Whether you found your old dusty Nintendo console in the basement or you have a new circle of friends pushing you to join their game night, there’s no such thing as a bad time to get back into gaming. When you fall into a rut, when you need a new hobby, when you need an excuse to get out of your comfort zone, your favorite childhood games and the latest gaming fads are ready and waiting for you.
You might even surprise yourself by how quickly you learn the lingo and become immersed in online gaming communities. You might get more excited than you could ever expect learning hacks to your new favorites. Meanwhile, any gaming nostalgia can be thoroughly satisfied by today’s high-quality gaming emulators where you can find and play all your old favorites on your computer. Discover even more reasons why you don’t need to hesitate to rediscover your old passion for gaming.
Why People Get Back into Gaming and Why They Never Stop Again
One of the big reasons people get back into gaming is they realize they’re not alone. According to the Entertainment Software Association’s report about 2022 Essential Facts about the Video Game Industry report, the average age of today’s gamer is 33 years old and over a third of gamers are over the age of 35. Moreover, when people do get back into gaming, they tend to stick with it. The report also indicates that nine out of ten people are spending as much or even more time playing video games than at the peak of the pandemic.
It’s no wonder, either. Many people don’t realize at first that all the fun they’re having is improving their health, too. Here are some of the established health benefits if gaming:
- Improved cognitive function: Playing video games has been shown to improve attention, memory, and spatial skills, as well as delaying the natural cognitive decline that comes with aging.
- Reduced stress: Video games can be a great way to relax, especially after a long day. This type of engaging distraction can keep you from feeling like you’re just going through the motions in your life.
- Decreased loneliness and isolation: Multiplayer games can help you connect with friends and family members, along with meeting new people with similar interests.
- Increased physical activity: Look for video games that require lots of movement to find a fun way to get more exercise in your weekly routine.
- Get a sense of accomplishment: Find satisfaction in completing levels, quests, or achievements in video games, which can boost self-esteem and provide a sense of accomplishment.
Of course, like so many things in life, moderation is key. People who spend so much time gaming that it starts to interfere with their personal relationships, basic hygiene, posture, and overall mental health aren’t going to get the expected benefits from a healthy gaming habit.
What Kratom has to Offer the Adult Gamer
Many adults feel intimidated by the idea of getting back into gaming. Gaming is for the young, they think, and I’m too old and slow. It’s true that teenagers, on average, have faster reaction times and can more easily assimilate new information, but the idea that older adults can’t have fun and excel at gaming is just plain wrong.
The active ingredient in kratom, mitragynine, tends to produce a boost in energy and alertness. Different people react differently to mitragynine, but many find a better gaming experience with fewer of the jittery effects other stimulants are known for. We’re not suggesting you can use kratom to become a world champion gamer or an Internet gaming celebrity. Nor should you try. But if you’re already interested in taking kratom and looking for an excuse to get back into gaming, you may very well discover these things are better together.
If you’ve never tried kratom, we recommend you follow the same advice that’s commonly given for the first-time use of any active ingredient: Start low, and go slow. This just means to start with a smaller serving size and increase your use in small increments until you reach the desired effect. You might also consider trying kratom for the first time in a familiar setting, rather than that first game night with an unfamiliar crowd. That way, you’ll know what to expect and have a solid sense if kratom is right for you.
You can try slower-acting kratom in our raw leaf capsules or get around the bitter taste by adding our kratom powder to a cup of tea, juice, or smoothie. Even with our Black Label capsules and liquid extracts, you can use the product label to carefully control your mitragynine serving size. Shop our entire collection of products to find the best kratom gaming options for you.
Final Thoughts about Getting Back into Gaming
Looking for a little extra inspiration? You can probably remember one or two of your favorite childhood games off the top of your head, but take a stroll down memory lane with these popular games from previous decades.
Most Popular Video Games of the ‘80s
- Pac-Man (1980)
- Donkey Kong (1981)
- Space Invaders (1980)
- Galaga (1981)
- Defender (1980)
- Frogger (1981)
- Ms. Pac-Man (1981)
- Centipede (1981)
- Mario Bros. (1983)
- Tetris (1984)
Most Popular Video Games of the ‘90s
- Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
- Street Fighter II (1991)
- Mortal Kombat (1992)
- Doom (1993)
- Super Mario Kart (1992)
- Donkey Kong Country (1994)
- Chrono Trigger (1995)
- Tomb Raider (1996)
- GoldenEye 007 (1997)
Most Popular Video Games of the 2000s
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)
- Halo 2 (2004)
- World of Warcraft (2004)
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
- Half-Life 2 (2004)
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006)
- Super Mario Galaxy (2007)
- Resident Evil 4 (2005)
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)
- Final Fantasy X (2001)
Most Popular Board Games of All Time
- Chess
- Monopoly
- Scrabble
- Clue
- Risk
- Settlers of Catan
- Stratego
- Backgammon
- Trivial Pursuit
- Pictionary
Want to learn about the latest video games that people are playing? Check out our best games and gaming trends for 2023.
REFERENCES
Entertainment Software Association. 2022 Essential Facts About the Video Game Industry. Theesa.com. Research by The NPD Group. Published June 2022.
Clement J. Distribution of video gamers in the United States in 2022, by age group. Statista. Published October 2022.
Gallagher D. 7 health benefits of playing video games. The Week. Accessed March 2023.