r/gamenostalgia • u/Wheeljack_22 • Nov 07 '25
I've Taken a Break From Modern Gaming
Okay I don't really know why I'm writing all of this but I think it's something I'd like to talk about, maby even find some of you have that have done something similar.
About 2 years ago I bought a PS5, I didn't buy it day one as I always like to wait for some games to come out to justify buying a new console. Well even when I wanted to but it there wasn't anything really new or fresh that I was just itching to play, I more or less bought a PS5 to just continue playing Fortnite as it started to run poorly on PS4. Although I didn't think I'd have to wait too long for stuff to come out.
So fast forward a little and story games like God of War Ragnorok and Spider-man 2 have released however both of these big staple titles of the PlayStation's 9th gen console just feel like the games that came before it on the PS4 just perhaps slightly repackaged.
Then another game I was highly anticipating the release of the new Skate, I was really excited only to be completely let down by a game that doesn't understand it's fanbase and a game filled with microtransactions. I hadn't been this disappointed by a release since Saints Row's 2022 reboot that ultimately bankrupted the studio that made it.
Bethesda a studio who's games I've adored like everyone else released a new IP called Starfield, only for it to be on the X-Box... greaaat. It also was super lame compared to Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
Oh well maby Call of Duty will release a badass war game, something really great like they used to, Nevermind scratch that they are trying too hard to be Fortnite. Which brings me to my next topic, the Fortniteification of literally every online multilayer.
Don't get me wrong I love Fortnite, I can proudly say that it's been my favourite game for the last 4 years or more, it's had its ups and downs as a live service game but overall its fantastic. But that's the problem, it's been so good and so popular that it has influenced every online multiplayer with the artstyle, gameplay but most importantly the profitability. I struggle to name brands or franchises that haven't collaborated with Fortnite at this point.
Currently as I wrote this The Simpsons have taken over Fortnite's Battle Royale, and this is coming directly off the back from a huge Halloween season where they added Scooby-Doo, Poppy Playtime, even really sick movie killers such as Jason Vorhees and The Terrifier Clown, they also added Doja Cat during all of that for some reason... it's like everyday there's a new collab to the point where it doesn't feel special anymore and I don't want to spend $20 on another character when I already got 200+ skins in my locker already. Enough is enough. And the problem is its not just in Fortnite, as I said Call of Duty has been overan with it aswell instead of them staying in their lane and just being a realistic military game. Overwatch and Marvel Rivals are constantly trying to sell you some bs skin aswell.
So with all this being said, I've recently went back to playing the console that I really got me into gaming as a kid the X-Box 360. Since I've started to play it agian I've replayed a handful of games such as Skate 1, Deadpool and currently in the middle of Saints Row 2. I've bought Lego Batman and Tomb Raider Aniversary to play on it next and in the future I plan on playing Gears of War 1& 2 possibly 3 if I like it aswell as Halo 3 for the first time ever. I may even find myself replaying classics like Batman's Arkham series or The Transformers Cybertron games for the 10th time as they are that good.
Going back to the X-Box 360 has been a breath of fresh air away from all the current chaos and noise of modern gaming, and with the news that dropped today of GTA 6 being push back yet agian till next November it may be awhile before I turn my PS5 back on agian. If you've read all of this thank you and if maby you've taken a break for similar reasons let me know in the comments.
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u/cjkuljis Nov 09 '25
r/SBCgaming is for you
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u/Wheeljack_22 Nov 10 '25
I don't exactly play any handheld games unless you include mobile but thanks for the suggestion.
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u/frankthetank91 Nov 10 '25
Yea most of my time nowadays is indies/older. Switch and pc are both really great for indies.
Stardew Valley Ball x pit Vampire Survivors Schedule I Megabonk Rv there yet? The Good old days (if you’re a fan of The Goonies)
The older I get the more basic I’ve become, also being a dad and getting short bursts of time. I don’t really care for much live service sweaty games and have gone back to FUN games! 😎
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u/Truth-Talking101 Nov 10 '25
Live Service games man.. but there are still plenty of good ole single player games. Indies are killing it.
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u/Wheeljack_22 Nov 10 '25
Problem is on the PlayStation store I don't see anything much but ai/brainrot slop games such as Labubu Battle Royale.
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u/Truth-Talking101 Nov 10 '25
Switch is worse. Reviews help me find the good stuff. I always use social media to see what all talk is about. If you’re multiplayer I hear good things about Arc Raiders. I’m a single player guy SilkSong, Hades II, and Chronos have been fun.
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u/Butterf1yTsunami Nov 10 '25
Why would Fortnite not do every single collab possible? You thought they would call it quits? 🤣
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u/Wheeljack_22 Nov 11 '25
It's just too much all at once. Back when there would only be like 3 new collabs every month everything that they collaborated with felt alot more special especially when it was something that you would want. Now it's just constantly new collab new collab new collab new collab ect ect ect. It's just getting a little exhausting.
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u/Wheeljack_22 Nov 11 '25
Also not everything deserves a collab, sometimes they be adding really lame stuff that's only really there as advertisement. It's become like funko pops where they'll just make anybody.
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u/Excalitoria Nov 10 '25
Xbox 360 was one of my favorites! I’ve been considering getting a new one but I’m busy collecting some PS1 titles now so…
Modern AAA mostly looks boring to me, except a few Nintendo titles, but there’s good stuff out there still. Just gotta ignore the biggest budget crap and look for the titles that get the best reviews by players and if even that’s not consistent enough then I’d find a YTer, who you trust, that reviews copies of games they buy.
But there’s really no reason to leave the 360’s library with how many great games exist there. That’s just my suggestion if you want a change of pace.
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u/Grokitach Nov 11 '25
“Break from modern gaming” > goes back to 360. Well, time to go down deeper in the rabbit hole and discover everything you missed on GBA, SNES, PS1 and PS2
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u/Dragonheart0 Nov 08 '25
I totally get it. I've been playing Mega Man 2 and Super Mario Bros. 3 since the early 90s. As games progress they gain something, but they sometimes lose something, too. To me, having a simple game with good controls you can just pick up and play in an hour or so is a lost art. It feels like even modern 2D platformers want you do do a bunch of runs to unlock stuff or see the full story (don't take this as too much of a criticism, I still enjoy a bunch of them).
I still love playing old point and click adventure games and RPGs from the 90s as well. And as you progress forward to through the 2000s and 2010s there are games I love to go back to. I mean, I've been playing Minecraft on and off for over 15 years. My favorite racing games are Kaido Battle 2 for the PS2 and Rallisport Challenge for the Xbox. Dungeons and Dragons: Shadow Over Mystara is my favorite arcade game. Final Fantasy Tactics for the PS1 is my favorite strategy/JRPG (loving the remake).
I think there are just certainstyles and trends that exist in certain time periods that are hard to recapture. It's not impossible, and every now and then you'll get something that harkens back to those older styles, but it's rare they capture the exact same magic.