A couple of months ago, I was playing NAIAD while my partner observed. As I was flowing down the river as a water nymph, he started giving me some hints on items or paths I might have missed. I kindly told him: just chill and enjoy the game! I wasn’t too worried about missing out on things, and neither should he.
This small event sparked a self-reflection moment. When am I just going through the motions of a game, and when am I enjoying it with the same curiosity I had as a child?
When I was younger, I loved playing video games like Sonic and California Games on my Sega Mega Drive. I didn’t worry about completing everything that a game had to offer: I just played. As I got a bit older and entered my Pokémon phase, I gained access to the Internet and I would check online guides or forums when I got stuck at a certain part of a game. While back then I could just jump straight in, only looking for help when I needed it, nowadays I often gravitate towards tips or compilations of things to know before even starting a game. My time might be more limited as an adult, but when does all this preparation become overthinking and over preparing that takes away from my spontaneity?
I got back into the hobby in 2022 and I felt I was “bad” at playing games compared to people that never stopped gaming. For example, I didn’t investigate the environments as much, which led me to struggle with certain genres and to get stuck playing certain titles. I was also hesitant, worried about the consequences of my actions.
Over time, my style of gaming changed to a point where I learned to explore more, with a downside: I got used to what games expect from me – and I comply. If there are worms coming out of the ground, I should dig that spot. And if there’s a trash bin, I should check it for loot.
When am I motivated by a checklist item to cross out, rather than a need for discovery fueled by a childlike curiosity?
NAIAD inspired me to explore and take a moment to admire the art. I unlocked the poems because I enjoyed reading them, not because I needed to complete every single puzzle. But when I play one game after the other, it starts to feel mechanical. Every now and then, I crave to pause and break that pattern, even if it’s not simple.
I want to prioritize curiosity over optimization. And I want to find that sense of wonder more often. The kind I felt when playing NAIAD, and that reconnects me with how I played as a child.
What about you: how often do you play, when you play video games?
About NAIAD
Be the guardian of the river and flow across the water while interacting with its fauna and flora in this relaxing, atmospheric game. Available for: PC, MacOS, PS4/PS5, Xbox (One and Series X/S), Nintendo Switch. The credit for the image of the cover in this post goes to the developer HiWarp.
Thank you for reading,
-Luna
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