What to Do When You’re Bored With Your Steam Library

21 August 2025

We've all been there. You fire up Steam, stare at your library of 173 games (of which you’ve played maybe 12), scroll endlessly, and think, “Ugh, nothing looks fun.” Don’t worry—Steam library fatigue is more common than bugs in early-access survival games. But here’s the good news: boredom doesn’t mean it’s game over. Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh perspective, a little creativity, or just the right kick to reignite your digital joy.

So buckle up, grab your favorite gaming snack, and let’s walk through some quirky, unexpected, and oddly effective things to do when your massive Steam library feels as stale as last week’s pizza.

1. Sort Differently, Play Differently

You probably sort your games by "Recently Played" or "Installed", right? That’s your first mistake. Try shaking things up:

- Sort by "Oldest first"—give those forgotten indie gems some sunlight.
- Sort by "Hours Played" and deliberately choose the least-played game. That hidden visual novel or obscure puzzle platformer might just surprise you.
- Heck, even sort alphabetically and start playing from the “A” section down—Ace of Spades, anyone?

Sometimes, the way we look at our games affects how we feel about them. It’s like organizing your sock drawer—you might just find that one pair you forgot you loved.

2. The Steam Roulette Game

When decision fatigue hits harder than a Dark Souls boss, let fate decide. Go to your library, close your eyes, and randomly scroll and click. Whatever pops up? That’s what you’re playing. No takebacks. No second guesses.

Not risky enough? Use a random number generator based on the number of games you own. Game #42? That’s your destiny now.

This adds a bit of danger, a dash of chaos, and a whole lot of fun. It’s like playing Russian roulette, but instead of a bullet, it’s a farming simulator from 2013.

3. Challenge Yourself With Achievements

Still bored? Turn your game time into an IRL mission.

Pick any game and go full-on achievement hunter. Try to:

- Complete all achievements for one game
- Do the weirdest or rarest achievement across your whole library
- Set a weekly achievement goal

It’s amazing how those little digital badges can reignite your interest in a game you thought you’d “beaten.” Think of it as turning your games into quests—and who doesn’t love quests?

4. Install Mods (Even the Weird Ones)

You think you're tired of Skyrim? Think again.

Mods can make a tired game feel brand new. Want to play Skyrim but everyone's a giant crab? There’s a mod for that. Want to turn everything in Left 4 Dead 2 into Shrek characters? Yep, that’s a thing.

Even games you wouldn’t expect can be modded. Stardew Valley? Mod the heck out of it. Turn all the crops into memes. Replace the soundtrack with 90s sitcom intros.

It’s DIY game design at its weirdest, and honestly, it’s a blast.

5. Start a Steam “Book Club” (But for Games)

Don’t want to game alone? Make it social.

Grab a few friends and create a “Steam Game Club.” Each week, someone picks a game from the shared library—or something cheap from the store—and everyone plays it. Then, regroup and talk about it on Discord like you’re scholars dissecting the depths of Portal’s cake conspiracy.

It’s fun, forces you to try new things, and adds a social layer that makes even clunky FPS games enjoyable.

6. Try a Genre You Usually Avoid

Hate visual novels? Repulsed by rogue-likes? Meh on turn-based RPGs?

Perfect. That’s exactly where you should go next.

Sometimes we get bored because we play the same genres over and over. Break the loop. Try the stuff you think you hate. You might discover you're a closet tactics game lover or that romance simulators tug at your heartstrings more than you expected.

Weirdly, your gaming comfort zone might be the actual cause of your boredom.

7. Clear Out the Backlog… With Style

The dreaded backlog. It's like the pile of laundry you keep meaning to do, but every time you look at it, you grab a hoodie off the floor instead.

Gamify your backlog with challenges:

- The “Hour Rule”: Play every unplayed game for at least 1 hour.
- The “3-Strikes Rule”: If a game doesn’t hook you in 3 sessions, it’s out.
- The “20-Minute Speed Date”: Try as many games as you can in one night, 20 minutes each. No strings attached.

Treat it like a reality show—some games make the cut. Others get voted off the island.

8. Make It a Stream or YouTube Challenge

Why not embarrass yourself on the internet?

Stream yourself playing the most ridiculous, outdated, or hated games in your library. Or make a YouTube series: “Playing Every Game I Own Until My GPU Melts.”

Content creation makes things fun again. When there’s an audience (even if it’s just your cousin and a stranger named “XxGame3r69xX”), it gives your playthroughs purpose.

And hey, who knows? You could go viral for your dramatic reading of Doki Doki Literature Club fanfic.

9. Check Out the Steam Community Hub

Every Steam game has its own Community Hub, but most people treat it like that weird back room in a thrift store—ignored and vaguely suspicious.

But dive in and you’ll find:

- Wild fan art
- Game mods
- Tips and guides
- Memes galore

It’s like opening up a whole different dimension of the game. And seeing other people’s passion might just reignite your own.

10. Use Steam’s Remote Play Together Feature

Multiplayer doesn't mean you both need to own the game.

With Steam’s "Remote Play Together," you can share local couch co-op games online—even if your friend is 1,000 miles away and owns zero of your games. It’s magic.

So grab a buddy, fire up Cuphead or Overcooked (cue the chaotic arguments and accidental betrayals), and turn boredom into bonding.

11. Step Outside the Library: Try a Demo or Free Game

Feeling boxed in by your own collection? Try stepping outside the walled garden.

Steam has a massive collection of demos and free-to-play games. Sometimes, sampling something new gives your brain just enough dopamine to come back to your older titles refreshed.

Think of it like a gaming sorbet—a little palate cleanser before your next binge.

12. Turn Games into Exercise (Yes, Seriously)

Okay, don’t laugh.

If you’ve got games like Beat Saber (via SteamVR), or any rhythm games, you can turn your playtime into a full-body workout. Even non-fitness games can be made more active with standing desks, stretching every cutscene, or squatting every kill.

You’ll never look at a long RPG battle the same way again. Muscle burn bonus.

13. Just Uninstall Some Stuff Already

Sometimes, less is more. A cluttered library can make everything feel like TV static.

Be ruthless. Uninstall the games you know you’ll never touch again. It’s liberating. It’s cleansing. It’s... oddly therapeutic.

With a smaller, more curated library, your remaining games might suddenly look more appealing. Like magic, but boring adult magic involving digital decluttering.

14. Wait for the Next Sale, Then Buy Something Completely Random

Yes, I know, we’re trying to beat boredom with your current library—but sometimes, retail therapy works.

Steam sales are the equivalent of chaotic holiday markets. Pick something random for $2.39. Something you’d never normally touch. Like a horror farming sim or a dating game with bugs. Literal bugs.

New games bring back that spark. Budget-friendly risk, maximum fun potential.

Final Thoughts: The Choice Is Yours, Player One

Being bored with hundreds of games at your fingertips doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re human. With gaming, the fun comes not just from the games themselves—but from how you interact with them. Spice things up, flip your routine, and give your old games a new storyline.

Your Steam library isn't a wasteland—it's a treasure chest. Sometimes, you just need a weirder map.