Hi
@Ava Lugo, always good to hear from you and appreciate the update.
Reactive tinnitus sucks. I'm still in disbelief that such a thing could actually exist. No one should have to deal with that. But it's good to hear you are coping and managing more better as time goes by. That's all we can ask of ourselves at this point.
It seems like you have an interest in problem solving which I must say is a great way to distract oneself from tinnitus. Diamond panting sounds neat. If I could offer you some more hobbies to try, might I suggest building model kits? I used to build Gundam model kits when I was younger and it was a great way to pass the time (stress free too). You focus on the steps in the directions and you build something from nothing. There are beginner kits for newcomers, but the more advanced ones allow for more creativity (requires you to paint). You could also get yourself a Rubick's cube and try mastering it. Pick it up anytime you feel like solving it.
Video games is in my DNA. If I had all the free time in the world, that's all I'd be doing to be honest. It has been one of the best ways for me to cope with tinnitus. Unfortunately, I don't have much time for it anymore, but I do try to keep myself up to date with the latest gaming news.
Yeah I know the feeling. The reactivity in music sucks the enjoyment out of it sometimes. I just power through those moments. Maybe you could try muting the music volume and just keep the sound effects on. I think it'll have less impact on your reactivity. Not sure though.
Don't listen to these people. It all really depends on the genre. If it's a rhythm game, then yes sound is important, but most genres you can get by with no sound. These people don't realize there are many gamers out there who are completely deaf and it hasn't stopped them from finding enjoyment in the hobby. Music is great in video games, that's true but it doesn't make or break a game IMO. There's lots of other things that go into making a great video game. You could have good music, but if the gameplay design sucks, then I won't be playing it.
I've said it before and I'll say it again:
Slay the Spire. I clocked in 300 hours last year. I believe it's available on mobile. No volume is needed. I actually prefer if there's no volume for that game because the music and sound effects isn't anything special. But the gameplay is fantastic.
I think many of the Zelda games are perfectly fine without sound. Don't get me wrong, I love the music of Ocarina of Time and it's a key focus of that game, but you're not going to be missing anything in terms of story or fun gameplay. For me the puzzle solving is the best aspect about Zelda. But you also have The Legend of Zelda: Breath of Wild which is very minimalistic with its music. You're usually just hearing sounds of nature in that game which were the developer's intention (being immersed in the natural world). There's also a puzzle game called The Witness. Nice graphics and there's hardly any music in that game.
If you're interested in puzzle adventure games, I absolutely recommend the
Professor Layton series (on mobile too). The Curious Village and The Miracle Mask are my personal favorites, but they're all worth playing. Lots of cool puzzle solving that requires you to think and the plot draws you in with its mystery. You can play with no volume. The story and dialogue is told through text and there a few cutscenes.