Spring Cleaning Steam sale challenges players to play their backlog

Just as reliable as the changing of the seasons is Valve having seasonal Steam sales. This spring is no different as the Spring Cleaning sale kicks off today. This sale is a little different from the usual slew of discounts though. A handful of select games are having a free weekend with discounts, but the focus here is on games you already own. Steam users can participate in daily challenges designed to dust off that backlog you’ve built during all the previous Steam sales.

The task

Several games are having free weekends too during the sale, including popular co-op survival game Don’t Starve Together and the multiplayer horror game Dead by Daylight. The “Speed Clean” daily task challenges players to try one of these games during this free period. Other games having free weekends include space strategy game Endless Space 2, top-down hack-and-slash RPG Grim Dawn, the MMO with the most in-depth character creator I’ve ever seen Black Desert Online Remastered, racing sim Assetto Corsa, and the classic co-op zombie shooter Left 4 Dead 2. If you like what you’ve tried, each of these games is being discounted somewhere between 50 and 75 percent for the duration of the sale. Co-op zombie shooter Left 4 Dead 2 is all the way down to $2.49 and is basically a must get if it isn’t already in your collection.

Other daily tasks challenge players to clear out their backlog. “Spin Cycle” offers up a handful of random games from your Steam library in case you just can’t decide what you want to play. The aptly named “Clear The Backlog” task serves up a selection of any games in your library that have never been played. Looks like I’ll finally have an excuse to play Space Channel 5 Part 2.

The projects

In addition to daily challenges, the Spring Cleaning Sale also offers one-off projects. The “Nostalgia” project asks players to play a game that they’ve played more than two hours of, but haven’t played in a while. “Can’t Wait” invites you to play a game purchased in the last six months (which seems like a concession since six months is hardly “can’t wait” territory). “Trusted Friend” assumes your peers have excellent taste and that you should play games that they have recommended.

“Blast from the Past” might be the best of the bunch with a trip down memory lane. It charges you with playing the very first game added to your Steam account. Interestingly enough, the first thing purchased on my account was the THQ complete developer bundle circa 2010, so I have a ton of options there. Lastly, the “Tag Contributor” project asks you to play any game that you have contributed a tag for. Simple!

The reward

Players who complete these feats are rewarded with… a Steam profile badge that can be leveled up three times depending on how many challenges they’ve finished. Not the greatest reward, but if you need a carrot to help you get through your backlog, it’s better than nothing. All of these daily tasks and projects are very straightforward but offer a fun excuse to revisit the neglected niches of your ever-expanding Steam library. The Spring Cleaning Steam Sale starts today and runs through Tuesday, May 28, so clear your weekend schedule for plenty of game time.