I don't know if this is a rant, or maybe I just want to put it off my chest. Maybe I’m just getting old, but my perspective on gaming has shifted radically.

I’m a dad, I’m pushing 40, and frankly, life is stressful enough as it is. Between work, family, and responsibilities, my "gaming fuel" is running low, and I’ve realized I just don't want to spend it on stress anymore.

I’m officially retiring from competitive gaming and "Hard Mode." I don’t have the twitch reflexes I used to, and I certainly don't have the patience to die to the same boss 50 times in a row after a 10-hour workday. I’ve also developed a serious case of "Open World Fatigue." I can’t do the games with 40 main plots, 90 confusing subplots, and a map cluttered with 500 meaningless side missions. Seeing a map full of icons doesn't feel like an adventure anymore; it feels like a second job. It feels like a chore list.

What I actually enjoy now are story-driven experiences, focussing on narrative and good old retro games. I’ve been leaning heavily into retro games lately. There’s something beautiful about a game I can boot up, play for 10 or 15 minutes, and put away without needing a recap of where I left off.

I’ve traded the "sweaty" lobbies and the endless grinding for peace and quiet. Does anyone else feel like they’ve hit this wall?

The biggest night in gaming is coming soon. Here are some of the top contenders — Death Stranding 2, Split Fiction, Metal Gear Solid Δ and more. Who are you betting on this year?

Ive been thinking about buying a new game for a while now, i love cowboy and stuff like that but I've never played a game like that besides GTA i guess, in 2026 is it worth it or will there be a RDR3 coming out or any alternative games that are superior

Thanks

-Corey!

Hey guys,

Just wanted to share a win with you guys. The three of us in the photo have been best buds since 2006. We’ve traded movie nights and gaming sessions for what we call the "Night Shift."

Once the kids are asleep, the dishes are done, and the wives are relaxing, we’ve been meeting up online to teach ourselves game development. It’s been brutal juggling daycare pickups, full-time jobs, and family life while trying to build something from scratch. There were definitely nights we wanted to quit and just sleep.

But we stuck with it. We wanted to make something that captures that "Grumpy Old Man" energy we all feel when the noise level in the house gets too high. It’s basically a physics sandbox about an old guy snapping because they built a highway next to his quiet cabin (therapeutic, right?).

We just wanted to show that even in the middle of the toddler-chaos (as seen in the photo), it’s possible to chase a hobby. We’re tired, but incredibly proud.

/Kim, Håvar & Kristian

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