Can barely enjoy games anymore... Anyone else feel the same way?

[Torkild]

For many years one of the most fun things I knew of was gaming, but for the past few years I just haven't been able to enjoy games that much, and because of this I rarely ever play games anymore, and thankfully I rarely spend money on games, because that used to be an issue.
I still have a passion for games though, but whenever I try to play a game I haven't played before (I have a ton of unplayed games on my steam account) or games I haven't played in a while, I rarely find any pleasure from playing them. Maybe I'll spend a few hours, but that's it, and I just quit the game never to play it again. I've also several times installed a game I'd like to play without ever playing it, so I just end up uninstalling it without even trying the game.

Once in a while a game is released that I actually find to be quite fun, I've spent many many hours playing Dark Souls 2 and Scholar of the First Sin, it's one of those games I actually feel isn't just bloated garbage or is too easy, which I feel about most games these days. It brings me back and I've even played through it with a few different characters, but I've spent so much time playing Dark Souls 2 that it's starting to get a bit too familiar and old, so I haven't played it in a while. (I am planing on buying Dark Souls 3 once it's on sale, because I never buy fully priced games anymore)
I used to play Battlefield 3 and 4 regularly, but back when those games were new (planing on picking up BF3 again) I had to share internet with 3 brothers, which made it impossible to play most of the time (along with other pvp games), and once I started paying for my own internet, BF4 was running very few servers I actually had any interest of playing, so I kinda gave up on the franchise.

Maybe I just need something that has more meaning in life, because only a few games give me a feeling that it's actually worth my time playing those games. These days I'm for the most part only able to enjoy lifting weights and working. I have other interests I'd like to spend time doing, this year I picked up snowboarding which I thought was very fun, and there are other things I'd really like to do once I have a steady income (it's hard getting a full time job these days, and I don't make much money since I only get weekly contracts once in a while), I'm really into classic cars and motorcycles for example, so lot of times I think about what I want to do with some of my favorite cars and motorcycles.

These days most of my time is spent watching youtube videos since I can't afford to spend money on some of my biggest passions, so except for weight lifting there isn't much I'm able to do these days, and that's kinda what sucks so much about my lack of enjoyment from games. I'd probably spend a lot more time gaming if I could afford a simracing rig, I've always enjoyed more simulation type racing games, but playing with a controller always kinda irritates me since it's much harder to drive well with a controller than it is with a wheel, so the irritation alone keeps me away from playing any simracing games. I used to have a cheap simracing wheel, but it only had a turning radius of 90 degrees (or more like 75 degrees...) and terrible precision, which made it impossible to use with simracing games on pc.


I'd like to hear what you have to say, if you're either experiencing a similar situation, or if you could enlighten me on my current situation?


EDIT: Just wanted to point out, since I've seen some of you mention it, that I don't play games just to make the time pass. I rarely play games and rarely want to play games these days, because the games I actually enjoy playing have been played so many times now that I rarely ever feel like playing them.

[Naedmi]

I used to play all kinds of games now I only play Guild Wars 2 and talk about the other games I used to play.

I haven't even had it in me to finish any of the newer games that I own.

Witcher 3, Fallout 4, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Dark Souls 2 and 3, Dying Light. I haven't fully finished a game in 8 months.

[Dominic]

I recommend going to video game bars or playing at lan parties to make friends.

Just something so special feeling about being in the presence of someone else while playing games together.

[Torkild]

Originally posted by ~Ren~:

Maybe you're just burned out and need to take a break.

I'm currently the same, playing a lot less than I used too but I know that's because I need a break so I take one :)

What I usually do with games once they've been beaten is remove them from my Steam account, mostly SP only games, with the exception of a few that are still enjoyable and worth multiple playthroughs.

Maybe look at your games list and decide on a genre and stick to that for a week or so, then move onto another, this is after your break from gaming of course.

Well I only play games about once or twice a month, some months I don't even play games at all, and it's only when I find a game that I really enjoy that I spend a lot of time playing games, but once I've played a game a lot I get bored of it.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Don't feel bad about not wanting to play anything.

I haven't played anything for a week, except a few Minesweeper games and a little bit of The Hurricane of the Varstray, and I feel fine. I don't feel like any less of a gamer or whatever because of it, and I think it's a good thing I'm not forcing myself to play more.

If you find yourself playing games just to pass the time, even when you're not enjoying the game, stop playing. Don't burn yourself out. Gaming isn't about accumulating hours or achievements (as much as some people like to make it out to be such); it's about having enjoyable/meaningful experiences, and if you're not getting them, don't feel bad about ignoring them for a while.

Maybe go to your local woods and turn over some dead logs looking for salamanders instead?

[s]

being ignorant and having bad tastes in games has its perks

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Originally posted by dasdasdasd:

being ignorant and having bad tastes in games has its perks

Hey, is it really a "bad" game if you're enjoying it? :P

[Torkild]

Originally posted by ~Ren~:

You're no different from anybody else, I think we all get bored of specific games. Maybe try a new genre you haven't tried before.

I think the post above by Dominic is spot on, maybe try playing a coop game alongside someone else.

I've tried most genres, so I've already figured out what I enjoy, what I prefer and what I don't enjoy, but to me the most important part is the game itself, so if I think a game is really good and fun to play it doesn't matter if it's within a genre I only enjoy, but don't prefer.
I'm always open about most genres though, but unless a game spikes my interest I won't bother with it.

I'd love to play more coop games with friends or people I know, but in my country you'll have a hard time finding people to play with. There are no places to meet (non that I know of at least) where you can find other gamers to play with or to get to know, and we're also very anti-social in this country (on top of that I'm VERY introverted), so getting to know new people is really hard by itself. Most of the people I talk with on a regular basis are the people I exercise with, but almost all of them are amateur (and one semi-pro) strongmen in their 30's and 40's, so they're not the types to play games, let alone online games.
I have a friend that plays LoL, but he doesn't play that often and it's not a game that interests me, so I only play it if he wants to play with me.

[Torkild]

Maybe I'll start being more social in-game once I find an MMO that I enjoy, because being social in games like BF3 is a waste of effort IMO, usually the people with mics in games like that are the angry "you bleeping haxor" or "bleeping noob, do as I tell you" types.
The BF3 community might not be that toxic, but the BF4 community sure was after about a year after the release. That wasn't the case the first months of BF4 being out.

Once Star Citizen or Identity is released I might have a game(s) to be social in, it's at least something I've considered and could see myself doing.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Heh, MMOs.

I tried them a few times.

Never found them to my liking. Just seemed kinda pointless unless I actually had a group of friends I knew from elsewhere and we all played it, as an excuse for interaction.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Well I can't speak for OP but I do have some long-term games on my plate. Just don't always play them, because I think if I make myself play them just to play them, then it makes me enjoy them less.

[Alpha]

MMOs are the best games, even playing solo. What other game can you play that is filled with other people? A little open world PVP, it's always a possibility. Group up for a dungeon or raid boss? Anytime.

[Hank Hell]

Watch some more movies or maybe get more involved in a hobby/job you have. Take a bit of a break.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Originally posted by Paradox:

MMOs are the best games, even playing solo. What other game can you play that is filled with other people? A little open world PVP, it's always a possibility. Group up for a dungeon or raid boss? Anytime.

Ehh, it just always felt like merely some stuff to do, rather than anything that fit a good strong narrative. And I like games that use their mechanics to provide narrative.

YMMV of course.

[Alpha]

Originally posted by Quint the House Gecko:

Originally posted by Paradox:

MMOs are the best games, even playing solo. What other game can you play that is filled with other people? A little open world PVP, it's always a possibility. Group up for a dungeon or raid boss? Anytime.

Ehh, it just always felt like merely some stuff to do, rather than anything that fit a good strong narrative. And I like games that use their mechanics to provide narrative.

YMMV of course.

Some MMOs in particular have very great lore and story, but the coolest thing is getting strong, good gear, good skills, good practice, so when some punk jumps you when you are just doing your thing, not bothering anyone, and you are really capable of defending yourself, it's the best. But I think one of my favorite things is collecting item sets. With my characters I have so many item sets, rare items, stuff that isn't available anymore, etc. It's a lot of fun collecting stuff for me.

[Omega]

Same.. either we have become spoiled or the games have become ♥♥♥♥ and don't touch our imagination anymore.