‘I could feel that in myself, that’s why I stopped’: Nick Offerman explains why he hasn’t played video games since the ’90s

Nick Offerman has revealed why he hasn’t played video games since the ‘90s, commenting on their addictiveness and potential to “consume too much of [his] pie” of life. Offerman spoke on the topic during an interview on the Willoughby Hills podcast, telling host Heath Racela that video games are not part of the “portion of the meal of [his] day.” 

In lieu of gaming, the actor said he spends “most of my day doing work, pay[ing] attention to my relationships, and my household.” This focus on the “portioned pieces” of his day resulted in Offerman playing his last video game decades ago, because “for a lot of people, it’s very addictive.” The Parks and Recreation star continued: “I could feel that in myself, that’s why I stopped, because I could feel the danger that it could consume, with my indulgent personality, too much of my pie.”  

“I don’t want to give any more of my pie,” Offerman added. While the news is disheartening for legions of Sims fans the world over, the actor conceded that he understands people’s love of gaming. Offerman also acknowledged that “some way or another, humans require stories,” which is why media like television, movies and video games are still important.

As one of the stars of The Last Of Us, Offerman’s avoidance of video games is somewhat disheartening, but it’s not the first time the actor has mentioned his Sims-less media diet. Speaking with Jimmy Kimmel in February, Offerman revealed he played his last video game in 1998, admitting that, because he is “very indulgent,” he “lost a couple of weeks to a video game called Banjo-Kazooie.”

“I was like, ‘Oh my god, the slow dopamine drip is so delicious’. Then it’s over and you’re like, ‘Yes, I won!’ And immediately, I’m like, ‘What have I done with my life?’” It was then that Offerman “decided I’m never going to do that again.” In the same interview, Offerman said that because games like The Last of Us have “gotten so good,” if he hadn’t sworn off gaming in the ‘90s, he would still “be in a basement, and I wouldn’t even be going to audition for shows.”