Treat Life Like a Video Game

Winning at Video Games vs. Winning at Life: The Parallels of Mastery 🎮🏆 

While video games are definitely a source of entertainment and gratification (not to mention a steady stream of dopamine release), they can ultimately be much akin to rocking in a chair.  It gives you something to do but doesn’t really take you anywhere, in real life that is (save for the lucky few that make a living with it).  

There are principles that can be extracted from the idle leisure however, that can lend themselves well to practice in the real world. Principles that can change your life to something even more gratifying.   

Here are some ways that you can integrate the things that make gaming a winning mode of entertainment, with your life and goals to bring you to a higher state of existence.  

1. Mastering the Learning Curve 📈 

Video Games: Every game has a learning curve. The first time you play, you have to figure out the mechanics, the rhythm, and the overall structure which the game operates. You will likely falter, fall and even fail many times over before you rejoice loudly upon your first triumph, which, will breed new confidence for your next endeavor.   

Life: Success in life follows the same pattern. Whether you're starting a new job, a business, or a personal development journey, the beginning is tough and there are rhythms that must be learned. But those who embrace the learning process rather than quitting at the first failure are the ones who eventually win. 

💡 Lesson: Consistency beats talent. Keep playing the game, keep learning, and you'll level up. 

2. Failing Forward & Respawning 🔄 

Video Games: Every gamer knows the frustration of dying in a game or being stumped as to what to do next. But what do you do? You hit "respawn" and try again, this time learning incrementally from your mistakes. You don’t quit after one failure—you adapt, improve, and overcome the obstacles that are designed into the process (especially with the Fromsoft games). 

Life: Every failure is just a checkpoint for personal growth, not a game over. Whether it’s a failed business, a bad relationship, or a personal setback, the real winners are those who get back up, analyze what went wrong, and take another shot. It’s okay to fall back or take a break to reflect on the variables involved in the non-success, but so long as you “fail forward”, you are still infinitely ahead of the quitter.   

💡 Lesson: Failure is just data. Treat life like a game—analyze, adjust, and go again. 

3. Grinding Is Non-Negotiable ⚒️ 

Video Games: Whether it's farming XP, collecting rare items, or perfecting your timing, winning requires grinding. You don’t unlock the best gear by skipping the hard parts—you put in the hours. If you subscribe to the idea that art imitates life, then you must logically understand that games are striving to emulate principles of life. Experience points are the currency and representation of how consistent your grind. 

Life: There’s no shortcut to success. Want a better physique? Hit the gym consistently, learn the constituents of fitness and how to implement dietary and exercise systems to bring your aesthetic and level of athleticism to a desirable level (I highly recommend Dr. Mike Israetel from Renaissance Periodization). Want to master a guitar playing? Practice daily and again, further your understanding of using the ample resources available online. Want financial freedom? There is a of wealth of wealth-oriented resources from You Tube to books, to the exceedingly popular internet courses available to bolster your understanding of money and how to apply it to benefit your future self.  

Invest time in learning, working, and improving. 

💡 Lesson: Progress is a grind. Put in the reps, and the results will come. 

4. Strategy & Adaptability Win the Game 🎯 

Video Games: You can't just button mash your way to victory in high-level play (you can get pretty mid results though). You have to understand the meta, adapt to opponents, and refine your strategy. Sometimes a game will throw a level or opponent at you that will upheave your comfort zone, and it is up to you to adjust your tactics to bring the mountain down.   

Life: Success isn’t just about working hard; it’s about working smart and it's about working for your goals and the type of playthrough that you are looking for. You need to adapt to changing environments, navigate social and economic topographies, seize opportunities that might oft be passed by, and sometimes even rethink your entire approach when things aren’t working. 

💡 Lesson: The best players—and the most successful people—know how to pivot and play smarter, not just harder. 

5. The Power of Patience & Long-Term Thinking ⏳ 

Video Games: Some of the most rewarding moments in gaming come from long-term goals—whether it's completing an epic storyline, or making certain choices to catalyze a certain ending, maxing out your character, or reaching the highest competitive rank. These things take time. This is again designed into the game as a principle that the best things in life are a long-term endeavor.  

Life: Instant gratification is a trap. I’m talking about binge-watching Netflix.  I’m talking about doomscrolling from the time you get home until the moment you slip into the clutches of slumber. And I am also talking about spending significant stretches of time playing video games as well (remember, the point of this post is not to champion the infallible video game, but rather to transfer its principles to a successful life of achievement). The most fulfilling achievements—wealth, health, skills, relationships—require patience and long-term commitment. The best things in life are long term endeavors and require patience and consistency.   

💡 Lesson: Stop expecting instant wins. Play the long game. 

6. You Control Your Character—And Your Life 🎮 

Video Games: In every game, you control the character. You decide what quests to take, what skills to develop, and how to approach each challenge. There are NPCs aplenty, and they do their preprogrammed/ indoctrinated routines.  But you are an individual with the faculties to manifest your storyline through action.   

Life: The same applies in reality. You control your choices, habits, and mindset. That’s right your “moods” are actually yours to control through mechanisms that are also covered extensively throughout the internet.  Your habits? James Clear is a great place to start when learning about how to establish good habits.  Your mindset will reflect the pile of evidence which you provide yourself (a la Alex Hormozi). In life, too many people play in autopilot mode, instead of being proactive in their path, they choose a stance of reactivity (or worse, inactivity). Winners take intentional control of their lives, just like a pro gamer takes control of their character. 

💡 Lesson: Own your story. Be the player, not the NPC. 

7. The Right Team Matters 🛡️ 

Video Games: Multiplayer games teach a valuable lesson—your squad can make or break you. A strong, skilled team lifts you up, while a bad team drags you down. It is difficult (not impossible) to impose progress and victory upon yourself with a crowd of self-serving and backward-thinking people at your back. 

Life: The people around you shape your mindset, habits, and energy. Environment is of utmost importance for progress. However, there are many people that are surrounded by those with a losing, and hopeless mentality which is highly contagious (that’s why I’m a solo gamer myself). Surround yourself with winners, thinkers, and doers. Empty your feeds of anyone who does not promote a growth mindset. Strive to empty your life of anyone who does not promote a growth mindset as well.  

💡 Lesson: Choose your teammates wisely. In both games and life, the right squad elevates you. 

8. The Endgame Is About Mastery 🎮🏆 

Video Games: The ultimate goal isn't just winning once—it’s about mastering the game. The best players keep refining their skills long after they’ve achieved their first victory. They learn the game like the back of their hand as if it is second nature. Then they learn the other ways in which they can beat the game. Because you know there could be a sequel or DLC that will throw formidable challenges at you.   

Life: True success isn’t about one big win. Even though we all dream of the big break that will allow for (x) or (y), it is really the compounding of many smaller, incremental wins that will ensure the path to success. Rockstars had to grind out their way before you found out they existed.  Athletes are no different, they had to grind it out and learn before they had the skill that would land the contract you talk to your peers about at work.  Great detectives, snipers, comedians, nobody is exempt from the consistency and commitment necessary to achieve their goals.  It’s about becoming the kind of person who wins consistently—in health, finances, relationships, and personal growth. 

💡 Lesson: The goal isn’t just to win—it’s to become the kind of player who wins over and over again. 

Final Thought: Keep Playing the Game 

Life, like video games, rewards those who stay in the game, learn the mechanics, and keep improving. Whether you're leveling up your skills, adapting to new challenges, or grinding towards a big goal, remember—you are the main character. 

So, pick up your controller, face the challenges, and play to win. 🎮🔥