Gaming as a hobby has well and truly hit the mainstream. Video games make billions of dollars each year, and there’s a massive variety of different games hitting the market every month. There’s no right or wrong way to game either, and a lot of people tend to fall into playing certain games more than others.
But can you get even more out of gaming? Well, gaming is a form of entertainment first and foremost. But it can also be a way to learn new skills and how to think outside the box. It can be a way to meet people and make friends. You can even build a career from playing, designing, and interacting with video games in different ways.
Why You Should Play Different Games
Most people only play a few types of games, and might not know what they’re missing out on. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this. If you find yourself playing RPGs, building characters, and exploring different worlds and stories, all power to you. You aren’t playing games more wrong or right than someone else who prefers online FPS games.
But if you give different types of games a chance, you might find that you fall in love with a different way to play. Even better, this gives you more options when you do have time to play a game. You might not be in the mood or have time for a long game, but you could enjoy a few races in a racing game or a couple of puzzles.
You won’t fall in love with every game either. But you will expose yourself to different stories, ideas, and ways to play.
Starting Small With Puzzle Games
If you’ve only got a few minutes, puzzle games are probably the best option. They’re also a great way to introduce people to gaming, and if you want to improve your cognitive skills, puzzle games are where it’s at.
Puzzle games can take a few different forms. You can get narrative puzzle games like point-and-click games or games like The Witness, where you explore an area and unlock a story by solving puzzles. Some detective games, like the Sherlock Holmes games, are also quite puzzle-heavy.
But most people are familiar with puzzle games like Sudoku. Sudoku and similar games are easy to access, and you can often get them for free online or on your phone. A game will typically last for about 10 minutes, so they’re ideal for when you really don’t have a lot of time. If you’re waiting for something or you’re on a break and want to keep your mind active, these short puzzle games are perfect.
First images from Ted Lasso season 4 are here as release date teased
Handheld Gaming and Mobile Games
This takes us to handheld and mobile gaming. Mobile games can get a bad rap as pay-to-win messes that are borderline gambling, but without the chance of winning real money. But while there are a lot of mobile games that rely on unhealthy practices and that push people to spend money to get further ahead, there are also loads of mobile games that have been made with real care.
These do include some free games that rely on ad revenue to make money, but you can often find better games if you’re willing to pay a small amount of money for the game. Look for highly awarded games, not just the most popular ones, and look for games that have been designed for the mobile gaming experience, so you don’t get a bad port.
Handheld gaming also includes games designed for handheld consoles. The Nintendo Switch is probably one of the most famous and popular types of handheld console, but other consoles like the SteamDeck, the Super Pocket, and the ROG Xbox Ally also allow you to play different games on the go.
Single-player Vs Online Gaming
Another way to diversify your gaming experience is to explore single-player and online gaming. These are wildly different experiences.
Some games are an either-or experience. They’re designed for single-player only, and if you’re lucky, they might have a co-op feature that allows someone to pop into your game. Other games have little to no single-player gameplay options, and you can only really play with or against other players.
Other games have a story mode and an online mode, so they cater to both types of players. If you want to explore a different way to play, these are good games to try, especially if they have good ratings for single-player and multiplayer experiences. Warframe is considered one of the best games suited for solo play and multiplayer play.
But what if you don’t want to play with strangers? Then don’t. You can play online with your friends as well; you just need to be a bit organized and arrange sessions.
Tabletop Gaming
Speaking of playing with friends, if you want a completely different experience, why not try tabletop gaming? Tabletop gaming is at its best when you play with a few friends who are willing to get invested in the experience.
There’s nothing worse than playing a tabletop RPG with the wrong people. Some people might take it too seriously and turn into rules lawyers, sucking out the fun, while other people might not take it seriously enough, so they’re the only people having fun at everyone else’s expense.
Pick your game and your group carefully, and find a time and place that suits everyone for some tabletop fun.
New Ways to Play
Sometimes, even switching to a different type of gaming can make a huge difference. For example, making the leap from console gaming to PC gaming can expose you to very different games and ways to expand the games you play.
If you want to add mods to your game, PC gaming is your absolute best option because it’s so much easier to add or even create mods. This allows you to customize your experience if you’re willing to put in the effort to do so.
WATCH: Lobo steps into spotlight in two new Supergirl teasers
The Nerd
The Nerd is the one who lurks in the shadows of the FTN HQ, writing mysterious articles and sponsored posts. No one has ever seen him and most are happy at that... but some of us are still curious
Nerd Comments