Am I suffering from a burnout or games are just not entertaining anymore?

I'm 27, been gaming since the days of arcade and bought Nintento when it was released, then SNES, then PSX then DreamCast. When I got my PC 2001 and never bought PS2, Xbox, Wii etc, cuz I enjoyed multiplayer games like Star Craft, Half Life 1, Ultima Online, Star Wars Galaxies and a lot of F2P MMORPG far more, anyways.

I've played most single players with joy over the last 2 decades, but in recent years I cannot see myself playing some of the most popular, top rated games. So that being said I have not played any single player games and cannot find a good reason to do so.

Games I've enjoyed a lot over the last decade were Ultima Online, Star Wars Galaxies, Star Craft 1, World of Warcraft (Only do arena on it now, but thats gonna be over soon cuz Blizzard is doing nothing to stop MMR abuse and win trading)

Planetside 2 feels meh. 3 factions with endless struggle for territory and dont feel I can do much impact alone in that game. Then hacks and players who use multi accounts to ruin the gameplay experience just adds further bump. So thats out of the picture. Popular FPS games like BF3 are not more different for me than CS or HL. Endless FPS without any greater picture, just temporary fun and go kill each other and repeat.

Anyways, I can go on forever or why I am struggling right now to find one great game to play (and I've missed 95% of PC games since 2007) So I hope the community can give me one good reason why there is one game out there that doesn't feel more of the same what I played over the last decade. Xenogears, Suikoden III, FFVIII were some of the most memorable single player games I remember playing with such engaging and serious story, great characters, difficult yet great combat, music and a lot of things to do beside go there, complete that quest, then go do that quest and predictible narrative.

I'm also trying to find games with high replayability value atm. Something like Civilization 5, NBA2k13 or maeby Skyrim.

This question is asked at least once a month. And to be honest, it always involves cases were people are focusing on either one genre, or a couple of them. It is common sense that people will get burned out wen sticking to just a handful of games from the couple of popular genres. Try something different than what you'd played, like a brilliant dungeon crawler such as Legend of Grimrock.

Games are no longer built to be mentally challenging. There's less puzzles are more tutorials implemented into the ui/hub. They're just made to cater to mass market, look at FC3. The Ui constantly tells the player what to do through-out the game, the entire game is a tutorial which leaves nothing for the player to figure out on their own. Without the challenge, or without something to figure out the entertainment value ( imo ) drops as soon as the visuals become old .

Games are not fun nowadays because they are designed to appeal to a broader base than gamers.

if you've missed 95% of pc games since 2007 then you've missed out on a ton of great games (although not much this year tbf). start with crysis and stalker and go from there

I advise a break, first of all. Find another hobby and do that for a little while.

Secondly, there are lot of great games from the past decade that are worth playing, like Stalker, Vampires: The Masquerade Bloodlines, etc. Get them during the inevitable Steam Christmas sale.

As I've gotten older I've also struggled to keep my attention on a game for long. There's very few games these days that can keep me playing them for hours. The last game I've been able to lose hours in just enjoying it and not realising how much I've played, was probably Diablo 3 when it came out.

Start off with Shock 2. There are plenty of great games you haven't heard off. Keep looking =).

It could be both. If you really enjoy video games, and everything about them like reading up on gaming news, hardware, etc.. then it's really difficult to get burned out.. but it can happen. When you do, just take a break and do some other activities. If you come back to it and find that you still can't get back into it.. then maybe you're not entertained any more. Then it's maybe time to do some soul-searching and find something else you'll enjoy.

But rest assured, there are a ton of great games since 2007.

Games are no longer built to be mentally challenging. There's less puzzles are more tutorials implemented into the ui/hub. They're just made to cater to mass market, look at FC3. The Ui constantly tells the player what to do through-out the game, the entire game is a tutorial which leaves nothing for the player to figure out on their own. Without the challenge, or without something to figure out the entertainment value ( imo ) drops as soon as the visuals become old .

ShimmerMan

When was Far Cry a puzzle challenging game?

There are plenty of games out there that challenge you mentally, Portal is one of the many.

TC, I get that sometimes as well. You know what I do, stop playing alltogether. I just check my emails and surf the net, then turn the PC and read a book, watch movies/TV, hang out with friends, exercise etc.

Do that for a couple of weeks and then come back to it.

This is how I have honestly felt for a very long time, but I just kept moving along. I kinda just droned on playing mmo for years, not much joy overall in it(while playing a few retail releases a year). Recently though, for no reason at all, my interest in gaming has really been reinvigorated. I beat Mark of the Ninja, Torchlight 2, Hotline Miami, and Far Cry 3. I beat these 4 games all within a month, which for me is nothing short of a miracle since I typically only "beat" a few games a year.

I'd like to note that I'm one of those with a stupid steam backlog and pretty much buy games just for the sake of it. I decided to change this mentality and for I'm certainly getting a greater satisfaction from gaming overall. I highly recommend Hotline Miami if you enjoy fairly challenging games(672 deaths to beat a short game). Anyways, maybe you are burned out. Sometimes I think a shift in perception can help and perhaps taking a break wouldn't be the worst thing either.

What other hobbies do you have bro?

I'm on the same boat, I've been jumping from games to games and I never get to finish them, I used to spend hours upon hours on games and used to be able to finish every game I started but now even the highest rates games I can't, I'm also 27 and I noticed this started happening to me about 2 years ago. These days I Kinda force myself to finish the games I got but still it feels like a chore and I'm not sure what's happening to me cuz games and gaming in general is the most enjoyable thing to me.II-Siamak-II

Look at your sig.

I'm on the same boat, I've been jumping from games to games and I never get to finish them, I used to spend hours upon hours on games and used to be able to finish every game I started but now even the highest rates games I can't, I'm also 27 and I noticed this started happening to me about 2 years ago. These days I Kinda force myself to finish the games I got but still it feels like a chore and I'm not sure what's happening to me cuz games and gaming in general is the most enjoyable thing to me.II-Siamak-II

[QUOTE="II-Siamak-II"]I'm on the same boat, I've been jumping from games to games and I never get to finish them, I used to spend hours upon hours on games and used to be able to finish every game I started but now even the highest rates games I can't, I'm also 27 and I noticed this started happening to me about 2 years ago. These days I Kinda force myself to finish the games I got but still it feels like a chore and I'm not sure what's happening to me cuz games and gaming in general is the most enjoyable thing to me.FelipeInside

You know Felipe, I tried that and I always see myself missing something in my life, which is games, then I come back and it's the same thing all over again. thing is my biggest problem is I can't focus on the games i start. i keep jumping between games every 30 min or so and I get nosiated and sick in stomach. then I have to stop till the next day and the next day it's the same thing. I've been researching alot lately regarding my problem and I can't find any solution on the net unfortunately.:(

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"][QUOTE="II-Siamak-II"]I'm on the same boat, I've been jumping from games to games and I never get to finish them, I used to spend hours upon hours on games and used to be able to finish every game I started but now even the highest rates games I can't, I'm also 27 and I noticed this started happening to me about 2 years ago. These days I Kinda force myself to finish the games I got but still it feels like a chore and I'm not sure what's happening to me cuz games and gaming in general is the most enjoyable thing to me.II-Siamak-II

You know Felipe, I tried that and I always see myself missing something in my life, which is games, then I come back and it's the same thing all over again. thing is my biggest problem is I can't focus on the games i start. i keep jumping between games every 30 min or so and I get nosiated and sick in stomach. then I have to stop till the next day and the next day it's the same thing. I've been researching alot lately regarding my problem and I can't find any solution on the net unfortunately.:(

It's happening to a lot of gamers because of one simple reason, MULTITUDE OF CHOICES. Back 10 years ago you would only get 1-2 new games x week....some weeks not even, so the games you played, you played till the end and then some. These days, you buy a game and by the end of the day there are another 4 games released..... and gamers want to play them all so they feel they need to quickly finish one to move to the next (or not even finish). FelipeInside

Edit: Obligatory - first world problems

nop, most big budget titles are garbo

Wii and PS2.

That's how I found Klonoa 2(last year),

rocket knight adventures (3 years ago, although that's sega genesis)

spyro,and ofc all the zelda games.

Although exceptions, like BF3's MP which surprised me. But I just play TDM and the game feels like a single player game bcuz i'm 2gud.

also indie games, if they have coop, make your friends' lives miserable

[QUOTE="II-Siamak-II"]

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"] People need to realize that when you get to 27-30 you start to grow up, and look past gaming. Do what I suggested in my prior post. FelipeInside

You know Felipe, I tried that and I always see myself missing something in my life, which is games, then I come back and it's the same thing all over again. thing is my biggest problem is I can't focus on the games i start. i keep jumping between games every 30 min or so and I get nosiated and sick in stomach. then I have to stop till the next day and the next day it's the same thing. I've been researching alot lately regarding my problem and I can't find any solution on the net unfortunately.:(

By partner if you mean girlfriend? yes and we are spending a lot of time with eachother. but thats a diffrent story lol, I almost feel I dont have enough time playing my games due to GF, school and work and the time I get to have for gaming is keep going to waste...

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"][QUOTE="II-Siamak-II"]

You know Felipe, I tried that and I always see myself missing something in my life, which is games, then I come back and it's the same thing all over again. thing is my biggest problem is I can't focus on the games i start. i keep jumping between games every 30 min or so and I get nosiated and sick in stomach. then I have to stop till the next day and the next day it's the same thing. I've been researching alot lately regarding my problem and I can't find any solution on the net unfortunately.:(

II-Siamak-II

By partner if you mean girlfriend? yes and we are spending a lot of time with eachother. but thats a diffrent story lol, I almost feel I dont have enough time playing my games due to GF, school and work and the time I get to have for gaming is keep going to waste...

Welcome to the real world. Try getting married in 2 months, forget gaming...lol

[QUOTE="II-Siamak-II"]

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"] Let me ask and give more advice: - Do you have a partner? - Try having just ONE or TWO games installed at a time.FelipeInside

By partner if you mean girlfriend? yes and we are spending a lot of time with eachother. but thats a diffrent story lol, I almost feel I dont have enough time playing my games due to GF, school and work and the time I get to have for gaming is keep going to waste...

Welcome to the real world. Try getting married in 2 months, forget gaming...lol

Two words.... Dungeon Defenders.

then clear your schedule for the next 6 months.

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"]

[QUOTE="II-Siamak-II"]

By partner if you mean girlfriend? yes and we are spending a lot of time with eachother. but thats a diffrent story lol, I almost feel I dont have enough time playing my games due to GF, school and work and the time I get to have for gaming is keep going to waste...

JigglyWiggly_

Welcome to the real world. Try getting married in 2 months, forget gaming...lol

[QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"]

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"]

Welcome to the real world. Try getting married in 2 months, forget gaming...lol

FelipeInside

i can confirm this is true
my friend is in the navy used to play QL all the time.
We worked really good together, his fast reactions and my mouse aim, epin combo.
gets married, has kid, barely plays.
he needs to lock dhat basement.

i meant he no longer duels

he was good to fight against, his fast reaction play style was very different from most players

only time we were on the same team was in clan arena

but i mainly played with him because his style was where I was a bit weaker. His strafe LG was really hard for me to counter. I usually just outaim to win, but his strafe lg was very good.

Most dwellers have garbo aim and normal reactions.

So when I vsed him I actually had to play a bit smarter, which is rare.

[QUOTE="II-Siamak-II"]

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"] Let me ask and give more advice: - Do you have a partner? - Try having just ONE or TWO games installed at a time.FelipeInside

By partner if you mean girlfriend? yes and we are spending a lot of time with eachother. but thats a diffrent story lol, I almost feel I dont have enough time playing my games due to GF, school and work and the time I get to have for gaming is keep going to waste...

Welcome to the real world. Try getting married in 2 months, forget gaming...lol

Naa...too early to get married, even tho we have been together for the past 3 years and gaming is the 1 and only hobby i got man. but lately its gotten worst. last game i could actually finish was Max Payne 3 and enjoy and even that I was rushing it to finish it.

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"]

[QUOTE="II-Siamak-II"]

By partner if you mean girlfriend? yes and we are spending a lot of time with eachother. but thats a diffrent story lol, I almost feel I dont have enough time playing my games due to GF, school and work and the time I get to have for gaming is keep going to waste...

II-Siamak-II

Welcome to the real world. Try getting married in 2 months, forget gaming...lol

Naa...too early to get married, even tho we have been together for the past 3 years and gaming is the 1 and only hobby i got man. but lately its gotten worst. last game i could actually finish was Max Payne 3 and enjoy and even that I was rushing it to finish it.

[QUOTE="II-Siamak-II"]I'm on the same boat, I've been jumping from games to games and I never get to finish them, I used to spend hours upon hours on games and used to be able to finish every game I started but now even the highest rates games I can't, I'm also 27 and I noticed this started happening to me about 2 years ago. These days I Kinda force myself to finish the games I got but still it feels like a chore and I'm not sure what's happening to me cuz games and gaming in general is the most enjoyable thing to me.FelipeInside

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"][QUOTE="II-Siamak-II"]I'm on the same boat, I've been jumping from games to games and I never get to finish them, I used to spend hours upon hours on games and used to be able to finish every game I started but now even the highest rates games I can't, I'm also 27 and I noticed this started happening to me about 2 years ago. These days I Kinda force myself to finish the games I got but still it feels like a chore and I'm not sure what's happening to me cuz games and gaming in general is the most enjoyable thing to me.IxX3xil3d0n3XxI

In short, gaming went mainstream. It's not just a niche anymore, accessibility is the focus now. The gaming industry is now Hollywood.SKaREO

People need to realize that when you get to 27-30 you start to grow up, and look past gaming. Do what I suggested in my prior post. FelipeInside

You don't just 'grow up' out of a hobby like playing games (including board games, not just video games), reading books or watching movies. It's a different situation for every guy out there, there's way to many variables and influences that can make a person bored of a hobby for even years before going back (if ever). I'm 31, and i can enjoy a good game from time to time. Some good gameplay to entertain myself, maybe a good story to experience.

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"]People need to realize that when you get to 27-30 you start to grow up, and look past gaming. Do what I suggested in my prior post. Lucianu

You don't just 'grow up' out of a hobby like playing games (including board games, not just video games), reading books or watching movies. It's a different situation for every guy out there, there's way to many variables and influences that can make a person bored of a hobby for even years before going back (if ever). I'm 31, and i can enjoy a good game from time to time. Some good gameplay to entertain myself, maybe a good story to experience.

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"]People need to realize that when you get to 27-30 you start to grow up, and look past gaming. Do what I suggested in my prior post. Lucianu

You don't just 'grow up' out of a hobby like playing games (including board games, not just video games), reading books or watching movies. It's a different situation for every guy out there, there's way to many variables and influences that can make a person bored of a hobby for even years before going back (if ever). I'm 31, and i can enjoy a good game from time to time. Some good gameplay to entertain myself, maybe a good story to experience.

I went back to playing older games as new games weren't doing it for me (for the most part) Especially being a fan of the more nich genres like traditional RPGs, tactical shooters, horror... There were a few exceptions here and there though like Dark Souls, New Vegas..

I'm 27, been gaming since the days of arcade and bought Nintento when it was released, then SNES, then PSX then DreamCast. When I got my PC 2001 and never bought PS2, Xbox, Wii etc, cuz I enjoyed multiplayer games like Star Craft, Half Life 1, Ultima Online, Star Wars Galaxies and a lot of F2P MMORPG far more, anyways.

I've played most single players with joy over the last 2 decades, but in recent years I cannot see myself playing some of the most popular, top rated games. So that being said I have not played any single player games and cannot find a good reason to do so.

Games I've enjoyed a lot over the last decade were Ultima Online, Star Wars Galaxies, Star Craft 1, World of Warcraft (Only do arena on it now, but thats gonna be over soon cuz Blizzard is doing nothing to stop MMR abuse and win trading)

Planetside 2 feels meh. 3 factions with endless struggle for territory and dont feel I can do much impact alone in that game. Then hacks and players who use multi accounts to ruin the gameplay experience just adds further bump. So thats out of the picture. Popular FPS games like BF3 are not more different for me than CS or HL. Endless FPS without any greater picture, just temporary fun and go kill each other and repeat.

Anyways, I can go on forever or why I am struggling right now to find one great game to play (and I've missed 95% of PC games since 2007) So I hope the community can give me one good reason why there is one game out there that doesn't feel more of the same what I played over the last decade. Xenogears, Suikoden III, FFVIII were some of the most memorable single player games I remember playing with such engaging and serious story, great characters, difficult yet great combat, music and a lot of things to do beside go there, complete that quest, then go do that quest and predictible narrative.

Kopogero

I have this exact problem. Games I'm almost 100% sure I'll love end up being awful in my eyes. I don't know what it is. I have had this problem for a long time now and for whatever reason I cannot recapture my joy in gaming.

I've tried many different games across multiple genres and I just can't seem to enjoy games as much. I find them mildly entertaining and that's about it. I find myself going back to games I used to love and just playing them.

I agree with most of what Filipe is saying. As time go by your interest evolve and change. It doesnt mean that you 'have to' stop gaming. I'm in my late 30'ies and spend a good deal of time gaming.

I think the big thing here is stop obsessing over games. Games are generally nothing more than entertainment. Nothing wrong with that, but it does mean that there is absolutely no reason to play games if you're not enjoying yourself. I'd go even further, if you are spending a large part of your available spare time playing games without enjoying the time spend you need to seriously start thinking about treating it as an addiction or at the very least an unhealthy obsession.

So overall:

1) Remember that you dont have to play games. No one is paying you and unless you're having fun you might as well stop playing and do something else. Dont play games out of habit.

2) You dont have to play every game (or even half, or a quarter) of the games that comes out. You dont have to make sure that you try them all anymore than you 'need' to see all action movies released on DVD. If there is a game that sounds like you'd really enjoy it, pick it up and play it. If not, just ignore it.

3) Make a point of doing other stuff. If you find yourself starting a game out of habit, pick up some other interests. Read books that you've never read, download Unity and try making a game instead of playing one.

I advise a break, first of all. Find another hobby and do that for a little while.

Secondly, there are lot of great games from the past decade that are worth playing, like Stalker, Vampires: The Masquerade Bloodlines, etc. Get them during the inevitable Steam Christmas sale.

The_Capitalist

While I'm not really good at it, I find it fun