There’s almost no comparison between gaming today and gaming back in the day. We used to sit in front of a computer or stand at an arcade machine and make sense of the action through low-resolution graphics, whereas today, we’re spoiled with hyperrealism and lifelike gameplay. It’s no longer a niche hobby either — anyone and their grandmother can be considered gamers, regardless of whether they prefer figuring out which slot game to choose at an online casino or what high-intensity first-person shooters they should play with their friends.
Gaming is so accessible now that it’s easy for newcomers to the scene to get overwhelmed. Should you just dive headfirst into an MMORPG, or do you start slowly and check out a cozy game first? With millions of games catering to various audiences, it’ll be impossible not to find your niche.
Figuring Out Your Gaming Style
The types of games a person is most interested in often correlate to their existing interests and general personality. It’s the easiest and most intuitive place to start if you’re unsure what you’ll like. Maybe you’re someone who loves action and the thrill of an adventure. Or perhaps you consider yourself more laid-back and don’t want to come down from an adrenaline rush every time. Matching your hobbies and style with the right genre is the first course of action for a beginner gamer, but it could also take some experimenting. A big part of video game culture is trying games out. While some gamers tend to stick to one genre, others branch out into multiple genres, not limiting themselves to one end of the spectrum.
What Types of Genres Can You Get Into?
Most video games challenge people physically and mentally — they test your mettle, coordination, reflexes, and problem-solving abilities. And the genres are vast, to say the least. Role-playing games (RPGs) are considered one of the most popular genres, allowing you to explore a fictional world as a customized or hero character. Sometimes, the premise could be more about the story; other times, the challenge could be more about building skills, foraging for items, and winning battles. Even within a genre, the nuances are endless. The Final Fantasy franchise blends fantasy with epic storytelling, while Red Dead Redemption takes place in the Wild West in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
There are also shooting games (first-person and third-person) like Call of Duty and Uncharted that focus on eliminating enemies, shooting accuracy, tactics and strategy, and general combat. Puzzle games hone in on mental challenges and problem-solving. Horror games play on your fears and force you to manage your resources in the face of survival. Sports games like NBA 2K and Madden NFL simulate different real-life sports. Life simulation games replicate real-life activities, whether building a city in Cities: Skylines or managing the lives of characters in The Sims.
Picking a Platform
With smartphones, tablets, and handheld gaming devices, we’re no longer limited to a computer or TV-connected console. Depending on the sorts of games you’re looking to play, you might want to opt for a Nintendo Switch, a PlayStation 5, or even stick to using your phone. Mobile app stores are packed with all sorts of games in different genres, including AAA mobile titles like GTA: San Andreas and PUBG Mobile, which bring console-level gaming to your phone.
PlayStation and Xbox consoles are most popular for action-adventure and sports simulation games. At the same time, the Nintendo Switch is specifically made for native Nintendo games like Animal Crossing, the Legend of Zelda series, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Ultimately, the best platform for you is one that is compatible with the games you’re looking to play.
Tips for New Gamers
The greatest tip for new gamers is to never play it safe. Games are meant to be fun — and you’ll never know what you’re missing out on if you’ve never tried a game out in the first place. However, it’s true that some games have a steeper learning curve than others, which is why it can help to select games that might have different difficulty levels, intuitive controls, or even more instructional content than others. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, learning as you go along is a sound option too. Games can sometimes take a couple of tries or a few hours to grasp, so it’s important to take your time before calling it quits.
Online tutorials and guides on official sites like IGN or Polygon can provide the resources needed to fill in the gaps and improve your skills, as can gaming communities on social media, forums, or sites like Discord. If you’re struggling to find titles to try out, PlayStation and Xbox have their own monthly subscriptions that give users access to a select collection of games every month.
Where to Begin
Family-friendly games like the Super Mario Bros. series or simulation games are often great places to start. They’re made to accommodate all ages, whether through straightforward game controls or simplistic, endearing content. These games are much more accessible than others, focusing on light-hearted experiences rather than overly complex concepts that can take a while to understand. For example, the new Super Mario Wonder makes levels easier for beginner players or kids with the characters Yoshi and Nabbit. These characters will only die from falling into pits or being crushed but won’t take damage from other methods. Other games, such as the Animal Crossing series, don’t involve losing lives or facing the threat of low health or damage at all.
