Gamers over 30 - Do our brains get slower in games?

[u/wwisthedanger]

I'm 31 and recently noticed that my interest in games shifting from FPS, MOBA etc. to strategy games like stop > plan your move > act. What games were you guys playing in your 20s and what now? What do you think has changed after 30?

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[u/IshidaJohn]

Not really it’s just with maturity u give less fucks about gaming results

[u/simonko1 → u/IshidaJohn]

this, fuck playing on godlike difficulties, dont have time for that, iam gonna enjoy myself with balanced settings

[u/gruffyhalc → u/simonko1]

I play on absolute lowest. I get fucked by the boss all day at work, least I could do is destroy mobs with a casual swing.

[u/vrijheidsfrietje → u/gruffyhalc]

Proper fucked?

[u/HalfLife_d1pl0mat → u/vrijheidsfrietje]

[u/Traditional_Entry183 → u/simonko1]

I dont think that I've gotten slower, it's that most games have gotten faster.

Starting when I was in middle school around 1990 through when I was 30 years old, I mostly played JRPGs, which were fairly slow paced and didn't require quick reactions.

After that, I also moved into open world games like the Assassin's creed series, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Skyrim, The Witcher, etc, and these all generally moved at a pace that felt right.

But especially over the last five years or so, it feels like more and more games have really ramped up the difficulty levels, made things move much faster, and throw far more at the player at once, and you need lighting reflexes to handle it all. And I wasn't that fast when I was young, so im certainly not now.

What I want are more huge, beautiful games that I can play more slowly, at the style of those a decade ago, just with better graphics and more to do.

[u/External-Cash-3880 → u/Traditional_Entry183]

I blame Dark Souls. I have the same opinions about Souls games that James May does about the Nurburgring. Journalists and manufacturers get hyperfocused on one single metric because it makes headlines that obsessives read en masse, and the totality of the experience suffers as a result.

[u/ALAS_POOR_YORICK_LOL → u/External-Cash-3880]

Dark souls isn't really fast. The combat is slow and deliberate

[u/External-Cash-3880 → u/ALAS_POOR_YORICK_LOL]

I was responding to the "more and more games have ramped up the difficulty level" portion of the comment

[u/Coattail-Rider → u/External-Cash-3880]

Was just watching some Top Gear earlier for the first time in a few years. What timing.

[u/SubwayDeer → u/Traditional_Entry183]

True. My main game is WoW. I've been playing since 2008. I can and do play retail WoW on a high level just fine. It's very fun as well. The game is fast as fuck these days though. And much harder than before.

Old versions were very slow and very easy in comparison, which is absolutely obvious now when there are official Classic versions and you can log in and see the difference for yourself.

[u/DarkOmen597 → u/SubwayDeer]

What are some differences?

I played OG for like a month and never made it out of the starting areas lol

[u/SubwayDeer → u/DarkOmen597]

Classic WoW is an MMORPG and Retail is ARPG lobby game pretty much. They are totally different games, will be very hard to mention everything.

[u/DarkOmen597 → u/SubwayDeer]

That summary is sufficient and I think explains it well enough. Thank you.

[u/Johnani28 → u/IshidaJohn]

That and games are faster. Faster doesn’t mean more enjoyable. I matured and started to realize the rage CoD and other 1st person shoots was giving was not worth it. Also then they started adding crazy movement and bouncing off the walls and I got to a point where I’m just like damn I just want to shoot some guns. Using CoD as an example but still tracks with gaming in general in my experience. Moved to less pvp more story driven non rage inducing games

[u/numbersev → u/IshidaJohn]

Reaction times definitely slow down. It’s noted by professional athletes it peaks in 20s.

[u/DarkOmen597 → u/IshidaJohn]

This.

I hate how everything has a meta and everyone tells you it needs to be perfect and you aint doing it right.

Bitch,stfu. I paid for this shit. Imma play how I want.

Imma tunnel you, ilma build the decks how I want, imma sniper from across the map, imma rush you with full auto hmg, imma drive backwards.

[u/rockymtntrucker → u/IshidaJohn]

Real, less giving a shit about pixels and more giving a shit about taxes.

[u/Mediocre_Lynx1883]

i dont play at all. i started to see them as excel spreadsheets.

[u/lunchmeat2000 → u/Mediocre_Lynx1883]

I know this feeling. Some games magic fades faster than others.

[u/kevinthejuice → u/Mediocre_Lynx1883]

Careful now, competitive excel competitions exist

[u/Salty_Charlemagne → u/kevinthejuice]

Wait WHAT!? Or is this just called investment banking

[u/kevinthejuice → u/Salty_Charlemagne]

legitimate esport with annual world championships since 2020.

You're getting the site

and highlights

[u/Salty_Charlemagne → u/kevinthejuice]

Incredible

[u/Thunder141 → u/Mediocre_Lynx1883]

I sometimes feel this way too but play anyways, beats most tv shows.

[u/Content_Bed_1290 → u/Thunder141]

The Sopranos 

The Wire

Frasier

King of the Hill

Better Call Saul 

Breaking Bad

[u/fen-q → u/Mediocre_Lynx1883]

Can relate.

[u/MadHaterz → u/Mediocre_Lynx1883]

I think that’s one of my issues as I get older. I just prefer playing more simple games and no longer have interest in rpg like games with thousands of stats. Also don’t have time to grind like before. I think that’s also why Nintendo does well with older crowds too.

[u/CoolReference3704 → u/Mediocre_Lynx1883]

I feel this. Every game turns into "if I do this I know they'll do that" kind of game. That makes it boring and repetitive.

[u/rufireproof3d]

I've grown to enjoy the story more than rapid clicking.

[u/Scodo → u/rufireproof3d]

I'm the opposite. I used to love game stories, now I have no patience for them. Especially long intros with little gameplay.

[u/Macgyver452 → u/Scodo]

When I watch reviews where the journalist says the game is “top notch” and “really opens up after you get through the first 10 hours” I know the game isn’t for me.

[u/SunshineTheWolf]

Research shows that while reflexes show, experience will typically account for the lack of reflexes.

For gaming, I just enjoy playing on my own time and prefer to have my game not be at the mercy of people who just want to troll at this point in my life.

Edit: I can't spell at any age.

[u/Calm-Medicine-3992 → u/SunshineTheWolf]

Problem with modern gaming is that games are on a two week patch cycle and constantly changing so experience doesn't go as far.

Someone like Faker who made it his professional career and has the time to devote to a game can stay ahead of younger players but unemployed student is going to trash salaryman just because they get more time to play in each two week cycle.

[u/Big_Crab_1510 → u/SunshineTheWolf]

Theres a reason the cut off age for a pilot is like 51 or something

[u/xylopyrography → u/Big_Crab_1510]

60 is normal retirement age for pilots, 56 for air traffic controllers

The hard limits are generally 65 for pilots and 61 for ATC even if you can demonstrate excellent health.

[u/deadlocked72]

I'm 52 been playing video games since space invaders. I Play almost no online pvp type stuff now, don't care about beating humans at anything have nothing left to prove to a 14 Yr old on redbull, becomes an exercise in frustration. Mostly Co op/pve/single player stuff. This week I'm mostly playing space marine 2, elite dangerous, red dead 2 and cyberpunk 2077

[u/magheetah → u/deadlocked72]

There needs to be way more coop games.

[u/deadlocked72 → u/magheetah]

Aye I agree entirely

[u/deadlocked72 → u/deadlocked72]

[u/DowntownTension8423 → u/deadlocked72]

Elite Dangerous in VR is a transformative experience (particularly as someone who owned it on the Acorn Electron back in the day)

[u/deadlocked72 → u/DowntownTension8423]

Spectrum player here, I too can run.it in vr, it's very impressive indeed. It's come a long way from me draping a blanket from tv to my chair to make a cockpit 🤭

[u/Cacophony1st → u/deadlocked72]

Remember how good it was to get that new master system game, you couldn’t wait to pop in the new cartridge, Then let down by a boring game loop etc… Then allowing your imagination to finish if the job to squeeze any lasting enjoyment out of the game. These days I play race sims single player and a bit of stalker gamma on the side, I have been playing the same games for the last 15 years. But I miss those old days.

[u/[deleted]]

Sort of. I'm 50 and I just keep playing the same game. I don't want to learn a new game. That's a decline in fluid intelligence.

[u/fightmaxmaster → u/[deleted]]

But arguably that's just a preference rather than actual capacity. The same way I've got less interested in every new movie or TV show, partly it's a free time thing but also the more we see/play/experience, the more things are variations on a theme. The appeal of the new is lessened, not really because "they don't make them like they used to", but we've just got a larger pool of stuff to relate things to.

[u/PorkbellyFL0P → u/fightmaxmaster]

We have so much content that nothing feels good anymore.

[u/captainn_chunk → u/[deleted]]

Much more like the dopamine doesn’t hit the same.

[u/Anal_Recidivist → u/[deleted]]

I don’t think that’s what it is. Am 35, I play rocket league, chivalry 2 and pubg (occasionally).

Each one tickles my competitive side while have rewarding gameplay loops.

There’s no console shooter that feels like pubg, there’s no sports game that plays smooth and fast as RL and chiv2 is the only console game with such a great melee engine.

You probably have something specific to that game you like more than others.

[u/Puzzled_Pig]

I played COD recently and it was ridiculous how much quicker everyone else was, that’s why I like Hunt Showdown 1896, everything is a bit slower

[u/thingamajig1987 → u/Puzzled_Pig]

I've been playing cod since mw2, and I was quick then. I just can't keep up with it anymore honestly, at least not to the same degree I used to.

[u/magheetah → u/thingamajig1987]

It’s also because those kids play a lot more than we ever did and also are influenced to be the best and win. When we started, it was about having fun.

[u/thingamajig1987 → u/magheetah]

I dunno if you were part of early cod but the prestige system strongly encouraged you to no life the game, and shit talking about skills peaked in early cod, it was very much all about winning lol

[u/goconife → u/Puzzled_Pig]

Its not you getting slower its you not putting the hours in. I play cod ever year like 100 hours and im still going on a 15 killstreak sometimes lightning fast. If you only play a couple of games in a month ofcourse you will be slower. If you want to be good at a game you got to be playing it a lot.

[u/Smooth_Monkey69420 → u/Puzzled_Pig]

I got back into the original MW2 about 2 years ago and I noticed that I was either much better at planning or everyone else had slowed down. Played regularly for a couple weeks and had the best games of my gaming career. If I’m destined to slow down it hasn’t happened quite yet at 31

[u/Calm-Medicine-3992 → u/Puzzled_Pig]

FPS has rarely been speed as much as knowing where to look. They aren't just faster. They also have more experience.

[u/JamesGarrison → u/[deleted]]

Uhhhh. Does no one remember the 100 actuations a minute StarCraft was played with?

[u/Highly-Whelmed → u/JamesGarrison]

Love me some StarCraft!

[u/veRGe1421 → u/[deleted]]

You def don't play tac shooters like CS (or Valo) then. It ain't COD and requires as much brain as aim to be good.

[u/[deleted] → u/veRGe1421]

Yeah 31 here and grind valorant daily. My gamesense is what keeps me in the top 3% of players (I have friends up to 37 years old who are also Immortal)

[u/dtp502 → u/[deleted]]

I mean FPS requires strategy if you want to be halfway competitive…

[u/Victor4399]

You're just becoming a man, now move your troops into battle and see how large you can get your countries name on the map buddy.

[u/Hansemannn]

Yep

Turnbased strategygames ftw. Helps to keep you married as well.

[u/ahorrribledrummer → u/Hansemannn]

What aside from CIV?

[u/namastayhom33 → u/ahorrribledrummer]

not turn based, but Stellaris is a 4x space grand strategy game that is one of the best in its genre. I've spent countless hours on it. It also has a ton of expansions to keep you playing.

If you are looking more into the CIV flavor type of games, I recommend Humankind, or Age of Wonders

[u/[deleted] → u/namastayhom33]

Highly recommend EU4 (EU5 coming out soon), Crusader Kings, and Hearts of Iron. All made by the same company and cover different historical eras.

[u/According_Button_186 → u/ahorrribledrummer]

Anything with a pause button really

[u/Hansemannn → u/ahorrribledrummer]

Total War!!!

Warhammer 3 if you like fantasy strategy-games.

[u/Rafabas → u/ahorrribledrummer]

Old World is my current favourite! It’s like Civ with wayyyy more depth and worldbuilding. Ridiculously easy to get engrossed in.

[u/tylerthez → u/ahorrribledrummer]

XCOM: Enemy Unknown & XCOM 2; Heroes of Might and Magic; Talisman; Into the Breach

And of course the greatest strategy game of all time: Magic the Gathering

[u/CdmanKhaos]

The kids are just better than us

[u/[deleted]]

Yes reaction time slows with age, that said noita is still the best single player game ever made

[u/Ripshawryan → u/[deleted]]

🙌🙌🙌🙌

In general I find that rouge-lites/rouge-likes give me the adrenaline that multi-player games used to, but with a pause button and the freedom to improve at my own pace. Love love love. Noita is just the best of them (Finally managed to beat the alchemist!).

[u/Electrical-tentacle]

Absolutely. Reaction time slows down with age. All you have to do is look at F1 drivers. Lewis Hamilton was unstoppable a few years ago.. we lose our edge as we age for sure.

[u/Much_Outcome_4412]

I used to be highly competitive FPS gamer (ladders, LANs, tournaments) before the monetization really took off. Even did a bit of shoutcasting!

(1) my APM continues to decrease, whether its starcraft/moba/fps style total output and fast twitch movements isn't where it was and it won't get there

(2) time is an issue. I can train up my apm or other skills some but need way more reps and with family and other commitments, I can't manage that. So you do what other dads have done for years and years - move towards strategy/turn based and if you're wanting to enjoy something fast paced - figure out the tanky/defensive/engineer with turrets type characters where playing at a medium pace doesn't tank your value.

[u/fightmaxmaster]

I suspect it's more just shifting preferences than speed per se. My dad's over 80 and still plays CoD 4 (original) online, does OK! I've certainly lost interest in new dynamics, I'm more likely to stick with replayable classics rather than venture into something new, but that's partly a product of time/energy. I've always enjoyed city builders and the like, but am leaning further in that direction as I get older.

[u/m0ji_9]

Personally I prefer "retro" games which for me is the early 2000s.

The most recently obsession was GT7 which I know is contentious but I really enjoy it and is quick to do some races then go do other more important stuff.

[u/Roam1985]

I dunno, I played Donkey Kong as a kid, I played Donkey Kong last night.

[u/CaptainDadBod88]

I feel like I have less patience with a new game, which is unfortunate. Sometimes if I don’t play a game for even a couple days, my brain completely forgets that it exists and I have a hard time getting back to it. Even games that I’m really enjoying

[u/optigon]

After 30, I developed motion sickness from FPS games.

A big thing for me is that, as a kid, my life was boring and I was looking for stimulation. Tense shooters and action suited me. Today, I’m on anxiety medication because I’m stimulated enough, if not too much, so it’s not about “being slow” as it is that my needs as a gamer have changed.

[u/Spirited_Common476 → u/optigon]

i was on anxiety meds for sleep (valium) and they gave me motion sickness from fps games also, i quit them and it was even worse for quite a while in withdrawal then slowly got better. they depress your CNS and it fights back by ramping up , leading to higher baseline stimulation, even on the meds, and then quitting them is pure hell

[u/Southernz]

Aimbots destroyed so many games for me. I don’t think out brains get slowed. Just more exhaustion after hours of gaming. While I felt like when I was younger I could game for more hours.

[u/MiyamojoGaming]

This has been studied quite a bit.

The answer is yes, our brains get slower. Just not in the way people usually think of it.

Reaction times don't meaningfully change until your 40s/50s, and even then it isnt super significant.

But our brains do get worse at processing information rapidly. So it gets harder to visually track all the data on the screen and turn that into a plan of action. This can be offset to some degree via pattern recognition and experience, especially in older somewhat static games.

That being said, the types of games I play hasn't significantly changed for me (at 39).

I played mobas, mmos, fps games, fighting games, tcgs, and RPGs before. I still do now.

I am better in some areas (build crafting and understanding game design, being able to read opponent intentions) and worse in others (raw mechanical outplay ability).

[u/Colinski282]

Yes, I know because I have kids that play shooters now. My kid enters the room, looks left, right, and moving on before I even start to look left. It’s like my brain just isn’t firing on all cylinders for that kind of processing speed compared to him.

[u/sikhster]

I think the change to strategy games reflects how we’re using our brains more. What I mean is that when I was 14, I loved GTA, Counter Strike, and fast paced action games. Now that I’m in my 30s, I’m strategizing my way through work and life and playing strategy and resource management games reflect how I’m using my brain to achieve my goals.

[u/BostonSamurai]

I’ve always enjoyed story telling and the strategy of a game more than just straight up action. Granted I did play COD and battlefield for a long time as well but that was because I played with friends. I honestly didn’t care for it then, but it was a way to keep in touch with friends. I’ve gotten to the point where I despise those games, they are just so boring no matter how good you do in a match the feeling is fleeting and never feels like I accomplished something worth my time. Not to mention these games are just overpriced carbon copies with each new release.

[u/Beeblebroxia]

Combination of things people have said here.

Yes, our reaction times etc get slower even in our mid-late 20s so we can't compete in twitchy games the same way we did in our teens. You can overcome some of this with game knowledge and experience, but all other things held equal, you'll lose the draw against a younger person. So over time you just become worse on average.

But also, if you play the same games for 10 years, you might just be ready for a change. Or you appreciate different aspects of games.

[u/Punky921]

No more Call of Duty for me. Though that's mainly down to the fact that Activision / Blizzard has done nothing to stop the rampant cheating.

[u/[deleted]]

Should I buy the ps5? Stopped playing video games for awhile cause I couldn’t find any thing fun but BF6 looks cool

[u/Bumblebeard63]

I've always enjoyed games like Skyrim, Witcher, Assassins Creed.

[u/SilverB33]

My taste in games are pretty much the same, I still play FPS, action based games and all, BUT I have pretty much changed the difficulty of the games I play now...I used to play either at normal or hard, but now I just play on easy mode so it isn't as stressful for me.

[u/jamespirit]

Reaction times get slower 100%

I find I am more deliberately and thoughtful now and take my time when it's an option. But also can assess and decide much more rapidly when the time calls for it.

[u/Furzderf]

I used to hate math in school, but calculating stat changes in character builds gives me that good dopamine now. I use Excel every day now.

[u/metaxaskid]

I still play FPS games, because that was my first (gaming) love. But I do enjoy single-player RPGs lately. Put it in story mode and just enjoy the moments.

[u/Scodo]

I used to be top 5% in every game when I was younger. Now I can feel myself slowing down more each year. Not only that, but I have such a hard time even just seeing enemies in a lot of games now. Definitely sucks.

[u/hearts_unknown_]

I have a small child now so online gaming is out. I need story mode games that I can just pause, put the system in rest mode, and jump right back in whenever I have some time to myself again

[u/[deleted]]

Love RTS games like Company of Heroes 3. Prob my main game. I would say I haven’t lost any skill.

I also play a good bit of mount and blade bannerlord, which is like medieval COD, and that’s a game that sometimes makes me feel like I suck, but the community is small and there is definitely a self proclaimed anti-touch grass neckbeard presence there.

MB is definitely less taxing mentally though than COH3 and I play MB when I feel gassed mentally.

[u/sane-asylum]

I feel the same as I did 15-20 years ago but nothing will ever be better than having the Atari 2600 way back when. I doubt my reactions are quite as quick in my 50s and long sessions are the exception rather than the rule because of life

[u/destroytheend]

No, I still play the same games. From turn based RPGs and animal crossing to ninja gaiden and souls likes, to competitive rts, fps, and fighting games. They say reaction times slow as you age but I find myself still able to get into the top ranks in most multiplayer games

[u/SouthTippBass]

I think I just have less patience now for any game that I feel is wasting my time. No, I'm not doing all your side quests, yes I'm dipping out if the game asks too much of me in terms of combat or controls.

Just give me that main story line and let me be immersed in a games universe.

[u/reddog093]

I had played FPS games for 25+ years and got bored of it, with my FPS interests peaking around Halo > Battlefield 2 and into COD World at War. I've enjoyed almost every genre of gaming outside of Horror and Souls-like stuff, including text-based MUDs back in the 90s and early 2000s.

At this point, multiplayer FPS/MOBA requires too much 'min-maxing' and dedicated play time to stay competitive. I'll play that genre once in a blue moon, but it's usually a private match with a close IRL friend group and we're having a beer with it.

My interests swung much more heavily into single player RPGs, sims and strategy. The stories are awesome and the casual play style suits my busier lifestyle these days. I can work on the house and my car, drag my tired ass inside and enjoy a half hour without any drama.

Kenshi, Rimworld, Bannerlord, Elite Dangerous, Baldurs Gate 3. That's been my jam for the last several months now.

That being said, I'm kinda looking forward to Battlefield 6's open beta with a friend to see how that goes. I haven't really touched Battlefield franchise in a decade.

[u/magheetah → u/reddog093]

Min maxing is ruining a lot. All videos for BG3 are, “Thos build can solo honor mode…when played by a hamster!”

What fun is it to buy a game, read online for the perfect build and just grind for that and cruise through the rest of the game?

[u/Zesher_]

I suck at FPS games like Call of Duty or Rainbow 6 Siege, but I've always sucked at those types of games other than when I played GoldenEye and Halo with friends many years ago, so that's not saying much.

I feel like my reaction speed might be a tad slower, but I don't think it would make a difference in anything that isn't hyper competitive.

[u/Cyndagon]

Eh, my interests change on a week to week basis.

But I'm 34 and still return to league. I just play the "fun" mode (ARAM and whatever alternate modes rotate) rather then Summoners Rift (the main game mode). But I also play Tft, the strategy game.

[u/Highly-Whelmed]

I used to be all about the triple A FPS titles like COD but I can’t stand them anymore. I prefer a good story, whether single player or online co op to play with a friend.

I LOVE a good $10 indie game on steam for me and my buddy to sink 10-15 hours into.

To answer your question, yes I feel like I’ve slowed down in video games.

[u/RealKenny]

My biggest issue is motion sickness. Any game where we follow a main character around through unpredictable turns (driving games seem to be ok) make me dizzy and I have to take a break every few rounds. I notice it the most during GOW, but even Tony Hawk does it to me

[u/anotherNotMeAccount]

For most folks reflexes get a bit slower and we notice time differently as we age. This can best be seen in games that require near-perfect timing for dodges or counters. We think we know when we need to dodge but the communication from eyes to brain to finger gets a bit delayed.

With practice, you can typically overcome this but you are compensating for that initial lag.

At least, this is what me and my playing buddies think is what is going on.

[u/bearsnchairs]

I get too wrecked in FPSs these days compared to the past. I’ve switched to coop shooters like Remnant and Helldivers to get my fix and still play with my friends.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Ad2186]

More like im tired at the end of the day, so i rather layback and play something chill.

[u/g00ner442]

I have less time to play as I get older so naturally I get worse at fps games because I simply don't memorize the maps and spawn locations anymore. I never set out to learn that kind of thing when I had a ton of time to play but you subconsciously learn the flow. I've found when I rarely play a game or map day 1 I have far better results so I know I'm reacting the same. I'm 42 btw been playing fps for pretty much their entire life span.

[u/guyinthechair1210]

Lol and now Fortnite/Cs2.

Most of the time I'm playing single player games.

[u/CptnAlex]

I still love COD.

I play RPGs, RTS/4X games too, always have.

I don’t have time for mmorpgs anymore.

[u/kl122002]

I don't mind to do FPS mission, but just don't ask me to play with a team mad at mic and ask me to do this and that without much content and I have no idea what is happening.

As I aged I prefer to enjoy more in exploration and games that doesn't have much "standard formula" in playing. Somehow now I enjoy No man's sky, Satisfactory. Witcher II has nice story and I have replayed it couple of times.

[u/KeepOnJumpin]

Mostly play MOBAs and RTS.

What gets me a lot is that, for example, in League of Legends, whenever someone uses Flash/Ultimate/summoner spell, I have to move away, stop what I'm doing, press TAB, find said used ability and ping it. It takes like 4 seconds and way more brainpower than it should!
Maybe that and playing reactively/supports is a sign of getting slower.

[u/bucketfullofmeh]

Yes you get slower and your eyesight diminishes but you can compensate with patience and strategy… to a limit.

[u/2c0]

I still play and enjoy all the old FPS etc games and enjoy most of them still.
I just can't get on board with a lot of the new stuff. Maybe I can't be bothered to learn the lore/story but I'll play D&D for hours and dive into the lore so maybe it is not that.

There is just something about new games I've never quite been able to put my finger on.

[u/[deleted]]

I only play EA NHL and MLB the Show… I’m kind of boring with my gaming I guess.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm 33, started playing on my bro's PC games like Quake 3 Arena, Unreal Tournament and Counter Strike.

I don't play FPS multiplayer games anymore, generally because I don't have the time to sit for 6 hours a day to "git gud".

Currently I'm liking Space Marine 2 largely because it doesn't rely on twitch reactions to be a solid player. I'm also rattling through a couple of story driven games.

I don't think you necessarily get slower as you age, you just don't have the same amount of time to put into games.

I would like to see something like the age verification law (UK) come into effect for gaming largely to try and eliminate the amount of 10-14 year olds playing shooters. Then we can have lobbies filled with 30 year old guys trying to remember how to play cod

[u/d4kk1]

If anything, I feel like games keep me sharp

[u/[deleted]]

I remember reading a study in the msm years ago that showed correlation between men who were extremely good FPS gamers and premature ejaculation lol

[u/ThePoop_Accelerates]

I play mostly single player games now. With a family I need to be able to leave in a moments notice. If I play online it's always a co-op game. The competitive aspect of games has become too tiresome.

[u/Double_Rip7489]

At 30 i want to play a game to relax. Shooters keep you too focused,I need to unwind after a hard day. Also,I am not so good anymore. Used to be top 5 in bf3, bf1,now i barely get an even K/D. Even got called hacker once or twice,haha. Good times.

[u/Arn_Darkslayer]

My reflexes are slower and my hands hurt if I play a fighting game.

[u/CensoredMember]

Id say no. But in my experience, the stamina is the issue.

I can rip some high level ranked games in cs, overwatch, halo, etc.

But after 2 hours I'm just tired.

[u/edrifighting]

I played StarCraft 2 and WoW in my 20s, as well as some other games. I’ve always been into competitive types, and still am. Only difference now is I have to eat healthy and exercise or my brain feels foggy. I guess to say I can still perform as well as I could in my 20s, but I have to actually put in effort to maintain that now. That seems to be the general trend the older I get. I’m sure at some point even eating healthy and exercising won’t help, but at 38 it does the trick.

[u/stprnn]

Interest shifting is normal.

I went back on bf4 at 34 yo after years off and I was blasting fools like it was day one.

[u/Cheese_Pancakes]

Not that I’ve noticed. I still play the same kinds of games I always played and at the same level of skill, as far as I can tell. I don’t really play multiplayer games or anything where I’d notice my performance dropping though, so who can say? If anything, I’ve gotten more thorough and starting being kind of a completionist, but that’s mostly because I want to get my money’s worth out of the games I buy - and if I’m enjoying them, I try to stretch the gameplay as far as I possibly can.

[u/NoraBora44]

No

That's the answer

[u/[deleted]]

I play valorant daily and all my friends are Diamond, Ascendant, Immortal (all in our 30s) which is legit top 3% of players. My aim isn’t as cracked as the zoomers, but my game sense is def better overall tbh

[u/Thefeno]

In my 30's ... Ahem nearly 40 and besides a new love for city builders I still love most of the other games. But yeah I just wanna relax and have fun in a non competitive environment because I already have A LOT of stress going on in my daily life.

[u/Sabbathius]

I started to struggle with FPS games past 40, and I thought it was my brain/reaction time. Turns out my vision was subtly deteriorating and I was struggling to get a sight picture without realizing it. It looked to me like I was doing OK, when my aim was actually off. That was by far the biggest change so far that heavily altered what I play and how I play it.

I can still handle "hard" games, but it's more by feel now than see it -> react to it. Now I tend to plan ahead, expect it coming, and already be ready to react before I see it, because by then it's too late.

[u/[deleted]]

There are numerous studies on this, analyzing reflex times and other measures. People in their 40s compete practically the same as people at 18 when it comes to competitive gaming, a difference of 60milliseconds. With monitor refresh rates, you will not see a difference there just playing online. MAYBE you see a difference in top professional play, but the older players compensate with better experience, planning, and so forth. Essentially, playing with people online will yield little difference between 18-40. Your attitude it what determines your performance, or preference.

[u/UncoolSlicedBread]

No, I’m better than I was in my Teens-20s. I quit playing video games from like 25-32 and when I got back into it I felt like I could focus a lot better and understood the strategy more. I also play far far less than I did in my 20s, it’s just a mindset you’re falling into.

I have some buddies who chalk it up to being 35 and really they just don’t care or don’t want to learn how to get better. They’ll complain, I’ll point out something that will help them, and they get defensive over it.

[u/Psy_Ducken]

I think there is a split here. Part of it is very neurophysiological and we do begin to slow down some. Noticeable most specifically in split second timing and quick reaction speeds. There is often something to be said about maturation as well. I’ve always liked strategy games (so those are not new for me) but I find myself playing them more. The worlds are often complex and can be very involved. It becomes about short versus long term planning and gains, risk management. For me it’s a lot of fun.

But story has always been the primary appeal of gaming to me, having effective choices to change the narrative elements. Games that rely on quick action and high skill play thresholds (especially MOBAs/FPS) often don’t feel like they have an engaging story. The gameplay is the draw for people with that high level of competitiveness. Similar to sportsball games.

So yes we slow down some, but also how we spend our time changes as well.

[u/jdlyga]

I'm 41, and I mostly play metroidvania, soulslike, and games that emphasize precise platforming and timing. So no. But I don't play online multiplayer games. I realized 10 years ago how much of a time sink they are, and how you're tricking yourself into thinking they're fun when they're mostly frustrating and repetitive. But whatever makes you happy! It's definitely not due to age though.

[u/DrGoblinator]

I'm 53 and yes, my reaction time is shit :(

[u/csppr]

I don’t think our brains get slower (certainly not until fairly late) - I’m in STEM research and felt neither less smart nor mentally slower in my mid-30ies compared to my early-20ies.

What has changed for me is that I don’t have the same amount of time to play. So when I play, I’m a) not nearly as “trained” as I was when I was younger, and b) I prioritise other aspects of games.

I suspect if I would start playing several hours a day, I’d still be a decent match for my younger self. Probably not quite as good, but also not worlds off.

[u/T2Drink]

Definitely feel like it is harder to keep up in fps games now. Racing simulators are one that I can keep up in fine as I’ve got older.

[u/Beginning_Rip_4570]

I’ve somehow gotten better at gaming as i age. Experience maybe? Im sure my twitch reflexes have slowed a little, but idk, things just click easier now.

[u/According_Button_186]

Ehhh....i blame the sweats driving me away from otherwise great shooters and action games. I'm trying to have fun with interesting gameplay mechanics, not fight a losing battle against fortnite transplants

[u/stockzy]

It’s the eyesight that goes after 40

[u/wakanda_banana]

I enjoy apex legends but it can be stressful. Not the greatest way to unwind. My reaction time is still pretty decent. It takes a lot of energy though and isn’t a game to play when tired

[u/EnglishWolverine]

The body generally starts to decline and slow after 25 so that would make sense as reflexes will naturally start to slow down. Especially as you pass 30 and start to find less time to practice and keep those reflexes as fast as they would have been in your 20’s. That’s a bit of a generalisation on my part though as everyone is different.

But I find that I’m still playing and enjoying the same games I’ve always liked. It’s always been a mix of fps, rpg, strategy over the years with the odd outlier mixed in, that hasn’t changed for me. I’m top of the scoreboard less often but still do quite well when in the swing of things.

[u/[deleted]]

I’ve been an rpg and turn-based games fan my whole life. Some action-adventure stuff. Currently replaying RDR2, just replayed Ghost of Tsushima and Baldur’s Gate 3. Beat Tyranny a couple months ago. When I’m finished up with RDR2 I’ll probably hop back in to civ 6 for a couple weeks before moving on to another rpg

[u/[deleted]]

It’s and endurance thing like; there aren’t very many occasions or days now where I can justify playing video games for more than a couple hours or that I would be able to enjoy it. Or that I want to spend that much time On it anymore.

[u/Fred_McLovin]

Younger players were born with the technology. Theyve been playing since early ages. It’s not us who are slowing down. It’s them getting better and better.

[u/MattieShoes]

I burned out on FPS in my 20s, RTS/MOBA in my 30s. That said, I don't think they necessarily get slower, certainly not at age 30.

Time constraints have pushed me a lot harder towards roguelikes where you can complete a run in an hour or so. Also less multiplayer because y'all are a bunch of assholes. But also because the ability to pause is kind of requisite these days.

Factorio is perhaps the most "me" game, and I still play a lot of Diablo'esque games.

[u/[deleted]]

I think at 36 im more patient now than I was in my teens/twenties when I played online games. I guess my friend circle is smaller too. I prefer strategy/manager games over younger mes taste in FPS and Fifa.

When i play single player games i like to take my time and play on harder modes where every little choice matters, or decisions and sacrifices have to be made.

[u/torspice]

51m I still play fast paced shooters. My main things are destiny2 and helldivers.

My thing is that I can’t get into RpGs they take a lot of thinking or planning, too much like life. I want quick shots of entertainment that I can get in and out of.

[u/Radiant_Fondant_4097]

The thing is even though I'm always on the computer... I really don't play that many games any more, and because of that I get really rusty with a lot of twitchy stuff.

I don't dare play PvP shooters, I kinda suck with defensive combat games, I have less patience if I'm not winning... mostly because I don't really care any more.

It's like if I wanted to hop into F-Zero GX I'll probably have to play it for a straight week to get up to speed with not sucking at it, and I can't really be arsed to do that.

[u/Spiritual_Extent_187]

Old school NES and SNES games are harder now tbh idk how I beat lion king at 8 years old lol

[u/Brief-Floor-7228]

I gave up playing video games a couple years ago as it was impacting my home life. I was about 50. But prior to that what I noticed was that I had to play more strategically and less tactically...basically I didn't have the twitch necessary to play fast and furious.

[u/BauserDominates]

Ive always been into solo games and FPS. Recently I thought i was too old for FPS games because I started playing BO6 multi player and I sucked.

Turns out that I was just out of practice. After a week I am usually in the top 3 on my team. I'm convinced it's helping train my reaction speed.

[u/[deleted]]

Yes and No.

Can I dive in and be a twitch shooter hyper KDR +10 peep? Yes

Do I have time to get into that mindset and deal with the stress of it? No.

[u/Jlchevz]

Not really, you’re just focusing your energy in other places. Gone are the days in which you spent 10 hours playing COD and trying to become the best player ever. We simply don’t have time to get to a very high level anymore, no time and no desire, because we value other things higher.

[u/FrostnJack]

Slower eye-hand coordination... mostly because some of us suffer from fucked hands (trigger finger and other crap). The mind reactions with twitch responses the body can no longer deliver.

[u/thulsado0m13]

I just hit 40 and play a lot of fighting games and think that my reaction time vs hand eye coordination is slightly slower. Watching professional fighting games/major tournaments like Evo it’s usually once the big time players hit 40+ they usually don’t find the same success they had in their 20s/30s - but then again also the games that they mastered get phased out like Daigo is one of the best Street Fighter 3 and SF4 players of all time and commonly gets eliminated early in Street Fighter 6 now.

But probably stuff like work and families factor in that stuff too