Just like preferences for certain foods or hobbies, gaming tastes can change over time. This topic is currently sparking lively discussions on Reddit. As one 50-year-old gamer shared, playing Battlefield 6 made him realize how much his taste in games has evolved.

The thread’s creator wrote that he once spent thousands of hours playing Bad Company 2 as well as Battlefield 3, 4 and 1, but now rarely enjoys multiplayer shooters. Instead of fun, he feels stress and anxiety. “Maybe it’s because I have exponentially more responsibility now, or simply because I’m old and tired,” he reflected. He didn’t even last 10 hours in Battlefield 6. As he added, his wife jokingly called it “old man mode” – like a “sensitive marinara” sauce for delicate players.

Many of the more than 2,500 comments on Reddit share similar experiences: fast-paced PvP shooters seem to lose their appeal with age, while single-player and co-op games take center stage. Users often compare today’s multiplayer games to earlier days, recalling them as slower but also more strategic and cooperative.

Someone who spent whole nights playing Counter-Strike 20 years ago might now prefer a few relaxing hours in Stardew Valley. The main reason is likely a shift in life priorities, making competitive games less appealing. Another factor could be that resilience often declines with age, making multiplayer shooters more stressful than enjoyable – or that slower reaction times inevitably lead to a drop in skill. Ultimately, preferences change, but not necessarily the joy of playing. Gaming remains a flexible hobby that adapts to new life situations and can be a lifelong companion.

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As a child in the 90s, my Gameboy was my steady companion. After school, the PlayStation was fired up. When I finally got my first PC, I was completely hooked. My passion for gaming has never waned since. For me, writing for Notebookcheck means reporting on topics that are really close to my heart – in addition to gaming, I also like to write about e-mobility, photovoltaics and innovative gadgets. When I’m not sitting at my computer, I’m probably on water rescue duty on the Baltic coast or trying to counteract the downsides of my geek life – namely sitting for long periods – at the local swimming pool.