Video games have never been more popular, with billions around the globe playing games on their smartphones, PCs, and consoles. Whether you enjoy massively multiplayer games or casual games are more your style, there’s a title out there that’ll keep you entertained for minutes or hours.
When you first start gaming, you may not spend much time thinking about improving your skills. However, the more invested you become, especially if you get into online gaming, you’ll probably want to get better. After all, it’s not fun being the first player eliminated in a game. With all of that in mind, we’ve compiled this list of tips for leveling up your gaming skills.
Study Your Game
When you think of gaming, studying probably doesn’t come to mind. However, if you want to improve your gaming skills quickly, checking out gaming guides online is one of the quickest ways to do so. A wealth of information is available online for any type of game you can imagine. As one of the most popular games in the world, it’s no surprise that it’s easy to find information on how to play Texas Hold’em and other poker variants. Texas Hold’em has held the top spot as the most popular poker game for several decades, becoming famous thanks to television and the World Series of Poker. For those who prefer battle royale games like Fortnite, strategies and tips are also plentiful. Making use of the knowledge others have compiled is arguably the best way to get better at gaming.
Spend a Lot of Time Playing Games
There’s no getting around it; playing games will make you a better gamer. Unless your goal is to become a professional gamer, you don’t need to treat gaming like a full-time job; however, the more games you play, the more skilled you’ll become. If you really want to get good, you need to become a video game nerd, pouring energy into your hobby.
Since becoming a jack of all trades is unproductive in gaming, your best bet is to focus on a specific genre of video games. If you enjoy first-person shooters (FPS) like Call of Duty, spend time playing those games. You’ll find that the mechanics are similar in all FPS games, so playing one will help you out when it’s time to play another.
Play Against Better Players
Although losing is no fun, playing against better players is one of the most productive ways to improve your gaming skills as a newbie, even if you do end up losing. When you play against stronger gamers, you get to observe the strategies they use and can employ them the next time you play.
Whatever game you choose to play, you’ll need to learn its fundamentals and essential strategies to compete effectively against other players. If you want to survive while playing better players, you’ll have to hone your skills to keep up. In contrast, playing with weaker players will give you easy wins but won’t allow you to test your limits in the same way you can when playing against strong players.
Watch Others Play
There are tons of gaming content available online, and most of the top esports players have their own YouTube or Twitch channels where they stream their gameplay live. Watching these professionals play the games you want to get better at can go a long way toward helping you improve your skills.
Watching others play instead of playing a title yourself may not sound very exciting, but you’d be surprised. Tuning into a live gaming event is a lot like watching the sports you love; plus, you can pick up a lot of tips from watching people who know their craft.
Take note of the strategies professionals and semi-professionals use as they move through a game, and try to use them the next time you play the title. Also, check out the gear they use, their in-gam settings, and their approach.