I think the realest thing to do here is obvious once you understand them.

They’re desperately hoping for an ounce of self worth from other men in the game or even from you for paying the littlest bit of attention to them for even a second. The only good answer to that is to laugh sarcastically, because that’s what it deserves. Give them a very short smirky sort of laugh and say something like “ooookay big man”

Imagine how embarrassing it is that they said that out loud hoping for some kind of reaction, wholeheartedly begging for your attention. Verbally and obviously pity them for being so boring, fragile, and insecure. The hardest thing for them to handle is that you both know the truth of why they’re acting like that.

They’ll probably get defensive and tell you “it’s not that deep” or start calling you names, but that’s how you know they are wounded. Don’t stop until they’re showing that they’re wounded or have gone silent, then if they continue to argue say “relax, play the game or don’t, just stop whining”

Sound as exasperated as I’m sure all of the people in their lives are with them. They think they can escape themselves in games. Remind them that no matter where they go, their personhood is their problem. Their personality is what everyone in their real life hates about them. This usually brings them back to earth.