One third of the world’s population plays games. Whether it is on their smartphone, their PlayStation, their Oculus Quest or PC (or any other device), about 2.6 billion (!) people game. I just happen to be one of them, and frankly I happen to be addicted to it…
A few years ago I used to buy a game in an actual store. It would be a game I was looking forward to for months and it used to feel so good to hold it in my hands, unpack it at home, put the disk in my computer or console and start playing. And boy would I play it! Not for minutes, not for hours, but for days and often weeks and months before even thinking about something new.
The gaming world has changed. We do not cycle to a store to get our hands on the latest game box. Instead we are bombarded with new titles online and we can even buy and install them with a few simple clicks of the mouse. Prices can sometimes be so low that we don’t even think twice, we just click and boom another game added to our library. I own 477 games today and that is just through Steam on my PC, so that does not include our Xbox 360 games, PlayStation 4 games, mobile games, PC games from other stores and more…
I must be so happy! A gaming addict with an endless supply of games, this must be a dream! Or is it?
Imagine being burned out and in pain like I often am. I just want to play a nice game that either relaxes me or pumps up my adrenaline to move me forward again in real life after I turn off my PC. So I open up my collection and find 477 games trying to get my attention. I only have limited time and energy so I need to decide which one to play. I could be lazy and start the one I played last time. But I paid money for the other 476 so I owe it to myself and my family budget to at least try those as well. I am afraid I might choose a game that feels like a waste of my time later on, but I am also too tired to learn how to actually play that other game to get the best out of it.
Ten minutes later I am not gaming, I am tired of choice overload and decide not to do anything at all… and then I start a game I always start when I am so tired.
On the 1st of November, 2019, I made the conscious decision not to buy any game at all for as long as I can. In an attempt to declutter my mind I just had to stop watching reviews of new upcoming games, I had to ignore the ever ongoing sales on gaming platforms and had to keep my wallet closed. Even if this would work for one month I would have broken the constant cycle of buying, getting stressed about too much choice and regretting.
I am honestly surprised and proud that today, 257 (!) days after I made that decision, I still have not spent a single cent on games. And you know what? The longer I do it the easier it gets. Sure I have seen announcements for a “Final Fantasy 7” remake that I would love to play. Of course I am aware of the release of “Half-Life: Alyx” which would turn my Oculus Rift S in a phenomenal virtual reality experience. And I bet I would love to see the details that “Control” has on offer. I did not buy any of that, and I am fine…
Out of all the games I own, I selected 10 titles that I am interested to put my time and energy in, that are not hurting my frozen shoulder and tennis elbow too much, and that I… owned already.
“Less is more” is an overused statement, but it helps me keep my mind (and wallet) at ease. I suggest you try it one day…
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