It’s easy to think of gaming as a recreational activity, and of course it is, but it’s also something that can test us in various ways. Anyone who plays online games with the responsibility of carrying their team knows about that, be that in titles such as Counter-Strike or Rainbow Six: Siege.
So, if you’re looking to be a “better” gamer, what skills might you work on? Now, what “better gaming” means to you can differ. Maybe you have no interest in online competition but really enjoy puzzle games, or narrative stories, or logic tests. Perhaps you prefer arduous RPG’s that are heavily systems-based and require you to understand different builds and the involved mathematics.
Either way, it can’t hurt to think over what gaming expects of us, so we can support titles that engage our intelligence and keep us feeling stimulated by the hobby. With that in mind, let’s consider:
Literacy
A lot of games throw a fair amount of reading at you, such as RPGs, strategy games, visual novels and more, which all rely on text to get ideas across. If you skim too much, you might miss important details, be that lore, quest instructions, or tactical advice. The more you engage with this, the easier it gets to absorb information quickly. Reading more outside of gaming or enjoying word unscrambler use for word games can’t hurt your literacy.
Some games even have their own languages or intricate world-building, which makes keeping up with the story more of a challenge. This can help when the story is left intentionally vague, be that figuring out item descriptions in Dark Souls or following an interactive dialogue in a choice-based adventure, as reading comprehension plays a big role in how much you get out of gaming.
Aiming & Reflexes
Fast-paced games demand sharp reflexes, as we all know, and there’s always someone quicker and sharper than us. This often applies to FPS titles, fighting games, and certain platformers that require quick reactions and precision. You don’t have to be platinum or world-class rated each time, but practicing in these areas can make a difference in how smooth and rewarding a game feels. Aim trainers are pretty useful in these contexts, and can be installed on platforms such as Steam.
Mouse sensitivity settings are also worth adjusting (400-800 DPI is the sweet spot) but you can also adjust controller layouts, and even the way you position your hands can affect reaction time.
Management & Resource Balancing
Some games pile on the systems such as crafting, inventory management, skill trees, and resource gathering. Strategy games, survival titles, and even some open-world adventures can have their management systems you’re supposed to take care of, and fun as this can be, sometimes it feels like spinning plates on top of that.
Games like Civilization or the Paradox grand strategy titles will generally demand long-term planning you have to be mindful of, and sometimes survival games like The Long Dark require careful rationing if you’re to make it through their chapters. It can be helpful to play these games as they help you learn quick calculations and the ability to make sacrifices. That can also help you in other games.
Conduct & Care
Online gaming can get intense, and sometimes that brings out the worst in people. Who among us hasn’t yelled out an insult at someone else online because they beat us mic or not? Well, if you haven’t, that’s great and how we’re supposed to be.
Staying calm under pressure, treating teammates (and opponents) with respect, and knowing when to step away are necessary skills and it’s a good way to show younger siblings or those we play with how to be a little more composed.If you can avoid being tilted too easily, that’s a great skill. Especially because now auto moderators are very, very strict with trash talk.
Social & Communication
Multiplayer games are fantastic in how they train us to communicate more precisely and with fewer words, be that through voice chat, pings, or just understanding how to read teammates’ playstyles. Giving useful callouts and actually listening instead of just talking can make a real difference and define you as someone who is actually fun to play with. You’d be surprised how people might send you friend requests after.
With this advice, you’ll be certain to improve your skill as a gamer, and hopefully gain more from the games you do play. It’s all about fun and artistic exploration at the end of the day, and so whatever you can do to improve your experience is online going to increase your enjoyment.
