The point where it's ok to say "This isn't working for me, I'm done."

[Johnny Novgorod]

When you're not having fun.

To be fair, some games(most I'd say) are not instantly from title screen fun. There is some build up to get into the gameplay or story.

Right, but that build-up isn't necessarily boring either. I'd say a good game knows how to get you pumped for what's coming before you're actually doing it. The bit before unlocking the open world, or getting rid of Roxas. I think once you're past tutorial territory and you've got a feel of how things are going to pattern out for the rest of the game, then you're good to decide whether you're into it. Like there's a sense of build-up within the first half hour of Resident Evil 4 that pays off once the bell rings in town. I'd still call that a quick burn as far as "getting a feel of the game" goes, even though you haven't been introduced to escorting Ashley, dealing with the Merchant or fighting bosses.

Oh I totally agree with you. A game should get to the fun as soon as possible, but my point is more a game isn't always instantly fun. Like hitting start on Bioshock and you're in the plane and it crashes isn't boring, sure, but its not overly fun. Likewise swimming to the lighthouse isn't overly fun. The game doesn't get 'fun' until you at least enter Rapture, and that's at least 5mins in.

I'd say the "I'm done" line is once the game's done introduced the core gameplay. That can takes as little as a few seconds and as long as 30 minutes, maybe even up to an hour. This isn't a rigorous rule (Evil Within's first hour has practically nothing to do with the rest of the game) but it's a good rule of thumb.

 

[wings012]

I play a lot of stupid mobile gacha games. I've been sticking to a few for like years. Never spent a dime. But I slowly saved up a lot of premium currency and only yesterday I decided. They released a cool new thing, I'm gonna try to get it. Spent all my premium currency and got nothing.

Then I just sat down wondering. Why. Why am I even doing this to myself? I feel like absolute fucking butts.

So I'm going to try to wean myself off a bunch of these games. I'm feeling kinda empty, having dedicated myself for so long and engaged in so many stupid reddit discussions. I think I just liked being part of something, being able to talk about something. But I don't think I've had fun with those games for the longest time if ever.

 

[laggyteabag]

When you would rather be doing something else.

If you are in the middle of a game, and you think to yourself, damn, I wish I was playing X instead - its probably time to move on.

 

[EvilRoy]

In Witness maybe halfway to the first laser. I don't wanna be one of those "its all the same dumb line puzzle over and over" douche bags, but if you didn't have fun figuring out the first sixish puzzles then you aren't gonna get much out of this journey.

I guess any rougelike/lite after about three deaths.

 

[Dalisclock]

When you would rather be doing something else.

If you are in the middle of a game, and you think to yourself, damn, I wish I was playing X instead - its probably time to move on.

I've seen films where I kept thinking it was like a worse version of a much more interesting film. Then I realized there was no reason to keep watching when I could be watching that film instead.

Sometimes you're just not in the mood for something(a 4X vs an action-adventure), in which case it's more of coming back when you are in the proper mindset.

 

[TheMysteriousGX]

At the point where frustration turns to tedium.

Like, I'll get frustrated fighting a boss or something, but unless that goes on for a spectacularly long time, that alone won't get me to quite. But if I know exactly what I need to do to beat of boss and it comes down to just...building the muscle memory for rote execution? Unless I can cheat or there's a cheese strat, I usually bounce. If just playing the game up to that point and figuring out the whole of the boss routine hasn't trained my muscles enough, it just turns into exercise.