Feeling disconnected from video games and struggling to rekindle your interest
Feeling disconnected from video games and struggling to rekindle your interest
This situation is quite unusual and seems to stem from a recent change in motivation. I’m 30 and have spent my whole life immersed in PC gaming. Gaming was always central to me, and I used to complete games thoroughly. Recently, though, I’ve noticed my enthusiasm has faded. Many games I started haven’t been finished. This decline happened slowly, and I became more aware a few months ago. I attempted solutions like upgrading my computer, which helped improve performance and reignited some interest. I finally built a high-end system with the RTX 3080, AMD Ryzen 7, and plenty of RAM. Now I’m trying to rekindle my passion by playing games again.
However, I’m stuck on what to do next. I’ve played many games before, but now I’m unsure how to proceed. I’m worried about repeating the same problem when I finally get to play Cyberpunk 2077. The excitement is real, but I fear losing interest again. My only other hobby is airsoft, which isn’t really feasible for me right now. I enjoy movies, but I’ve run out of options.
Have others faced this challenge? If so, how did they overcome it? Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
It's okay if you don’t feel the same about games anymore. These feelings come and go, and it’s normal to lose interest. Trying to force yourself to enjoy something won’t help and might make it harder over time.
I'm 34 and faced the same problem at that stage. The interest didn't renew, so I ended up deleting my gaming accounts. I want this situation to be completely forgotten.
I experience shifts in mood, yet my main challenge is clearly depression. I understand that playing games can lift my spirits, but I struggle to find enjoyment once I hit a low point.
I came here to express this. Depression takes away the joy and fun, and it happened to me when I was 23. Probably you're dealing with other challenges affecting your life. Try different things—like I did by going camping over the weekend and skipping video games for a while.
With age, your interests naturally shift or evolve. It’s completely normal. Picking up a new hobby can help keep things fresh. I’ve noticed I thrive when I focus on things like studying or playing games, especially after having good social interactions and staying active.
I recommend exploring different types of video games. If you mainly enjoy shooters, consider RPGs such as Neverwinter Nights or Dungeon Siege, which offer good inventory and character classes. You might also like adventure or puzzle games like Syberia, The Longest Journey (original), or Phantasmagoria. For real-time strategy, try Dune 2000, World of Warcraft, or the classic Command & Conquer titles. Turn-based strategy options include Heroes of Might and Magic, King's Bounty, and more. It could be helpful to broaden your preferences rather than forcing a specific genre. Sometimes it’s just about growing beyond certain styles. It’s okay if you’re not ready—this can happen due to stress or overwhelming challenges this year.
I’m also 30 and facing the same challenge. To be honest, over the past couple of years I’ve had less time to play games as I used to, which made me rush through them and lose enjoyment. Two things helped a lot. First, I played more casual party games with friends—like Jack Box, Mario Party, Among Us—and spent a few hours interacting with others. Second, I split my attention by watching YouTube, Funimation, or Netflix while playing something like Genshin Impact or an MMO, letting my focus drift naturally until something caught my interest. I know how you feel and wish you could find something that truly excites you.
OK kiddies, have a seat. It's time for Daddy to talk. I'm a couple of years away from the big 5 0. And I've been playing FPS games since the OG Doom that launched when I was 20. What you're experience is a combination of things. As a lot of folks have already said: it's normal for interests to slide around a bit and it's a foolish move to force it. If you're not enjoying the activity: STOP DOING IT! That's the surest way to destroy any chance of it ever being fun again. I've gone through these episodes multiple times in the many years I've been FPS'ing. No other game style interests me in the least, so I don't play them. If it's not a shooter, I'm not playing it. But there are stretches of time where I just don't use my PC. I turn it off (which is rare) and leave it off (even more rare). The other thing you're running into is age. You likely have lost some of your hand-eye coordination at the age of 30, though it's not nearly as bad as it's going to get. Just wait. By the time you hit 40, your hand-eye is going to feel like syrup. I'm exaggerating, of course, but it doesn't take much of a decline to cause you to suffer in game. Not when you're playing against 20 year olds. And you know what you can do about that? Nothing. Absolutely, positively nothing. Don't go Googling for a "way to beat age" when it comes to hand-eye. No matter what snake oil someone tries to tell you about online, nothing will work. I made this last year regarding age and my then-favorite: Rainbow Six Siege I "retired" from Siege last month as it's just gotten way too difficult to play as an old man. And I was hating and hating and hating playing it; forcing myself to. In other words: destroying any chance it would be fun again for me. Don't do that. Ease into your aging self because there's no positive alternative to it. Keep playing games, but temper the game play with other activities such as learning, reading, what have you. This is all a normal aspect of getting older. Accept and embrace it, and then capitalize on it.
There’s a clear issue with the types of games being played. Honestly, I’m not impressed by what you’re doing. I can picture the kinds of games you usually enjoy, and honestly, I’d lose interest too. Personally, I don’t play Western titles at all—the animations feel very poor, and they rely heavily on guiding cues to tell players exactly what to do (like pressing a button for a win). The gameplay style is almost identical across the board, which makes it predictable. Yes, I’m not making this up, but in most cases it seems accurate. Asian games differ, though; they often aim for a more experimental feel, taking risks and not being afraid to fail. Examples include titles like MGSV or the entire DS series. They’re more adventurous, trying new things without worrying too much about perfection. Of course, I might be wrong, but my instinct says this is where the problem lies—over-reliance on what’s mainstream. It could get dull eventually! I guess I’m just curious if I’ll end up with the same thing again. But there’s always something new, even if it means playing older games or emulating classics. One of my favorites is a game I recently discovered that I really loved—it’s a gem and definitely worth checking out. ;D PS: it looks stunning in 4K now! They don’t make it that way anymore...