Look to play different games. Here are some examples:

• Feather
• Everything
• What remains of Edith Finch?
• The Stanley Parable
• Journey of the broken circle
• Gris
• Superliminal
• qube

Couch Co-Op is also great

• It takes Two
• Snipperclips
• Lots of Lego games
• Super Mario 3D World
• Luigi’s Mansion 3
• Untitled Goose Game
• Lovers in a dangerous Spacetime
• Overcooked

Gamification doesn’t work for me either for everyday tasks. What somewhat works is novelty, curiosity, creativity, and friendly company. Dance breaks and generally physical movement, intentional breathing, and making (silly) sounds is good to keep me going.

You’ve perfectly described how I play games. The only time I play is when my friends do, and that’s just because I want to stay in the social loop. The game itself feels like a second job.

Usually by the time I sit down to play, I’m so dog-tired that it feels forced.

I love playing video games, especially open world ones like Skyrim, BG3, AC, and the EE versions of Neverwinter and such. Or Divinity 2 couch coop with my husband. I cannot stand watching tv or movies on the other hand. I always feel like there’s something else I should be doing, whereas with games I am doing something. Tv is also like coffee to me, it wakes my brain up and I can’t sleep. All that being said I don’t play that often. Usually in bursts and then a different hobby takes my attention for a few days/weeks/months. I don’t mind the repetitive tasks/quests generally, it’s nice to have a set, familiar goal sometimes and then back to the storyline. I never play games online, I don’t want to be pressured or heaven forbid yelled at. I just want to wander about, pick some flowers, kill some dragons. You know? I am a bit of a completionist for maps and loot, don’t really care about the achievements though.

I do agree with you on the gamification thing. It does nothing for me and just annoys me. Glad that it works for others though!

I’m in your boat.

I don’t play anything anymore, basically. Even “nostalgia” doesn’t feel fun because the dopamine hit from figuring the mechanics/lore out has passed.

My advice: co-op.

Playing a cooperative game with mates is fun. As an example, I got into Baldurs Gate 3 with family; never would have gotten so engrossed without them, and it sped up combat.

We started an Age of Wonders 4 game. One of them bounced off because it was too slow waiting for each other’s turns, but it was enough to get me engrossed with its systems and lore.

As for real life?

Gamification is a freaking menace.

Organizer apps are great. Apps/reminders that beat you in the head are excellent. But I’ve had just about enough manipulation from my phone, thank you.

So, I live for progress indicators. Doesn’t sound as fun when you call them that, but unlocking that skill tree, looting better gear, leveling up, oh God how I love leveling up.

I’m as old school as the term “beating the game”. Most games today pretty much push you along the storyline until you get to the end, but I was raised on that desire to beat the game. So, I ride it out to the end, collecting progress indicators the whole way.

I just think it’s funny how we’ve ADHDed ourselves into opposite extremes.

When one breaks something down to its components, nothing is new under the sun. I used to feel the same about games several years ago (albeit a little more about story rather than gameplay), but I eventually I reframed that into familiar systems and stories being comfort food. Now I actively seek those things out. That way, I’m generally assured of some enjoyment at worst, and at best I find some fun ways developers are putting twists on frequently-used concepts. Some of my all-time favorites are games I’ve played only in the past few years.

I also felt that way about time wasting, but once I started being more intentional and structured about my daily goal setting and time boxing my day, that went away. Now when I’m done for the day, I’m done for the day and I give myself permission to have downtime. Tangentially, Adderall also helped with this by giving me a hard physical signal to tell me I’m probably not going to get much more done for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, these days now I’m often too tired during the week. 🤷🏻‍♀️

That said, I also don’t like achievements. It’s something I would have loved 30 years ago back when there was way less to play, but there’s too much choice now. I’d rather see what else is out there instead of spending time digging into something I’ve already seen most of. Feels like diminishing returns. Some people really get into it, though.

My favourite type of game is turn based, with semi random/procedural generation of many elements of the gameplay, whether it be characters/map/team composition etc. The randomness is what lets me keep going and feeling like its new. The mechanics aren’t new, but the application is

Dunno what types of games you check, but maybe pick something totally at random? Indies and old games may be interesting to add to the pool if you do it.

Also, not on gaming per se, but if you’re too busy too constantly, please find some time to relax, else you could be burning yourself out.

And on online multiplayer, usually the other players are my source of stress, specially on co-op as they don’t usually seem to know what they’re doing.

And gaming helps me even when they are a bit bland because it’s a media I can interact with when consuming. Things like movies and music, I need a secondary activity to keep myself active.

My main problem is stress, the permanent feeling of “you have stuff to do” is ruining any immersion or fun.

In any case, weed helps a lot.

Sativa for actually doing stuff, indica for relaxing

Oddly enough I feel the same way about games now. I used to play a lot but haven’t touched anything in ages. I do however watch retrospectives about games every single night in bed.

I have way more excitement now about listening about game development or retro game reviews/systems than I ever did about actually playing them.

My daughter recently asked why I don’t play game if I listen/watch about them so much. I didn’t want to tell her that her growing up is a huge reason why, but it’s honestly the truth. I don’t have time to play anymore and that time is better doesn’t with her and furthermore the rewards for playing aren’t worth it but learning about it through these videos is somehow even more satisfying now.