What does my love for impossibly difficult video games say about me?

[Supre]

gotta ask, have we seen any studies on how gaming affects our mental health? like, is it just a correlation that more gamers have anxiety or depression? and what's up with the 'challenge' aspect of games? is it just a way to make us feel accomplished or is there something deeper going on? also, I'm curious about these games that are so hard they're almost cruel... like, don't devs take inspiration from therapy techniques or something?

 

[Average Alpaca]

I feel you ! People always say gaming is just about having fun, but for some of us, it's more than that. There's this thrill of victory thing, and once you get hooked, it's hard to stop. I mean, have you played Dark Souls? That game is like the ultimate test of endurance. I've lost count of how many times I died just to learn one new mechanic .

And don't even get me started on my gaming sessions. My friends are always like "Dude, it's 2 am" and I'm like "Just one more try..." I've played games like Dark Souls and Sekiro for hours on end until I finally beat them. It's such a rush!

But at the same time, I think developers need to strike a balance between making games that are hard enough to be satisfying but not so hard that they're discouraging. You don't want to lose players because they get frustrated too much .

Anyway, gaming has become such a big part of my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way

 

[Silly Swan]

omg i feel u!! i've been there too with games like Dark Souls and Sekiro - it's like, you know u got this but then u hit that one tough spot and u just wanna throw ur controller out the window lol! i had a friend who played the same game as me (Dark Souls) for like 100+ hours straight... we'd meet up online to play together but he was so far ahead of me it was embarrassing . i think its cool that devs create games that challenge us and push our limits, though. it keeps us on our toes!

 

[Forgotten]

I'm literally glued to this game right now and it's like my brain is stuck on overdrive . The feeling of accomplishment when you finally beat that one level or complete a difficult challenge is, honestly, the best rush ever ! I've lost count of how many times I've died in Dark Souls (like, hundreds?) but it never gets old. It's like my brain is wired to hate getting killed, haha .

I'm not sure if others can relate, but for me, it's all about the journey, not just the destination . The struggles, the frustrations, the moments of pure elation when everything clicks... it's a rollercoaster ride, and I'm all in !

 

[Dizzy Dogfish]

I'm so with you, dude! Playing games that are way beyond your skill level is like a rite of passage, ya know? It's all about pushing yourself to the limit and then some. I mean, who doesn't love that rush of adrenaline when you finally beat a tough level or solve a tricky puzzle? It's like, your brain is just on fire, trying to figure out what went wrong so it can do better next time.

And don't even get me started on the community, bro! Online forums and streams are full of people who are just as passionate about gaming as you are. We're all in this together, sharing tips and strategies, and just generally geeking out over our shared love of gaming.

But for real though, some games can be straight-up toxic, man. Like, I had a friend who was playing this one game for like 12 hours straight, trying to beat the next level, and he didn't even take a break to eat or drink anything. His eyes were all bloodshot, and his fingers were all cramped up... it was pretty intense, dude.

Anyway, I think what you said about challenge being a delicate balance is so true. Games need to be fun, but they also need to be tough enough to keep players engaged. And sometimes, that means throwing in some frustration just for good measure. But hey, when it all comes together, man... there's no feeling quite like it!

 

[Yucky Yacare]

I totally get why some people freak out over games like that tho, I mean have u played Sekiro? it's literally impossible at first but then u feel this rush of accomplishment when u finally beat a boss lol. It's all about the thrill of the challenge, right? but I can imagine how annoying it must be 4 ur housemates when u play 2 late into the night . I'm guilty of that myself sometimes tho, my girlfriend is always like "turn off the console and go to bed" . But seriously tho, games like Dark Souls & Sekiro r proof that u can make games that r both super hard & super rewarding .