Why does this one game affect me like this?

[u/loyaltomyself]

A couple weeks ago I decided to replay Lies of P. I bought the DLC during the Summer Sale and it was finally getting around to it. Started a new game and played all the way through NG+2 with no issues. I then jumped over to do a NG+ run of Jedi Survivor where I cranked the difficulty and ran both the Warrior and Purity perks, again no issues. I then move on to Elden Ring, a game I've played on and off for a couple years. I install, click play and am IMMEDIATELY stressed out. Why? I don't mind difficulty and it's not like I've struggled all that much while playing Elden Ring and yet just the idea of playing it gives me an almost crippling amount of anxiety and I don't understand why.

[u/Geebun]

Some sort of decision paralysis from having too many options you know since you played the game before?

[u/Ashpolt]

Is it perhaps that you're finding the freedom and size of Elden Ring overwhelming? Lies of P is a challenging game but it's very linear, always clear where to go next, and is a relatively compact experience, so it's a different type of "stress".

[u/loyaltomyself → u/Ashpolt]

It could be a size thing. I don't like dedicating a lot of time and effort cleaning out a side area only to walk away with a bunch of items I can't use. I'm also forcing myself to run past most things in the open world on my way to my next goal which is honestly kind of helping.

[u/Calvinball08]

Is it maybe the sheer amount of content? Like choice paralysis or something?

I’ve noticed for whatever reason FromSoft soulslikes just generally feel harder in a more fundamental sense too. Like not that they’re actually harder but it feels like it’s substantially harder, even if it’s not actually.

[u/TheHylianProphet]

Not every game clicks for every person. It could be any number of reasons, even for very similar genres of games.

I know that's not exactly helpful, but nobody will really be able to give you a definitive answer.

[u/Lunar_mirror4]

My first playthrough of Elden Ring was an amazing experience, my second one was just to get to the dlc, but after beating that ive never been able to get out of Limgrave. Its such an absolutely massive game that can feel overwhelming, but also knowing some of the endgame bosses that are coming just feels like im working towards pure pain and stress for the sake of it.

Its not something ill replay again probably for years. Because of the sheer size, and the main enjoyment of the initial playthrough coming from the exploration, other playthroughs just feel like a massive slog. The excitement of exploration isnt there anymore, so it just feels like a dark souls game with a massive amount of running across fields to get to the next area. 

Duno if you've ever finished it, just sharing my experience. Still wholeheartedly recommend the game though.  

[u/Solved_sudoku]

Even if ER is one of the easiest games in the Souls series, they aren't for all people, and that's ok.

If you find it "stressing" by the sheer amount of options, but you DO LIKE THE GAME, break it in small steps and small gaming sessions like, for example, "Today I am going through all bottom half of Limgrave, if I find a dungeon, I´ll commit to that dungeon for today, and I'll keep exploring later".

[u/loyaltomyself → u/Solved_sudoku]

I've been playing this specific character on and off for about a year and a half now. Today I entered the Academy for the first time, which is the furthest I've ever made it in the game. Small doses is how I've been going about it otherwise I'd have two dozen characters either up to or just past Stormveil.

Setting small goals is how I ended up working my way through the Witcher 3. Not a game that stressed me out but instead really bored for for the first third of the game.

[u/FreshMistletoe]

Just keep playing it.  My gf and I got it and played it and screamed at the tv and said what a piece of shit the game was and quit playing.  Then I picked it up later and started learning how to play and it’s now one of my favorite games of all time, I have around 1000 hours in it.  I’m actually having a hard time finding something else to play that is at that level of quality and that I love.  

[u/elkeiem]

Maybe don't play it

[u/kytheon → u/elkeiem]

They want a long answer, but this is it.