Black Myth: Wukong gave me game fatigue. So I asked pros how they deal with it.

Managing when a game that should fill your cup simply isn't.

Yet another time I was ground into monkey dust in Black Myth: Wukong

It could have been the time I was crushed by the Stone Vanguard. Or that time I was fried by an electric-charged dragon, Kang-Jin Loong. I definitely remember turning the game off after being skewered for the 20th time by the Yellow Wind Sage's obnoxiously long trident.

While the broader gaming community is currently lauding Black Myth: Wukong, a souls-like game made by Chinese game studio Game Science, I feel like I've hit a wall with it.

There's no reason I shouldn't be all over this game; I love souls-likes and this one is genuinely good. Don't take it from me: It's received strong reviews according to Metacritic — a website that aggregates game reviews — and has reportedly sold over 10 million copies in just three days. It's also a suspected Game of The Year contender at this year's Game Awards.

But there's something about this title that just isn't filling my cup. I'm finding that I need to chunk the game rather than rush through it, which is very unlike me. After a long day at work, I'm reluctant to boot it up, more often than not opting to play something I'm more familiar with.

Then, it hit me. This is the third souls-like I've played this year in a four month period. These games are not known for being forgiving or inviting to players. Given how much I love to game, I never thought I'd ever feel this way about any title, but here I am.

Game fatigue can be felt by everyone, but it isn't something that's typically experienced by your everyday player.

In my case, I figured out it's being driven by finishing Elden Ring's DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, just a month before picking up Black Myth: Wukong. Both games contain intricate bosses that require timing, focus and a deft hand at upgrading your character.

Where it is more common, however, is among content creators, reviewers and guide writers: The people who play video games for a living. So I polled a few on their feelings around game fatigue, and how they handle it.

"When you're playing a minimum of 52 games a year, it's impossible not to just want to lie down in a field for a while and not touch a controller for a couple of weeks," says Alice Clarke, a prolific freelance video game writer, who also co-authors gaming Substack Press Any Button.

"Being a freelancer means never being able to take (paid) time off, so it's impossible to get off that treadmill and still pay bills… I haven't met anyone who's done this job for a while who hasn't felt fatigued at least once."

GameHub writer Leah Williams agrees: "It's most noticeable when I take on too many games for review, and find myself struggling with not having free time. There should always be a balance in your life, and playing games all the time is unhealthy for your mental and physical health."

Williams pumped out four reviews in the past month, in addition to several news pieces each work day on the video game industry. Her trick for managing the grind is balance.

"You should learn to recognise when you're feeling that way, and better balance your time. Unless you're in the unique position of needing to play games for work, you should always remember to game in moderation, and stop if you're feeling fatigued."

"No game was meant to be played under crunch conditions, where you're forced to spend 6+ hours a day on a major title to get your review out the door and ensure you're reviewing as much of the game as possible."

But she also cautions that fatigue symptoms could be a sign of something else.

"If you're fatigued playing games you used to enjoy, beyond what is reasonable, consider talking to a professional. It's not good to dismiss those feelings of fatigue when they could be adjacent to something like depression or anxiety."

But for whatever reason, if you need to keep playing, Clarke offered this advice: "If you can, switch up the types of games you're playing back to back, or at least switch up the console you're reviewing on to try and change up the experience a bit more."

And that's exactly what I've ended up doing. Instead of persevering with Black Myth: Wukong, I've put it on the back burner, even revisiting older games that have given me joy in the past.

I guess beating the game and becoming a monkey god can wait till I'm ready for it.

Have you encountered a good game that ended up being a slog due to how you're feeling? Or temporarily lost your enthusiasm for gaming? Let me know in the comments.

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What I'm playing: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest

I'm firmly wearing my rose-tinted glasses when I say this game will never age for me. It's my gaming equivalent to McDonald's after a big night out. I pick it up again every so often when I'm in need of a gaming pick-me-up, such as over the past week.

It's the second game (and arguably the best) in a trilogy of platformers made by developer Rare. Like most platformers, the premise is basic. Captain K. Rool kidnaps Donkey Kong, and you play as Diddy Kong and his girlfriend Dixie Kong to rescue him, navigating various levels on a pirate-themed island.

There are perhaps two things that make this game stand out. Firstly, its soundtrack. Composer David Wise has absolutely nailed the score for the various levels and worlds in this game. From the tense and frenetic beats that accompany the hornet's nest levels all the way to the eerie and slower tones accompanying the haunted woods area.

The tracks hold up today as some of the best platformer music I've ever had the pleasure of playing along to. Don't take my word for it. There are plenty of remixes and remasters of it online — not to mention full symphony orchestra performances.

Then there's the level design. DKC2 is a game that surprises and delights with each new area. Each level is constructed around a core concept and expands on it as it progresses. That’s pretty standard for platformers these days.

But consider: Diddy and Dixie only have a handful of moves. There are only two dozen enemies in the game. But even then, each level still feels incredibly unique and well thought out. Newer platformers introduce new enemies or world mechanics for a single level. DKC2 cleverly recycles and remixes to create unique experiences for the player as they progress.

Fair warning: It's not an easy game. Playing recently, I'm astonished that I managed to beat it as an eight-year-old. My latest save score that I booted up placed me straight in the final area, where the difficulty ramps right up.

But even after seeing the Game Over screen a few times, I'm not worn down. Perhaps this is the power of nostalgia? Or is it just good game design? If you haven't tried this game, give it a go. Please, be the judge.

Worth trying if you like: Super Mario Wonder, Rayman Legends, or the newer Donkey Kong games: Donkey Kong Country Returns and Tropical Freeze.

Available on: Nintendo Switch, via the Super Nintendo online service.

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