Gaming has been a popular hobby for decades, and it’s easy to see why so many people will want to start playing video games. It offers more than a few benefits, like:
Letting you have quite a bit of fun.
Helping you relax quite a bit.
Improving your cognitive and problem-solving abilities.
Enhancing your hand/eye coordination, and more.
But, getting into gaming can often feel a little daunting. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of games on offer, the different genres, and a whole lot more.
Thankfully, it doesn’t need to be nearly as hard as you’d think. Focusing on the right gaming tips is a start, and more than a few steps can help with it, too. Seven of these could be great ones to start off with because of the impact they should have going forward.
1. Pick a Platform
The first decision you’ll have to make when you start gaming is which platform you’ll use. There are plenty of obvious options, like Xbox and PlayStation, but you can also consider Nintendo, PC gaming, and quite a few others. Each of these will have pros and cons, making them more than worth considering.
A lot of this depends on your personal preferences, budget, and similar factors. But, most platforms have many of the same games, with there only being a relatively few exclusive titles to each of them. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t end up finding the right one for your needs.
2. Narrow Down Games
There are countless video games out there you can try, from more relaxed options like Wordle to horror titles like Resident Evil Village. You’ll need to narrow these down quite a bit when you’re getting into gaming. While this seems overwhelming because of the sheer number of games, it shouldn’t have to be hard.
You can start by focusing on genres. Some players prefer horror games while others prefer first-person shooters, for example. After that, you could go for some of the more popular games in a genre before narrowing them down more and more based on your interests. It shouldn’t take too long.
3. Create a Comfortable Setup
Having a gaming setup is always a great idea, as it could help you enjoy your gaming sessions a whole lot more, especially if you’re focusing on PC gaming. But, this setup doesn’t need to be as big and expensive as you could think. It just needs to be comfortable and suit your needs.
For many gamers, this could just mean making sure the sofa is comfortable and that they’ve the best view possible of their television. If you’re a PC gamer, though, it’s worth investing in an ergonomic desk and chair so you’re as comfortable as possible for however long you’re playing.
4. Play With Friends & Family
Countless gamers have vivid memories of playing video games with their friends and family, and these can be some of the best memories they ever have. It’s why they’ll keep playing with them. When you’re getting into gaming, it’s worth seeing if any of your friends and family want to play, too.
If any of them are already gamers, then focus on them. Even seeing if a few ‘non-gamers’ want to try a few games with you could end up leading to a great time. You can even make it a little competitive to add an extra layer of fun, and it can be a great bonding experience for you and whoever you’re playing with.
5. Join a Gaming Community
There’s always the chance many of your friends or family don’t want to spend too much time gaming, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to find people to game with. Online communities are always quite active, and you wouldn’t have a problem finding more than a few people playing the same games as you.
It’s just a matter of doing a bit of looking around. At a minimum, you’ll have more people to talk about video games with. If you’re a fan of online gaming and multiplayer games, you’ll end up making a few friends you can game with regularly. It shouldn’t have to be hard or take you too much time.
6. Set Time Aside for Gaming
Countless people want to start gaming but often feel like they don’t have the time for it. Even when they’ve invested in a console, bought a few games, and gotten everything set up, they could still end up not playing as much as they’d like. Thankfully, this isn’t a position you’ve to settle for.
Set some time aside for your gaming sessions so you actually have the chance to play. Having a few hours of game time a week is a great idea; it’s just a matter of setting aside the time to play it. Weekends can naturally be the best times for this, but a lot of this depends on your responsibilities.
7. Take Healthy Breaks
Countless people end up playing video games for hours on end once they’re interested in it, but that doesn’t always mean it’s the healthiest thing to do. It could end up being quite addictive, especially considering that some games try to take advantage of this as much as possible.
The key to keeping video games healthy is taking breaks. Even if you’re planning to spend an evening or night playing with your friends, having a few breaks helps make sure it’s a healthy hobby for you instead of an addictive one. And, you’ll still be able to get your responsibilities done while still having fun gaming.
There are plenty of reasons to start playing video games, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t end up enjoying yourself quite a bit. Even if it feels a little overwhelming, gaming’s a lot more straightforward than you’d expect.
With a little bit of effort and a few gaming tips, you’ll end up taking up a hobby you’ll like for years on end. There’s no reason not to try it.
