Get lost in a Game

The joy of playing alone.

In my last post I spoke about the importance of sitting down with a friend and playing a game together. Today I'm going to write about why it can be a great experience just to sit down and play a game by yourself.

Before you accuse me of just promoting the opposite of what I talked about in my last post, let me clarify that this will be about single player games. Playing multiplayer games alone is never as fun or fulfilling than it is playing with someone you know.

Personally, I really enjoy a game that has a great single player experience; one that really pulls me into the world. My favorite games that do this include Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, Red Dead Redemption, and others.

Which games have you played that have really pulled you into the world?

I think that when you find a game that does this, it really changes the way you experience a game.

Reading is wonderful. A good book will pull you into it; keep you interested and intrigued.

A good game will do the same, but even more.

For if you were reading a book about someone experiencing an adventure, you're just a passive observer, watching the events unfold from beyond the page. 

A game can be so much more captivating because rather than observing the main character do amazing things, you ARE that character. You are the one making the decisions, moving the action forward. Once you let yourself become the character in the game, your experience will change. It will get even deeper. 

You need to go deeper. 

Play a game within a game within a game. Ha sorry, got distracted. 

Anyway, moving on...

It’s much more fun and rewarding to run across an alien planet or a fantasy world or  renaissance Italy than it is to sit on your couch and use your thumbs to control a fictional character into doing the same thing. 

 All of us need to find times when we can disconnect from the world and just relax and get taken away. Whether that means just napping, going for a walk, getting lost in a good book, or in this case, getting sucked into a good single player experience.

One way to help with this is to find a time where you likely won't be bothered by anyone. Turn off your phone or silence it if you need to. Also if you need to, disable any notifications that might distract you.

Now you can start your game and give it all of your focus.

If you can do this you will get the most out of the game.

Don't forget about reality though. Its nice. Set a timer, or give yourself a certain amount of time that you want to be disconnected. After that time is up, check for messages or anything important.

If you don't set a certain amount of time for yourself you could get sucked into the game forever! And then I would have to explain to your loved ones how I'm responsible for that... 

Reality can be wonderful, but sometimes we all just need to escape into a game and save the galaxy, dawn the robes of an assassin, or strap on our gunbelts.

Whatever it may be:

Enjoy your game.

Enjoy your life.