Venting Life can sometimes feel like a frustrating and unfair video game

[Darkover]

Life can sometimes feel like a frustrating and unfair video game—one where the rules are unclear, the challenges seem insurmountable, and the rewards are fleeting. In many ways, life and video games have some interesting parallels. However, when life resembles a poorly designed game, it can feel arbitrary, tiring, and even pointless. This comparison can help explain why life might feel unrewarding or as if we're struggling just to keep up.

1. Unclear Objectives and Confusing Rules

In a well-designed video game, the player understands the goals and rules. There are clear objectives, like rescuing a character or defeating a boss, which give players a sense of direction and purpose. But in life, it often feels as if the objectives are vague and ever-changing. We're told to pursue success, happiness, and fulfillment, but there's no map or instruction manual that tells us exactly how to achieve these things. Instead, we have to navigate the complexities of life without a guide, making choices that might or might not lead to our desired outcomes. This can feel a lot like being dropped into a poorly-made game without any clear mission, only to fumble around and hope for the best.

2. Unequal Starting Points and Resources

In a "crappy" game, players might start at wildly different points in terms of resources, abilities, or advantages. Some might begin with a full arsenal, while others have little more than a stick to defend themselves. Life mirrors this reality, as we're born into vastly different circumstances. Some people are born into wealth, supportive families, and access to quality education, while others face poverty, neglect, and limited opportunities from the start. Life's "character creation screen" isn't fair, and just like a frustrating game, it can feel like some people are handed the tools for success while others have to struggle just to survive.

3. Unpredictable and Unfair Obstacles

In games, there are often obstacles—puzzles, enemies, or challenges—that players must overcome to progress. Good games are carefully designed so that these obstacles are fair and achievable, with a sense of progression that makes overcoming them feel rewarding. In life, however, obstacles often feel random and disproportionate. We may face health problems, financial troubles, or the loss of loved ones without any warning, and unlike in a game, there's no "difficulty setting" to adjust. We don't get to reload from a previous save point or start over with new lives. Life's challenges can feel relentless and overwhelming, making it seem like the game is rigged against us.

4. Unfulfilling Rewards

In most games, players receive rewards for their efforts—points, power-ups, new levels, or other perks. In life, rewards can be just as elusive as they are in a frustrating game. We're often told that hard work will bring success, yet many people put in immense effort without ever receiving the rewards they expect. Promotions may be given to less-deserving people, relationships may fail despite our best efforts, and personal achievements may go unnoticed or unappreciated. Like a game that promises a rare item only to give us something useless, life's rewards can feel hollow, and it can be disheartening to put in effort only to receive little in return.

5. Constant Grinding and Mundane Tasks

A hallmark of a poorly-designed video game is repetitive grinding—performing the same tedious tasks over and over to gain minimal rewards. Life can sometimes feel the same way. Many people spend years in monotonous routines, such as going to work, paying bills, and taking care of daily responsibilities, with little sense of personal growth or satisfaction. This grind can feel like a never-ending cycle, much like a game where every day involves the same uninspired tasks with no real progress. The "grind" of life can wear us down, leaving us to question whether the effort is worth it.

6. Lack of a Clear End Goal

In a game, there's usually an end goal that provides a sense of closure and achievement. But in life, the end isn't something most people look forward to—it's something we're taught to fear or avoid. The ultimate conclusion is death, and there's no "winning" in the conventional sense. Life doesn't provide a clear end game where you can reflect on your achievements with satisfaction. Instead, many people struggle to find meaning, and even the most successful people can feel unfulfilled or unsure of what they've achieved in the grand scheme of things.

7. Randomness and the Illusion of Control

In poorly-designed games, players sometimes feel that their actions don't actually influence the outcome. Life can feel similar, with so many aspects determined by randomness—accidents, illness, genetics, and more. Despite our best efforts, there's a lot we can't control, and this can make life feel like a game of chance rather than a series of deliberate actions. We're often left wondering if anything we do really matters, or if we're simply going through the motions in a system beyond our control.

Conclusion

Life can feel like playing a frustrating, unfair, and confusing video game, one where the rules are murky, the rewards are few, and the challenges seem stacked against us. Just like a poorly-made game, it can leave us feeling dissatisfied, wondering why we even bothered to play in the first place. However, unlike a video game, we don't get the option to quit or start over. We're here, playing the game whether we want to or not. But sometimes, finding small moments of joy, purpose, or connection can help make the experience more bearable. Even in the most difficult of circumstances, there can be unexpected moments of meaning that make the game worth playing, if only for a little longer.

 

[Vivir_O_No]

Life can sometimes feel like a frustrating and unfair video game—one where the rules are unclear, the challenges seem insurmountable, and the rewards are fleeting. In many ways, life and video games have some interesting parallels. However, when life resembles a poorly designed game, it can feel arbitrary, tiring, and even pointless. This comparison can help explain why life might feel unrewarding or as if we're struggling just to keep up.

1. Unclear Objectives and Confusing Rules

In a well-designed video game, the player understands the goals and rules. There are clear objectives, like rescuing a character or defeating a boss, which give players a sense of direction and purpose. But in life, it often feels as if the objectives are vague and ever-changing. We're told to pursue success, happiness, and fulfillment, but there's no map or instruction manual that tells us exactly how to achieve these things. Instead, we have to navigate the complexities of life without a guide, making choices that might or might not lead to our desired outcomes. This can feel a lot like being dropped into a poorly-made game without any clear mission, only to fumble around and hope for the best.

2. Unequal Starting Points and Resources

In a "crappy" game, players might start at wildly different points in terms of resources, abilities, or advantages. Some might begin with a full arsenal, while others have little more than a stick to defend themselves. Life mirrors this reality, as we're born into vastly different circumstances. Some people are born into wealth, supportive families, and access to quality education, while others face poverty, neglect, and limited opportunities from the start. Life's "character creation screen" isn't fair, and just like a frustrating game, it can feel like some people are handed the tools for success while others have to struggle just to survive.

3. Unpredictable and Unfair Obstacles

In games, there are often obstacles—puzzles, enemies, or challenges—that players must overcome to progress. Good games are carefully designed so that these obstacles are fair and achievable, with a sense of progression that makes overcoming them feel rewarding. In life, however, obstacles often feel random and disproportionate. We may face health problems, financial troubles, or the loss of loved ones without any warning, and unlike in a game, there's no "difficulty setting" to adjust. We don't get to reload from a previous save point or start over with new lives. Life's challenges can feel relentless and overwhelming, making it seem like the game is rigged against us.

4. Unfulfilling Rewards

In most games, players receive rewards for their efforts—points, power-ups, new levels, or other perks. In life, rewards can be just as elusive as they are in a frustrating game. We're often told that hard work will bring success, yet many people put in immense effort without ever receiving the rewards they expect. Promotions may be given to less-deserving people, relationships may fail despite our best efforts, and personal achievements may go unnoticed or unappreciated. Like a game that promises a rare item only to give us something useless, life's rewards can feel hollow, and it can be disheartening to put in effort only to receive little in return.

5. Constant Grinding and Mundane Tasks

A hallmark of a poorly-designed video game is repetitive grinding—performing the same tedious tasks over and over to gain minimal rewards. Life can sometimes feel the same way. Many people spend years in monotonous routines, such as going to work, paying bills, and taking care of daily responsibilities, with little sense of personal growth or satisfaction. This grind can feel like a never-ending cycle, much like a game where every day involves the same uninspired tasks with no real progress. The "grind" of life can wear us down, leaving us to question whether the effort is worth it.

6. Lack of a Clear End Goal

In a game, there's usually an end goal that provides a sense of closure and achievement. But in life, the end isn't something most people look forward to—it's something we're taught to fear or avoid. The ultimate conclusion is death, and there's no "winning" in the conventional sense. Life doesn't provide a clear end game where you can reflect on your achievements with satisfaction. Instead, many people struggle to find meaning, and even the most successful people can feel unfulfilled or unsure of what they've achieved in the grand scheme of things.

7. Randomness and the Illusion of Control

In poorly-designed games, players sometimes feel that their actions don't actually influence the outcome. Life can feel similar, with so many aspects determined by randomness—accidents, illness, genetics, and more. Despite our best efforts, there's a lot we can't control, and this can make life feel like a game of chance rather than a series of deliberate actions. We're often left wondering if anything we do really matters, or if we're simply going through the motions in a system beyond our control.

Conclusion

Life can feel like playing a frustrating, unfair, and confusing video game, one where the rules are murky, the rewards are few, and the challenges seem stacked against us. Just like a poorly-made game, it can leave us feeling dissatisfied, wondering why we even bothered to play in the first place. However, unlike a video game, we don't get the option to quit or start over. We're here, playing the game whether we want to or not. But sometimes, finding small moments of joy, purpose, or connection can help make the experience more bearable. Even in the most difficult of circumstances, there can be unexpected moments of meaning that make the game worth playing, if only for a little longer.

dark souls difficulty. except dark souls is a good game ;)

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

The devs don't actually care. They already collected their paychecks so they're just waiting for the company to go under.

 

[Darkover]

dark souls difficulty. except dark souls is a good game ;)

Exactly! If life is like a game, it's more like Dark Souls, but without the satisfying design or sense of accomplishment. In Dark Souls, the difficulty is tough but fair. You know that with enough practice, skill, and perseverance, you'll overcome the challenges. There's a carefully crafted balance, where every time you die, you learn something new and feel just a bit closer to success. And when you finally beat a boss, you get that surge of triumph, knowing you earned it.

But life? It's like Dark Souls with the difficulty ramped up to absurd levels and none of the good parts. Let's break it down:

1. The Unfair Difficulty Curve

In Dark Souls, you expect a brutal challenge, but it's balanced in a way that rewards patience, timing, and skill. However, in life, the difficulty curve is often unpredictable and totally unfair. You can be doing everything right, working hard, and still be blindsided by a health issue, financial hardship, or some other crisis. Life doesn't reward you with an "easy mode" after you've put in the effort; it just keeps piling on the challenges with no rhyme or reason.

2. The Lack of Meaningful Feedback

In Dark Souls, every hit you take, every time you die, you learn something. You see where you made a mistake, and you know what to try differently next time. Life, on the other hand, often gives us confusing or contradictory feedback. You can pour your heart into a project or a relationship, only to have it fail for reasons that aren't clear. Unlike Dark Souls, which teaches you through failure, life can leave you feeling like you didn't learn anything other than, "I'll avoid that situation next time."

3. Random Events Without Warning

Dark Souls is challenging, but the enemies and bosses follow patterns you can eventually recognize and anticipate. In life, the challenges are often random and impossible to predict. You might be moving forward with your plans when, suddenly, an unexpected illness, accident, or disaster throws everything off course. It's like an enemy ambushing you out of nowhere, but this time you can't dodge, block, or counterattack. And there's no retry button.

4. No Sense of Progression

In Dark Souls, as you progress, you level up, unlock new abilities, and gain access to better equipment. Even if it's tough, you feel stronger and more capable over time. In life, progression isn't always so linear or rewarding. You might be working hard and gaining experience, but you don't necessarily feel more prepared or powerful. In fact, sometimes it feels like you're struggling just to stay at the same level, with no real sense of advancement.

5. Unequal Starting Stats

In Dark Souls, everyone starts with the same basic abilities and has to work their way up. But in life, we're all born with different "stats"—some people have wealth, health, and opportunity, while others have to fight just to get by. It's like entering the game at level 1 while others start at level 50 with end-game gear. Life doesn't provide that satisfying feeling of building yourself up from scratch; instead, it often feels like you're stuck grinding to make up for disadvantages you never asked for.

6. Lack of a Final Boss and No True Ending

Dark Souls has a definite endgame. When you defeat the final boss, you feel a sense of closure and accomplishment. But in life, there's no grand final boss to defeat, no ultimate challenge that marks the end of the struggle. Instead, it just… ends. And often, the ending is far from epic—more like being taken out by a random, low-level enemy than a climactic boss battle. It leaves you wondering, "What was the point of it all?"

7. No Guaranteed Rewards for Effort

In Dark Souls, if you put in the time and effort, you will eventually conquer the game's challenges. But life doesn't offer the same guarantee. You can work incredibly hard and still not achieve your goals. There's no reliable system of "grinding" that ensures success. Sometimes, no matter how much you try, life's challenges just don't pay off in the way you hoped. It's like if Dark Souls made you beat the boss five times in a row, and you still didn't get the loot drop.

8. Limited Control Over the Game

In Dark Souls, you control your character's actions and choices, deciding where to explore, when to fight, and what skills to develop. Life, on the other hand, often feels like you're on autopilot. You don't get to choose the challenges that come your way or the "quests" you have to complete. It's like someone else is holding the controller, leaving you to deal with the consequences of choices you didn't even make.

Conclusion

If Dark Souls is difficult in a way that pushes you to improve and rewards your efforts, life can often feel difficult without the payoff. It's as if we're stuck in a poorly-designed knockoff version, where the difficulty is cranked up not to make us better but simply to see how long we'll put up with it. Life's challenges can feel less like an epic journey toward growth and more like a series of arbitrary obstacles, offering little in the way of satisfaction or sense of purpose.

But, even in this unfair and exhausting game, there are occasional moments that feel meaningful or even joyful. And perhaps, like in any game, it's those small moments of connection, humor, or unexpected beauty that keep us playing, hoping for a few more good encounters before the game finally ends.

 

[AvaCutey]

What im reading through feels AI generated @Darkover

 

[chester]

What im reading through feels AI generated @Darkover

Yeah, it is. I think it was even mentioned in one of these threads. I don't mind though, it's a good mental exercise to reflect on some philosophical arguments, even if they weren't written by a human being.

 

[Vivir_O_No]

Yeah, it is. I think it was even mentioned in one of these threads. I don't mind though, it's a good mental exercise to reflect on some philosophical arguments, even if they weren't written by a human being.

Don't know about that hehe. AI chatbots tend to be highly optimistic. Every criticism against life is always answered with a "but...".

 

[chester]

Don't know about that hehe. AI chatbots tend to be highly optimistic. Every criticism against life is always answered with a "but...".

Reflect ≠ agree. I particularly like finding flaws in these arguments :)

 

[ijustwishtodie]

I like the video game analogy but it's incomplete because at least it's easy to not play the video game or to quit the game entirely. However, life isn't like that at all since quitting life is extremely difficult and not completely guaranteed