When was the last time you played a game and had fun with it?

Seems like a dumb question, but I’m quite serious. When did you last let go of trying to “achieve” stuff in a game, trying to “beat” the game, and just played?

Much of our gaming culture these days, whether we’re playing on tabletops, consoles, or even our smartphones, is about “beat this level, win this digital prize, beat the next level, finish the game,” and so on. It’s incredibly goal-driven, and that’s perfectly fine. But is that our only definition of “fun”–to work hard at defeating mental challenges? I don’t know about you, but sometimes I find the work of gaming to be just that–work. When you’re grinding out levels on an MMO, or desperately seeking cheat codes or walkthroughs to get through that one pesky level, sometimes it feels more like an obligation.

In those times, I seek out games that are less goal-driven, more exploratory (and some might say “boring”). But for me, gaming is not simply about showing that I can conquer challenges; it’s about giving my brain a little rest in a virtual world. And I think this is just as valid a game experience as the highly-goal-driven stuff we’re exposed to more and more. I’ve met players who seem so immersed in the culture of “winning” that their chosen game has become like a job to them, a huge yet non-fun part of their identity–it’s hard to play against them or alongside them, because of that, but I realize that I, too, can end up taking games way too seriously as well.

Don’t get me wrong, gaming goals are great, and sometimes fun can accompany the accomplishment of those goals…but don’t let the pursuit of those goals keep you from having fun. After all, it IS just a game. 😀