6 Easy Tips To Maximize Your Video Game Enjoyment
Video games are pretty fun. You’re unlikely to have visited this website if you disagree. But the truth is that video games can be more fun than you realize. What matters is learning ont just what to play, but how to play them. After all, life is busy. You likely have many responsibilities to deal with in your daily life, and precious little free time to sit down and enjoy a game.
But what if you’ve felt that your gaming time has been lacking in enjoyment as of late? Are there measures you can take to ensure every time you sit down in front of the computer or on your couch, you have a whale of a time?
We believe the following combination of tips can help you achieve exactly that:
Do Away With Obligation
Your gaming time is your gaming time, and you don’t have to feel obligated to enjoy it a certain way. You don’t have to log on to “grind ranks” or complete dailies if you’re not interested in that. You don’t have to play the latest and most dialogue-dense RPG if you’re prefer to farm in a virtual field for a few hours before heading to bed.
The best gaming experiences are those we want to have in the moment, not those we feel we should keep up with. This might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people treat their gaming time as if it were an obligation to keep up with, rather than pastime to enjoy how they like.
Maybe you don’t even want to sit at your computer this evening, but play a few rounds of solitaire and watch a few shows. If gaming is feeling like a chore, try to lighten the load.
Improve The Audio
It’s very easy to think that better gaming experiences always include more intensive graphics, higher resolutions, and better frame rates. But that’s not all that counts. You’d be surprised how great improved audio experiences can be for your overall enjoyment, and it’s much cheaper to adopt better equipment here than it is to purchase brand new video cards, televisions and monitors.
For example, a good surround sound system or better headphones can provide a great deal of soundstage, audio presence, and better balancing to the soundtracks you listen to. Even 8-Bit soundtracks can really thrive when you have the speaker system to express it correctly.
Take A Break
It might sound strange to suggest not playing video games in order to enjoy them more readily, but the same could be said for anything. If you eat your favorite meal seven days a week, it becomes much less special to you.
As such, if you find that gaming is a little boring or rote as of late, why not focus on something else? Invest in your other hobbies like reading, playing an instrument, doing sports or whatever else inspires you. Then, come back to the games and invest your time. See how it feels fresher and more enjoyable this time around. You might be surprised how distance makes the heart grow fonder.
Challenge Yourself
Now, we’ve already mentioned that gaming doesn’t have to be a chore, and that’s true. But that doesn’t mean a challenge should feel like work. For example, if you’re a foodie, then it can be nice to try new cuisines and enjoy new flavors that you’ve never tried before – be that your first time enjoying sushi or cooking fish ceviche.
So, if you usually play online FPS games, why not buy a strategy game like Frostpunk or Gears of War Tactics or XCOM? You could have a blast enjoying a new design philosophy and seeing how that inspires you. It may take a little time to adapt to the new norm, but that’s the essence of discovery. It will also help the hobby feel dynamic and always ready to offer more. This effort could also train your skills, making you better next time you have to perform in your preferred genre.
Again, only opt for the challenge if you feel up to it. This should be enjoyable, not a test you have to pass.
Make It Social!
Even bad games are better with friends. Just as you can laugh along to a bad movie with a friend, it’s easy to forgive the flaws in a game if you can do so with your friends. Resident Evil 6 is often considered a silly, shouty, overbearing video game with bad mechanics, but with a friend? It can be an absolute hoot.
Of course, you’re spoilt for choice regarding social games in 2023. No matter if you love social deception, MMORPGs, co-op, or even simulating games like Tabletop Simulator, if you can enjoy mutual experiences with someone you care for, it’s a great way to bond. Even watching someone play through a game and taking turns can be enough, so make sure to set that mutual time and stick to it. You’ll have a blast.
Share Your Opinions!
Games aren’t just toys, but they can say something about culture, or explore history, or simply give you an emotional experience that you might not have had otherwise. It’s good to share these things if you’re so inclined, and many people do that each day.
Why not talk about the awe you had your first time playing Elden Ring, your hopes for an upcoming game series, or perhaps your hopeful list of features in Starfield? It may sound like the commentary space is already overstuffed with voices, but the truth is that having a conversation and putting your opinion out there might be just what you need to think about your hobby from a different angle. You can bet there are thousands of committed gardeners filling up forums with their thoughts right now, so why can’t you do the same?
With this advice, you’ll hopefully look at gaming in a new light. If you only enjoy it a little more than you may have otherwise, we’ll consider this article a mission well completed!