7 Steps To Become An Experienced Gamer

Becoming a gamer is easier than ever, thanks to the accessibility of gaming platforms and online multiplayer. But before you get started, it’s important to lay down some ground rules. 

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Here are six important steps to becoming an experienced gamer in no time at all!

1. Take Advantage of Free Software

When you’re first getting into PC gaming, there will be a lot of required software that often has to be purchased separately. Luckily for new gamers, there are many free alternatives available on the internet that can get the job done just as well, if not better than their paid counterparts. RetroArch, for example, is an emulator that allows gamers to play almost any retro console game they want without having to purchase expensive hardware or games. Even better, it’s completely free and works across all platforms. Additionally, if you want to play PC games without purchasing a full version or cracked edition of the game, that can be buggy and unreliable.

2. Get Social

When you’re first getting into gaming as a social activity, you might think about jumping straight into multiplayer titles like League of Legends. These types of games are great for gamers who aren’t very experienced with shooters or MOBA tactics yet because the learning curve is much lower than most other genres. But if you truly want to get involved in your local gaming community and make friends, you’ll need to check out some local multiplayer (or couch co-op) titles that you can play with friends and family rather than against them.

3. Study Up

After you’ve played enough games that don’t require much thought but allow you to get your feet wet playing video games for the first time, it’s time to jump straight into what you’re actually here for playing high-quality video games. But before you can begin playing the latest and greatest video games, you’ll need to know about them first. Luckily for you, there are plenty of video game review websites out there that you can find with a simple Google search. These review sites will be your best friend when it comes to learning more about what’s developed by certain teams, how long the campaign usually lasts, and which platform(s) it can be played on.

4. Know Your Way Around The Hardware, You Can’t Play Online Without It

Speaking of buying video games, chances are that the first console (or gaming platform) you’ll end up playing video games on is your Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch or your Gaming PC. Check out the Best Smallest ATX Case in 2021 when building your own Gaming PC. PCs essentially allow for any type of game to be played by anyone, so there is a lot of great stuff out there to experience.

5. Paid Isn’t Always Better

Although paid gaming titles tend to receive more attention than their “free-to-play” counterparts, there are some great “freemium” apps out there that will give any full-priced mobile game a run for its money. Of course, this also depends on what type of games you like playing most.

6. Don’t Be Afraid To Get Competitive

Amateur eSports is usually where most gamers get their start in the competitive scene before they decide to take it up as a full-time career choice. In fact, some people even go from being an amateur eSports player to becoming a professional gamer (which is now an actual job). With that said, there are plenty of free-to-play games out there that allow you to compete against other players without having to spend a single dollar.

7. Explore Different Types Of Games 

Next, you should make sure that you are exploring different types of games. You need to get a feel for the various mechanics and options that developers use to bring their games to life. For instance, you might want to try different shooting games, racing games, survival games, and horror games. You’ll notice that certain mechanics are widespread throughout different genres because they help titles feel more visceral and ensure that things don’t get dull for the player. 

Bonus Tip: It’s Not All About The Graphics

As great as it is to be able to see insanely detailed environments, monsters, characters, etc., all rendered in real-time 3D—sometimes the most important aspects about certain video games have nothing at all to do with how good they look. Instead, the best part about a video game can be how it sounds, which is most likely why a lot of people enjoy playing titles like Minecraft and Stardew Valley. These games may not have the best visuals out there, but their soundtracks alone are more than enough to keep you engaged for hours on end—and that goes for both the PC and mobile versions.

More Than Just A “Hobby.”

One thing I’ve noticed about gamers over the years is that they seem to get grouped together by outsiders as being nothing more than lazy couch potatoes who live in their mother’s basement and spend all day playing video games. Well, guess what: That’s not always the case. From professional eSports players to YouTube content creators, some of these guys and gals actually make a living out of doing what they love! It’s not as easy as it sounds, but if you really want to become the next YouTube sensation, there is no better way than learning how to edit your videos and sharing your content with others.