this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2023
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Gaming

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I, like many gamers, grew up playing Pokémon Red and Nintendo 64 and was obsessed with Nintendo products. I graduated to a PS2 and PS3 and became super into Metal Gear Solid and Call of Duty and Fallout. Also spent a ton of time with the Guitar Hero series. I loved the escape gaming brought me and it genuinely helped me relax.

Fast forward a few years and I hadn’t really played a video game between the years of like 2011-2017. College, moving cross country and busyness of life kept me from gaming. Finally in 2017, I bought a Switch and Breath of the Wild and felt the same magical feeling I remember when I first started playing Ocarina of Time, or the first time I booted up Metroid Prime, or Metal Gear Solid 4. I started to get into online gaming and made a lot of friends. I played my Switch frequently for a few years.

During the beginning of COVID lockdowns, I turned more to reading than gaming and my Switch gathered lots of dust. I ultimately ended up buying an Xbox Series S when it was announced because I’d never owned an Xbox system and Game Pass really intrigued me. I went through a phase of being very into Destiny 2, Halo, Gears of War, Forza Horizon…a bunch of games I had never played before.

Then, a divorce, a new job change, another cross country move brought new levels of stress to my life. I lacked an attention span strong enough to focus on a video game. FPS’s seemed boring, online games couldn’t keep my attention long enough to get through a match, and eventually I’d just leave a game on the pause menu while I messed around mindlessly on my phone. Gaming wasn’t even a way for me to decompress anymore, it seemed more like a chore I was procrastinating—which sucks.

I’ve fallen deeper into this lately, as more life changes have come along. I work a stressful job with long hours. I’m now a stepparent to two young boys. The little free time I have I spend walking the dog, reading, and trying to just let my mind settle and decompress. Let alone, if I try to turn the Xbox on or have the Switch on my lap, it turns into a whole event where the kids want to sit and watch and participate and ask tons of questions (which is fine, but sometimes I just want to do something by myself for me!)

I miss the time of my youth where gaming was a relief and a release for me. I miss how I felt when I first got a Switch and felt so excited and so nostalgic and reinvigorated and looked forward to playing a game! Now…I feel like I can’t even consider myself a gamer.

So. That’s a long winded way to ask if anyone else has gone through similar ruts, or fallen away from gaming, and if so, what games helped you get that spark back? What games brought you back to that nostalgic feeling you had when you first got into gaming? What games help you decompress after a long day? What games have you recently become obsessed with in such a way that you look forward to playing them and are always thinking about them?

I want to get back into gaming. I want to feel the magic again.

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[–] DjMeas@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

During the lockdowns my son was born. What's really rekindled my love for gaming was not a particular game, but how I gamed. Getting a Steam Deck totally changed things for me and made it really convenient to access my gaming library.

The first thing I did with it was not actually play new titles but visit my backlog of older JRPG games that I had missed out on (specifically the Trails series).

Gaming at my desk where I worked wasn't the same as gaming on the couch or next to my son while he was sleeping. Sounds silly but it's made it much more enjoyable!

[–] kiddblur@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I love my steam deck and also had a son during the pandemic, but funny enough it didn't really have that effect on me. I can't really game when he's awake because he's too interested in touching the buttons/screen himself, and if he's asleep, I can just play something on my PS5 or Xbox on the couch. I do use my steam deck a lot when he's taking a car nap or whenever my wife and I want to watch a TV show together (but not the kind of show that demands full attention)

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[–] Fubarberry@lemmy.fmhy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

I've gotten back into gaming lately, and the two biggest things (for me) were focusing on fixed length single player games and getting a steam deck.

It seems like every new game these days is a live service game or an open world, but playing through some focused, shorter, more straightforward games has been great for recapturing a love of games. When I was younger I preferred games that gave a lot of hours of gameplay for the money invested, but these days I have plenty of money and a shortage on time, so shorter games are king.

Second, I bought a steam deck. I only use it for games, I don't share it with my kids/wife/anyone, and it has a sleep function that lets me stop instantly in the middle of a game when needed and start back from that exact moment when I have time again. One of the biggest issues that was keeping me from playing games was feeling like I didn't have enough time or didn't know how much time I had. I wouldn't want to start a game unless I knew I was going to have time for a good play session. With the steam deck it doesn't matter if I only have 5 minutes, I can jump straight back into playing where I was last and quit the second I need to. It's turned lots of small time where I was scrolling reddit/etc into time where I'm actually making progress on a game I want to play, and I've found that to be more satisfying. Small play sessions add up, if you're able to frequently hop in and play a little bit you'll quickly find yourself playing through games again.

[–] thekerker@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

For starters, getting treated for my depression and anxiety was a huge help. One of the symptoms of depression is losing interest in things you used to find enjoyable, and for me that was video games. After I started going to therapy and taking an SSRI, I got back into video games not by playing the same games I was, but instead I played KOTOR II on my Switch. I hadn't played that game in forever, but found it really enjoyable to just jump back in.

Personally, I think one of the worst things you can do when finding yourself in a gaming rut is to play repetitive grind games like Call of Duty or Destiny or the like.

Another thing I do is limit the amount I play, but this is more involuntary than not due to kids' activities and whatnot. Right now I'm playing Jedi Survivor when I can, but mostly I'm watching my 6 year old daughter play Roblox and help her out when she gets stuck.

[–] ultrasquid@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

There are plenty of indie games which offer new and unique experiences which aren't just "shooter" or "online shooter". My recommendations would be Celeste, a platformer about a girl who climbs a mountain, and Hollow Knight, a metroidvania set in a dying kingdom, but there are plenty of other great ones as well.

How old are your kids?

I ask because if they're really little, you could try to play Tears of the Kingdom with (small spoiler) one of the "alt characters" enabled, then give them a controller that isn't connected.  It's a win-win, because you get to play and spend time with your kid, but you also don't have to cater to their level of play, if you get my meaning. 

[–] Kaizo107@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

I've found, at least in myself and friends, burnout comes from playing one game or one type of game, and getting bored with that specifically. You need to find something new, but I can't really give any suggestions since that's entirely subjective.

I fell off gaming for a while because my job got crazy. The Switch and specifically Breath of the Wild pulled me back in. Then I honed in on Monster Hunter World in particular for a long time and kinda burnt out because a different job got very demanding of my time, and it wasn't even a change of game, but just getting a better internet connection so I could actually participate in multiplayer that pulled me out of the rut.

Keep it varied and it'll stay interesting. A buddy of mine just tried to swear off all veeja because he declared himself an addict. He's not an addict, he just burned out after playing nothing but Elden Ring for a solid year. He took a break for about a month and now he's right back on ER with renewed passion.

[–] Moonguide@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Had this happen to me during college. For a long time I didn't play anything but league of legends and when I finally got sick of it, I stopped playing altogether. Then during my internship I decided to pirate two games I saw mentioned on reddit that were similar to Crusader Kings: Kenshi and Rimworld.

Proceeded to sink hours and hours into Kenshi, then tried Rimworld and it didn't click. Tried again, didn't click. Then the third time I had to stop myself from playing because I had played through the end of my workday, back home and hadn't had slept or worked on my thesis at all. After a long time playing those pirated copies I got the dosh together to buy them off of steam and Rimworld is a game I play every day. A little in the morning while I have my coffee, and a little at night if I have nothing else to do. I have over 3.5k hours on it.

The thing that made Rimworld different was that it is a story generator. There are other games that are better at survival, base defense, and basebuilding than Rimworld, but story generation is peerless imo. i mean I still remember how that base that I lost so much sleep with ended, I remember the name of the cowboy drifter who became the leader, the junkie crafter who lost his head, and his pyro girlfriend who put the final nail in the coffin for all the other colonists.

If you want to try something different, maybe take a peek at Rimworld.

[–] Girlinthewoods185@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

The times im in that state of mind, I try to pick a game with an open world setting. Skyrim will always be my happy place. Being able to go anywhere with no obligation, enjoying the scenery, maybe finding a new nook or a beautiful overlook you forgot about. It brings light to the dark.

When gamea just arent cutting it and I still need that escape, I pick up my favorite book.

I hope you find your joy again soon!

[–] Hawne@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

Like many before me said, explore other interests. Then when you get back to gaming try moving out of your comfort zone. If roaming on open worlds has been your thing for years try switching to a neighboring genre such as battle royale or coop monster bashing for instance, or even try switching to a totally different genre like puzzles or fps. Challenge yourself to new habits and gameplays, and do not hesitate moving on to another genre if it's just not your thing.

[–] Slyder@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

When I saw your post the first thing that came to mind was Breath of the Wild. It's the game that got me back into gaming. I've recently been playing Tears of the Kingdom and it has been a ton of fun with the new building abilities that were added. I'd highly recommend giving that a shot.

For games with that sense of wonder but on a smaller scale that are more chill, I'd recommend something like Omno, which is on sale for super cheap right now. It's a short game with a great soundtrack that's all about exploring and solving some puzzles. Journey would be another good one to try.

I also liked the suggestions here about buying the Steam Deck. Sometimes a new piece of hardware can really ignite the spark. Taking a break and trying a different hobby is also a good idea. I'd suggest Lego building. I found making sets for some of my other interests like Star Wars and others can be really fun and relaxing. It's nice to do something with your hands and turn off your brain for a bit. I'd even listen to audiobooks while I built.

[–] ANuStart@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

EXERCISE

Ride a bike, run, walk... Get tired it clears your head.

Then. Game it up. Miasma Chronicles is one recently that got me back in

[–] iNeedScissors67@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

My wife went out of town for a weekend so I decided to re-up Gamepass and download a bunch of stuff, mostly older games. What ultimately brought me back into actively wanting to play was Dragon Age Origins, a game I beat several times but a long time ago.

[–] KKSakura@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

If you feel burnt out, take a break from your game

Within gaming
Try out a different genre or a different game, preferably something simple
Pick a random game from your library and play a short chapter or 2

Outside of gaming
Spend more time on your current hobbies
If picking a new hobby, try doing hobbies that take you outdoors like running, walking or outdoor sports

[–] MostlyMid@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sounds like you have a lot on your plate and smaller gaming sessions might be what you are looking for.
I usually get an hour or so a day to play and I've been having a blast with Deep Rock Galactic. The game is a buy once and play with the only monetization being cosmetic DLC but I believe it is FREE on Game pass (I think); $30 on Steam but on sale for less than $10 for the next week.

It is an horde based first person shooter with 4 classes that feel unique, balanced, and bring their own strengths and tools to help out each mission. Locations are all procedurally generated, which means that you can select the same mission in the same area and it will be a new layout everytime, and it's done well so you won't get screwed over my stuff morphing into the terrain or areas blocked off cause the cave generated all screwy.

Mission difficulty can be customized to suit your wants, ranging from super chill and very few enemies, to "OH GOD THERE ARE SO MANY ENEMIES AND WHY ARE THEY SO FAST?!". I have been known to play the hardest difficulty one mission, then crank it down to the easiest to finish out a quick mission before bed just to relax a bit.

You can play solo or with a group of 3 other people but playing with others is the way to go, as you get to see how all of the classes interact and help each other, plus the community has actually been wonderful; out of the hundreds of lobbies I have been in, I have had maybe 3 annoying people total. I also never use my headset for talking (sleeping kids and whatnot) but in game text chat is lively and most of your communication can be done through the "ping" system where you point your reticle at something (enemy, item, player, etc) and call it out for everyone to see. Also there is a button specifically to shout "Rock and Stone!" Which will be around 90% of what you need and will use when communicating with teammates, lol.

Unlike some other games that pressure you to keep playing to "progress your character/battle pass" I feel no urgency with this game. While there is a battle pass style system, it is all cosmetic, FREE, and usually last a few months at a time (like 6-8). If you happen to miss something from a current or previous season, they are still in game and can be found naturally through gameplay by finding "lost crates/gear" during your mission.

All in all I recommend this game to anyone who is comfortable with a FPS. Developers are friendly, community is great, game is fun and forgiving. I feel that, in a worst case scenario, it's fun for a bit and you pick up something else. Hope you find what you are looking for, Rock and Stone!

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[–] Jinxyface@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you’re burnt out on games, more games won’t solve that and will just make it worse

Go explore some other hobbies for a bit

[–] Hyperreality@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hobbies like boobmodding skyrim.

[–] frevaljee@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

Modding skyrim is usually 99 % setting up the mods and 1 % gaming anyways, if I'm being generous.

[–] RandoCalrandian@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Many people are saying to pursue other hobbies, and that the magic will come back on its own.

I think they have great advice, but it doesn't answer your question.

I have 3 suggestions: 1 hardware and 2 games, all of which are outside of your previous experience with games.

1: Get a steam deck. This device on it's own brought much of the childhood magic back into gaming, and i can't describe how it feels in text. Just get one.

2: Buy Wildfrost, which is currently my Best In Class pick for UI design and a tight gameplay loop
Bonus: It pairs really well with the steam deck

3: Get Factorio. I bought this back when it was $20, and it has more playtime than any other game i have. The mods available make the game fresh and new, and the base game is deeper than 99% of other games out there. This is the game that gave me the same feeling like BoTW, and as long as you find the gameplay fun it will be a permanent Favorites contender.

[–] DocSophie@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Wait, Factorio has mods?

Christ, and I thought Rimworld was a giant timesink for me.

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[–] bozo@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't know your personal tastes, but if I had to recommend one recent game to help anyone break a rut, it would be Hi-Fi Rush.

Too many games, especially those in the AAA space, are more focused on being bloated engagement treadmills over simply being fun, concise experiences. I'd recommend seeking out shorter, offline games that don't rely on RPG elements. It's also ok to just take a break from gaming altogether.

[–] Evolone@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

I actually just downloaded this on Game Pass. Looking forward to it!

[–] tikitaki@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I want to get back into gaming. I want to feel the magic again.

this amuses me because it sounds like something a drug addict would say. you have that initial magic and then over time you're not using to feel the magic but just not to feel sick

my advice, OP? stop playing video games if you're not getting enjoyment out of it. it's your brain trying to tell you something. do something else with your time and go back to gaming in the future and it will be fun again.

@tikitaki @Evolone have you ever played Subnautica?

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