Small Games, Big Joys
Playing more linear/party games to combat gaming fatigue
I think it’s safe to say that I am completely burnt out on 100+ hour AAA open world games. As beautiful as they can be with hyper realistic graphics showcasing every single pore and strand of hair, they’re just becoming too open, too long and too time consuming; it’s almost like having another part time job trying to complete them. I just want to sit down for an hour or two at the weekend and have fun not clock in for another shift of fetch quests.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older and I’ve been gaming for decades at this point or if it’s because a vast majority of games have no heart and soul nowadays amongst a myriad of other reasons but I have been BURNT. OUT.
Instead of giving up gaming entirely I’ve taken a short break from it all. I set down my Switch and PlayStation controller and focused on some other hobbies for a while. It gave me time and space to really think about what kinds of games I actually want to play vs what I’m picking up because it’s hot right now, and which give me an actual sense of enjoyment and satisfaction while playing them.
Now I’m refreshed and ready to dive into some games again. This time I’m choosing to only play Nintendo games I know I already like, as well as cosy indies. The good thing about a lot of Nintendo and indie games is that they’re typically smaller and much more linear, with just the right amount of vibes and challenge to keep me entertained. I can hop on, enjoy a few levels, get a satisfying sense of progress, and then put it down and do something else that doesn’t trap me on the couch all weekend long.
Both Mario Kart and Switch Sports are similar in that way with quick rounds that are easy to jump in and out of either alone or with my boyfriend, family and friends, and a great way to stretch my actual muscles doing some badminton and my competitive muscles with a few well aimed red shells without hitting that fatigue wall. And once I’ve had enough I can just stop. No grinding, no fetch quests, no looming boss fight!
It’s funny how something as simple as a linear game or a quick sports match can feel so refreshing after years of daunting, sprawling RPGs and massive yet empty open worlds.
Maybe it’s not about the length or the scale anymore, but about the pure joy of playing.