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[ozz ex machina]

It's called growing up and enjoying this shit less. It also doesn't help technically the industry has just stagnated massively. Look at the leap we used to see in 5 years in games. Now a game from 10 years ago can look and feel like a modern release.

 

[Robot Carnival]

I've been mainly playing Monster Hunter Wilds, Helldivers 2, and a few other smaller games lately and they're all really fun for me. I had already maxed out everything in Helldivers 2 but I'm still playing since the gameplay is the focus here. same goes for Wilds. I'm close to the "end" of high rank but I will still be playing after I had reached that because the hunt is the fun here. just try to find what is fun for you and enjoy. don't worry about if it's AAA or indie gem. you can find a lot of fun in some small and well received titles sometimes.

 

[MSduderino]

Hot take: games are more fun than they've ever been.

 

[Kings Field]

lots of good games came out this gen especially from Asia. The problem is people will dismiss a game because it looks dated or has performance issues. The so called enthusiasts would have looked at a screen that’s 300% zoomed in to see a mosquito ejaculate than play a game with anot so great frame rate or graphics.

 

[hussar16]

back then everything was packed into a game to have the most fun and best experience now its all about profit. cod for example could just release a game with their fan favorite maps and have gamers have fun again but no they release a cod6 with 1 map ppl love and the rest nobody cares for. becuase of the budgets we get way less attempts at games aswell so quality is always fickle with releases

 

[hussar16]

Yeah.

I believe games were more fun in the 90s and 00s.

However, that's probably a "me" problem. As I've gotten older, I just find hobbies such as reading, cooking and learning new skills/languages etc more enjoyable than gaming. When I do get round to playing something it's normally something retro from the 90s or 00s. Modern games rarely get my member throbbing, but like I said, that's because I've changed rather than gaming.

what the heck are you doing on a gaming forum

All seriousness.

I am a 90s child.

Grew up on NES -> GameBoy, then to N64 (my first real love with gaming).

For N64 Mario 64, Goldeneye (GOAT), Diddy Kong Racing, Pokemon Stadium, etc. All fun. Gaming as a whole felt fun. Fresh. Exciting.

PS2 was the same way. I think of even moderately received games (not focusing only on massive hits); Matrix, Shinobi, etc. All felt fun.

PS3 did the same for me... at least at the beginning. Warhawk, KZ2, etc. Everything felt fun, fresh with even gritty games having an element of fun (Max Payne, for example).

PS4 - PS5 has had a drop of in that for me. Granted, I am getting older and don't value gaming as much however I don't think that is exclusively the problem. There are small niches of games that come out that scratch that feeling (at least for a time); Rocket League, Fall Guys, AstroBot, etc. But the majority of games today seem to lack the soul, the fun of what they used to contain. I play and enjoy the Finals but I don't get the same feeling. I certainly don't get it in most story driven games today, that all feel clone-ish to GTA when open world, and stale and safe when not (again, there are exceptions - but just in general).

Interestingly, one of the generational examples of this is Red Dead Revolver -> Red Dead Redemption series. Revolver was light hearted, fun, goofy and linear. I don't find RDR to have that kind of soul, instead feeling like GTA out West.

Thoughts? Anybody else feel the same?

games are basicly copying each other for profit ,for example souls games ,many devs have exlusivly make those now just because its a winning formula for most profit atm

 

[MSduderino]

Fun is subjective. There are more games available today than ever have been. We are just becoming more picky about our games. You can still play all (most) old games on the new consoles (sometimes they are better remastered/remakes).

Today, we live in the attention economy. With everything competing for our attention, there's less time for games and we have higher standards. If games are becoming less fun, that says more about us than the quality of games being made. Or perhaps there's an oversaturation of games such that the cream doesn't rise to the crop like it should.

 

[apple_of_enlightenment]

Western developers churn out bloated drivel. Narrative belongs in video games in the same way it does pornography.

Further: the acting in these narrative-driven games is appalling, wouldn't even make D-rated movie standards.

 

[IDKFA]

what the heck are you doing on a gaming forum

Because I still play games and enjoy the community here.

 

[Wonko_C]

All seriousness.

I am a 90s child.

Grew up on NES -> GameBoy, then to N64 (my first real love with gaming).

For N64 Mario 64, Goldeneye (GOAT), Diddy Kong Racing, Pokemon Stadium, etc. All fun. Gaming as a whole felt fun. Fresh. Exciting.

PS2 was the same way. I think of even moderately received games (not focusing only on massive hits); Matrix, Shinobi, etc. All felt fun.

PS3 did the same for me... at least at the beginning. Warhawk, KZ2, etc. Everything felt fun, fresh with even gritty games having an element of fun (Max Payne, for example).

PS4 - PS5 has had a drop of in that for me. Granted, I am getting older and don't value gaming as much however I don't think that is exclusively the problem. There are small niches of games that come out that scratch that feeling (at least for a time); Rocket League, Fall Guys, AstroBot, etc. But the majority of games today seem to lack the soul, the fun of what they used to contain. I play and enjoy the Finals but I don't get the same feeling. I certainly don't get it in most story driven games today, that all feel clone-ish to GTA when open world, and stale and safe when not (again, there are exceptions - but just in general).

Interestingly, one of the generational examples of this is Red Dead Revolver -> Red Dead Redemption series. Revolver was light hearted, fun, goofy and linear. I don't find RDR to have that kind of soul, instead feeling like GTA out West.

Thoughts? Anybody else feel the same?

Have you tried VR? I am an 80's child, and your experiences mirrors mine almost exactly. Then somehow I got myself a PSVR1 for my PS4, and I was a child again! Wipeout Omega Collection, Astro Bot, Ace Combat 7, Resident Evil 4, Beat Saber, Tetris Effect, Moss, Pistol Whip, Rez Infinite, etc. etc. VR has brought the newness, the experimental stuff, and new methods of interactivity back to gaming, and I can't understand why people are still ignoring it.

Currently I own a Quest 2 and a gaming PC and it's even better: Aside from Standalone Quest games, I can play native PCVR games and a lot of modded standard games in VR (Halo which I never liked was much more fun in VR: Panzer Dragoon Remake, Half-Life 2 and its episodes, Crysis, Resident Evil 2, 3, 7, 8, Silent Hill 2, Doom 1/2/3, and Quake 1/2/3, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Returnal, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, etc. etc.) Thanks to VR I have played plenty of games I otherwise would have ignored.

I've been playing for 8 years and it feels like I'm going through the history of video games from their humble Atari beginnings all over again.

 

[rofif]

People focus too much on value, technicalities and challenge.
Meanwhile, I had the best time of my life just playing like.. hogwarts legacy. Game with no challange. Just pure fun and vibes.
Or forspoken, or Stellar Blade.
Games don't always have to focus on the challenge. You don't have to play all the games.

Sometimes I want something fun like above. Sometimes I want something atmospheric, sometimes I want something to make me feel feelings. All these games exist but are not as popular because the only REALLY popular games are streamer games.... so games that are either gaas or so difficult to be fun to watch streamer die over and over.

I mean. there is fun to be had with difficult games too of course. Depends where you are in life and what you actually want.

 

[Lionel Richie]

A game that is fun will almost always place moment to moment gameplay at the core of the experience. Far fewer games do that these days and it tends to be either Japanese titles or indie games. And it’s why people love Souls.

Western developers churn out bloated drivel. Narrative belongs in video games in the same way it does pornography.

I hate to be that guy that goes against an opinion by evoking the sole exception of said opinion, so this isn't to say "b-b-but Disco Elysium", but yeah, Disco Elysium! The problem isn't that narrative doesn't belong in gaming, the problem is that writing in western games have been absolutely ass for quite some time now. It's tough to come back from the utter retardation of the CalArts tier writing that is so prevalent, but we can get there!

 

[RetroGamingUK]

It's hard to think anything more fun and better in ones 40s to ones 20s or 30s


There's like of fun games out today . Yakuza In Hawaii is sheer Japanese madness and fun and the same goes for Astrobot

Bumping uglies?

I’ll agree with the second part though.

 

[Hudo]

No one on GAF has any fun.

 

[Team Andromeda]

Bumping uglies?

I’ll agree with the second part though.

I find even sex harder work in my 40s compared to my 20s. Hell, I even find going abroad on Holiday a pain in my 40s to the 20s even drinking isn't as fun as in my 20s since the hangover now lasts for 2 days

It hard to think of anything in life that's better in your late 40s to your early 20s or 30s other than the kids are more grown-up

 

[wolffy66]

Fresh ideas get harder to find the older you get, especially in gaming. How many times can you play the chosen one, rescue a princess, or be double crossed by the govt?
Less story driven stuff can be fun

 

[genesisblock]

Agreed. They majority of my playtime this gen is remastered PS4 titles if you would believe it. Sure you have MH: Wilds and what not, but this is the first gen I hardly get any games for the PS5.

 

[Roufianos]

I think games are just too long and drawn out. I'm playing Banishers and, 8 hours in, it feels like the game is just warming up.

If I were playing MGS1 I'd be at Rex's Hangar 8 hours in. Games used to try and hook you from minute one.