Modern games just not for me?

[master_dave]

I've been a gamer for a long time; since the N64 and PS1 days. But are modern games just not for me?

I look at games that people praise and get 10/10 reviews such as The Witcher III, Horizon Zero Dawn, RDR2 but I just can't get into them.

In those games I mentioned you just seem to be doing a lot of walking from point A to point B. I played Horizon and a lot of it is literally walk to this quest or that quest. Outside of the quests; you just seem to be walking or traveling with not much to do.

RDR2 is an exception as there is a lot to do when you're not questing.

But going back to The Witcher III and Horizon. Another problem I have with them is they just seem really grindy. I was having an okay time with Witcher III; had done many quests and all that; then got to this dungeon where I just get my ass kicked, even though I did do most of the side quests up to that point.

Same with Horizon. I'm heading to a quest at the recommended level and on the way there I just get my ass kicked by super strong enemies.

A lot of the quest seem samey too. For instance in Horizon, go to this point, use your visor, follow the tracks; rinse and repeat.

So I don't think modern games are for me. I much prefer shorter linear games with a decent story; I.E Bioshock Infinite, Just Cause 2, the older Call of Duty games, the Hitman series, even story based games like Telltale's The Walking Dead.

There are even some older Open World games I do like such as GTA V and Asassin's Creed III.

But I don't know; I just can't get into newer open world games.

[Haruspex]

Older games made it no secret that they were very obviously video games, and they were meant to be enjoyed as such. They weren't often the deepest experiences, but we had a good time in spite of that, or perhaps even because of that.

Newer games are trying to be experiences, and don't want it to be so obvious that they are video games. This is a popular approach, and resonates with a lot of people, and that's why those AAA open world games are so popular and have such high scores.

It's reasonable to say that you aren't really looking for an "experience". You just want to play "video games".

Originally posted by master_dave:

I'm heading to a quest at the recommended level and on the way there I just get my ass kicked by super strong enemies.

This exact experience actually ruined JRPGs for me for decades over 30 years ago, so the feeling doesn't necessarily just come from modern games. I had played Zelda for NES. I enjoyed it. It was fun. I had an opportunity to try a game called "Dragon Warrior". It seemed sort of Zelda-like on the surface, so I was on board. Went outside and fought some slimes. I wasn't sure about the turn-based battles, but that wasn't a dealbreaker. I wandered a bit, crossed a little bridge, and immediately was attacked and killed by a powerful enemy I was too weak to face.

I turned the game off and decided that entire genre wasn't for me.

Decades later, a friend convinced me to try Final Fantasy 12. I was incredulous, because I was still convinced that JRPGs were not games I enjoyed. I loved it. Bought a PS2 specifically so I could play through it. Now JRPGs are one of my favorite genres. I even went back and played through the original Dragon Quest and the sequels. Great games in retrospect.

[wesnef]

Originally posted by master_dave:

In those games I mentioned you just seem to be doing a lot of walking from point A to point B. I played Horizon and a lot of it is literally walk to this quest or that quest. Outside of the quests; you just seem to be walking or traveling with not much to do.

RDR2 is an exception as there is a lot to do when you're not questing.

But going back to The Witcher III and Horizon. Another problem I have with them is they just seem really grindy. I was having an okay time with Witcher III; had done many quests and all that; then got to this dungeon where I just get my ass kicked, even though I did do most of the side quests up to that point.

Same with Horizon. I'm heading to a quest at the recommended level and on the way there I just get my ass kicked by super strong enemies.

Sounds like a lot of JRPGs I played back on the SNES and PS1. So, these kinds of games existed back in The Goode Olde Dayes™. You just didn't play them, apparently.
(well, okay, there was a lot to do when walking in between places - very very common Random Combats. Which were repetitive and grindy. Rinse and repeat.)

[Aachen]

It may not be adequately concise or quite linear enough, but have you check out Disco Elysium?

[Eagle_of_Fire]

Originally posted by master_dave:

I've been a gamer for a long time; since the N64 and PS1 days.

I'm going to stop you right there: that's not really that long ago.

[Haruspex]

Originally posted by biesoid:

...as you get older you know you are running out of time...

Oof. Way to remind this old dude about his mortality.

I once fed my Steam library into "How long to beat" and calculated how much time it would take to burn though my backlog. It was eye opening to discover that even if I were to quit my job today and do nothing but play games for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, assuming typical life expectancy I don't have enough hours left to live to actually finish my backlog. This was a sobering realization. Memento mori.

[master_dave]

Originally posted by biesoid:

You are old and you don't enjoy playing video games anymore.

The reason you struggle with Horizon and Witcher is because these games are big and take long time to beat them and as you get older you know you are running out of time and don't want to spend it on video games which don't give you any satisfaction anymore as in the end it's more of the same you've been doing since a long time.

Hmm, I'm not sure it's that I don't enjoy games anymore. I can load up Total War:Warhammer II or Hitman 2 and not get bored for hours. I can also load up older games like Call of Duty 4, DMC: Devil May Cry and Just Cause 2 and have a blast.

I don't think it's that I don't enjoy games and I think it's just that the modern AAA open world games just aren't enjoyable to me.

Even older open world games like GTA V and Assassin's Creed III were entertaining for me.

But a lot of modern open world games are just repetitive and empty. A big open world with not much to do. Just ride your horse for 10 minutes to get from point A to point B with nothing inbetween.

RDR2 is one of the few modern open world games that actually gives you things to do while you're traveling to the quests.

I think traversal might be one of the reasons I dislike Witcher and Horizon. In Just Cause 2 you travel by boat or plane or car and get places relatively fast. Same with GTA V.

But what do you have in Horizon? Oh you have to find a certain robot and hack it to get faster travel. What do you have in Witcher III? A horse that's not even that fast? I think traversal is one thing that bores me about those games.

[Chika Ogiue]

Originally posted by Eagle_of_Fire:

Originally posted by master_dave:

I've been a gamer for a long time; since the N64 and PS1 days.

I'm going to stop you right there: that's not really that long ago.

What do you mean "not that long ago"? PS1 released 29 years ago, N64 came out 27 years ago. Home gaming has only been a thing for about 50 years.

[JobeGardener]

Just do what everybody else does. Spend most of your time in the character creator and then spend a couple of minutes in game running around, acting silly.

[The nameless Gamer]

Or maybe you are trying to enjoy games OTHER people have rated highly while they might not suit your taste nor preferences. The highly rated popular games exclude too many genres and focus only on some sort of fad or trend.

Maybe currently popular games are not for you. There is a wealth of games outside the mainstream covered by media outlets.

[T9]

If you can't find something to do in Wircher 3 aside from quests, you should open your eyes.

I mean, you like AC 3 and GTA V as open world. That has nothing to do with modern games, rather weird taste ;)

[sumolagann]

Consider Death Stranding Elden Ring, or DMC5. Death Stranding open, but linear and you can focus on story missions, lot of walking open world, but it's pretty interesting. Maybe that's a good test to see if you hate all open modern games. DMC5 is linear action game, Elden Ring feels a little different than average open world so might be interesting, it's filled up with stuff more than death stranding, but i'd suggest to give them both a fair chance. Could just go to stuff like Hades or Disco Elysium too, doesn't have to be some AAA open world game.

[~Ren~]

Try playing something else for a while or take a break from gaming, you could just be burned out and need a break for a bit. We all get burned out and take some time away from gaming or just do other things for a while.

Come back refreshed and ready to play

[Kargor]

Originally posted by master_dave:

I look at games that people praise and get 10/10 reviews such as The Witcher III, Horizon Zero Dawn, RDR2 but I just can't get into them.

People can play whatever they want.

I bought HZD not too long ago, so that's on my list of games to play.

I've played "The Witcher" some years ago, or at least tried to, so "Witcher III" is not on my shopping list. RDR2 isn't either.

Rating, awards, hype etc. doesn't mean much when it comes down to the individual. Buy games that YOU think YOU might like.

Bioshock Infinite

Got a thumb-down from me.

Just Cause ...

Thought I might play it some day, never did.

the older Call of Duty games, the Hitman series,
...
Telltale's The Walking Dead.

Not on my shopping list.

Again, people have different preferences.

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

I've been a gamer, since the late '70s and there is nothing wrong with modern games.

Do you even own any of the games that you say people are praising that you can't get into?

In the end, no one is forcing you to buy or play anything.

[Crazy Tiger]

Sounds like you're simply getting older. As one gets older, things can change. Preferences, interests and taste are among those that can change.

Don't force yourself in games you don't enjoy, play what you like. It's ok, OP, it really is.