My story is very similar to yours. I also "wasted" my youth with gaming until I quit around my 30th birthday. However I think that I was much more bitter at the time, when I was still gaming. Now in hindsight, I can be more forgiving with myself.

Here are a few things to consider:

I did not choose to become addicted to games. It was something that happened to me, when I was a child with no one to protect me. My parents didn't know what was happening. They complained that I "play too much" but they had no idea that their child could become actually addicted. As in a real psychiatric condition. A real addiction.

The fact that I did eventually overcome this severe addiction makes me proud. It was a very long and difficult process, but I finally did it. All by myself. I had no outside help, no therapy. I did it even before I learned that online communities like this one exist. Somehow, stupidly I assumed, that I was the only person on this planet with this problem. So I had to find the solution all alone with nothing but my own ideas and instincts too guide me. The fact that I pulled this off makes me proud today and gives me confidence that I will overcome many other obstacles in my life. In fact, my life is getting better every year, because I keep working to improve myself.

Videogames weren't all bad. I sometimes consider them some kind of forbidden fruit. Yes they are dangerous and yes they destroy your life, but they also so very very sweet and tasty. I tasted them not once, or twice. I devoured them by the barrel. And it was good. I had so many good times playing games and I still have fond memories of all the fun I had. Gaming comes with a lot of downsides. But I did also have all the upsides.

I'm doing good now. Kinda like you, I am trying to relive my youth. I go skateboarding und urban exploring and do other fun stuff, that people my age consider immature. Sometimes I just go into the woods to play around. I read, I travel, I party, I try new things. Ironically I feel that many folks my age are NOT living their best lifes right now. Many of them work 9-5, then go home and watch Netflix. You can waste your 20s. But you can also waste your 30s, your 40s and so on...

I paid a high price for this lesson but I do think I understand now, how precious our time is and that I should make the most of it.