of the previous games, even earning the Platinum trophy for the first, he's surprisingly only played a few hours on his Legion Go. He suspects he may have overplayed the earlier titles and plans to dive in consistently over several nights to rediscover the magic.
Topping his backlog list is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. After a brief, performance-plagued try on Game Pass via Legion Go, he snapped up a cheap PlayStation 5 copy during Black Friday. Streaming it to his handheld via the PXPlay app works perfectly. He's intrigued by its polished art and soundtrack but worries the turn-based combat and long runtime might be hurdles.
The 2026 Wishlist: What's Next on the Radar
Looking beyond the backlog, the gamer has also set his sights on five new titles for 2026.
Starting at number five is Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. While new to the mainline series, he enjoyed Metroid Dread. Initially a day-one purchase candidate for a new console, lukewarm reviews have given him pause. He's spotted it for around £30 on Amazon Marketplace, which seems more appealing.
Assassin's Creed Shadows takes the fourth spot. Never having played an entry in the series, the Switch 2 release piqued his interest. He considered using Christmas money but will likely wait for a deep discount later in the year, given the game's expected size.
In third is Dispatch, a point-and-click adventure that appeared on several 2025 "best of" lists. The unique art style caught his eye, and while not a genre he frequents, he has enjoyed similar games in the past.
The runner-up is Ghost Of Yōtei. After playing part of Ghost Of Tsushima via PS Plus, his subscription lapsed. He's now tempted to jump straight to the sequel, craving a graphically impressive Sony exclusive to test his new TV.
His most anticipated wishlist game is Blue Prince. Well-regarded in puzzle circles, it's a genre he enjoys but finds hard to satisfy. He plans to try it on Game Pass before his subscription ends, though the reported need for note-taking while playing in bed presents a practical challenge.
This reader's feature highlights a universal truth for modern gamers: the struggle between exciting new releases and the ever-present backlog is a defining part of the hobby as we move further into 2026.
