The Ultimate Guide to Game Library Management in 2025

The Modern Gaming Library Challenge

In 2025, PC gamers face an unprecedented challenge: managing games across an ever-growing number of platforms. With Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Game Pass, GOG, Battle.net, and numerous other launchers each housing dozens or even hundreds of games, keeping track of what you own and what you want to play has become a complex task.

The average PC gamer now owns games across 4-6 different platforms, with some enthusiasts managing libraries spanning 8 or more services. This fragmentation, while offering more choices and competitive pricing, has created a new problem: game library chaos.

Understanding Platform Fragmentation

Before diving into solutions, it's important to understand why this fragmentation happened and how it affects your gaming experience:

Why We Have So Many Platforms

• Exclusive Content: Publishers create their own launchers to maintain control over their games
• Revenue Sharing: Avoiding Steam's 30% cut by using alternative platforms
• Subscription Services: Game Pass and similar services require dedicated apps
• Free Game Strategies: Epic's weekly free games require their launcher

The Hidden Costs of Fragmentation

• Time wasted searching for games across platforms
• Forgotten purchases leading to duplicate buying
• Reduced gaming time due to launcher management
• Missing out on games you already own

Manual Organization Strategies

1. Create a Master Game List

Start by documenting every game you own across all platforms. Use a simple spreadsheet with columns for:

• Game Title
• Platform
• Installation Status
• Last Played Date
• Completion Status
• Personal Rating

2. Categorize by Genre and Mood

Organize games into categories that match how you actually choose what to play:

3. Implement a Priority System

Not all games deserve equal attention. Create priority tiers:

• Currently Playing: 1-3 games you're actively progressing through
• Next Up: 5-10 games you're excited to start soon
• Someday: Games you own but aren't urgently interested in
• Completed: Finished games you might revisit

Platform-Specific Organization Tips

Steam Library Management

Steam offers the most robust organization tools among major platforms:

• Use Collections instead of categories for better flexibility
• Create smart collections based on tags, genres, and playtime
• Hide games you'll never play to reduce visual clutter
• Use the "What's Next" shelf for games you plan to play soon

Epic Games Store

Epic's organization features are limited, but you can:

• Use the Library filters to sort by installed status
• Add games to your Wishlist as a "want to play" indicator
• Keep track of free games separately from purchased ones

Xbox Game Pass

Focus on the temporary nature of Game Pass content:

• Prioritize games leaving the service soon
• Use the "My Games" section to track your progress
• Download games you're unsure about to try them quickly

Automated Solutions

Third-Party Game Launchers

Several tools can help unify your gaming experience:

Gamick: The Streamlined Approach

Gamick represents a new approach to game library management. Instead of trying to recreate every platform's features, it focuses on solving the core problem: quickly finding and launching your games.

Key advantages:

• Automatic detection of games across all major platforms
• Lightning-fast search and filtering
• Minimal resource usage
• No data collection or privacy concerns
• Works alongside existing launchers without replacing them

Advanced Management Techniques

The "Gaming Backlog" Strategy

Turn your overwhelming game collection into a curated experience:

1. Audit Phase: Honestly assess which games you'll realistically play
2. Curation Phase: Move unlikely-to-play games to a "someday" category
3. Focus Phase: Limit your "active" list to 10-15 games maximum
4. Rotation Phase: Only add new games when you complete or abandon current ones

Time-Based Organization

Organize games based on your available gaming time:

• Quick Sessions (15-30 minutes): Puzzle games, arcade-style games, roguelikes
• Standard Sessions (1-2 hours): Most single-player games, competitive matches
• Deep Sessions (3+ hours): RPGs, strategy games, story-heavy adventures

Maintenance and Best Practices

Monthly Library Review

Schedule a monthly 30-minute session to:

• Update your game completion status
• Move finished games to appropriate categories
• Re-evaluate your "next up" list
• Uninstall games you're not actively playing
• Check for new free games or sales on wishlisted items

Storage Management

With modern games requiring 50-100GB+ each, storage management is crucial:

• Only keep 3-5 large games installed at once
• Use external storage for less frequently played games
• Take advantage of cloud saves to safely uninstall and reinstall
• Consider game streaming services for occasional play

Future-Proofing Your System

Preparing for New Platforms

As new gaming services emerge, establish practices that will adapt:

• Document your organization system so it can be replicated
• Use tools that support multiple platforms rather than platform-specific solutions
• Focus on universal categories that work across all services
• Maintain a platform-agnostic wishlist

Conclusion

Effective game library management in 2025 requires a combination of manual organization, smart tooling, and realistic expectations about your gaming time. The goal isn't to play every game you own—it's to ensure you can quickly find and enjoy the games you actually want to play.

Whether you choose manual organization, automated tools like Gamick, or a hybrid approach, the key is consistency. Pick a system that matches your gaming habits and stick with it. Your future gaming self will thank you when you can spend less time managing games and more time actually playing them.