How to Get Better at Video Games: 10 Essential Tips

There’s nothing worse than losing in the first round of a Super Smash Bros. tournament because you were the first to be eliminated.

So, you might be relaxing on your bean bag, drinking Mountain Dew, and thinking about how to get better at video games while you watch your pals have fun. Yet, this is one of those things in life that you have to switch from theory to application pretty fast. 

No worries, we’ve got you covered. Keep on reading for our 10 broad pointers to help you level up from the amateur rounds to the professional gamer leagues. 

1. How to Get Better at Video Games 101: Identify Your End Goal

Do you want to be a professional gamer? You need to have a solid answer to this question before you can go any further. 

If that’s a yes, then you’ll want to look for games with plenty of tournaments and rewards that you can ultimately participate in.

Or do you play for the sole purpose of making friends? In order to meet them on their own territory, locate a game they’re all playing.

Or maybe, you’re dreaming of becoming a YouTube or Twitch streamer? In this case, you’ll want to go for a hot new release that’s both popular and in-demand right now.

To be successful in a game, you must dedicate a significant amount of time and energy. Therefore, it is worthwhile to check out a variety of games until you discover the one that seems most comfortable for you.

2. Practice. Practice. Practice.

You must practice in order to become proficient at anything. Even if video games are only a pastime for you, it will require many hours of practice to improve your skills enough to play professionally.

You can’t expect to be the greatest at a game if you only play for 30 minutes a week. You have to put some effort into it.

If you really want to improve, you’ll have to make time to practice. It’s a lot like learning a musical instrument or participating in a sport; planning some practice time is essential.

3. Learn the Settings and Key Binds

By default, every game has its parameters set to the lowest possible level. For some players, it’s perfect; for others, it’s a disaster.

If you’re frustrated and think things would be better if they were different, it’s time to check out the options. Try reversed controls, for example, if you’re playing a first-person shooter game. Alternatively, if it’s already on, turn it off.

Alternatively, if you’re using a computer, you might experiment with the game’s key bindings. Don’t forget about the mouse while you’re doing this. Use up to 5 additional key bindings on your mouse, depending on what model you have.

At first, it may seem unusual if you do this. Nonetheless, with a little experimentation and the appropriate settings, it will become second nature. If that’s the case, you should do more research.

It may be instructive to see the settings and key bindings used by the professionals. By this point, they’ve generally found out what the best configuration is. However, remember that every player is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another.

4. Surround Yourself With More Skilled Gamers

Being able to consistently outperform your younger sister in a game may be really fulfilling. After all, we’d all want to think we’re winners.

However, with your current skill level, this is pointless. In certain cases, you’ll find an easier or more efficient method to accomplish things, but in general, your progress will stagnate.

Play with more experienced players to help you improve. At initially, you may run across some roadblocks and get disheartened. However, if you persist, you will swiftly improve as you are forced to deal with circumstances requiring more competence.

5. Join a Team or a Community

As the ancient adage goes, “there’s power in numbers.” To learn from other players or to just practice, consider joining a club at your institution or in your town. Of course, you’ll be able to locate participants over the internet. Despite this, playing video games may be an isolated pastime. Why not arrange to meet up with a few people in person?

See if there are any local gaming clubs on Meetup. To get a taste of team-based, competitive gaming, join a Counter-Strike squad and put your skills to the test.

There are other colleagues waiting to assist you to learn the ropes if you make it through the selection process. Having a mentor is an excellent approach to acquiring new skills.

6. Observe the Pros

People of various skill levels are getting into esports. Some people just watch it for fun. Others, on the other hand, pay attention to the professionals in order to get knowledge from them.

It’s safe to say that these seasoned players have spent countless hours learning the game’s rules and mechanics. Most likely, they’ve uncovered information that you were completely unaware of.

It’s also a good idea to pay attention to their reactions and posture in different scenarios. You’ll have an advantage over your rivals if you use this strategy in the future.

7. Challenge Yourself and Play Beyond Your Abilities

You’ll never become better if you don’t put in the time and effort to really play. More significantly, if you want to improve, you must be stretched. If you just play on Easy Mode (for single-player games) or against the computer (for multiplayer games), you can grow better at the game, but you won’t if you stick with it.

The best piece of advice for becoming better is to take on the more difficult competition.

Don’t, however, go overboard. Going up against Roger Federer would be pointless if you were just learning the game. Playing at a level of difficulty that is somewhat beyond your present expertise is preferable. As a result, you’re compelled to go outside of your comfort zone and experiment with riskier, but doable, strategies.

8. Invest in High-Quality Gaming Devices

The console, controller (or keyboard), speakers, and either headphones or earbuds are all you need to play most games. When it comes to these things, go for high-end, name-brand options that are of good quality. Gear Supply used pro audio gear to enhance quality gaming experience. In spite of being far less expensive, knock-off items malfunction or break considerably more often than name-brand alternatives.

If you’re a fan of racing games, for example, you may want to consider purchasing steering wheels and pedals. These accessories, for example, are available from gaming manufacturer Fanatec. They’re not only reasonably priced, but they’re also well-made.

When you invest a little more in high-quality peripherals, your gaming experience will be enhanced since you’ll be able to pick up on details that cheaper copies would miss. They’ll also cost less in the long term since they’ll last longer.

Of course, without a solid gaming laptop, this whole guide becomes less effective. You can check out discounts from Lenovo if you’re in the market for a great gaming laptop.

9. Read and Write Killer Guides

Reading instructions is perhaps the most apparent approach to improve. Be careful to peruse as many community sites and forums as possible if you’re looking for guides.

However, reading manuals isn’t the only option. Writing instructions is also a great idea.

Many individuals believe that only specialists should write guidelines. That’s accurate in a sense. For this reason, only write about anything if you are very confident that it is true. In contrast, drafting a guide is often the most effective approach to gathering information.

Let’s say you’re baffled by a gaming mechanism. Do you know what you’d look for in a guide on a certain subject? Once you’ve created an outline, get right in and do independent research for each area. Try out different things. You may experiment with different builds in an RTS. In a first-person shooter, you might experiment with different weapon combinations.

You gain knowledge while writing the manual. Everyone makes mistakes, therefore you’ll learn from them and grow as a person as a result. In addition, after you complete your tutorial, you may share it with other newcomers.

10. When Needed, Take a Break

Your mind is a powerful tool. But, it can also work against you if you don’t use it properly. Developing your talents is something you should be committed to, but there is such a thing as overdoing it. This is the basis for the law of diminishing marginal productivity.

If you’re spending hours in front of your computer attempting to beat a boss, you’re straining your brain. Repeated attempts become inefficient after a certain point.

You must be able to recognize when it is time to quit and do something else. After a period of failing, log off and do something else you love instead. Take a stroll, do some dinner prep, or even a lengthy bath to relieve stress.

If the situation is dire, you may want to wait until the following day to get on.

You’d be shocked at what you can accomplish when you return with a clear head.

Playing Video Games With Confidence

How to get better at video games? Well, you dedicate the time to play and keep practicing. However, there are always shortcuts to getting better in shorter bursts of time. 

Hopefully, our guide has shed some light on how to become better at gaming through smarter methods. And, if you liked reading our article and you’re hungry for more, you’ll want to check out our additional tips and tricks in our gaming and lifestyle sections.