How to Stop Playing Video Games by Exploring New Hobbies

Young professional esport gamer with headphones playing and winning competitive internet MMORPG cyber championship in first person shooter strategy online video game on high end computer gaming rig

Key Takeaways:

Video games are only one of several ways to bring entertainment to your day. Others include playing pinball, TCG, or starting your own collection of such things.
These options can be just as thrilling and satisfying as spending long hours playing your favorite video game titles.

A report by the Entertainment Software Association stated that Americans spent close to USD$60 billion on video games last year. While a slight decrease from 2023, it’s still more than double the USD$28.4 billion in spending a decade ago. Analysts credit it to the rise of mobile gaming, which made up half of total spending, amid a decline in console sales. (1)

With upcoming titles like the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto VI (cross your fingers), 2026 is shaping up to be quite the time to be a gamer. But for all the adrenaline rush and fun they offer, video games can become tiresome after playing them for too long. It may even lead to an unhealthy gaming addiction, which risks developing emotional or behavioral issues.

Fortunately, video games aren’t the only source of entertainment.

Pinball

Before video games ever hooked humans into sinking long hours, there was pinball. Not the Space Cadet 3D kind, the one you find at an arcade or bar and pay a buck per game.

You’d be surprised at how many people have an unbridled obsession with keeping the ball on the board for as long as possible. The sight of your score ticking up with every accurate shot toward the bumpers or bonuses gives as much of a rush as the last few seconds of a battle royale match. Then, setting a new high score at the end rewards you with euphoria.

You’d think that pinball machines are rare in an era filled with consoles and smartphones powerful enough to run virtual versions of them. That may have been the case if not for, as The Economist wrote, a generation that grew up with the machines now being able to pay to play. In addition to the rush and fun, there’s also the nostalgia. (2)

Then, you have people such as Jason Zahler, a professional pinball player with 13 years of experience to back it up. Yes, professional pinball is a thing, and Zahler is currently first in the World Pinball Pro Rankings.

Those who really have money to burn take it up a notch by purchasing a pinball machine for sale for their luxury game rooms at home. On top of that, these aren’t your ordinary pinball games that your folks grew up with. Made from quality materials and featuring modern technology for enhanced gameplay, pinball machines can be as much fun as today’s video games.

Don’t let anyone tell you that pinball is all about luck. Everything from timing the flippers to tilting (without triggering the machine’s anti-cheat) requires skill. In fact, at the peak of the prohibition on pinball, proving the game was one of skill got it unbanned in most of the U.S.

There’s another way to enjoy these machines, but more on that later.

Trading Card Game

Think back to the last time you played a game of cards with friends or family. Chances are, it was before video games went mainstream—or just a few weeks ago during game night.

Sure, old maid and poker are classics, but a different kind of card game comes to mind for many gamers. It’s the kind that lets you set monsters in attack or defense position or boost their energy to make them hit harder. That’s trading card games (TCGs) in a nutshell.

TCGs have their video game counterparts, but many players still prefer the thrill of a face-to-face, well, faceoff. TCG tournaments still see high attendance, with the 2024 Yu-Gi-Oh! The Championship Series in Tokyo has attracted more than 7,400 players. Guinness World Records (GWR) formally recognized it as the largest TCG tournament to date. (3)

Whereas pinball is mostly skill, TCG can be a mix of luck and skill due to its nature. The luck part refers to the content of the card packs you need to buy to build a decent deck. Whether you purchase the standard 10-card packs or the full-deck ones, it still comes down to, as the gacha gaming space puts it, RNGesus.

The skill aspect of TCG comes in during the actual gameplay. Apart from understanding the deck’s strengths and weaknesses, knowing when to play a specific card is key. Depending on the rules, tournaments limit the number of a particular type of card a deck can have.

If you’re new to the TCG scene, a good option is often the franchise you’re already familiar with or a fan of. The advantage of familiarity helps make the learning curve a bit less steep, as you may have already heard of some of the terms used. Yu-Gi-Oh! is a good example, as the anime series features the card game in action.

Not all franchises have their own (or are tied to a) TCG, in which case, several beginner-friendly ones include Disney Lorcana and Pokémon TCG. The latter is great if you plan to compete in its TCG tournament in the future.

Video Game Development

Male 3D designer sitting at the table at home and making animation for video game character, using modern computer and software for creating 3D modeling projects

It isn’t unusual for gamers to develop their own game out of love for a game. Take Project Wingman, for example, a flight action game that many fans see as a love letter to a more high-profile franchise: Ace Combat.

The resemblance between the two games needs no detailed breakdown. You have a silent protagonist who could survive inhuman G forces, piloting a plane that can carry hundreds of missiles (plus extra special weapons). They’re shoved into a war that fields aircraft and superweapons whose ludicrous designs spit in the face of real-world physics.

But if there’s one distinguishing factor, it’s the development team. Whereas Ace Combat’s development team had the backing of multimedia giant Bandai Namco, Project Wingman’s team consisted of only three members working from home. Fortunately, they got help from voice actors and other staff who were knowledgeable about Ace Combat.

The result is a 93% rating (based on roughly 20,000 users) on Steam so far. Impressive for a game largely funded through Kickstarter.

A video game’s success can hinge on several factors, but passion drives all. Developers who possess the drive or motivation to overcome common hurdles like buggy code and limited resources can and will. Gamers are no strangers to passion, especially if they’re grossly invested in the game’s lore and mechanics.

While having a background in programming helps, anyone can create a game as long as they have the passion. Assuming you have zero experience, start by learning the basics and take some coding projects to build experience. Then, think about the game you want to make, down to the lore.

Remember to temper your expectations while making your game. Unless a famous studio extends a helping hand or an irresistible offer, don’t expect the quality to match that of an AAA game at the start. Growth doesn’t happen overnight.

Collectibles

Collectibles are huge among gamers who have invested enough in a franchise. You’ll find no shortage of “collector’s editions” of renowned games like Elden Ring, God of War, and even Farming Simulator. Apart from the base game, they include all manner of collectibles for gamers to put on display somewhere they can admire.

On that note, collectibles are huge among people with enough cash and commitment to pursue them as a hobby. Anything can be a collectible, from common ones like figurines and limited-edition merch to weird ones like…traffic cones? Yeah, apparently, GWR has a record for that, which has belonged to a British man for 25 years and running.

Pinball machines are a good example. You’d think that having one at home is enough, but that’s only if you want one for playing. Others like Rob Berk collect them like crazy, leading to not just a place in the GWR but also opening an arcade and hosting a pinball convention every year. And even the arcade isn’t big enough to house all 1,000-plus machines. (4)

And yes, they’re all in working order (at least the ones on display).

Today’s machines, made by manufacturers like Jersey Jack, are making it harder for pinball collectors to say no. In addition to integrating modern technology, they also sport themed designs from popular franchises like Avatar, Harry Potter, and The Godfather. Some carry the likeness of prominent personalities like Elton John.

TCG cards also make excellent collectibles. Even players strive to keep their cards in mint condition by putting them in penny sleeves, which are then placed in toploaders to keep them upright. Another option is to put them in a card book with several sleeves per page, and the cards are only taken out for playing.

Some collectors spend a bit more to buy two copies of the same card. That way, they can keep one in the sleeve and use the other for playing.

The beauty of collectibles is that their value rises the longer they stay in good condition. Pinball machine designs can go out of production, just as TCG cards can go out of print. Suddenly, they become rarities that collectors will pay top dollar to own.

Outdoor Activities

Sometimes, the solution to overcoming a difficult level isn’t to keep playing but rather to stop playing for a while. Lay off the video games, or digital media for that matter, and attend a social gathering or go on an outdoor trip with friends or family.

Experts agree that offline activities like mountain biking, exploring hiking trails, or fly fishing provide a wealth of health benefits. In one study, researchers at Oregon State University stated that a lack of outdoor recreation was associated with a high risk of perceived stress and depressive symptoms. (5)

Enjoying nature isn’t the only way to stay physically active, though. You can participate in activities closer to home, such as social gatherings or family activities at a local community center. Going to a water park or amusement park is also a great way to spend time away from gaming for a while.

Conclusion

Video games are fun, but they’re by no means the only way to have fun. Sometimes, it can be great to lay off the console or PC for a while to seek other means to entertain yourself. Who knows, you may discover something interesting, like how pinball actually requires a lot of skill to play.

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