I wish sleep wasn't so appealing now.

I think you'll come to realize that it isn't your attention span but rather the amount of mental energy you have left after working a 9 to 5 for 5 days a week

Yeah, sometimes I just want to mindlessly scroll. Like now.
- There's games that do that like vampire survivors
That's definitely a large aspect for me. But, another large part is that the games just seem to be less fun. Online play has gotten so competitive that half the time people just rage quit, and single player games have just become grind machines with pay to skip options.
No, I'm not going to spend my limited free time getting a virtual job gathering wolf pelts. No, I'm not going to give you real money to avoid being virtually employed by an NPC.
I feel like game mechanics that were originally designed to immerse you into the game are now just being used to pad the game time. I won't even buy a game anymore unless I can mod it. I refuse to spend extra hours of my time just because the only realistic aspect of the game is a limited inventory.
- Those kind of games exist, but so does every other kind. And you aren't forced to play only new games. Literally every game ever is available for you to play. Every person that says stuff like you seem like you think the only games available are the most known and most recent AAA games. It's like only going to the most recently opened restaurants in your area, especially chain brand ones, and complaining about you not liking the food and then deciding that all food is like that.
- AAA games are trash agreed, I stick to indie games
- This is why I started leaning into more productive hobbies. I design stuff in blender, 3D print it out, and prime and paint it for table top games, then I have friends over and we push the little dudes around a map and work together to kill monsters, or kill eachother. So much more satisfying than pouring hours into some screen game that just goes away when my digital subscription ends.
I know I've been playing BG3 recently and I'm struggling a bit with the mental energy required to play it after work. It's something that really requires full attention for a long period of time and a lot of days I'd rather just do something simpler.
Negative energy

Bruh, I'm 33 and I started playing Subnautica for the first time a few weeks ago only to realize that in the first day I accidentally played for 10 hours. You just need to find the right game for you to revitalize your interest in gaming. Whatever that game may be!

Subnautica just does that to you. I completed an entire hardcore playthrough in a single session once (Mostly because I already knew what I was doing but it was still like 14-15 hours straight).
Is VR in subnautica an actual way to play or just a once in a while gimmick. I've had it in my library since back when it was beta and have never played more than a few minutes. Installed it since it does VR through steamlink but haven't played yet.
- I love VR and Subnautica but Subnautica is not a good game to play in VR. You can make it kinda work with mods, but it does feel very janky.
- I honestly couldn't say as I startled playing the normal version. But as spooky as that game can get, I don't think I'd even want to try VR version lol.
- The vanilla VR implementation in Subnautica is very old and kind of tacked onto the game as an afterthought. You have to play with a regular controller and I found the menus to be in the most eye-strain spot possible.
  I know there is at least one VR mod to fix it and bring in motion controls but I've never tried it.

For me, the attention span isn't the problem. I have been going on DOS2 and Factorio benders over the last couple years. For me, it's about making sure that I don't have some niggling anxiety in the back of my mind ruining my concentration. Got chores done? Dinner prepped? Laundry done? Animals fed? Game time baybee.

The trick is to push through the anxiety and truly become a worthless pile of shit destroying kids in online shooters, running solely on off-brand Cola, microwave pizza and self-loathing
- This dude games.
- Absolutely crush them into the ground.
- Ah, I see you're a man of culture as well
- On one hand, playing stuff like Minecraft with my kid is super rewarding.
  But on the other… is it possible to learn this power?
Spot on. You have zero responsibilities at that age, except for maybe some homework and a few minimal chores. As an adult all you can think about is the endless todo list.
Oh man, Factorio is the black hole that has absorbed the most hours of any game I've ever played. I wouldn't have enjoyed it much in my youth, but it's the perfect fit for me now!

You just gotta find the right game. I discovered Satisfactory last year and had to uninstall it after a few eeks because I was staying up till 2am playing. I am 40.

I think for me a lot of games just don't challenge me in a meaningful way anymore. Especially as I get older the game AI feels a lot more predictable and shallow.
Then I tried factorio and that game is fun. So I agree its about finding the right games which spark that interest.
- I think for me a lot of games just don’t challenge me in a meaningful way anymore.
  I'm the opposite. If it's a story driven game, I don't wanna die. If I do die, you better make sure I don't have to repeat much. And you'd better make sure I don't die twice in the same place.
  Old style save anytime is much preferred to checkpoints, but I feel barely exist in AAA games anymore. I'll put up with checkpoints if they are very frequent. If you make me repeat 30 mins I'll probably just stop playing.
I feel the same way about Baldurs Gate 3, I'm only pushing 30 but after playing for less than 20 minutes I had a mini pre-intervention with myself like, "okay listen up you geek, remember staying up until 4am every night and surviving on popcorn chicken and coffee isn't sustainable"
I installed Civ 6, played one game on easy and uninstalled it because I knew what was going to happen if I went down this road.
- Try Civ Revolution. It's an older game but it holds up and you can do an entire campaign in less then 2 hours.
The right game can cure depression
- The right game can cause depression, because I have no impulse control and will shurk my responsibilities to play it.
  Sigh. I do love me some satisfactory though.
Thanks, that's worth a look!
Isn't it less fun and more preying on the addictive aspects of gaming?
It's kinda like life Sims, ala Harvest Moon. Give just enough time to finish out your day. Extend the need to progress by fluffing out interactions. Make there be lots of little progression increments.
It's less good game and more preying on dopamine routines. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yb5CINrC5E I get games have similar feel good spikes. Like loot/number simulators which are mostly idle games with more effort for how easy they are. But min/Max Effiency games like many games that have day/night stamina cycles are just keying in on that dopamine rush on a filled day, which doesn't feel different than loot box games in the end. My time at Sandrock was my last one that felt great for a bit then you realize so much is pointless fluff gated by time dumps for no reason than to increase their playtime metrics.

Fun fact. I was 2 years older than Bart when the Simpsons started on the Tracy Ulman show and now I'm over a decade older than Marge and Homer.

I need a nap.

No…. That would mean I’m…. Oh god. It’s happened.
- If you want your mind blown when Simpsons started Marge and Homer were boomers, then Gen X and now they're millennials. Bart, Lisa and Maggie started out as Gen X (underachiever and proud of it) then millennials, then gen z, and now they're Gen alpha.
  But grampa is always a ww2 vet.
- They changed what "it" was
To be fair Homer is a rough 32.
- That's just what 32 year olds looked like, coming out of the 80s.
- The last time they mentioned his age it was 38/39. They keep changing it but keeping him and Marge in their 30s.
  Honestly I wish they would age everyone up a year every decade. If they had done that we would be seeing the antics of a 13 year old Bart now and I think that could start with some really interesting character development instead of keeping him forever a 10 year old.

I'm 46 and I do 4-6 hour seshes. Step yo game up, foo

I’m in my 30s and I do 2-3 hour seshes unless I munch an Adderall. Adderall takes it to 10+.
I can do that on vacation maybe, otherwise too many other things vying for attention

"What the fuck, a tutorial? I'm done."

Me after inattentively spamming through the tutorial just so I can play the game:
“How the fuck do I play this game?”
- Also very true. "There's been a button for that this whole time!?"
Tutorials are child's play. I tried playing "This is the Police II" when it came out. Literally 2 full hours of what was basically a visual novel before I got into any gameplay. After a while I kept thinking "surely the game starts now?" before another scene started.
- This was how I felt starting MGS V. I gave up.
Can we make it illegal for FPS tutorials? I've been playing them longer than the kids making them now.
- At least make it optional! I like figuring it out as I go! It's part of the fun.
- I think of this every single time I got through FPS tutorials now: https://youtu.be/8C7FNX7cWZI

For me it's less the attention span thing and more the lack of time

There's a million things I gave to worry about all pulling me in every direction at the same time

Plus now that my ADHD is actually being addressed it's way easier to find time for things

This is how I felt until I played Valheim and BG3. I think my preferred genres have just shifted. I need something I can relax and play at my own pace. I use to only play competitive shooters, where I needed to be "on" the whole game. Now I can only play a shooter for about an hour before my mind starts to drift and I lose interest.

Swap the shitty snacks out for something healthier and maybe you’ll have more stamina to play

true! i quit candy and chips and now i'm able to game for 3x longer. i was also able to maintain my body mass due to lower energy consumption when i can't afk so much. win win!

I am beginning to feel like I only play video games because it feels less lazy than watching tv.

It’s like I’ve just been doing it too long. I don’t even see the game anymore I just see “fetch quest” “grind” “xp rate tuned to encourage microtransactions”.

Even leveling up is like, why? To what end? To face a “harder” enemy, to level up, to face a harder enemy, to level up…

I can’t think of a game I want to play for even an hour.

Legit y’all I wish I didn’t feel like this. Should I take some time off from it or are there any games that aren’t just literally the same thing I’ve been playing since 1993?

Join the Factiorio cult
- Unfortunately the limitations of my pathetic meat suit mean I can only play factorio effectively for about 32hrs straight before needing to power down.
- A cult I will shamelessly declare I am a member of!
I think the type of game really makes a difference. Games with fetch quests, a laundry list of waypoints on a map, and tons of bland cutscenes in between simple gameplay put me to sleep now.
Challenging games keep me better occupied, because it's fun to be solving a puzzle of some sort (even if that puzzle is "how to approach this boss"). Strategy and tactics are consistently fun for me too.
- This is why I have such a soft spot for From Software games. I don't care if I have to die 30 times trying to cross a bridge it'll still keep me engaged trying to figure out a way or just mastering the technique rather than play another Assassin's Creed tailing mission for 30 minutes following some braindead ai.
May I introduce: War Gaming :)
I was feeling that way last year for a good 2 months or so, was seriously considering turning in some of my high end gear for cash and getting my streambox upgraded
Then Battlebit Remastered dropped and I realized I was just really wanting a good Battlefield-style shooter and there wasn't one to scratch my itch
It's started up again recently, and upon further reflection I'm in a driving game mood but all the ones out there RN are fucking oof
So maybe it's the type/quality of the games you're trying out that's the issue

I've put over 400 hours into vanilla terraria and recently started the calamity mod, first day I put like 6 hours into it.

I don't play every day, I just don't have the time/energy. But when I do I try to make it count.

That being said, we used to play Edward forty hands and try to beat ocarina of time in a single evening, usually staying up until dawn despite the copious alcohol.

I'm not the stallion I used to be, but even an old horse has something to prove.

I’m 41 years old, and I can’t pay attention to video games for more than about half an hour.

Unless I’m smoking pot, in which case I can play video games all day.

Wake and bake then Path of Exile.
I find I focus even worse when I’m high, I just want to get up and do stuff, like stretch or exercise. I definitely didn’t do that when I was younger and smoked, so idk what’s changed.
"smoking pot" is not a term I have heard in a looong time. Takes me back
- Shit. Really?
  I didn't realize it wasn't really a thing people said anymore

Exercise and a proper diet will help.

The most realistic part is that you can't afford name brand chips as an adult.

I think that's the fault of games rather than me.

A lot of games are the same generic open world bollocks and it's honestly just exhausting.

If your only issue is that modern games suck, rather than A) Being too exhausted after work, B) Having social media-induced attention deficit, C) Being overwhelmed with other responsibilities or anxiety, or D) Simply just not having enough time, you just have to find games that are actually good. Not AAA grindfests that aim at keeping you glued to the screen getting collectibles for 80 hours, but games that are actually trying to provide you with a worthwhile experience.

Some suggestions: Subnautica, Outer Wilds (not The Outer Worlds), Disco Elysium, Pathologic 2 (mind you, this one is extremely stressful, it's a masterpiece but most people will not enjoy it), The Forgotten City, Hades and Omori.

Outer Wilds (not The Outer Worlds)
Thank you for this distinction! I've heard people rave about Outer Wilds and all this time thought they were talking about Outer Worlds, which surprised me because I thought Outer Worlds was boring. Taking a look at gameplay now!
- Aw, I'm really enjoying Outer Worlds right now.
  That being said, I fully agree with Subnautica being a fantastic game. Probably my favourite game ever.

That hurts.

Trying to learn how to play a Final Fantasy game in your late thirties is like trying to learn brain surgery on a worm. I don't know how I had the patience for any of that shit back in the day.

Children/teens produce more dopamine than adults

Back when I was a kid I could play games for hours and hours. Now that I'm 38 I can play video games for hours and hours.

No wonder Homer couldn't beat Bart at video boxing.

He learned but marge fucking ruined it and then bart never played him again.
- Yeah, Marge really did Homer dirty there. There was no reason why she couldn't wait until after the game was over to tell him about Lisa's jazz performance.

I feel this way pretty often, but then I open Factorio again and the night turns to day quickly.

There's a bit of a hump you get over, though. I've been recently doing some long franchise-wide marathons and once I got into the groove it was surprisingly nostalgic. It recaptured that feeling of coming back from school and just playing games until I got called for dinner.

I do understand that when I lose that flow I REALLY lose that flow. Not sure if it's age or distractions or what. All I'm saying is you can get it back and it does feel good when you manage it.

Also me: will watch an 8 hour stream on twitch

Perhaps you select the wrong games. I kinda stopped gaming for some years. More than an hour was exhausting and most of the games are really boring. Then i rememberd how i loved transport Tycoon and got ottd again. Tanked LOTS of hours into that game. Half a year later i stumbled over factorio again. I bought it in beta and disliked it. Lots or ottd players followup with factorio, so i gave it another try and DAMN iam hooked. Played 60h in the last few weeks, mostly 1-2h hours per day. Its crazy.

If retirement homes don't have videogames when I'm old, I'll lobby for voluntary euthanasia. Aging is a straight negative. Arguments about it making life meaningful are copium. I can have a meaningful life of gratitude without my body falling apart.

Also the fact that you feel like you should be more responsible and doing something else. That’s what eats away at me in the adulthood/fatherhood

N64 Goldeneye was peak gaming

The steam deck is nice for this. It's am absolute slayer of backlogs.

I just got a Steam Deck, and I bought Baldur's Gate 3. Pretty sure I'll finish it on my deathbed. It feels like the hour here or there that I manage to play is not getting me anywhere fast.
- I find the Steam Deck is fantastic for people who have a lot of tiny moments with not much else going on, and for those who travel.

Then the Gamer spirit must have died.

Yup. Haven't really gamed much since my 20s which was half a lifetime ago now.

I still play games frequently, but in MUCH shorter sessions. I'm also gravitating more toward slower strategic/tactical games that can be paused at any time.
- Agreed, it's easier to jump back into those games, too. One thing I hate is picking a game back up after a week and spending the first 20mins figuring out what I was doing last time.
- I did install a Sega Genesis emulator on a old laptop during the Xmas break to play some NHL94 and 95 with modern rosters.
  That was a lot of fun. I also installed Pirates! Gold after a day and it was fun to revisit these games from my youth.
  I loved the ability to save stats.
  However after a couple of days I've not really played them again since. It only cost $14 for the Sega controller so it was worth the price. I don't think I could buy 2 beers at a bar locally for that.
Same, but I keep upgrading my gaming rig and buying games on sale.

off topic kinda: op, what's your favorite game platform (yes it can be arcade)

(disclaimer: I didn't make this meme, but I do share the sentiment of rapidly losing focus/mental energy when gaming now.)
Favorite of all time? The SNES. It felt like the peak of 2d graphics before the slate got wiped clean for 3d, so we saw a ton of great games from devs that had been playing/creating 2d games for decades.
Favorite currently? PC. I have a switch, steam deck, and PS5 as well, but 99% of my playtime is on PC.
- I was just saying this about the SNES to my SO last night, funny enough. GBA almost matches it, and for largely the same reason: experienced 2d devs, putting out their last hurrahs before the transition to ugly young 3d
- For...decades?
  I had to go back and read up on the early history of video games. SNES came out in 1991, and yeah - looking at arcade games, Computer Space came out in 1971.
  Video games are older than I realized.
- hmm 2 portable consoles and yet most time on pc. do you perhaps not go outside?

Five hours straight...

skill issue