33-year-old gamer confronts girlfriend after she demands he give up video games for her, she refuses to continue the relationship: ‘I need this in my life’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jun 25, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

People have this image in their heads of 'gamers', and how they must behave in a relationship. It is as if they assume that unless both of the people in the relationship are into video games, it cannot possibly work between them. If one is a gamer and one is not, the gamer surely is not a great partner, right? They must spend all their free time in front of their PC, and they must neglect their non-gamer partner who just wants to be cared for and loved…

Well, let me let you in on a secret–gaming, just like any other hobby, is all about moderation. If you care about your partner, and your partner cares about you, you will not have any problem finding a middle ground that works best and makes everyone happy.

You can decide on days when each of you does their own thing, allowing you both to invest in your personal hobbies. You can agree on a certain amount of daily hours to have for video games, or even agree that gaming only happens after your partner goes to bed. Nothing is impossible when support and love are there, which is exactly the lesson the couple in the story below should learn.

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    Cheezburger Image 10521219840
    via Marco_Piunti

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    AITAH for not wanting to give up video games for my GF?

    133M just started a relationship with someone 26F and one thing we disagree on is me playing 2 hours of video games a
    via throwawayy8810
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    week. She refuses to continue the relationship unless I stop playing video games completely.
    via throwawayy8810
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    Before you say anything, yes I know it is a childish hobby of mine. But that is exactly why I need it in my life. I have alot on my
    via throwawayy8810
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    shoulders with work/family issues/health issues that I don't want to give too much detail about so I can remain
    via throwawayy8810
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    anonymous. The one thing. that helps my mental health and allows me to destress is playing a game for 2 hours a week - where
    via throwawayy8810
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    I can forget about the million responsibilities that I have and just relax my mind.
    via throwawayy8810
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    I am not asking to play for 10 hours a day, just a few hours a week after she falls asleep. Her issue with it is that she wants 100% of my free time.
    via throwawayy8810
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    I gave it up for a month now and my mental health has gone downhill. Am I the a hole here for
    via throwawayy8810
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    wanting to stand my ground and lose the relationship over a few hours of game time?
    via throwawayy8810
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    Cheezburger Image 10521225216
    via Aleksandar Jankovic

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    AgencyNo758 NTA. Wanting a couple hours a week for something that helps your mental health isn't selfish it's healthy. A partner
    via AgencyNo758
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    demanding 100% of your free time and dismissing your needs is a red flag not a compromise.
    via AgencyNo758
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    Thistime232 NTA. Two hours a week for something you enjoy is perfectly reasonable. And even beyond the video game part, I find this in particular to be problematic: Her issue with it is that she wants 100% of my free time.
    via Thistime232
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    Most healthy relationships involve each person having free time of some sort that doesn't involve their partne
    via Thistime232
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    throwawayy8810 OP Ya ive been preaching this but it falls on dismissive ears.
    via throwawayy8810
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    III-Rent-7767 NTA my friend. Run. If she's trying to control the only 2 hours a week you take for yourself... then that's a red flag. What does she do to relax
    via III-Rent-7767
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    in her free time? Is there anything she does by herself with out you? Wanting to spend quality time with your partner is normal. But wanting to spend 24/7 with them and dictating every waking move they make is not healthy.
    via III-Rent-7767
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    throwawayy8810 OP Literally all she does is shop bro. She can spend 2 hours shopping but its a deal breaker for me to play a game.
    via throwawayy8810
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    rcdp98 NTA. You even mentioned it's when she's asleep, so I'm not sure what her issue is
    via rcdp98

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boyfriend relationship advice drama gaming relationship-drama gamers reddit story relationships girlfriend advice couples love video games Reddit dating
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