Rogue is the Best Project
I've been working on a Roguelike that's turned into my new favorite obsession, and I think you would enjoy making one too. I can't think of a single project I've made in the last 20 years that's been this challenging and enjoyable. Part of this is the nostalgia of working on a style of game I played as a kid, with a language I used as a kid. Despite that I think there is something special about Rogue that makes it an amazing project for anyone who wants to get better at programming, have fun coding, and tackle challenging problems.
Therefore, allow me to convince you to make a Roguelike, and give you advice on how to start. I promise you'll have fun and you don't even need to be a game developer to do it. Everything that makes Rogue work is understandable by anyone with basic programming skills. Sure, your Rogue may suck, but an evening hacking on Rogue is better than 10 days sitting in meetings at $JOB.
NOTE: If games aren't your thing then I have another essay where I describe a bunch of projects you can spend a lot of time in. It's a very extensive list that is more than just a listicle. It gives full project descriptions, links to educational material to use, and other similar projects.
