We all know that gaming can be a whole lotta fun. But we also know — or should know — that nothing lasts forever, not without a little bit of effort, at least. While you might once have been a passionate gamer, that doesn’t mean that things will always be that way. We all go through periods when our passion for gaming isn’t what it used to be.
When that happens, you’ll have two options. The first is to kiss goodbye to that side of your life, and simply move onto another hobby. The other is to reignite your love of gaming. In this post, we’re going to assume you want to take the second option. We’ve put together a bunch of methods for kickstarting your passion for gaming. Use as many as you need — we’re confident that they’ll have an effect!
Get a Recommendation
There’s no shortage of games out there. In fact, the sheer quantity is kind of a problem. It’s quite interesting to look at the number of games released on Steam each year. In 2019, there were 8,000 games released. In 2024, there were more than 18,000. In 2004, there were only 1,000.
If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of options, then we don’t blame you. If you’re struggling to find a game that delivers the kind of experience that you’re looking for, then ask a friend — or a gaming community — for a recommendation. Sometimes, we just need to find the right game to reignite our love.
Upgrade Your Hardware
If it’s been some time since you invested in technology that bolsters your gaming experience, then now could be the time. It’s inevitable that you’ll grow a little tired of gaming if you’re using hardware that was released five or more years ago!
The upgrades you make will depend on the type of gaming you enjoy. If you’re a console gamer who’s still playing on a PS4, then upgrading to a PS5 can have a transformative impact. If you’re a PC gamer, then look at upgrading your hardware so that you can smoothly play the latest gamers. You’ll notice a difference if you upgrade the following components:
- RAM
- CPU
- Graphics Card
- Storage
Create a Game-Ready Space
The problem might not be with the gaming itself, but rather, where you’re doing it. If you’re playing in a cluttered, uninspiring space, then it’s inevitable that you’ll have a less-than-amazing experience.
Look at putting together an inspiring, game-ready space, and you’ll be much more enthusiastic about sinking into several hours of gaming time. Some key areas to focus on include the amount of natural light, ensuring that your gaming setup is well-organized, and having a comfortable chair. Those three things might not sound like they’ll make a difference, but trust us when we say that they really do. It’s just so much more fun to play in a bright, positive space than in a dingy, cluttered environment.
Play Your Old Favorites
Sometimes, we just need a little reminder of why we fell in love with gaming in the first place. There’s no shortage of excellent new games to play, but from time to time it’s worthwhile stepping into your own personal gaming history and revisiting the titles that you loved.
This pleasant trip down memory lane can reignite your love of gaming in multiple ways. Aside from simply reminding you of the good old days, it can also just help make you appreciate how awesome modern gaming is. While those old games may be important, there’s no denying that some of the graphics and gameplay were pretty poor. As with most things, we tend to remember games from our youth much better than they really were.
Try a Classic Game
It might not be games that you’re tired of, but rather, modern games. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that games were created with the invention of arcade games, but their history goes back much, much further. If you’re growing tired of modern video games, then why not try one of the all-time classics that people have been playing for hundreds — and in some cases, thousands — of years? Games like Go, chess, and checkers are all freely available online and offer a purist version of gaming; they’re strategic, fun, and social, without all of the extra bells and whistles that you’ll find in modern games. Even if you do eventually return to video games, you won’t regret learning how to play the classics!
Find Balance
It’s good to find balance in all aspects of our lives, and that’s especially true when it comes to gaming. The problem might not be that you no longer love gaming, but just that gaming has become too big a part of your life. If you’re spending too many hours staring at a screen, then it’s inevitable that you’ll begin to feel a little unenthused.
Finding a balance between playing games and other activities, such as exercising, socialising with friends, and focusing on other hobbies can help to take the pressure off gaming. Rather than being your only source of joy, it’ll simply be one of the many things that brings you happiness.
If you only have time to add one extra activity into your schedule, then make it exercise. Going for a run is a good way to brush away the gaming cobwebs.
Avoid Games That Annoy You
We think of gaming as a fun and positive experience, but that’s not always the case, and especially not in the modern gaming climate. There can be plenty of annoying elements that can impact your enjoyment of gaming! Games that have too many microtransactions, or which have a toxic community, can leave you feeling drained.
If you notice that you’re generally feeling frustrated or angry during and after you’re playing, then leave that game behind — there are plenty of other, more positive games to choose from!
Play With Self-Imposed Challenges
There should always be a challenging element to the games you’re playing. If you’re finding that you’re just walking through the game without ever feeling like you need to dig deep, then it’s natural that things will begin to feel a little one-dimensional.
There are plenty of challenging games out there that will deliver the kind of challenge you need to feel engaged. But another option is to play your favorite games with self-imposed challenges. These are rules that you set yourself, rather than being official game rules.
Some examples of self-imposed challenges you can use to liven up your gaming experiences include:
- Complete the game without suffering any damage.
- Complete the game 100% (or even beyond 100% — collect everything).
- Complete the game without killing anyone. They call that one the pacifist run.
Host a Gaming Night
Many of us fell in love with gaming during sleepovers with friends. While the internet has been good for gaming overall, it does mean that there’s not much point in gathering all your gaming friends in one space.
But who says that you need an excuse to do that? Inviting your friends around for a night of games, food, and drinks can be the perfect way to remind yourself of the most enjoyable aspects of gaming.
Try Mobile Gaming
Some gaming purists look down on mobile gaming. But in truth, those opinions were probably based on what mobile gaming looked like a decade ago. Modern mobile games are vastly superior to the clunky, low-quality titles of yesteryear!
We’d recommend trying Genshin Impact, Among Us, Zenless Zone Zero, and League of Legends: Wild Rift. They all offer a great gaming experience.
If you really want to stick it to the gaming purists, then try your hand at one of the ‘hypercasual’ games, such as Helix Jump, Flappy Bird, and Candy Crush Saga. We’re not saying that these games will blow you away, but you might just find that there’s more to enjoy about them than you might think.
Only Play When You’ve Completed All Other Responsibilities
Nothing will dampen your enjoyment of gaming more than a nagging sense that you shouldn’t be playing. While it’s tempting to run straight to the new favorite game you’re playing, you’ll find that you enjoy the gaming process much more if you’ve run all your errands and taken care of other responsibilities first.
Take a Break
There’s much to be said for taking a break; from your relationship, from your routine, from gaming. It’s incredible what a little bit of perspective can do! Stepping away from the controller for a couple of weeks won’t hurt anyone, but it might just mean that you can return to your gaming life with new enthusiasm and motivation.
If you really want to lean into this approach, then consider taking a break from all screens. We’ve become so used to staring at our devices that we forget that other approaches are possible! Plus, when you return to your old ways, you’ll at least know that you’re doing so out of choice, rather than habit.
