After a Year and a Half of Work, I'm Relearning How to Have Fun

I started my archiving work in March of 2025. I gathered every Windows PC game released from 1995 through 2010, every patch, every CD key, every crack, mod, you name it.

I've only just recently come to the point where I couldn't commit full days to my projects. I simply ran out of work to do.

Maybe it was a coping mechanism for adjusting in a life without homework or deadlines. Either way, it contributed to a lot of good in the hobby.

I've now had to accept that I need to start playing - playing something, anything.

It's been an awkward transition to say the least. I don't feel very good about myself in anything I'm playing. I'm really trying to shake that feeling.

Going from doing too much to nothing at all. Phew.

My fiancée is pushing me to play things instead of wallowing about. I'm very grateful to have someone motivating me 24/7.

I'm only just beginning to find some games that are really hooking me in and I'll be sure to post about them here.

Wish me luck and thanks for reading!

Just want to say you've done an excellent job on your archiving project. I envy it as well as praise its accomplishments to others I know personally. You deserve the benefit of seeing the fruit from your labor and I know deep down you have just don't forget it and just indulge in it for just a little, nothing wrong with that. (Like you've told me a few days ago), seeing other users starting to use the archive and download things from it makes it all worthwhile.

I'd be honored to one day host it to spread the love, but we can plan that for later.

Ajdino wrote:Wed, Jul 15, 2026, 12:02 PM

I've now had to accept that I need to start playing - playing something, anything.

It's been an awkward transition to say the least. I don't feel very good about myself in anything I'm playing. I'm really trying to shake that feeling.

I understand this feeling have been experiencing similar feelings. Mine mainly stems from some form of exhaustion maybe? from the gaming industry in general. I could be way off, but one thing I've noticed over the years, is, that what seems to have killed gaming with my other friend groups is that nobody really wants to try anything new anymore. Why do you think that is? I don't think it's a money issue, (for example) spending $7 on a weird multiplayer frog game (even if we only played it for 2–3 hours) and we never touch it again is arguably still a worthwhile entertainment purchase.

I am just trying to dissect this within myself. Do I have a problem? Maybe this is more personal issue with myself, am I not content with what I already have? or is this just unique to my other friend group but I guess what I am asking is..

What changed? We used to bounce between games all the time, and now it feels like everyone is waiting for the next game that's guaranteed to become the new long-term game instead of just enjoying something fun for an evening or two. That shift has always been interesting to me. Is it a comfort thing? like how everyone just puts on Friends or The Office Tv shows in the background cause they already know it? It's familiar? We've seen every episode 1000+ times? Is it choice overload? to many games in the steam library so it's just easier to just pick the same game..?

I guess as I'm typing this, I'm kind of answering my own question. I honestly think this new genre we're seeing "friendslop games" is actually incredibly healthy for gaming and gaming culture.

It's not about your rank. It's not about what tier your battle pass is. It's not about whether you've grinded enough to unlock the gear needed to keep up. It's just an evening with friends where none of those matters. You know?.. like how video games used to be

Ajdino wrote:

My fiancée is pushing me to play things instead of wallowing about. I'm very grateful to have someone motivating me 24/7. I'm only just beginning to find some games that are really hooking me in and I'll be sure to post about them here.

Anyway, it's good you have someone encouraging leisure time and to relax a little. I am trying to talk myself into more of that. Taking breaks is okay and good for the soul. I am excited to hear what games you've been spending time in and if you ever want to play something let me know