steam-backlog-helper/docs/feature-roadmap.md

Feature Roadmap

MVP

The MVP should prove that the app can ingest a Steam library, enrich it with useful metadata, and produce a short "play this now" recommendation list.

Library Setup

• Accept a Steam ID, vanity URL, or profile URL.
• Guide the user through providing a Steam Web API key.
• Fetch owned games for API-accessible libraries.
• Show clear guidance when profile or game-library privacy blocks access.
• Cache library data locally.
• Allow manual refresh.
• Do not support private-profile fallback imports in the MVP.

Recommendation Setup

• Ask short questions before each recommendation run:
  • Available play time.
  • Optional genre preference.
  • Completion intent, such as unplayed, already started, or either.
  • Review-score tolerance.
  • True-random toggle.
• Keep mood tagging out of scope for the MVP.
• Include all library games regardless of installed state.
• Exclude demos, tools, soundtracks, and DLC by default.
• Include free-to-play games.

Recommendation Flow

• Present a dynamic shortlist rather than a single mandatory answer.
• Use a slot-machine style reveal for the primary recommendation.
• Explain why each game was chosen.
• Support opening a selected game through a Steam launch link.
• Keep recommendation history, accepted/rejected tracking, and local notes out of scope for the MVP.

Metadata

• Fetch Steam metadata, including images, genres, categories, and review data where available.
• Fetch estimated time-to-beat data through a HowLongToBeat-compatible API or provider.
• Cache third-party metadata locally.
• Do not allow manual metadata editing in the MVP.

Version 1

• Add a fuller library browsing view.
• Add user statuses such as completed, dropped, ignored, and pinned.
• Add recommendation history.
• Add accepted/rejected recommendation tracking.
• Add import/export of local app data.
• Add weighted recommendation settings.
• Add installed-game detection if practical across target platforms.
• Add self-signed build outputs where possible.
• Add release automation from Gitea.

Later Ideas

• Achievement-aware recommendations.
• Local AI-assisted recommendation summaries.
• Multi-store support for GOG, Epic, itch.io, or manually added games.
• Optional cloud sync.
• Game session history.
• Purchase restraint mode that highlights owned alternatives before buying similar games.
• Public website or project page if the app moves beyond personal Gitea releases.

MVP Acceptance Checklist

• The app can be built for Windows 10+, macOS 26+, and Linux AppImage.
• A user can populate their library through Steam Web API access.
• A user can request a recommendation in under 30 seconds after initial setup.
• Recommendations are deterministic enough to debug but varied enough to feel useful.
• The true-random toggle bypasses scoring.
• The selected game can be opened through a Steam app ID launch link.
• Keyboard users can complete the setup and recommendation flow.