I invested $3,000 in a PC just to play a $20 game, and I have absolutely no regrets.

      Assembling a PC is an exhilarating endeavor, but it can be quite costly. Let’s not sugarcoat it — it's genuinely expensive. With the prices of top graphics cards at their highest in years, even opting for budget components leads to a steep price tag if you want a gaming rig, and the costs only escalate if you aim for more powerful hardware.

      Nonetheless, it's feasible to construct a decent computer within a budget. The challenge lies in the tendency to convince yourself to spend more than necessary. That’s likely how I ended up investing $3,000 in a PC primarily used for a $20 game.

      The fear of missing out (FOMO) is undeniable

      Kunal Khullar / Digital Trends

      I didn’t just build my PC recently — I actually suggest postponing any upgrades at the moment. The market is quite chaotic.

      However, I assembled my PC just over a year ago for nearly $3,000. I realize many gamers have spent even more, but it was the highest amount I've ever invested in a build, with my initial budget firmly set at $2,000.

      You might be curious how I overshot my budget by around $800. Well, I attribute it to FOMO — the fear of missing out.

      FOMO drives many to neglect their budgets. It’s why PC building communities are filled with individuals nudging each other to spend a little more. It’s the reason many of us end up with PCs that exceed our actual needs.

      When constructing a PC, it's easy to think (or be advised) that an additional small amount can significantly elevate the quality. Sometimes, that assessment is indeed correct. After all, if you’re already investing $2,000 in your setup, why not add another $400 for a superior GPU? Or $200 more for the best available gaming CPU at the moment?

      The downside is that these additional expenses can accumulate alarmingly fast. While future-proofing is a valid consideration, a new generation of hardware eventually emerges, resurfacing that familiar sense of FOMO. This explains why someone with an RTX 4090 might still be tempted to spend $3,000 or $4,000 on an RTX 5090. Few truly need such upgrades, but owning the best can be a gratifying experience.

      This relentless pursuit may lead to a PC that feels more than you originally intended. That’s somewhat reflective of my own situation.

      My Steam library brought me back to reality

      Monica J. White / Digital Trends

      When I first got my PC, it was a considerable enhancement. Upgrading from an Nvidia GTX 1060 to an RTX 4080 was exhilarating. I've experimented with various GPUs (a fun perk of my job), but my own system had been rather neglected. So as soon as I could, I jumped into playing AAA titles.

      Cyberpunk 2077. Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered. Horizon Zero Dawn. Hogwarts Legacy.

      Was it a fantastic experience? Absolutely. These games ran beautifully and looked phenomenal.

      But did I finish any of them? No, certainly not. They remain in my library, unfinished and not appreciated as they should be.

      It's not that I don’t game frequently, as I certainly do. It’s just that spending $3,000 on a new PC didn’t alter my gaming preferences, which don’t typically gravitate toward the blockbuster titles that dazzle us year after year. Glancing through my Steam library provided a stark realization. My most played game in 2024 was far from a blockbuster.

      Monica J. White / Digital Trends

      There’s a game many of you may not have encountered before — it's called Spelunky 2, a roguelike platformer. You choose from various characters who venture deep underground, rescuing cute animals, gathering treasures, avoiding traps, and battling foes.

      It may sound simplistic, but it is indeed simple. Yet there’s something remarkably captivating about this game’s simplicity, leading me to log over 600 hours into a $20 game. Meanwhile, my esteemed Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered barely hits 20 hours, and I can’t motivate myself to revisit it.

      Monica J. White / Digital Trends

      Although Spelunky 2 may appear uncomplicated and inviting, it’s often quite the opposite. It’s a challenging game that can evoke screams of frustration when you rush through a level only to fall into a trap. After dying, you return to level one and start anew. No two runs are ever identical, thanks to its roguelike design. Still, there’s a rewarding feeling in mastering the game that many others fail to replicate — Spelunky 2 hinges largely on skill. With each failed attempt, you sense your improvement, and it’s exhilarating to zoom through the game, trying out new strategies that once seemed too challenging.

      I wish I could say that I invest my gaming hours into something that fully utilizes my PC’s capabilities, but that would be untrue. I also