Life has a habit of piling up all sorts of issues that can, over time, start to weigh heavily on one’s shoulders. As horrible as that sounds, it’s a perfectly natural part of life. What isn’t natural, though, is allowing the negatives to pile up without any form of relief valve to avoid burning out and becoming immensely depressed with life. Gaming has long been just such a relief valve because it can help alleviate stress and, in some ways, put perspective back into your life once again. But the challenge is figuring out which types of games you actually enjoy without adding more stress and forced decision-making to your life! Thankfully, it’s not that tricky…as long as you have somewhere to start, and by the end of this post you should be able to make a beeline for the genres you’re most likely to enjoy.
Match Your Mindset
Your first step should be to consider the things you most enjoy. What might seem like an impossible task at first is actually very simple when you look at it from a different angle. For instance, you can ask yourself whether you take pleasure in games of a more relaxing nature or prefer high-stakes thrills. If it’s the former, then options such as RPG gaming, where you move through online worlds and slowly build up your character, might be best. When it comes to the latter, you really can’t go wrong with online casino games. Options like Blackjack or online bingo with daily free spins might offer you the adrenaline rush you’re simply unable to find elsewhere. When you break it down into something like a matrix, you will give yourself a clearer image of which direction to aim for.
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If you love… |
Casual |
Thrill-seeking |
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Solving puzzles or tactical gameplay |
Turn-based strategy games or options like city builders. |
Live Blackjack. |
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Pure luck of the draw |
Faster-paced mobile games that seemingly don’t end (think Candy Crush et al.). |
Video slots, bingo. |
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Engaging in a little bluffing |
Social deduction games and certain RPGs (Fallout games, Cyberpunk 2077, etc.). |
It has to be poker in whatever flavor you prefer (Texas Hold’em, Seven Card Stud, and so on). |
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Calculated risk paired with fast gameplay |
Roguelikes that involve a high level of resource management. |
Crash games. |
Making Time For Play
Once you’ve fallen on an option that you think suits your personal style down to the ground, you need to actually make time to play. The problem is usually that this is easier said than done, particularly if you work full-time and/or have a family. The key is not to feel guilty but also to balance your own needs with the various responsibilities that come with adulthood. If you opt for casino games, it’s vital that you set yourself a budget and look up ways to avoid becoming a little too transfixed with them (in fact, this advice also applies to some serious RPGs that can seriously eat your time).
- Treat playtime like an appointment (i.e., add it to your calendar and set aside real time for it).
- Try opting for microsessions that break gaming down into several short bursts rather than an hour-long slog.
- Use gaming as a reward rather than a crutch.
- Involve those you love (like playing age-appropriate video games with your children).
It’s not as simple as most people think to figure out which games they might enjoy playing while also juggling a million other responsibilities. But by breaking it down into something more manageable, you can end up with the kinds of games that offer you genuine stress release without becoming reliant on them.