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What video game genres induce hyperfocus in you? (self.adhd)

submitted 4 months ago by WatTyler to c/[email protected]

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Maybe this doesn't need to be said but this is a different question to which video game genres do you enjoy. For example, I enjoy playing Dota 2. Every few months or so, I'll play it for a couple of weeks and put it back down. I'll never play more than two or three matches and I feel 'present' for the duration.

Paradox grand strategy games (especially EUIV), however, I can start playing at 7am and in a blink of an eye it can be 11pm and I won't have eaten or used the toilet or anything. I can do this for multiple days in a row. Furthermore, I don't often feel like I'm 'enjoying' it. I'm just consumed by it.

I'm intrigued to hear whether or not anyone recognises this difference in themselves. If you have any insight as to why you're consumed by some games and not others, I'd be very interested.

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[–] WatTyler 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (6 children)

Comment as to why I think PDS grand strategy games have this effect on me. PDS games are 'real time with pause' and they have overlapping systems that work on different timelines. It means that there's rarely a point to 'offramp' oneself, when you complete one task, you're simultaneously 70% through another task, and it's so easy just to chain 'well, I'll wait for this to finish' endlessly.

Competitive multiplayer matches like Dota however, with discrete matches where everything resets, gives me a (healthy) chance to 'disengage'. I couldn't ever imagine getting hyper-focused on them but I know that a lot of people are, which intrigues me.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I couldn't ever imagine getting hyper-focused on them but I know that a lot of people are, which intrigues me.

"Just one more..."

[–] WatTyler 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

So, this is exactly why I started this thread! Rationally, I can see how it'd consume an ADHDer but emotionally, it just doesn't make sense. Just because I haven't personally experienced it. It's why I'm intrigued to hear from people. Though most of the responses so far are other genres I too have hyperfocused on.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

Actually, now that we're analyzing it, Hearthstone has been my go to boredom game for the past ten years, and a good part of that is probably because of the defined start and finish.

I play it every day on my lunch break, because I know I can get 1-3 matches in before it's time to go back to work. I could pay Stardew Valley on my phone, which I also love, but I probably wouldn't feel "satisfied" when I inevitably realize that lunch has been over for five minutes and I'm in the middle of a game task.

However, when I pay Hearthstone on a day where I have nowhere to be, just one more match... Just one more...

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