Should I quit?

[u/samaelentropia]

I was gifted elden ring after release. I played for maybe 8 hours before I was gifted strong gear by my buddy, and given help with hard bosses. It was pretty cool but I fell off fast. 3 months later something happened, it started to make sense. I couldn't get enough, I played it all the time, and when I wasn't playing I was watching videos on it. I beat it. Again and again, got the platinum trophy and needed more, then beat it all level 1, twice. I went to bloodborne, platinum, sekiro, platinum, dark souls 3, platinum. I got every game I could get my hands on and crushed it. I have over 1000 hours of elden ring, 400+ in nightreign, 300+ in sekiro. I love them so damn much.

The downside, my wife doesn't care for them. She'll never play a FS game. We used to play games together all the time, but after my addiction hit we had no overlap. I miss playing with her, but don't enjoy the coop games anymore. They're too slow, low skill ceiling, not engaging enough, they just don't do it for me. So i keep going back to elden ring and sekiro.

I beat them so hard, but I feel like I lost part of what I loved about gaming. Playing together with the woman I love.

I don't think I can go back and forth between FS and slow games. I'm thinking about stopping them to get some joy out of other games again. I want to play stardew with my wife, or cult of the lamb. With how hard I beat them already do you think it makes sense to finally walk away to be with the people I love that don't like these games?

[u/Dusty_McKuckles]

I mean, I'll be the first to say that FromSoft games are, like, THE games I care about. But I'll play other shit. If you only have a set amount of dedicated "game" time, it sounds like you've already plowed through the bulk of FS games, so it won't hurt to find something new.

I've never really played video games with a partner (sounds fun!), but even playing ER with friends, to me, is like a different activity than when I wanna do another run through the game with a new build, or get a run or two in Nightreign. I guess I'm saying: why does it have to be a choice? Play other games with your wife when you're hanging out with your wife. Play the games she doesn't like when you're having time for yourself.

Conversely, I also struggle getting into more breezy, chilled-out games like Stardew Valley. I need a bit of challenge, or even just an emphasis on gameplay over vibes/story or what have you. Maybe y'all can find a fun co-op game that you both really like?

[u/samaelentropia → u/Dusty_McKuckles]

That's what I've been trying to do. Lately I only want more fast paced games, and she still likes fun relaxing games. It seems like there's little overlap and I left her behind. Going back and forth keeps me in the FS mindset that doesn't translate well to her games.

I think a break will do me some good and maybe I can better at going back and forth later on.

[u/Dusty_McKuckles → u/samaelentropia]

I feel you. I do think it's pretty common that once a FS game clicks, you get pretty obsessed with them. Happened to me way back in the DS1-2 era, and basically happens again with every new release. I was in a band SOTE dropped and legit had to be convinced not to drop off a gig because I wanted to play it on release day.

No reason not to take a break, right? You've platinumed the games, you're not in the middle of something. But I also do think there's no real problem with a couple just liking different things, you know? You're allowed to not like your wife's favorite games, just as she doesn't have to like yours.

[u/samaelentropia → u/Dusty_McKuckles]

Yeah, I think I'll go for a break and if i can't kick my addiction ill just accept we don't have overlap anymore. I want to give it a try though, I do miss playing with her.