Gaming and anime are significant parts of my leisure time. I use both as ways to decompress from work, though I recognize the dopamine cycle they create.
Gaming
I play a variety of games. Clash of Clans is a long-running habit, appearing in my monthly subscription list at $7/month. I defended Starfield at launch against comparisons to Cyberpunk’s rocky debut.
The Last of Us made a strong emotional impact. Playing as Abby conflicted me: “playing as Abby feels like cheating on my emotions like I KNOW what she did but, now I’m confused. this game just gets better.” I found it depressing overall but praised the storytelling.
I noted becoming someone “who spends money on games but don’t play them” by November 2025.
Board games were a social activity at web3 events, particularly at Zanzalu gatherings.
Anime
I watched anime extensively, often binge-watching entire series. By August 2025, I felt I had exhausted the good ones: “Now I feel like I covered almost all good anime and have no good ones to watch more.”
Anime binging was part of the dopamine pattern I identified in my essay about boredom: watching anime all night gave high dopamine, and regular life felt dull afterward.
I pay for Crunchyroll ($1/month) for anime streaming.
Dopamine Awareness
In December 2025, I attempted a dopamine detox: stop music, YouTube, video games, series, anime, junk food, and sugar for a week. This was not my first attempt at managing consumption habits. I recognized these activities as part of a cycle that made everyday work feel boring by comparison.
