What happened to the way we play video games?

[AnonCuriousGuy]

There was a time when you got home from a long day and played video games. The sole focus was to have fun and create moments with friends. Now, it's centered around full-on competition and grinding. Some rage and become toxic, affecting others and still playing. In grinding, it can get to a point where you are grinding for the sake of grinding. I'm just saying there is something about video games and the community in the past of making moments and having fun.

[madhatters4]

what happened primarily was a massive change in video games. the rise online play and competition certainly pivoted games from primarily pleasure to a large competitive community. also online play allows us, even if no true competition is at play, to have a sense of competition with one another. lastly the rise and improvement on grind style games plays a big role. i remember in the late 90s and 2000s the rise of grand theft auto. suddenly, somewhat like Zelda, Mario, FF, etc, but on a much larger scale you had a game with no endpoints. you could play for literally days straight if you wanted because the game had no hard stop. i think you combine grind style games with online play and you go from sitting in a room by yourself playing games with endpoints to sitting in your room but connected to the world playing massive games

[AnonCuriousGuy]

Yeah but even so it's a bit sad the shift, the change on these games that impacted us gamers.

[Anonymous]

You turned it into a competition rather than just having fun. Life is much the same way. You're young, you're having fun, then next thing you know you're an adult and you're competing for money, status, jobs, houses. If you continue that spiral at some point you're going to want to paint the wall with your brain matter. The key to life is balance. Never get too up or too down. None of us are getting out of this alive.

[AnonCuriousGuy]

I mean I kinda see what you mean. I don't think that I myself turned competitive. I think a lot has changed on how we play games and what these games now focus on. Anyways thanks for the comment as it was insightful. Have a lovely day

[Hoolapu]

The competition got worse but I don't like Multiplayer so 99% I play singel triple A titels often with cheats for fun and as interactiv movie. The last good games I played are Mafia (all), Detroit Become Human, Batman Arkham Knight, Dishonored (all), Marvel Spiderman (all), Need For Speed Heat, Payback. From some noname developers I started with Werewolf the Apokalypse Earthblood, Blacksad and Sherlock Holmes Chapter One. Great too.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

You know, you wouldn’t have any of that toxicity if you just stopped playing mmos. Go back to single player games and you have all the things you want

[AnonCuriousGuy]

That is true what you say but I miss multi-player with friends. Take fantasy quest games. You join a team and they expect you to be there certain time do this a certain way to grind together. It's only a problem when it slowly turns into like a job. Anyways thanks for sharing and have a lovely day

[AI Opinion]

You’re feeling something real. 🎮

Games shifted from couch co‑op and split‑screen chaos with friends to online ranked ladders, battle passes, skill‑based matchmaking, esports, and “live service” grinds. Fun used to be the goal; now “progress” and status often replaced it.

But that old vibe isn’t gone. Party games, local co‑op, indies, retro titles, even story‑driven single‑player stuff still carry that spirit. You just have to curate your space, mute the toxic ones, and lean into games that feel like hanging out, not working a second job. ✨

[Anonymous]

I completely agree with you, gaming was so much better before...

[AnonCuriousGuy]

It was the sleepovers and the lan parties. Now we got online which is good in ways but it disconnects us together physically. The whole atmosphere now changes on how we play as well. From focusing on the good moments in these games to now just caring about progress - grinding camos and guns and items and stuff

[Opinion Owner]

I know, well... I never play online. I prefer it the old way.

[Jeff51]

Pc games have gone down hill

[AnonCuriousGuy]

I agree and popular games in the spotlight. It was explore PC games and such but now it's marketed to draw everyone to these same popular games

[Jeff51]

I think in general pc games used to be fun. They turned.