Being bored of games doesn’t need to feel like a chore.
Sometimes you just need to freshen up your lifestyle with some new and interesting activities to help get your gaming itch going again.
In fact, it’s quite reasonable to expect your gaming boredom to persist for a good few months which is why having some activities lined up can be a saving grace.
Naturally, you’ll probably want to try activities or games that involve competitive elements similar to video games, however, other activities can be a stop-gap for your boredom too.
1. Chess
Chess is very similar to video games in the sense that it involves making logical choices and also features competitive elements where you’ll need to beat your opponent.
However, Chess is played at a much slower pace compared to most video games which make it a great candidate for helping you to relax and overcome your gaming burnout.
In fact, one of the biggest differences between Chess and traditional video games is that it involves using your thinking brain much more than autonomous reflexes or muscle memory.
This feels much more organic compared to playing video games which is why we think it’s one of the best things to play when you’re bored of games.
2. Warhammer
Warhammer is another type of board game, however, the main difference is that it involves much more creative and strategic flexibility compared to something as rudimentary as traditional board games.
That said, like many competitive board games, Warhammer involves making logical decisions and trying to plan ahead to beat your opponent(s).
The main selling point for Warhammer is that it’s much more than a board game — it’s a complete universe that encompasses many hobby types such as miniature painting, worldbuilding, reading, and board games.
If you want something that can act as a true replacement for video games then Warhammer is a great choice as it’s built up in a similar way to many RPG games but allows much more creative flexibility.
3. Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is an open-ended, dice-based role-playing game that works as a basis for playing various campaigns and stories that you and your friends can play together.
In essence, D&D is more a structure or set of rules that define how to carry out your game rather than it being a specific game with specific stories.
This means there are limitless possibilities within the world of D&D in terms of the stories you can tell and the characters you can play.
If you’re not sure where to start with this then we recommend getting familiar with the rules with a basic D&D starter kit that you can play with your friends or family.
4. Clay Sculpting
Clay sculpting can give you the creative skills that allow you to build and display all of your favorite video game characters by using clay as a basis to build them up.
It’s an intricate process and takes time to get good, however, it’s really satisfying once you’re at a competent level.
If you’ve ever wanted to reimagine or redesign your favorite video game franchise characters, then now you can with clay sculpting.
5. Monopoly
Monopoly is a popular but underrated game; lots of people forget how fun it can be until they play it again with their friends or family.
In fact, that fun can often turn into frustration which becomes rather funny witnessing fully grown adults descend into tantrum-throwing children in the blink of an eye.
Other than the back-and-forth chaos that Monopoly can bring, it’s a cheap way to enjoy yourself with others and can really help you get over your video game burnout.
6. Scrabble
Scrabble is another popular board game that requires you to conjure up your word knowledge to build the highest point-scoring word appropriate for the tiles you can build on.
It takes a few goes to get the gist of it but becomes extremely fun once you get the swing of things.
7. Music Production
Making music is something as old as time but it’s never ceased to inspire excitement or bring about cultural changes across generations.
It’s never been easier to get into making music and in most cases, you can do it from the same comfortable setup that you’ve been using to play games on — your PC.
All you’ll need is a DAW (digital audio workstation) program such as FL Studio or Ableton and you can start creating straight away with the in-built sound files.
8. Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering (MTG) has been around for the best part of nearly three decades and doesn’t show any sign of slowing down.
If you like fantasy themes and collecting cards then you’ll love MTG.
9. Pokémon TCG
Pokémon TCG is similar to traditional TCG games such as Magic, however, it’s optimized for more modern crowds and more specifically, younger audiences.
As a franchise, Pokémon peaked in the late nineties but has managed to stay relevant nearly twenty years later and has even carved out multiple genre-defining video games on both handheld and dedicated gaming consoles.
If you need to forget about your video gaming burnout woes then collecting and playing the Pokémon TCG can be a great way to do that.
10. Virtual Reality
If you’re bored of games, chances are you’re playing the same ones that you’ve always played and in the same format.
VR headsets have come down in price significantly over the past few years making them even more accessible than ever.
Headsets such as the Oculus Quest 2 don’t even need a PC to run meaning they’re great for a totally untethered experience to give you the complete VR experience.
11. Poker
Poker is a tactful and witty card game that involves deceiving your opponent(s) as to the true nature of the hand you hold.
It can be played online, however, the game is better optimized for face-to-face interactions with friends or family and is a great way to keep you distracted from video game burnout.
If you need something to play other than games then we highly recommend giving Poker a go.
12. Hangman
Hangman is a game that can be played with just a pen and a piece of paper.
It involves trying to guess the words or sentences that have been set for you by announcing enough letters to decipher what was written before the hangman is fully drawn.
If you take too many guesses then you’ll lose the game — it’s fairly simple but really fun.
13. Paper Folding
Paper folding, otherwise known as Origami, is a skill-based hobby that involves folding paper to construct different shapes or silhouettes.
You can perform paper folding with pretty much any type of paper, however, you’ll get the best results with special Origami paper as it holds the shape better.
It’s simple, entertaining, and can be a great way to keep your mind off video game burnout.
14. Play an Instrument
Playing an instrument can be much like playing a video game, though, it involves lots more complexities and is far more creative.
It’s a great way to distract yourself from the boredom of games and can even lead to other hobbies such as music production or playing in a band.
15. Jigsaw Puzzles
Jigsaw puzzles are a relaxing way to break the monotony of video game burnout and better yet, they’re very budget-friendly.
You can do them yourself or you can get the whole family involved.
There are millions of different jigsaw puzzles that you can buy from relatively simplistic ones to themed Star Wars ones and even thousand-piece jigsaws.
16. Codebreaking
If you fancy yourself as somewhat of a secret agent, why not distract yourself from video games and give codebreaking a shot?
There are thousands of free codes to break online or you can simply invest in a codebreaking puzzle book instead.
17. Escape Rooms
Escape rooms are very much like a real-life version of a mystery game in that you have to look for clues and solve riddles to escape the room you’ve been sealed in.
They’re great fun and definitely one of the best ways to distract you from boredom or from gaming burnout.
You can find various escape rooms dotted all around the world that is only a quick Google search away.
18. Theme Parks
Very few things provide the same highs you can get from playing video games but that simply isn’t the case when you’re visiting a theme park.
You’ll be stuck for choice because there’s so much to do.
Think arcades, virtual reality, and white knuckle rides, and to top it off you’ll be able to access some of the best fast food and handcrafted sweets around.
19. Go to an Arcade
Video games are great but your home setup becomes predictable and can get very boring after a while.
Visiting an arcade will provide you with the opportunity to try some new games whilst also getting to enjoy a more immersive, dedicated setup where you’ll feel like you’re truly part of the game.
20. Camping
If you love survival games but are bored of playing them virtually, then why not try camping for real?
It’s a great way to escape the norm and can be a brilliant adventure
21. Mixed Martial Arts
Sick of playing fighter games? Why not try testing your fighting mettle in real life instead?
Mixed martial arts is a growing, industry-leading sport that has seen hundreds, if not thousands of local MMA gyms popping up all around the world.
Why not join one and see what all the action is about?
22. RC Car Racing
RC cars come in an exciting variety of shapes, sizes, and models, all with varying levels of power.
You can race them at home, on private land, or attend RC racing events in your local area.
23. Drone Flying
Flying drones is the next step up from RC cars.
Why race on a two-dimensional plane when you can fly in three?
We recommend grabbing a cheap beginner drone to test how your fair at first before splashing out the big bucks.
24. Parkour
Parkour is a fun activity that involves traversing your local cityscapes in the fastest, most efficient ways possible.
You’ll need to practice regularly and learn a variety of bodily movements to get good at this.
25. Skateboarding
If you’re a gamer then your fondest memories of skateboarding will probably involve playing the Tony Hawk gaming series.
Why not switch out the controller for a deck and start skating street or hitting the verts to land some sick kickflips?
26. General Knowledge Quizzes
People have varying levels of knowledge in regard to a myriad of things.
Why not put your knowledge to the test with an online quiz or a video quiz on YouTube?
27. Learn Magic Tricks
Magic tricks and illusionary skills have been performed and practiced for thousands of years.
However, never has there been a better time in history to show people how good you can be, mainly due to the explosion of online media formats like YouTube and Facebook.
Make a name for yourself and become the next David Blaine.
28. Soccer
Playing soccer is a much healthier, and possibly much more fun way of spending your day rather than sitting at home feeling burned out with your games.
It has a low technical barrier to get started meaning you can instantly start playing with your friends or against other teams.
29. Golf
Golf is closer to a game than a physically demanding sport, yet does require a high degree of technical skill.
If you’re just getting started then we recommend playing miniature golf or going to a driving range so you can practice the basics without feeling pressured by others around you.
30. Laser Tag
Laser tag is one of the most fun activities to play with your friends or against random strangers.
It involves successfully shooting your laser gun at the enemy receiver (usually located on their chest) to score points and eventually eliminate your enemy.
It requires tact, quick reactions, and the ability to spot potential ambushes, much like an FPS shooter game or some type of war game.
Most locales should have some type of laser tag arena which you can find through a quick Google search.
31. Paintballing
Paintballing is the next step up from laser tag and involves actually shooting the enemy with real projectiles in a designated arena.
No, paintballs won’t kill anyone, however, it’s one of the closest things to real warfare that you’re likely to experience, and yes, it hurts.
32. Bowling
Bowling has a low technical skill barrier and is incredibly fun, which makes it one of the best activities to get involved in with either a partner or your friends.
It’s also rather cheap, similar to playing games, which makes it a great trade-off if you’re bored of games.
33. Water Fights
From water balloons to water guns, the fun doesn’t have to stop with this action-packed activity that you can play with friends and family.
34. Hide and Seek
Hide and seek needs no explanation.
Simply hide, or seek (with friends), and have fun.
35. Rock, Paper, Scissors
Rock, Paper, Scissors is a game of chance and a great way to settle disputes in a rather cute fashion.
Rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper, and paper beats rock.
What’s not to like?
36. Arm Wrestling
Arm wrestling with your friends or family can be a great way to distract you from gaming burnout.
It’s simple to play — all you need is a solid surface and the strength to win out over your opponent.
37. Gymnastics
Gymnastics is something that often takes years to develop rather than being a quick pickup-and-putdown hobby, though, if you need something with a little more longevity in place of your games then this is it.
38. Cards Against Humanity
This hilariously offensive card game will have you in stitches or absolutely furious at some of the fill-in-the-blank answers that you’ll need to come up with during your sessions.
Get your friends involved to find out their innermost controversial thoughts.
P.S. Not for sensitive people.
39. Truth or Dare
Truth or dare is a relatively simple game that most people will have played during their school years.
It involves asking the participants whether they want to tell the truth about something or would prefer to take a dare; whatever they ask for, they can’t back out.
40. Never Have I Ever
Never Have I Ever is a verbal game where you’ll state something you’ve never done, however, for the people who have done those things, they must take a shot or a sip of their drink.
This is usually a drinking game, though, you can also play it with soft drinks for fun.
41. Table Tennis
Table tennis has grown in popularity over the years, thanks to the shrinking costs of getting a table tennis table.
It’s fun to play casually or competitively and can usually fit in most rooms without much trouble.
42. Billiards
Billiards or cue sports such as Pool and Snooker are played all around the world thanks to the simplistic style of the games.
In most cases, all you need to do is hit the balls into the pockets around the table more than your opponent to win.
It’s really fun, though, pool tables can be a little expensive so you’re usually better off finding a nearby billiards hall.
43. Snorkeling
Snorkeling isn’t so much a game as it is an experience.
It involves diving under the sea with a snorkeling kit where you’ll be able to witness the myriad of creatures that reside there whilst taking in some breathtaking views.
44. Geocaching
Geocaching is a modern-day treasure hunt that makes use of the GPS service on your phone to find clues and ultimately, find the prize at the end of the hunt.
Can be done alone or as a team with friends, family, and other geocachers.
Download the official geocaching app here.
45. Crosswords
Filling out crosswords is an old-school hobby but it’s something that remains extremely satisfying and extremely cheap.
You’ll be able to find crosswords in your local newspaper, online, and in dedicated crossword puzzle books.
46. Who am I?
Who am I is a guessing game where each person will have a famous celebrity or legend pasted onto their head on a notepad.
The aim of the game is for the participants to answer questions asked by the person who is adopting the guise of the said famous person to give them clues about who they might be — just don’t spoil it by telling them outright who they are!
47. Archery
Archery can be played as a game and competitively.
It involves shooting a bow and arrow at a target to score as many points as possible by hitting the bullseye.
If you enjoy fantasy games but have struggled to feel immersed then this is a great pick for you.
48. Birdwatching
Birdwatching is as close to real-life Pokémon as it gets.
You can witness hundreds of different bird species just in your local area and probably more if you venture further afield.
Perfect for those gamers who are bored of games but want something simple to keep tally of to help them unwind.
49. Weightlifting
Weightlifting is a great hobby to gamify as you can essentially keep a measure of your progress and can compete against others to lift as much as possible.
This is a great activity for any competitive gamer who’s struggling to get the same buzz that they used to from video games.
50. Airsoft
Airsoft is the quintessential shooter hobby and is as close to real-life warfare as it’s going to get without actually shooting real guns.
You’ll be using replica guns that shoot BB (ball bearing) plastic pellets whilst wearing protective gear.
In case you didn’t know, airsoft has a huge following and is played by thousands of people all around the world.
How to Not Get Bored of a Game So Quickly
Chances are, if you’ve burned yourself out from video games then you’ll likely burn yourself out playing other styles of games too.
If you want to not get bored of a game so quickly then you need to pace yourself throughout the activity and know when to take a break.
If you commit too hard then you’ll tire yourself out both emotionally and physically which will lead to you wanting to stop.
It’s also worth asking yourself some fundamental questions such as why you want to play that specific game so much and what attracted you to it in the first place to get a better grasp on how to follow through with it in a healthy manner.
Relevant Articles
- 6 Practical Solutions for When You’re Bored of Everything
- 13 Productive Things to Do When Bored (Be Bold, Not Bored)
- 10 Hobby Recommendations for When You’re Bored of Video Games and Need a New Hobby
- 5 Reasons Why You Get Bored of People So Quickly (And What You Can Do About It)
- 5 Reasons Why You Get Bored of Hobbies So Quickly (and What to Do About It)
- 28 Cool Hobbies To Try Right Now (Exciting and Surprisingly Fun)
- Good Hobbies That Anyone Can Do Right Now (Top 30 Roundup)
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