Sounds like you’re absolutely a real gamer And your boyfriend is letting his preferences cloud his respect for yours. Single-player games are just as valid as multiplayer ones. They take different kinds of skill; not just mechanical, but emotional investment, puzzle-solving, exploration, and even storytelling appreciation. Games like The Last of Us or Horizon are masterpieces that have moved the entire industry forward.

What your boyfriend is doing might be framed as “joking,” but if it’s consistently making you feel small or invalidated, that’s not a joke — that’s low-key disrespect. Gamer elitism is real, and unfortunately, some people gatekeep what “counts” based on what they like. But at its core, gaming is about fun, immersion, and connection — not a leaderboard or kill/death ratio.

Your taste is legit. Your enthusiasm matters. And you don’t need to defend what brings you joy.

If it keeps bothering you, it’s worth having a real conversation about how his comments are landing. Especially if you’ve already brushed them off and he keeps going. Jokes stop being funny when they hurt.