Why do I lose interest in "modern" video games so fast?

[Emmi]

Video games are my biggest hobby - I love playing them and I love reading and watching content about them ever since I was a kid - but sadly over the last couple of years I noticed that almost every game I start playing I lose interest in rather quick and therefore eventually stop playing it 5 to 10 hours later but surely before I reach 20 hours of playtime. Recently it has happened to games like God of War (2018) - I bought Ragnarok as well and did not even start it because I have absolutely no desire to - Spider-Man, Spider-Man Miles Morales, Grounded, Need for Speed Unbound, Ratched & Clank Rift Apart, The Last of Us Part 1 Remake, Gran Turismo 7, Astro's Playroom and now Hogwarts Legacy.

 

I was kind of in this state before Red Dead Redemption 2 hit back in October 2016 and then came Breath of the Wild ... the single reason that made me believe in modern gaming again and the game that made me feel like a kid first playing Tetris on the Nintendo Gameboy or whatever again.

 

You can imagine that I'm clutching at any straw these days to get gaming experiences like RDR2 and Breath of the Wild again and basically all my hopes for modern gaming, for the future of gaming rest on the shoulders of Nintendo or let's say Tears of the Kingdom, due in May 12, 2023.

Edited February 26 by Emmi

[Matrelith]

It seems to me you're stuck playing games that either are open world, filled with collectibles or a combination of both. It's no wonder you lose interest if you on a pure basic level you have the same gameplay loop over and over. I'd suggest trying out a game that may be out of your comfort zone, a small one that takes maybe 10 hours tops just to finish to switch things up. Variation is the spice of life. 

[DODI3OG]

I'm feeling the same too! Back in the days, I wanted to buy hundreds of video games. I was mainly into open-world stuff with RPG elements like GTA:SA and the classic Assassin's Creed titles, Far Cry 3 and 4. One of the video games I always wanted to play for hours on end were Borderlands 3 and Devil May Cry.

 

Then I started playing more linear/metroid games like The Last of Us, Metro, Bioshock Infinite, God of War....

 

I have DMC5, Control, Returnal, and Miles Morales in my Library but I can't just push myself to playing any of them. Returnal and Control are okay, I made it past maybe 15% through these games, but I just can't push myself for the rest.

 

Other than that, I have the post-2014 Tomb Raider trilogy in my backlog.

 

I mostly buy video games that I want to play for hundreds of hours, otherwise, I might just wait for them to come into the PS+ Catalogue.

 

Needless to say, I just can't continue playing video games that aren't on par with GTA, RDR or Witcher 3 if they're open-world; or The Last of Us if they're linear. I think I got too attached to this standard.

 

 

[Jason]

It's possible you've now got the mentality of setting your standards so high (RDR2/BoTW) that you've let it spoil your enjoyment of other games.

 

I'd also say, looking at the games you listed, that you play a lot of samey games, many open world RPG-lite's in particular.

 

Perhaps it's time you try new stuff, new genres, new types of RPG's, etc.

[Blue carpet]

I can relate I barely even game anymore my days of enjoyment of the hobby are over it's a tough pill to swallow but I've grown to hate the game industry from the greed to the lies to the broken games to the reliance on remakes and remasters it's just not fun for me anymore I just play old stuff time from time that's it. I hope for you OP that you can get your interest back I know that feeling it sucks.

Edited February 26 by Blue carpet

[Space Cowboy]

Consider getting into the indie scene. A lot of them are very creative and push the medium forward, so if you are burnt out on certain types of AAA releases, this might be something that can appeal to you. Games like Hollow Knight, Stardew Valley etc. I don't know what kind of a genre is your favourite, but you're bound to find something that will be up your liking.

As for me, whenever I got bored of video games, I just stopped playing them for months and came back when there was something that caught my eye. I don't need to play something just to pass time, if I am not enjoying it. So I'd say a long break from gaming can do you good as well.

[FamousActor_]

These AAA games you've mentioned can be very similar nowadays. You're basically playing the same thing over and over again. I'd suggest going for some older/remastered titles or maybe giving a shot to indies.

[Slappy212]

ADD?

[JohnMcLoviin]

Could it be because the games aren’t actually good?  They just look good visually but the gameplay and the world they’re set in is terrible.

 

A cliché saying ’Looks aren’t as important as what’s inside’.  

[Aquamaniac]

Well at some point I guess you have seen everything, the general game mechanics are the same in any genre so as others wrote before, maybe try new genres if you have any interest in them. I spend quite some time on Forza 4 and Forza Horizon 1 as I never played racing games before but after Forza Horizon 2 it seems that I'm already tired of that genre. 

[DODI3OG]

You should try linear games as a refresher. I'd suggest Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian, Journey, and Stray. IDK about your platform, but Journey and Stray is multi-plat.

 

Or try small-scale sandboxes like Infamous and Miles Morales if you're on Playstation.

[Emmi]

38 minutes ago, DODI3OG said:

You should try linear games as a refresher. I'd suggest Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian, Journey, and Stray. IDK about your platform, but Journey and Stray is multi-plat.

 

Or try small-scale sandboxes like Infamous and Miles Morales if you're on Playstation.

I've played most of the Shadow of the Colossus remake a couple years ago. I also completed The Last Guardian (amazing experience). Infamous was one of my favorite PS3 games but the newer ones never did it for me. I tried Miles Morales on PC but lost interest shortly after. For now I'm enjoying my third L.A. Noire (PS4) replay and the GTA Trilogy on Switch.

[DODI3OG]

27 minutes ago, Emmi said:

I've played most of the Shadow of the Colossus remake a couple years ago. I also completed The Last Guardian (amazing experience). Infamous was one of my favorite PS3 games but the newer ones never did it for me. I tried Miles Morales on PC but lost interest shortly after. For now I'm enjoying my third L.A. Noire (PS4) replay and the GTA Trilogy on Switch.

I want to play LA Noire, but I can't stand the eyestrain from playing 30fps games.

 

You should try Bioshock games if you haven't. I liked Bioshock Infinite, but I can't hook myself into Bioshock 1 and 2. Will probably replay the two sometime since they're on my backlog for years now.

[Bigglo145]

Games arent as good nowadays, and the ones im usually interested in comes out every so often

[Mister Pink]

 10 years ago those experiences were a lot of first times and brand news. Now you're older and these aren't the first times and brand new experiences. Yes, the games change and the games are new, but you've matured. It's not your first time at the rodeo, as the saying goes. So how do you keep the feeling fresh like it was 10 years ago?

 

In my experience, the more expose yourself to gaming experiences, the more you'll desensitise yourself to that experience. It happens to me with music. I'm becoming somewhat desensitized to the power of music. I'm currently going on a musical "sabbatical" because I love music too much. I'm old enough now to recognize that music isn't changing for better or worse. I'm changing. I possess the neural pathways for which my brain works and behaves and the dopamine I get when pursuing hobbies of pleasure and leisure.  Aphex Twin is always going to be Aphex Twin. Pink Floyd is still Pink Floyd. But music isn't giving me the same joy. The games aren't getting worse. Games are arguably getting better. You are changing.    

 

My remedy for hobby burnout is to stop doing that hobby for a while. Pursuit other hobbies. Have new experiences. Starve your brain of the type of sensory experiences games give you for some time. It could be a few months. It could be a year. Listen to yourself. If games aren't giving you the same joy then perhaps it's a good sign to give it a break. Einstein said the definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results. If you keep playing, forcing yourself to enjoy games and they aren't as enjoyable as they once were, I think it's advisable to change your lifestyle.  Thankfully, I have many hobbies, some I try to turn into income. Gaming is the most luxurious and leisurely pursuit I have. I have a ton of things  I need to do before I can allow myself the reward of sitting down to do something that won't progress my career or earn me any income. It's pure luxury for me. In a sense, I can't really burn out on it because I don't have the time to burn out. 

 

If you absolutely can't take a break from gaming, then I would suggest delving into new genres of gaming. I did that a long time ago and it might work or it might just broaden your scope of genre for gaming. But broadening your scope of genre for gaming won't fix hobby burnout. But I don't think the answer to not feeling as much joy when playing games is to play more games.  

 

I think it's a bit of a fallacy to say games aren't as good nowadays. I think it's easier to externalise and put blame on the games. I think we need to be more accountable for ourselves. Too much of anything is bad for us. Take a step back. Take a break and come back to something when you feel like you absolutely miss it. And you'll know that feeling. 

Edited March 9 by Mister Pink

[The Time Ranger]

6 hours ago, Mister Pink said:

 10 years ago those experiences were a lot of first times and brand news. Now you're older and these aren't the first times and brand new experiences. Yes, the games change and the games are new, but you've matured. It's not your first time at the rodeo, as the saying goes. So how do you keep the feeling fresh like it was 10 years ago?

This resonates with me, 10 years ago I had my new ps3 and a catalogue of Fallout NV, Gta IV, Skyrim and Yakuza 3-4 to plow through, and I loved it, nowadays I don't really play much anymore, turned on the PS4 about twice since January. 

 

We change, both interests and how we want to spend our time. Regarding gaming I feel a bit like "been there, done that." Saying that though I am excited for Starfield. What you go on to say about new experiences and hobbies is very true, I find I get pleasure out of working out now, or upskilling myself, it's a different type of enjoyment for sure but once I do my productive stuff for the day, I find my leisure time feels a lot sweeter.

Edited March 9 by The Time Ranger
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