There's a bit of a hump you get over, though. I've been recently doing some long franchise-wide marathons and once I got into the groove it was surprisingly nostalgic. It recaptured that feeling of coming back from school and just playing games until I got called for dinner.

I do understand that when I lose that flow I REALLY lose that flow. Not sure if it's age or distractions or what. All I'm saying is you can get it back and it does feel good when you manage it.

Also me: will watch an 8 hour stream on twitch

When I get into something I'm doing in SWTOR, I can play for a LOOONG time.

Perhaps you select the wrong games. I kinda stopped gaming for some years. More than an hour was exhausting and most of the games are really boring. Then i rememberd how i loved transport Tycoon and got ottd again. Tanked LOTS of hours into that game. Half a year later i stumbled over factorio again. I bought it in beta and disliked it. Lots or ottd players followup with factorio, so i gave it another try and DAMN iam hooked. Played 60h in the last few weeks, mostly 1-2h hours per day. Its crazy.

If retirement homes don't have videogames when I'm old, I'll lobby for voluntary euthanasia. Aging is a straight negative. Arguments about it making life meaningful are copium. I can have a meaningful life of gratitude without my body falling apart.

Also the fact that you feel like you should be more responsible and doing something else. That’s what eats away at me in the adulthood/fatherhood

Yup. Haven't really gamed much since my 20s which was half a lifetime ago now.

N64 Goldeneye was peak gaming

The steam deck is nice for this. It's am absolute slayer of backlogs.

Then the Gamer spirit must have died.

off topic kinda: op, what's your favorite game platform (yes it can be arcade)

Five hours straight...