gone

To avoid burnout I'd just try to base it on what you feel like playing, and maybe throw in some shorter games from time to time since they are, well quick to complete, and give you a sense of accomplishment towards your goal of whittling down the backlog. Besides that try to resist playing games that are big time syncs (CS:GO, Dota, Rocket League, etc.).

Also it may be worth trying to stick to games you've started as best you can, if you start a game and then stop halfway through for a long period of time, it becomes harder to pick it back up again unless it's real simple.

I totally feel you. Before SG, I had 12 games in my account. Now I have 270. I decided to start working on my backlog with SG wins, in the order that I won them, doing it in batches and postponing some games because of reasons. You can see my full plan and other people's plans here for inspiration. Maybe you'd even be interested in joining BLAEO. :P

I play at least one game that I already know I love/put lots of hours in, while playing a couple other more indie/backlogged games at the same time. This way I don't feel like I can't play the games I already know I love, but make sure to play some newer games too. I get burnt out after playing games for hours and hours tho, so I like to cycle between a few games per week or two, playing an hour or two at a time and then switching games, coming back to the game a few times in a week rather than one big session.

Honestly tho if I'm stressed/not feeling well I won't play the other games, bc I'll want to play more "comfort" games. Idk about you, but try to stay happier/healthy too? haha :D

I think many of the usual suggestions sound too much like a chore or hard work. I just pick something at random - or what I feel like at the time. .With over 4000 in my account, I have to be realistic that I'm not going to complete everything - having a lot of games just gives me some variety and options. Of course when I start something I like, I will play it for a while before moving on. Everyone is different and there is no right or wrong way to play or select your games.

http://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/0ZGWJ/flesh-eaters

I also have many more games than I can possibly play. Remember that this is supposed to be fun - if it isn't, you should stop! - so really, I think you should just play what you want, when you want.

I also feel the urge to "do right" by the games, but that's nonsense. I'm always at a loss when I finish one: what comes next?

But there's no obligation, no one watching. Right now I like to play short games for the most part, because my time is limited and I like to make a list of what I've finished. But I'm jonesing to get back into a big long intricate RPG, and when I play one of those that's it (for me) for months, and even then I don't often finish them. But - so what? Just have the best possible time with them.

I usually have 10-14 games installed. I put my priority on my SG wins... Several of my ongoing games are games which feel never ending... like Witcher, Fallout Games, Borderlands etc... and the rest are games which I can finish, many within 6 hours to a few days - hogs, visual novels and short adventures like Costume Quest ect... I have my games divided into many categories including "100% completed", which are games I will probably never go back to and Completed (games I've finished without getting all the achievements, which I've currently uninstalled but might return to someday...) I've been finishing a lot of games so It seems to be working for me.

As LinustheBold said, I wouldn't sweat it either way. They're games, have fun!

That being said, I have a hard time following my own advice at times. It sometimes feels like I have too many great games in my backlog. But...I share my library with my kids and wife, so at least that helps alleviate some of the feelings of neglect. :)

Pick a game.
Play it.
Enjoy.

Solved! XD

I use Trello to organise and choose what to play.
https://trello.com/b/WHCsPfF2/games

The system works as follows.
I pick a game from my "to play" list and move it to my busy playing list. I then play and in most cases finish it and move it to the completed list for the year. I say in most cases because if a game is really crappy then I'll stop playing and also move it to the completed list. There are too many games out there to sit and play a bad one.

It works well because there's a feeling of accomplishment when moving the little tile to that completed section. I also enjoy games more since I started doing it because it felt I had a system to play them all. Even though I probably will never be able to. :)

Make a list of the 10 games you want to play the most. Play those, ignore the rest. Then make a new list when you're done.

Be honest with yourself and realize you'll never play them all, so play the ones you're most excited about.

Using steam categories to break into small groups, and manage which ones are done, etc.

Using a website that picks a random game for you (Steam Checklist works pretty well - it lets you mark the games you've completed or have no interest in, as well as selects a game for you to play), or Enhanced Steam, is something that usually helps me. Keep randomising until you come across a game that looks appealing to you and the rest is pretty obvious.

You should always be playing them in the order you like them. In other words, prioritize. Every time you obtain a new game, try to fit it into a rough list of priorities.
The more games you have, the stricter your criteria will eventually turn, but this ensures that you spend your limited time on maximum enjoyment. Try to finish what you start (plan ahead if you have to) and generally do what feels right for you, because they're your games and any way that makes you get the most out of them is what you should aim for.

I have made a list with all games to play. This list is ordered by the release date of the game. I write the date behind the name of the game.
From this list I pick the one I want to play most. If I have no clue what to play next I just choose the oldest by date.

Here's what I tend to do:

Don't waste time making lists or sorting games.
Head over to a site such as https://servc.eu/rsg/. Enable 'Show only unplayed games'. And go play whatever it tells you to play. If it's a bad game...? Well, at least you have one game fewer to check.

I made it my goal at the start of the year, to beat 1 game (or at LEAST 1 dlc 'game') a week.

It's really been encouraging me to actually play my games.

Do not take it as a chore, play what you want to play.