How Gaming and Anime Binging Saved Me During My Darkest Days

I'm Skinnyhatchett, but online, I've got like a million different gamer tags. A few years back, during the whole crazy COVID thing in 2021, my life totally crashed. I lost my job, cash was super tight, and with a baby on the way, every no thanks email from jobs felt like a gut punch.

I'll be real—I thought about just giving up at one point. The feeling of letting my family down and just not being good enough almost did me in. But instead of just giving in, I found a weird way out: gaming and anime.

Fortnite, Escape, and a Whole New World

I totally remember the first night. Bills were stacked on the table, my girl was asleep, and I was just staring into the dark. Out of nowhere, I downloaded Fortnite. What started as just one quick game turned into hours of crazy fun, laughs, and—most of all—a break from all the stress. I wasn't Skinnyhatchett, the jobless soon-to-be dad. I was a player, building stuff, surviving, and laughing with random folks all over.

To make those late-night times a bit easier, I got a gaming chair. Nothing fancy, but sitting there, back comfy, keyboard and mouse, I felt like maybe I could make it through another day.

Anime Nights: Some Hope in Each Show

When I wasn't gaming, I watched anime. Shows like Attack on Titan and One Piece gave me something real life wasn't giving me at the time—hope. Watching characters mess up, fight hard, and get back up was huge for me. If Eren could keep going no matter what, why couldn't I?

I started grabbing little anime figures. Just plastic reminders to be brave and keep going, but when I saw them, they kept me pushing. They were more than just decorations—they were like anchors.

Driving Forward (For Real)

The money issues didn't just vanish. I still got turned down for jobs a ton, so I started driving for Uber. At first, it felt like I was failing—but soon I saw that the drives gave me time to think, to dream a bit. Between rides, I'd put on my headset, play some anime music, and just let it take me away. Little by little, I started to find a middle ground between just getting by and still finding some fun in life.

Being a Dad and Old-School Games

When my son came along, I knew I wanted to give him something good. Not the crummy feeling of being turned down, but the fun of playing and imagining stuff. I got a retro console, loaded with classics like Mario and Contra, and when he was old enough, we sat together laughing at those blocky turtles and crazy jumps.

Those times helped me heal more than any job offer ever could.

But Then Something Clicked…

Gaming and anime didn't just get me through it—they sparked something bigger. Something I never saw coming.

Because one night, while playing more Fortnite and watching more anime, I got an idea.

An idea that could change everything.

👉 And that’s where the real story starts… Stay tuned for Part 2.