Topic: Gaming Breaks - Do you take ‘em?

Over the years, I’ve found that my interest in playing video games ebbs and flows.

I’ll have a period of about six to eight months where I’m all about playing, and reading about, video games of all kinds.

Then, as seems to be happening now, I find myself losing interest. When I’m playing, it starts to feel like I’m going through the motions, and not really enjoying myself.

It’s times like these that I take a break, adjust my leisure activities, and wait for that kid-like spark of excitement to return.

I’m curious: Do many of you experience a similar ebb and flow pattern of interest in video games?

@_747_ I couldn't agree more. Thanks for commenting - it prompted me to write this as I explored the idea: https://www.five26.one/blog/the-ebb-and-flow-of-interests

I'm really grateful to have developed this perspective of not feeling bad about stepping away from a pass-time in order to explore others, and renew that child-like spark again. It wasn't always like this, but I'm glad I've arrived here.

I'll come back to video games like a kid at Christmas — and it's gong to be great!

Not really. Like certain specific games, especially very long ones, sure, but there's always plenty of games where playing it as natural as breathing practically. I never focus on only one game, I'm currently playing through 4+ games, and on a whim I just decided to play a bit of Dr. Mario 64 today. No thought needed, no energy to be exhausted, and there are definitely things I need breaks on very easily, including entertainment, but gaming as a whole is never that.

@tweaknmod I've definitely made plenty of commentary myself on the subject (or at least along the same vein). In short, as I've aged (I'm 41) I noticed a lot of changes psychologically and physically when playing games. My headspace is filled a lot more with "life responsibilities" and worries. I don't necessarily take breaks per se, but I don't enjoy playing games like I used to in previous decades of life. I still have a lot of fun, dare I say a blast(!) from time to time, but it's definitely experienced differently. I did have a hard time adjusting to it but over time I've become better at managing it. I know it's not exactly what your topic is about but I'm mentioning all this because I want to you know what you're feeling is normal and you're not alone.

Within the last year I noticed I was putting too much dependency on gaming for that "this is my fun recharge time" I got back into reading novels. I used to read a lot back in the day but that was a hobby that I fell out of years back probably because of typical "life got in the way" reasons. So now I make time for it even if that means less gaming and I'm having a lot of fun. A good book (thriller, romance, sci-fi, whatever) can really be such an escape into another world more than any game.

Yes, at the moment I am barely playing. I spend more time reading about it here than I do playing just now! When Kirby FL DLC comes out then I will be playing more again. Also, when CHIBI ROBOT drops for NSO. Otherwise, it is mostly a few minutes on NSO games here and there lately.

Biggest drought for me was the Wii era. Easily went months without playing it.

I’ve reduced my gaming time to a couple of hours a week for two months now. It started with me just prioritising other hobbies and activities due to some particularly warm summer weeks, and now I realise how much better it is for my brain and that I might’ve had a slight problem before, tending to fill too many spare time gaps with games and down-prioritising other activities.

It can be hard to spot such problems until something shakes you out of them.

I usually focus on one main game at a time and try to make a bit of progress most days - doing that is the only way I'll ever get through long RPGs and that kind of thing, but it can start to feel like a chore after a while. So I don't tend to take breaks from gaming as a whole but sometimes I need to take a break from having a 'main' game and just play whatever takes my fancy at any given moment instead. I think I'm going to have to do that now in fact, because I've been playing Shadow Labyrinth as my main game and it's so hard I'm losing most of my enthusiasm to play it...