The best part of video games back in the day was making memories with your friends, now it all feels like structured fun. “This is how you play the game and this is when you are supposed to have fun” Idk if that makes sense.
I got sucked in by TOTK and Elden Ring so I can't say I've had the same experience. I basically haven't played a multi-player fps since I graduated university though, so that must count for something? I played a ton of those back then.
I can't stand competitive games nowadays, I just cannot handle losing streaks. I'd rather play a game designed to be fun rather than mald out to people who no life games 24/7.