I’m 20 as well, lost my sight when I was around 16. At the time, video games were my main form of escapism, relaxation, and socialization. I loved video games. After I went blind, I had to find other ways to occupy my time.

Since then, I’ve gotten into audibooks a lot. I loved the stories of video games, and reading had never been easy for me, so when I went blind, books actually became a lot easier, and a lot more enjoyable for me.

Also, tabletop games. For a healthy dose of the escapism and socialization, I play Dungeons and Dragons a lot. If you can get some friends together, it’s a great time. Even if you can’t, there’s plenty of places online you can find groups.

Beyond RPGs, you also have board games. This usually requires a little work, but there’s this great company, 64oz games, and they make a bunch of kits forboard and card games that you can use to play board and card games with braille. Obviously requires you to be able to do that, but it’s probably something you should learn at least a little bit of if you’re going blind.

I've never been much of a gamer, but I had an addiction to World of Warcraft that lasted for 2.5 years (from May 2008 to November 2010), and despite having quit for reasons unrelated to my sight I still miss it. I also used to enjoy The Elder Scrolls series and wasn't able to play Skyrim properly because my contrast perception was beginning to deteriorate when it came out. What I really miss is coding, which used to be my main hobby and profession, and although it's still possible to do blind the mental drag associated with it kills all the fun, so I don't do it anymore. I have no escape now, and only endure my life because of my mother who moved mountains to ensure that I didn't lose my sight as a kid and would be devastated if I died. I've been blind for 4 years.

Tabletop roleplaying is probably the best alternative; especially if you play something like FFG's Star Wars (which does not rely nearly as much on battle maps as something like Pathfinder does). It's a good way to make friends.

If you wanted something more traditional Pathfinder Society would work, but you would need to play a non-melee character that doesn't depend so much on character position on a map.

It's been years sense I've played sighted games. Now, audio games work in my favor. There are all types of games to play.

I'm 18, started losing sight at 13. Like you my life meaning from ages 13-16 was gaming.

Things that helped me:

- monitor arms that I can move forward
- setting up a TV as a second monitor
- playing SOME games in black & white

There are some games I just can't play which are mainly FPS based.
Simulation games I can get on with although at first I had to use the magnification tool on windows before I memorised the layout of the UI.
Strategy games like CIV are good, but I wouldn't recommend CIV VI.

It really depends on how far your sight has deteriorated.

Also what do you want from gaming?

Is it the adrenaline you get it from playing in highly competitive games?
Have a look at some sports visually impaired people can do.

Is it the immersion?
Audio books.

Is it the stimulation? Find challenging puzzles and problems to solve.

Well, I can’t play any FPS games. Is just impossible. I do love RPG games and also strategy games. So pretty much the only games i can play very well and even competitively is World of Warcraft and Hearthstone. WoW can use add-ons and I can adjust the UI however I want. Hearthstone is a card game, you can even play it without looking, it has a lot of audio cues.

Hard to get bored of these games because there is always new content. I do take my breaks though.

I'm completely blind and still play sighted games. It doesn't have the same affect for me as those with sight, but I'm happy that I can enjoy them. You still have hope!