Thread: Losing interest in gaming as I get older, anyone else?

I still enjoy playing games like the Sims, Stardew Valley, sometimes Minecraft (I go in spurts)... But it has been a while since I actually wanted a new game enough to get it and play it. I planned on getting several the last few years and maybe only got 2 or 3. I feel like as I get older, my interests are shifting. I was never someone who was hardcore into gaming. I tend to get hooked on one game at a time and play the crap out of it for months and then move onto something else. I just feel like my focuses are shifting to different things like work-related goals, buying a home, considering children, all that stuff. Anyone else notice they enjoy games less the older they get?

I understand this completely. I've chalked it up to various things over the years. I'd wondered if it was simply laziness. Perhaps games were just too much effort? Eventually I thought that was unlikely. Heck, when I was a lot younger and really busy I could still be a pretty lazy person at times. Yet I still loved and put a lot of spare time into playing games. And now I'm not even playing games as low-effort as walking simulators? In more recent years I figured it was just a symptom of getting older. If that's the case why do I know people older than me who play games with youthful levels of energy?

I was thinking into it too much when the answer wasn't all that complicated. In my case, my loss of interest in games has been a matter of declining mental health. When that happens it isn't just games you start losing interest in. One thing I've learned is that you can't brute-force your way back into a hobby. Maybe you haven't lost interest in the entire hobby, but instead you grew tired of doing the same thing for years. You could try a change of scenery. It seems the games you've enjoyed had a crafting or "life sim" genre. So why not try something new? I suppose JRPGs are out of the question if you'd want something that doesn't require commitment.

I recommend casual multiplayer. Playing some co-op games with your husband could help I guess?

I used to play games with my husband on a weekly basis. One of our weekly games was Rocket League online. He doesn't play games anymore. When he does, which is not often, it is retro-style games that are either 1 player or something I am not interested in. I think he has gotten to a point where he would rather spend his free time working on his computer or watching stuff. I still get the itch to play but I think because he doesn't play many games anymore, I am less inclined to play myself since we spend every day together. I suppose it rubbed off on me. He is also very competitive so he gets frustrated with online gaming to a point of not even wanting to play it anymore.

I was big into gaming as a kid, but that was back in the 90s and 2000s. I gradually lost interest, and like has been said I still enjoyed gaming, but there were many other things to do with my time on top of growing up. My loss of interest also coincided with the growth of the internet, which spawned many more things for me to do in my free time as it did for most people.

About six months ago though I decided to give myself more time for gaming, as I still truly enjoy it. I mean I don't enjoy it quite as much as I did as a kid, but I'm liking being more involved in the hobby again.

Originally Posted by Mantis

I suppose JRPGs are out of the question

REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE



To answer the question, no I have never found myself less interested in video games. My level of fervor has decreased since I was a child but that's just part of becoming an adult and emotions mellowing out. I still play games every night if possible although there were plenty of times in my life where other things took precedent. During my world travels I didn't play as many games.

Same... I am too. Because kids take a lot time. Plus the wife needs my time too

Originally Posted by KorinKitty

I still enjoy playing games like the Sims, Stardew Valley, sometimes Minecraft (I go in spurts)... But it has been a while since I actually wanted a new game enough to get it and play it. I planned on getting several the last few years and maybe only got 2 or 3. I feel like as I get older, my interests are shifting. I was never someone who was hardcore into gaming. I tend to get hooked on one game at a time and play the crap out of it for months and then move onto something else. I just feel like my focuses are shifting to different things like work-related goals, buying a home, considering children, all that stuff. Anyone else notice they enjoy games less the older they get?

While I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm losing interest in videogames (because that's absolutely not the case, and I have been playing several unspeakably shitty games just for INTERNET VIDEOGAME POINTS via RetroAchievements over the last week alone), I certainly pay so much less attention to all the bullshit hype* for up and coming releases than I did when I was younger. In other words, I still play a lot of games but usually find myself drawn to things I've played before rather than just going with the flow and blowing money on whatever fucking wank-a-thon's being promoted/advertised incessantly.

*Not to mention all that other fucking over-marketed idiocy which causes droves of sperglords to fly into an irrationally overexcited frenzy only to wind up bitterly disappointed or in a laughable state of denial when the game's released and the shit hits the fan -- just look at the absolute fucking trashfire that is Cybercuntpunk 2077 right now; maybe that'll be playable for everyone who shelled out on that shite after it receives 2,077 hotfixes.

Off-topic, but it's nice to see you again Baron.