Eurogamer’s weekly “What we’ve been playing” column is the kindest possible reminder that the games we want to play and the games we actually play are two different lists. Steam sales widen the gap. Game Pass widens it more. The right video game backlog tracker turns the backlog from a guilt object into a useful shortlist, and the apps below all do that one job from different angles.
We tested eight of the best apps for video game backlog tracking on desktop. Most of these live in the browser, which is fine for a tracker, but each one has different strengths around platform auto-import, community features, and how cleanly your data exports if you want to leave. The brief was practical: how fast can you log a 200-game backlog, how cleanly does the tool import a Steam library, and which one stays useful six months in.
What to look for in a backlog tracker
Six criteria separate the trackers you’ll still use next year from the ones you’ll abandon in a month:
- Library auto-import. Pulling 200 games out of Steam, GOG, and PSN by hand kills any tool’s momentum.
- Cross-platform game database. The good tracker treats your Switch, your PC, and your PS5 as one library, not three.
- Status more granular than played/unplayed. “Playing now,” “shelved,” “100%” are real states a tracker should support.
- Community features without being a social network. Reading what friends finished is useful; doom-scrolling reviews is not.
- Data export. Your backlog is yours. If the tool dies or pivots, your data should come with you.
- Mobile companion. Most backlog updates happen when you’re not at the desktop. A phone app or responsive mobile site closes the loop.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Type | Free option | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backloggd | Community-driven cataloguing | Web | Yes, fully free | 650K+ users, Letterboxd-style reviews |
| HowLongToBeat | Backlog with time estimates | Web | Yes, fully free | Median completion time per game |
| Grouvee | Clean, no-nonsense tracking | Web | Yes, fully free | Powered by Giant Bomb’s database |
| GG App | Multi-platform auto-import | Web + apps | Yes, freemium | Imports Steam, PSN, Xbox, Switch automatically |
| Exophase | Achievement-driven tracking | Web | Yes, fully free | Pulls trophy and achievement data automatically |
| Stash | Collection-focused with physical media | Web + iOS | Yes, freemium | Tracks physical condition, value, and trade lists |
| Save Point | Personal-first journaling | Web | Yes, free beta | Built around private notes per session |
| IGDB | The database underneath everything | Web | Yes, fully free | The reference database behind GG and others |
The 8 best apps for video game backlog tracking on desktop
1. Backloggd — best for community-driven cataloguing
Backloggd is the Letterboxd of video games, and the 650K+ registered users have given it the active community most trackers wish they had. Logging a game is one click, the rating system uses half-stars, the activity feed shows what friends are playing, and the journal-style reviews are short enough that people actually write them. Filters cover platform, genre, year, developer, and status, and the database covers PC, console, mobile, and retro.
Where it falls short: No automatic Steam or console import. The bulk-edit tools are thin. Mobile experience runs on the responsive site, not a native app.
Pricing:
- Free: full feature set with no paywall
- Paid: optional supporter tier with no functional gates
Platforms: Web (works on Windows, macOS, Linux via browser)
Download: backloggd.com
Bottom line: Pick Backloggd when you want the most active community and you don’t mind logging games by hand.
2. HowLongToBeat — best for “is this worth starting?”
HowLongToBeat built its reputation on crowd-sourced completion time estimates, and the backlog feature inherits that data. Add a game and you immediately see median Main Story, Main + Sides, and Completionist times. For a 30-something with three open tabs of “this looks good,” the median 11-hour mark on one title vs the 95-hour mark on another is the difference between “I’ll start this tonight” and “I’ll never start this.”
Where it falls short: The UI hasn’t aged well. The community section is light compared to Backloggd. Auto-import only works for Steam, and the connector has been flaky in 2026.
Pricing:
- Free: full feature set
- Paid: optional ad-free supporter tier
Platforms: Web (works on Windows, macOS, Linux via browser)
Download: howlongtobeat.com
Bottom line: Pick HowLongToBeat when you triage your backlog by completion time and you want a tracker that surfaces “is it worth starting?” at a glance.
3. Grouvee — best for clean, no-nonsense tracking
Grouvee is the long-running tracker powered by Giant Bomb’s API, and it has stayed quietly useful by not over-engineering the experience. Custom shelves let you organise the backlog by mood, system, or anything you invent. Reviews are short by default. The interface gets out of the way.
Where it falls short: No native mobile app. The social features lag Backloggd. Giant Bomb’s database has gaps for indie or very recent releases.
Pricing:
- Free: full feature set
- Paid: none
Platforms: Web (works on Windows, macOS, Linux via browser)
Download: grouvee.com
Bottom line: Pick Grouvee when you want a clean tracker that doesn’t try to be a social network.
4. GG App — best for multi-platform auto-import
GG App is the multi-platform tracker that takes the manual entry pain seriously. Connect Steam, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch (via screenshot import), and Epic Games Store, and GG pulls your library, your playtime, and your trophies into one view. The backlog screen surfaces “you bought this two years ago, you have not played it” in a way the platform stores don’t.
Where it falls short: Free tier limits the number of connected accounts. Some features (mood tracking, advanced filters) sit behind the Pro tier. Account connections occasionally break after platform API changes.
Pricing:
- Free: basic tracking, one connection
- Paid: GG Pro at $4.99/mo with unlimited connections and advanced features
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android (desktop primarily via browser)
Download: ggapp.io
Bottom line: Pick GG App when manual entry is the dealbreaker and you have games across three or more platforms.
5. Exophase — best for achievement and trophy data
Exophase is the tracker for players who measure progress in trophies and achievements. The Switch playtime tracker is one of the few that captures Nintendo’s hidden hour count automatically, and the trophy and achievement pages aggregate Steam, PSN, and Xbox progress into a single timeline. For a player who already chases 100% completion, Exophase is the cleanest source.
Where it falls short: Less of a “backlog” tool and more of a “what have you finished” tool. The UI assumes you understand achievement systems already. Social features are limited.
Pricing:
- Free: full feature set
- Paid: optional premium tier for ad-free browsing
Platforms: Web (works on Windows, macOS, Linux via browser)
Download: exophase.com
Bottom line: Pick Exophase when achievements and trophies are the actual progress metric you care about.
6. Stash — best for collectors including physical media
Stash is the collection-focused tracker that takes physical games as seriously as digital. Log a copy with condition (CIB, loose, sealed), track its current trade value via PriceCharting, and maintain wishlists for sets you’re chasing. For users who collect Switch cartridges or PS5 discs and want a desktop home for the spreadsheet, Stash is purpose-built.
Where it falls short: The collector-first slant means the digital tracking is lighter than Backloggd or GG. The mobile app is iOS-only at the time of writing.
Pricing:
- Free: basic tracking
- Paid: Stash Premium at $4.99/mo, $39.99/year
Platforms: Web, iOS
Download: stashpedia.com
Bottom line: Pick Stash when your collection includes physical games and you want trade-value tracking alongside the backlog.
7. Save Point — best for personal-first journaling
Save Point is the newer tracker built around the idea that the most useful piece of data is the note you make to yourself after a play session. Log a session, jot what happened, tag it with mood and progress, and the tracker becomes a private gaming journal first and a community feed second. The interface is restrained on purpose.
Where it falls short: Newer than the alternatives in this list, so the community and game database are still growing. No auto-import yet. The free beta tier may carry limits in the production launch.
Pricing:
- Free: free during beta
- Paid: TBC at launch
Platforms: Web
Download: savepoint.gg
Bottom line: Pick Save Point if you want a tracker built around session notes you actually keep coming back to.
8. IGDB — best as the database under your own setup
IGDB is the Internet Game Database that powers GG App, several other trackers, and a lot of community sites. The IGDB website itself works as a tracker: add games to your collection, track status, build lists. For users who eventually want to script their own tracker via the IGDB API, starting on the IGDB site keeps your data portable.
Where it falls short: The IGDB site UI is the database team’s project, not a tracker team’s project. Backlog management features are basic compared to Backloggd or HowLongToBeat. The API is the actual draw.
Pricing:
- Free: full website access and the API up to fair-use limits
- Paid: enterprise API pricing through Twitch Developer
Platforms: Web (works on Windows, macOS, Linux via browser)
Download: igdb.com
Bottom line: Pick IGDB when you want the underlying database, an open API, and a basic tracker built on top.
How to pick the right one
If you want the most active community: Backloggd.
If you triage by playtime: HowLongToBeat.
If you want a quiet, no-frills tracker: Grouvee.
If manual entry is the dealbreaker and you play across platforms: GG App.
If achievements and trophies are the actual scoreboard: Exophase.
If you collect physical games: Stash.
If you want a session-journal tracker: Save Point.
If you want the database itself with an API: IGDB.
The pattern most users land on is Backloggd as the home base for the social and review side, plus HowLongToBeat as a triage view when picking the next game off the shelf. GG App is the right pick if you specifically want auto-import to do the cataloguing work for you.
FAQ
Is Backloggd really better than HowLongToBeat? They solve different problems. Backloggd is the social-first cataloguing site; HowLongToBeat is the time-estimate-first triage tool. Most players who care about both run both.
Can I import my Steam library automatically? Yes, in a few of these tools. GG App handles Steam, PSN, Xbox, and Switch imports. HowLongToBeat supports Steam import. Backloggd and Grouvee require manual entry today.
Which tracker has a mobile app? GG App and Stash ship native iOS and Android apps. Backloggd, HowLongToBeat, Grouvee, Exophase, Save Point, and IGDB all run on the responsive mobile web.
Is GG App really free? The free tier covers basic tracking and one platform connection. Multiple platform connections, mood tracking, and advanced filters sit behind GG Pro at $4.99/mo.
What is the best backlog tracker for the Switch? Exophase auto-pulls Switch playtime via the Nintendo parental controls workaround, which is unusual. GG App supports Switch via screenshot import. Backloggd and Grouvee both treat Switch games as first-class manual entries.
Can I export my data if I want to leave a tracker? Backloggd, Grouvee, HowLongToBeat, and IGDB all support CSV or JSON export of your library. GG App and Stash offer export from their account settings. Save Point’s export options are limited during beta.
