It took me many years before I got back to where I could enjoy chess and similar games as just fun things to pass time. For a long while, I didn’t find games fun when I knew they had been “solved.” It didn’t matter whether I personally could memorize and execute on that knowledge.
This applied to video games too. If there was a perfect build or an optimal meta or a flawless strategy, the mere existence of it ruined the game for me. It seemed pointless to work on getting better when “perfect” had been achieved.
I think playing a lot of competitive fighting games helped. Realizing that “optimal” didn’t always mean flawless execution, and that there’s still fun just in seeing what you can train yourself to be capable of doing. It actually helped me a lot in understanding that if a game is fun, then that’s what matters, the fun. Strategy and optimizing and “the meta” can be part of the fun, but if they aren’t then ignore them, play at your level, and keep finding the fun.
I got really into nonograms (and einstein-riddle style puzzles) and I found the repeat application of known rules to be kind of soothing. Maybe it’s a getting old thing? I’m still not really into puzzle cubes either but I think I get it now. When you deal with a lot of unknowns in other parts of life, sometimes its nice to work through something knowing there’s a solution and a victory somewhere at the end.
It took me many years before I got back to where I could enjoy chess and similar games as just fun things to pass time. For a long while, I didn’t find games fun when I knew they had been “solved.” It didn’t matter whether I personally could memorize and execute on that knowledge.
This applied to video games too. If there was a perfect build or an optimal meta or a flawless strategy, the mere existence of it ruined the game for me. It seemed pointless to work on getting better when “perfect” had been achieved.
I think playing a lot of competitive fighting games helped. Realizing that “optimal” didn’t always mean flawless execution, and that there’s still fun just in seeing what you can train yourself to be capable of doing. It actually helped me a lot in understanding that if a game is fun, then that’s what matters, the fun. Strategy and optimizing and “the meta” can be part of the fun, but if they aren’t then ignore them, play at your level, and keep finding the fun.
Part of the reason why I can’t get into Rubik’s cubes, and it also lingers in the back of my mind with puzzles like sudoku or minesweeper.
I have to admit that it’s hard for me to play a game with an ending when I know I probably won’t ever win.
I got really into nonograms (and einstein-riddle style puzzles) and I found the repeat application of known rules to be kind of soothing. Maybe it’s a getting old thing? I’m still not really into puzzle cubes either but I think I get it now. When you deal with a lot of unknowns in other parts of life, sometimes its nice to work through something knowing there’s a solution and a victory somewhere at the end.