
Backburner.uk (beta) – an Coach that picks 3 games from your own Steam library based on your mood tonight
What it is:
Backburner looks at your Steam library and helps you actually play what you already own instead of buying more. You describe your vibe (mood, how much time you have, what you're playing on) and it builds a 3-game playlist:
- Main Deep Dive – the primary, longer session
- Palette Cleanser – something shorter for a break between heavy games
- Pick-Up-and-Play – handheld/low-attention friendly
Every pick launches straight from the browser via steam://run.
Why I built it:
I have 400+ unplayed games on Steam and kept re-buying instead of playing what I own. Existing "random game picker" tools just roll dice; I wanted something that actually reasons about mood, playtime, and how long a game takes to finish.
Under the hood:
- Syncs your Steam library, then enriches each game with store metadata, community tags, How Long To Beat estimates, ProtonDB tier, and Steam Deck compatibility
- Vibe descriptions are parsed by an LLM into a playlist; there's also 6 non-AI "Classic pick" strategies (Safe Choice, Quick Win, Hidden Gem, etc.) if you don't want AI involved at all
- Steam Deck Mode filters everything to games with good Deck compatibility
- Backlog Health Score + a "Shame Report" showing money spent on unplayed games, with an optional Guilt Trip mode that roasts your backlog habits
Status:
Still in beta. A Decky Loader plugin for Steam Deck is in code review right now, so native on-Deck support is coming soon. Actively looking for feedback and testers — if something feels off, breaks, or a recommendation makes no sense, I want to hear about it.
Link: https://backburner.uk
Happy to answer questions about how the recommendation engine works, and especially interested in Steam Deck users who want to try the plugin once it lands.