Gamers who have gamed for a long time

do you find it difficult to get into games? I’ve got Epic Games and Steam Games libraries chock-full of classic top-tier games along with many other newer games like Stray or 2077, and a bunch of indie titles. I just can’t be bothered to download and install them, much less try to get into the characters and storylines. Used to be I couldn’t wait to see what happened in the story, what new items you could collect, what new worlds the developers had created. Not anymore. I return to playing the same franchise for a quick FPS match or three and then I’m done.

Gabu,

Not at all. Stop trying to play AAA bait and just look for fun instead. I’m having a blast with Dead Cells, I think the demo for Balatro (poker roguelike) is still available, if you prefer 3d survival, Valheim is a great pick, etc.

Stoneykins,

It’s depression, and other stuff.

Personally, I find that when I feel that way, it’s because I’m actually just kinda tired of games in general. The huge variety available will often trick me into a headspace of “I’m not bored of games just certain games, I need to find the ones I’m in the mood for” but really what I need is a break. Do some crafts/art, get extra exercise, socialize with people that don’t normally game, read a book, visit family. Just shake up the shedule for a bit and do other stuff with your free time, and in my experience, you’ll want to play something, instead of just looking for something good enough to fill boredom.

dingus,

People are always so quick to jump on the “it’s depression” train, but it can also be totally normal for one’s tastes and interests to change over time.

I used to absolutely love games as a kid and teen. But as an adult, I just have a hard time getting into them anymore. I often seem to have fun watching people play games instead of experiencing them myself, and that’s ok too.

It’s like…after a day at work, I just want to unwind. Gaming requires a degree of effort and can even be stress inducing. So I’m just not super into it anymore. I try to get into games now and then but usually I can’t be bothered.

I mean, you’re right that for some people, it can signal depression. For others, it just signals growing older. Such is life.

RememberTheApollo_,

True. However, you’d be getting paid to do stuff like one square at a time, so that’s a job. Not just playing for fun.

Franzia,

Well if you don’t even want to install them… Its okay to just run a few quick matches and log off. You’ve gamed for a long time? Take it easy, its a marathon not a sprint.

I’ve seen comments making comparisons to old and new gaming industry. They don’t do story as well any more. What I find is they don’t do marketing the way that appeals to me anymore either. If I want to be excited about a game, I have to read about it slowly and find wallpapers and concept art. I have to lead myself to the water before I can drink. I hype myself up about it!

One really extreme example of this is Runescape special accounts where youtubers like never leave one area, or do hardcore ironman, or play on one square at a time or whatever. I can take one tenth of that energy and make my gaming more interesting.

roterabe,

Hmm, this is an interesting one.

I rarely play alone anymore. Which makes it even more difficult as you get older. It’s hard to match up with other people when life keeps them equally busy.

I’ve also noticed that I want a new experience from my games, kind of like searching for that new movie. Games rich in their story and yet not that distracted in side quests seem to keep me going. God of War was ideal, Horizon too. Baldurs Gate 3 had me for a while, but most online titles suck the time out of me at almost no return.

lightnsfw,

I have too much other shit going on and can’t mentally set it all aside any more which keeps me from getting immersed in games. There’s just always something else in the back of my mind I’m also thinking about when I’m trying to play. I try getting everything done first so I can concentrate but there’s just so much.

cosmiccowboy,
@cosmiccowboy@lemmy.world avatar

I would say that my interests and priorities have changed, and when I do want to game I am much more picky as to what I invest that time into.

Maybe 5 years ago I was super into gaming. I would pick up lots of new releases, play them into oblivion, and move onto the next. Nowadays, I will research until I find a game I think I might like, and drop it quickly if I feel like I’m not having fun. Jedi: Fallen Order was a game I thought I’d like but I hated the backtracking and combat (I’m not a Souls-like fan).

aplomBomb,

I absolutely love souls games but cannot stand souls-likes

Ghostalmedia,
@Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world avatar

The older I get, I find that I tend to default to two things:

  1. Games that I’ve played before that help me turn my brain off. Kind of like a form of meditation.
  2. Games that have a mechanic or a story that is genuinely new or engaging.
elvith,

For me, I’d like to add “games that let you set your own pace and objective and let you achieve things your own way” (obviously something like Minecraft, but I also enjoyed Tears Of The Kingdom because of that)

Or, if multi-player: Be co-op, make me do some crazy shit and make me laugh (e.g. Human Fall Flat)

PraiseTheSoup,

I’m playing Tears of the Kingdom now and it’s the only game that’s kept my attention since Dark Souls 3. I am not generally a fan of open world games. Even as a huge souls fan I didn’t really care for Elden Ring. But this Zelda game is incredible. There is so much more going on than I expected and it is just plain fun.

Globulart,

It’s probably the game which has distracted me the most from my current objective.

The number of “ooooo what’s that?” moments that derailed the next couple hours entirely was massive.

Maybe my first oblivion playthrough comes close but not much else.

Grofit,

Same as above, as a kid (80s) games were new and interesting, even shovelware games you would get for free on C64 mags were interesting.

Over the years games have just become more and more streamlined, and action focused, it’s basically like Hollywood now where they just churn out nice looking mediocre films to make money.

The 2nd point though js why I responded as I really agree with the point on something new being what makes games interesting now. They don’t even have to be amazing, just offer a new experience.

For example when Dayz came out, that was a nice breath of fresh air, every time I loaded up the game with friends I never knew what was going to happen. Same sort of thing with Phasmophobia, was genuinely amazing for the first week we played it, just nothing else like it. Now you can’t move for DayZ style games or Phasmo ripoffs.

I am bored of playing the same sort of stuff, like I’m bored watching super hero movies, I want new experiences (VR has some good experiences).

Rakonat,

Been gaming since I was a boy in the early 90s, mostly a computer and retro games since my family didn’t have the money for new consoles as they came out. Got invited a lot to friends who did have consoles to jam out.

These days, Ive found that burnout is a thing but it’s usually temporary. Games I am playing don’t do it for me, or feel like a chore keeping up with dailies or other tasks to unlock content.

Remember that’s all just grind and put that game down and pick something else up, usually an older game I spent a lot of time with or maybe something in my library didn’t have too much time for.

Also found that getting into modding can be an amazing way to breathe life back into games you loved. And can pretty much say my generation is entirely at fault for remasters and remakes becoming prevelant since the games we played in the 90s and 00s have that huge nostalgia factor and a lot of then don’t work on modern hardware. Plus most of us having jobs and families that make playing them harder to find time for, so making a nice flashy nostalgia hit is something we will drop 60 bucks on and never get more than 20 hours for a while.

Its also worth noting that as you get older your likes and tastes can change. Where you might have been big into shooters and racing games as a teen or young adult, you might find yourself going more for strategy and simulations games as you’re older, but for some its the reverse or migrating to a new genre entirely like fighters or even RPGs. Don’t be afraid to dabble and see what works, and consider what you are playing and why, and what makes you put it down quicker than you plan to.

Globulart,

Racers and shooters in particular are harder to enjoy as you get older. Reaction time tends to be very important with those and once you’re 25 or so you’re only gonna see that get worse really.

Atomic,

Play whatever you enjoy. Maybe you feel like you don’t have the time to sit down and invest yourself in a story die to other commitments like work or family. That’s normal.

It’s your free time. Gaming should be a fun hobby, not a chore.

Wish more games would have a “I have not played this in a month and need a quick recap” mode.

lorty,
@lorty@lemmy.ml avatar

Idk man the updates to games I’ve played for years get me very excited.

Playing other games? Why though.

JustZ,

As I get older I find I have to know what I like and spend extra time selecting titles because I know that I won’t be buying that many games because I don’t have time to play all that much. I buy what I know I will like and that way I will finish it. I don’t want to feel like I’ve wasted time.

Sometimes I jump back and replay games that I really enjoyed. Even like an MMO, I’ll reactive my character after years of not playing.ast game I bought was Witcher 3 on Steam sale. Will be buying Cities 2 this week, after waiting for it for years and years.

MightyWeaksauce,
@MightyWeaksauce@lemmy.world avatar

I’m excited for Cities 2 as well but keep reading its poorly optimized. Let’s hope not 🤞

JustZ,

It’ll come around. I’m okay with it.

dep,
@dep@lemmy.world avatar

This is how I am with books. I have Starters Anxiety

mojo,

Happened to me where I felt loss if enjoyment over any game, that it felt like a waste of time and a chore. That eventually passed, definitely find them fun again.

GentlemanLoser,

Same story here but the lack of joy led me to be dx’d with depression

Kedly,

I mostly play indies now as I can get new experiences with them. I buy an AAA title less than once a year on average now

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