How Gaming Taught Me the Power of Patience and Persistence

From Retro Classics to Modern RPGs, Here’s What Games Taught Me About Real-Life Success

Grinding in a dungeon, leading your troops in Command & Conquer, or losing to the same boss for the hundredth time — what do these gaming moments teach us? They’re not just about winning; they’re about mastering patience, persistence, and resilience. The lessons I’ve learned from retro games continue to shape how I tackle challenges in real life.

Back to Gaming

A while ago, I quit gaming — a decision I explained in my article “And This Is How I Quit Gaming”. It was a tough choice but necessary. Like anything in life, too much of a good thing can become destructive, no matter how enjoyable it seems.

In short: gaming ate up too much of my time, leaving me unproductive in other areas of life. It had to go.

Years later, however, I realized I was missing something essential: a way to unwind, calm my mind, and just relax. I missed gaming.

I bet you’ve felt something similar — letting go of something you love, only to feel its absence later. For me, what remained was nostalgia… and a need to find balance. The answer? Retro games.

With a Nintendo Switch in hand, packed full of re-releases and remakes, I dipped back into the worlds I’d left behind — this time in moderation, with far less time commitment. And you know what? I rediscovered not just the joy of gaming but also the profound lessons those pixelated adventures taught me.

Reflecting on My Gaming History

Looking back, I’ve always been more of a PC gamer, though consoles were a part of my childhood too. I can still feel the warm buzz of excitement as I fired up my Belinea CRT monitor and beige PC tower.

Action games, RPGs, strategy, management sims, and shooters — these were my bread and butter. Platformers? Not so much. (Yes, blasphemy, I know. Don’t come for me!)

The most formative years for my gaming journey were from ages 10 to 18. Here are the titles that shaped me most during that time:

• Mortal Kombat I, II, and 3 Ultimate