Mine is video games. Like, I’ve sworn to myself that I was going to cling to that until at least 10 or 15 years while I still have the cognitive ability to play them. But it’s mid-30s and they say the 30s is generally where your love for video games go to die unless you’re in the industry or having some working part involving games.
I’m having a harder time picking up a controller and getting excited for any game. I know I’m isolated by choice which is part of the problem, but, I can’t even get that worked up for nostalgic games that I grew up with.
To be fair, the video games industry has turned into a myopic late-stage capitalist hellscape, so I think it’s kinda hard to continue to love what’s on offer these days
I find that this is mostly a AAA-title thing.
Yeah it’s actually an incredible time to be an enjoyer of games if you ignore that AAA+ space. If you look at the “III” space (or mid sized dev studios putting out mid level games) it’s kind of where many of the “big” game dev shops were at in the 90-00s.
So if you miss the popular games of this era, then you should be looking at studios that operate at a similar size/ethos. Indies, in other words.
That’s where those games are now. The good games.
Sorry I totally agree with that caveat! I grew up in the ps1/2 golden era and didn’t really get into indie games back when I was into gaming.
I’m in my 30s but I think this is the real reason why I’ve quit playing games as half the big games out there are sequels of games that first came out 20+ years ago.
Who says you stop playing video games in your 30s? I’ve never heard that and it’s not true. If you like games, the number of years you’ve been alive won’t change that. You also seem to be expecting some serious reduction in cognitive ability at an early age. Go and play Stray and Inside. I challenge you not to enjoy them.
Totally! So videogames didn’t exist a 100 years ago, much less 10,000 years ago, the rules aren’t written yetand there is no evolutionary reason to think by 30s you can’t. Do whatever you want and challenge yourself often
Man I’m in my mid 30s and really loving gaming more these days. Lots of independent shit that’s had me hooked.
In the past few years I fell away from cars/motorcycles (building, racing, etc) and am loving sitting on the couch at home. It’s a stark contrast and has been a lot of therapy time, but I did it for years while not enjoying it. I think my takeaway is leaning into what I want and away from what I don’t
We are truly in an indie golden era. So many indie games are coming out with the quality I expect from AAA games. Project Wingman is a good example
they say the 30s is generally where your love for video games go to die.
Such a claim is baseless. Video games have been evolving every few years for their entire existence. Such a claim sounds as ridiculous as someone in the 60s saying that people grow out of watching animated shows in their teens.
Either your priorities have just shifted, or you might be in a bubble where you only see the same old games that have already been done, so nothing piques your interest.
I used to love writing little short stories and whatnot as a cathartic emotional outlet, but over the past couple years I just… haven’t. I think it’s coupled with my decrease in reading, since a good, well written book usually inspired me, but I just haven’t been reading like I used to either. I keep telling myself I’m going to get back into both, but that hasn’t happened yet.
i am well over 40 and still play games. The “problem” is that gaming now compete with lots of more important stuff like: kids, family, dogs, home repairs, sport activity, wife, work, errands to run, and sure I am leaving out many.
So, forget sitting on a computer or console for even half hour. I consume quick mobile games, where reflexes are not decisive (that’s age, thanks).
I even bought a real Nintendo DS Lite with the cracked cartridge to load games on microssd, and my kid loves it, but even New Super Mario Bros takes too long between saves for the free time I have, so you get the idea.
Would I still do hours gaming sessions even if I could? No, too many hobbies and ideas that pop up all the time to work on… Maybe this is because I cannot for the sake of life get closed to modern games. AAA are cashgrabs, indie require too much time researching them, and anyway I need mobile gaming, that sucks overall.
As a mid fifties dude that plays video games, I would say as I have aged other things start becoming more important. It is not that I don’t enjoy them, its just the allure of playing a game till the sun comes up is now few and far between, because I’d rather be well rested for a nice bike ride during the day, or spend the time baking some homemade bread. Also tastes change too. Last year I was heavy Into MechWarrior5 and getting to the “Only 4 % of players acheived this” stat , but today I just bought Wingspan bird cardgame on Steam LOL. Probably the furthest from MechWarrior
I know I play video games much less now, but it is not because of the lack of interest, just time and energy.
Always hesitated to start playing when all I can think about are my responsibilities. The one time I tried playing the new Stardew Valley-like game, I Loved it but also not, because it was suddenly 3 AM on Monday 🥲
If I suddenly have 1 million in my bank account, I’m sure I’ll find my passion for video games back hah
There are many games that I still can’t wait to play and I’m in my mid 30s too. Then again, I care more about story and characters than (fast-paced) gameplay so maybe that’s why?
The sad reality of adulthood. It’s so hard to get properly immersed in a good story unless you have several straight hours to spare, and those are hard to come by.
If you ever feel burned out from gaming, get a steam deck. It helped me, and probably will help you too.
Ditched video games years back, partly because of RSI issues, partly because getting in to other things. For a while it was mountain biking, currently is music. Also a move that was sort of RSI related, but brought its own RSI issues which I got over eventually. Music is pretty social which is good, but also bad lol.
I was into making for a while there, but have faded from that scene since I moved during the pandemic. Now all the makerspaces are 30 mins or more away and that’s kind of a dealbreaker. I don’t have the space or the funds for my own CNC or wood shop, plus not as motivated without the social aspect.
Other one is skiing which I used to really be into. I’m kinda barely hanging on with that, one or two times a year. The traffic has gotten terrible and the whole thing is super expensive and hassly. I’m bored with local resorts and backcountry is somewhat deadly. It does give me a little motivation for fitness since this years trip will be pretty strenuous.
Also: model trains. I was into model trains for a few years, but I realized that I didn’t really have the life experience to make a fulfilling model trainset. Like I did the thing, I made a (really childish) layout with some crappy blocks and streets, and I got the trains to move and stuff, but it didn’t…say much? It was “I’m a child and I like trains”, which is great! Probably wouldn’t have become interested in trains at all otherwise!
But I want more…I always want more. I need to go more hardcore into the few things I can actually tolerate doing…
And as a child, I saw some really cool trainsets built by adults that told stories, made me laugh, made my parents laugh, made me feel awe at the storytelling and creativity of the craft. Even my cousin, who built a trainset in his basement in his early twenties, had a much more inspired trainset than mine (when I was much younger, like 10 or 12). His trainset was cool. He studied how trains worked, how to make a realistic line with realistic scenery and infrastructure. His trainset reflected who he was, and ultimately forecasted what he became. He literally works for a rail company now designing the train tracks.
So I’m kinda “saving” that hobby for when I’m in my 60’s after I integrate enough life experience (and hopefully some capital) to build a trainset that really reflects the person I ultimately became.
My trainset is gonna have a sick, functioning roller coaster, some overly complicated automated control circuits, some heavy metal references, some intentionally goofy shit, serious shit, an anarcho-communist bent, a layout that at least is informed by modern infrastructure design, etc., because that’s at least partially the person I will have become.
It’s fun playing backgammon with people
I would have said video games, because I used to play maybe once a month or two, but during times of high stress being able to pick up a controller and play an old favourite has been a real balm.
Roller coasters. I’m too heavy to go on them, too poor to afford to ride them, too busy to simulate them.