Just finished a frustrating game with your friends where you ended up dead last, again? For some of us, the idea of actually winning a video game can seem so far away that it’s almost a foreign concept. However, with a little bit of targeted practice that needn’t be the case. Sure, there are some people who seem to have a natural flair for particular games, but if you’re willing to put a little work in then you could be just as good. These are five top tips on how to improve your gaming skills, so that one day, you can beat your friends.
Work Out Where You’re Going Wrong
Although we’re often told in life to focus on the positives, sometimes it helps to switch that up a bit. Starting by looking at common mistakes is one of the simplest ways to dramatically improve your game. For example, common poker mistakes are made by beginners and pros alike, so ironing some of them out will undoubtedly improve your results. If you’re a card player then this will be super helpful, but if you’re into a different sort of game then you just need to apply the knowledge differently. For example, in a huge, open-world video game, you might find that one of the things that let you down is how often you get lost. Instead of just hoping that by playing the game lots you’ll get to know the map, print out an image of it, and spend some time revising where all of the different locations are. Take some time to work out what’s letting down your gaming and take steps to change it.
Sweat The Small Stuff
Some people will struggle to find any glaringly obvious problems with their gameplay and that’s fine too, as your problem might be in the details. Once you get to a certain level, you need to start improving upon the small stuff to see the big results. For example, if you enjoy shoot-em-up games and seem to hit your target pretty often and relatively quickly, then don’t be fooled into thinking that you can’t improve. These sorts of games require great hand/eye coordination and lightning-fast reflexes, so spend some time independently training these skills. This brings us to our next point…
There’s An App For That
Now that you’ve identified you want to improve your reflexes (or whatever other core skill you struck upon), you can generally find an app to help you. One of the great things about the vast amount of gaming tech that’s available nowadays is just how easy it is to find an app for your every need. Either spend a little time scouring the app store to see what you can find that’ll be useful, or do a quick Google search to see what other gamers are recommending. Leaning on the expertise of others is always helpful.
Join a Club
One of the best ways to find experts in gaming is to join a club and meet some. You could opt for something like Meetup which allows you to meet people who are into the same hobbies as you in person or, as gaming is such an easy hobby to share online, you could choose online-only meetups. There are thousands and thousands of different groups for gamers, from those very specific to one game to the broader style of gaming to those that allow anyone at all who enjoys gaming. Take a while to decide which sort of group you’d best fit in and if you can’t find one, then make your own!
You Are Your Biggest Asset
This final one should be obvious, but so many gamers forget it. Looking after yourself is really important if you want to perform well. Just as sportspeople have to exercise, eat right, and sleep well, so should you if you want to make it to the very top of your game. Esports players follow strict regimes for sleeping, training, and their diet and, whilst this isn’t necessary for casual gamers, it’s still a good idea to make sure you play in a comfortable chair and try to keep those 4 am finishes to a minimum.
