As a kid, I really took my free time for granted. I know it's easy to say that in hindsight, but I think about this every time I try and sit down for a gaming session. As an adult with multiple jobs, rent, bills, and a relationship, even the prospect of starting a game (let alone finishing one) feels absurd. Elden Ring, for example, isn't exactly a game you can casually dip in and out of here and there. But boy oh boy did I try. Every day after work I would fire up Elden Ring, die about one hundred times in the span of an hour, and then start making dinner and prepping for the next day. Playing Elden Ring this way felt like a Sisyphean nightmare. Much like many open world titles that come out these days, Elden Ring is a game that lends itself to being binged, and few adults have that kind of free time. Maybe some day, if I ever get to retire, I'll be the gamer I've always dreamed of being. Until then, at least there's gaming memes!