Did you know that billions of people play video games on a regular basis? If you’re a gamer yourself, you probably want to know how to get better at video games so you can win more matchups than you lose.

The good news? We can help you out!

In this article, we’ll give you 12 tips and tricks that you can use to take your video game skills to the next level. Because who knows, with tons of practice, you could turn your favorite hobby into a profitable career one day.

  1. Only Play the Games You Like

If you’re like most gamers, you spend most of your time playing the games that you truly enjoy playing. But for a small few, playing games that are more popular, or have a bigger competition scene, is quite appealing.

Our advice? Don’t make the mistake of only playing games because they’re popular or can earn you more money. Stick with the games that you actually enjoy playing, as that will be the thing that drives you to get as good as you want to be.

  1. Practice Playing Video Games Daily

Practice truly does make perfect. And if you want to be really good at video games, you need to make sure that you practice for a few hours each day.

To make sure that you get as much practice as you need to become great, you’re going to have to make sacrifices. Missing out on time with friends or other areas of your life is simply apart of the process.

A pro tip? Make a training schedule that you can follow to help you stay motivated. That way you can ensure that you prioritize gaming, and thus, can get to where you want to be.

  1. Pick One Game to Master

We talked about only picking games that you enjoy playing earlier on. To piggyback off of that point, we recommend that you take things a step further by only trying to master one game.

Sure, you can still spend a few hours playing other games, if only for fun. But most of your time gaming needs to practicing one particular game. That way you can put in the work needed to get to where you want to be.

Also, that’s why it’s so important to pick a game that you actually enjoy playing. Because if you don’t, and you invest a ton of time into a game you don’t enjoy, you’ll make yourself hate gaming, which isn’t what you want to do.

  1. Figure Out How the Game Works

Every single game is different. With that in mind, all games are built from the ground up with a certain objective in mind. If you know what that objective is, and understand how the game is programmed, you give yourself a better chance to be competitive.

For example, for competitive shooters, some guns are more effective than others. And loadout combinations, in particular, can be crucial to your overall success.

If you understand how the game works, and what you need to do to work within the programming of the game, you can make winning that much easier.

  1. Play With Better Players Online

As the old saying goes, iron sharpens iron. That means that, if you want to be as good as you possibly can be at a certain game, you have to practice against players that are as good, if not better, than you.

The good news? It’s not hard to find elite players for any game online. All you need to do is befriend them and then play with them often, to help you improve your skills over time.

So, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. If you find someone online who is better than you, send them a friend request so you can play online together sometime.

  1. Watch Better Players Play Online

You don’t only have to play with better players online to get better at games yourself. Like professional athletes, you can get a lot better at a game by watching a better player than you play that game online.

The good news? Thanks to websites like Twitch and YouTube, finding a better player to study online is easy. And when you’re watching players play, use that time to learn about how they approach the game.

You may find that you learn more about the game, and how to maneuver within it than you anticipated. Once you have that knowledge, you can apply it to your own game, making yourself more competitive in the process.

  1. Invest in Quality Gaming Gear

We’ll be honest. The gear doesn’t make the player, and in fact, it’s the player that makes the gear. But if you do have better gear than the people you’re playing with, or at least gear that is on par, you can level the playing field quite a bit.

Depending on what your particular game is, you’ll need to invest in certain pieces of gear. Our advice is to research your options on things like gaming computers, monitors, and sound equipment to help you get the best setup possible.

More specifically, look at what the best players for your particular game are using. If your budget allows for it, simply copying their setup to ensure your gear selection is solid is recommended.

  1. Eat Healthy and Drink Plenty of Water

Talking about diet and exercise isn’t as fun as talking about gaming PCs and monitor setups. But if you want to get the best results while gaming, and even get a leg up on your competition, your health is the key to doing so.

Our advice? Try to eat healthy and workout at least 30 minutes per day. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water, especially during gaming sessions.

  1. Get Your Eyes Checked

It goes without saying, but if you can’t see as well as your opponents, you’re going to have a hard time being competitive in any game. This is especially true if you’re someone who is aware that you need glasses, or if you already wear them.

So, if you have a hard time seeing the game that you’re playing, go ahead and get your eyes checked out ASAP by a professional. Not only will doing this make you a much better gamer, but it’ll help you live a happier and healthier life, too.

  1. Use Your Eyes and Your Ears

Of course, when you’re playing a video game, your eyes are super important. They’ll be your biggest weapon, which is why making sure that your vision is up to par is so crucial to your overall success as a gamer.

With that in mind, it’s important to note that your ears can help you win at video games, too. This is especially true if you’re playing competitive shooters, as you’ll often hear your enemy before you see them.

The best way to make sure that your ears can be a valuable tool for you? Invest in a quality pair of gaming headphones. That way you can make sure that you don’t miss out on hearing something that can help you win a particular match or game.

  1. Communicate Well With Other Players

Do you play a lot of competitive shooters? Are you a big team play, meaning that you enjoy playing competitive matches with teammates against other players?

If so, you need to make sure that you know how to communicate well within a game. That way you can make sure that you and your team are always on the same page, and thus, have a better chance of winning games together.

This is why we recommend that you play with some of the same players all the time. That way you can build chemistry with your teammates, making it a bit easier to get wins together.

  1. Master Your Emotions

Playing video games, especially competitively, can be quite stressful. If you string together a few losses, it can be tempting to turn your favorite game off and do something else with your time.

Of course, quitting on your journey to become a great gamer isn’t a good idea. With that in mind, you need to learn how to control your emotions, as playing while you’re upset will only make things harder for yourself.

Still Not Sure How to Get Better at Video Games?

As you can see, a lot goes into knowing how to get better at video games. But if you keep these 12 tips and tricks in mind, and you don’t mind putting in the hours of work, you can become a great gamer sooner rather than later.

Looking for more gaming advice? Check back with our blog often.