Why I Quit Playing Video Games

I have played video games for years, some of them very intense.

Often 3–8 hours daily.

Games in very different categories, on different consoles and systems & with different people — or alone.

But in the meantime, I am no longer actively playing.

Even though I don’t want to “hate” video games and I know how much fun they can be, I noticed more and more shadow sides.

Maybe I can change your opinion or at least make you a little more careful in consumption.

Instant Gratification & Addiction

It’s fun. But it takes time. And it’s no longer fulfilling me.

Not fulfilling in the long run.

Yes, of course, it is fun to play a round, and that is exactly the problem. Afterward, everything is the same as before & we all have to get back against the daily circumstances.

The world keeps spinning when we play. With all its possibilities.

I’m getting frustrated with that.

Especially when you have goals and progress, that’s something that’s really fulfilling.

It’s not about unlocking the next level, climbing the next rank in a game, or unlocking another virtual world.

Last time I finished a game, all I could think about was, “What to do now?”.

Sure, you could cut out so many nice things with this system, but the thing about video games is that they really don’t give you much after playing.

Not Only Does It Not Make You Happy, but It Also Makes You Unhappy

Even when you realize that video games don’t offer deeper fulfillment, it’s frustrating to know that you’ve effectively wasted your time.

It is even worse to be frustrated by the game afterward. Especially when you play against others, somebody has to lose. And apart from the bad behavior I sometimes showed, I always only got upset when the others won again.

Ironically, after losing, you still have to play a round more. Because every gamer knows how unpleasant it is to just stop playing after losing. Even if you don’t give the game any importance.

And after you have finally won, all you can think is “It’s about time”. A zero-sum game of feelings when things are going well.

They Can Make You Lonely

Of course, when you’re absorbed in video games, there’s no time for social interaction.

Sure, a lot of times we’re busy doing really important things and we can’t find the time for social interaction. So I think it’s a matter of the right amount.

But if you’re a person who prefers video games to real social interaction, which is important for us humans, then there’s a real problem. This can have different causes.

There may be an addiction that makes video games the top priority.

However, video games can also provide the player with recognition of achievement, self-respect, and pride.

For many young people, especially the more introverted ones, video games can function as a kind of virtual refuge in which they can hide.

This is something that I myself can fully understand and comprehend, yet it is extremely dangerous because it can result in comfort or unsuitability, leading to a vicious circle.

Especially nowadays many video games are also a social experience.

Playing with and against others, but especially with friends, is a nice thing. Cooperation, fun, and common interests, all advantages of video games.

But even if you play with friends and see it as a social event, I have to admit that for me personally, many “friendships” are based only on gaming together. Classic and good friendships were not the best & the topics of conversation in a Discord or TeamSpeak, when everyone is focused on their own gaming, are not necessarily the best.

It Costs Your Attention — Permanently

That video games cost massive amounts of time should already be clear.

And within that time, of course, they also cost attention, no question.

But even when you’re not playing, they still cost you attention.

When we’re supposed to be focusing on something else, they’re always there to tempt you and you’re wondering if now would be a good time to go for a little round.

But it’s not only the seduction that’s bad but also the cognitive performance, which you partly sacrifice for this one game even while not playing it. In the back of your mind, you already think about what to do next, how, where, and when.

It’s Just Unhealthy

The famous statements about how harmful screens are to the eyes are probably well known by now.

• But pretty much everything else that is physically part of a video game can also be harmful:
• Poor posture leads to tension.
• Sitting a lot is unhealthy anyway.
• When playing in a focussed manner, the necessity and quantity of eating, drinking, and going to the toilet is not perceived well.
• After playing intense video games, problems falling asleep are the rule.

How to Quit- or at Least How to Limit Gaming

• Stop it right now. Not much of a goodbye.
• Make a comeback difficult. You can put away your PC or console. Or you can even delete games and or saved game files, accounts, etc.
• If you only want to play less, then write down additionally how long you are allowed to play only daily / weekly from now on.
• Make notes of why you want to quit. So you can avoid potential excuses.
• Find an alternative hobby. Please do not suggest Netflix yourself right now. If you stop just like that, you will leave a void that needs to be filled. Otherwise, there is no need to stop at all.
• If you have a relapse, it hurts more if you can imagine that you could have been pursuing your new, cool hobby during this time.

Closing Words

I don’t want to force anybody to never play video games again from now on.

I know that video games are extremely fun and there are positive aspects to them, but I haven’t gone into that now.

But the most important thing is that these are my personal reasons why I hardly play video games anymore.

Maybe one or more of the above arguments don’t apply to you at all, and video games, for example, really fulfill you. This may not be true for most people, but in the end, everyone has to make their own assessment.

The original version of this article was published by me on another platform: https://medium.com/louis-petrik/why-i-quit-playing-video-games-f1a36350da47