Video games waste time. TV wastes time. Reading wastes time. Watching movies wastes time. And so on. It's not any more a waste of time than other things that aren't work.

Also, there's plenty of games that are shorter or can be played in short sessions if you are too busy for long sessions.

find a game that's more than a shooter. some are truly art, and culturally significant works.

do you like a mystery, newtonian space simulation, beautiful music and visuals, and being driven by your own curiosity instead of a game on rails?

check out "Outer Wilds"

i similarly find it hard to play games myself. this game came on a recommendation and instantly became the best game i've ever played. and in the vein of wasting time, this game transcends "video games." it's actually a masterpiece. i recommend going in with no knowledge, just give it a shot.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/753640/Outer_Wilds/

I would first reflect on what gets you "hooked" to the point you feel guilty. For me, League of Legends was VERY addictive. My mood for the evening would change depending on how much I won or lost and I always wanted to queue up for "just one more game" even if I had another commitment in 30-45 minutes. So for me, dropping online team-based competitive gaming was the right move.

I would look into games that let you start/stop whenever without any issues. These fit best into (I presume) your adult life, without having the classic "I can't pause this right now" moments. I recommend Stardew Valley if you want something very laid back (and it works on nearly every system) and then one-player games like Horizon Zero Dawn, Witcher 3, Portal if you want some story, puzzle, action. Each is award-winning and has deep gameplay but also easy enough to approach (if you have a background in gaming as you mentioned).

Some of my most memorable conversations with my friends in the last couple of years has been talking about games. I've spoken at length about how Witcher 3's writing mirrors real relationships, how Cyberpunk's quests and endings have impact that wouldn't be possible in any other medium, how Return of the Obra Dinn gave a totally new experience that also made me rethink how I learn, and surely many other conversations I've forgotten.

Some stuff in your brain is better processed in the background without you actively thinking about them.

Playing games, reading, watching movies etc. lets the active part of your GTFO of the way and let the background processes run without interruptions.

Active breaks are also an option to combat any guilt. Just decide that "I'm going to play a game for 30 minutes", then it's not wasted time - you scheduled it =)

Part of weightlifting is having rest periods.

The same applies to mental work too.

Rest and relaxation is part of the work.

Did you feel guilty typing this comment?

Stop reading productivity blogs. You do not have to be productive 24/7. Downtime is important. Do you think going to a concert, or dinner with friends, etc is wasting your time too? It sounds like a deeper problem than just the video games.