- Primary Subject: Video Game Fandom
- Key Update: Playing games is essential to being a true fan, not just discussing them.
- Status: Published
- Last Verified: 2026-03-19
- Quick Answer: Genuine video game fandom requires personal experience playing the game, not just consuming content about it.
I was 15 in 2008. I loved my Xbox 360. I had some other consoles at the time, but coming home from high school and booting up Halo 3 remains a core memory of mine til this day.
Naturally, there were times I couldn't afford a game I really, really wanted. One of those cases is Resident Evil 5. I didn't play it when it came out; in fact, the only piece of RE5 media I consumed beyond dozens of video reviews was the demo published exclusively on the 360. It was short and sweet and action-packed, and it kept me going for a long time until I finally got to play the game years down the line.
I was a kid, and even by scraping some money on the side, there was only so much disposable income my family could dedicate to my gaming addiction. Did I ever pretend to be a fan of a video game I had never touched? Never. I was not a Resident Evil 5 fan in 2009 because I did not play the video game, even if I already knew about Chris Redfield's boulder-punching antics.
And yet, the discourse online currently is dominated by one of the most bizarre discussions I've seen in the hellish rabbithole that is Twitter (no, I'm not calling it X): people can be fans of games they don't play, apparently. An absurd statement that inherently decreases the value of video games as a medium, just because terminally online users want to be a part of a "conversation" that they should absolutely take no part in.
It's an abhorrent proposition that entirely removes from the equation the one thing that separates gaming from other entertainment media like films, music, or TV shows: they are interactive. A game is not just a story or a narrative presented in a variety of ways. It can be text-based, heavily rely on cutscenes, have a self-insert silent protagonist, or have well-fleshed-out heroes and villains. Pick your flavor. The core foundation of what makes a game great, regardless of its story, is the gameplay. It's such an obvious statement that I feel weird even typing it, but that seems to be a non-existent point for those who advocate that watching a Persona 5 YouTube playthrough is the same as picking up a controller and experiencing the narrative and gameplay loop for yourself.
How can you be a part of a conversation regarding Persona 5 when you've only consumed a portion of the experience? How can you form a sense of connection to its narrative and characters, without personally sinking dozens and even hundreds of hours into the game, crafting the right Personas, exploring Mementos, falling in love with its iconic soundtrack, and living with your own choices rather than seeing YouTuber JohneAwesome do it for you? How can you create your own core memory of that first magical time you booted the game and Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There (or Colors Flying High for Royal) started blasting on your speakers?
If you're fine with that, it's time to admit one thing: you are not a fan of video games, you crave the discourse and having an opinion on anything. Gaming is a hobby that can be expensive, and yes, sometimes you might be priced out of that shiny new AAA everyone's talking about. Don't have a Switch 2 but want to experience Pokémon Pokopia? I'm sorry to say, a YouTube video of someone else going through their journey won't replace the proper act of creating your own little habitats. It's the nature of the beast.
That being said, gaming as a medium can be as cheap as you want to (if you know what I mean), and there are plenty of gorgeous discounted gems or must-plays constantly going on sale. It only takes a quick browse through Steam or the digital storefront of the platform of your choice to find something enticing.
You don't have to play new, expensive AAA games on release. They can wait. You'll be fine without tweeting about how Grace's story in Resident Evil 9 is actually terrible based on those Markiplier clips you saw.
Venting on social media and calling people who demand the bare minimum from others trying to engage in discourse (e.g., playing the game) is not elitist: it's the most basic of courtesies. If you still insist on calling yourself a fan of a game without personally engaging with it, then I suggest you open a Letterboxd account and start watching movies. You might enjoy them more.
You are not a fan of a video game until you pick up a controller and play the damn thing.
And that's it. Stick with us at Gfinityesports.com: your go-to source for all things gaming.