That being said, I've enjoyed the years I worked as a game programmer, I had fun and I've learned interesting stuff.
Game development can be risky, especially if you've got bigger ambitions for your game. It all sounds great in your head, but progress is much slower. I spent 8 months on Unreal Engine, 8 months that I'm never going to get back, and I was never able to ship anything. Game development takes time and if you're someone who doesn't already have an expertise in asset creation, it's going to be even harder.
Speaking from a 3D game developer perspective, It also requires investment, not just hundreds of dollars but sometimes thousands because you can't do everything on your own. It's more than just 3d models, it involves animations, sound design, texture work, putting it all together and presentation and story and voice acting. So much stuff for a single person to handle.
It's great when you do not mind failure and putting 2–3 years into void, terrible when you expect something better than mediocrity.
Regular software development (web apps and apps) imho is much more rewarding. It takes less time to build an MVP, you can do it almost everything for $0 these days.
This approach also requires that you work a day job, unfortunately.
I wish game development was as easy as web development.
Doing 3D/animation as a past-time? Super fun. As a career? Stressful and annoying
Doing programming as a past-time? Super fun. As a career? Stressful and annoying
Doing movies as a past-time? Super fun. As a career? Stressful and annoying
Doing music as a past-time? Super fun. As a career? Stressful and annoying
Literally any time I've gotten good enough at a hobby so I could earn a living doing it, and try to make a living doing it, it got way less fun and relaxing for me.