It's not surprising to want to venture into the world of video games, no matter how old you are. It's a good way to pass the time and get out of your head for a bit. A lot of people share that same interest, which is why the video game market is currently worth around $347 billion. If you don't know where to start, then here are some things you should know.
Video Game Platforms
Most of the smart devices you can use apps on tend to support video games as well such as PCs and smartphones, but some units are manufactured for games specifically such as consoles like PlayStation, Xbox, and handhelds like the Steam Deck and the Nintendo Switch.
You need to look into several factors before you even begin to check out which devices will suit you best. One of the most important variables is your budget. Some titles are small enough like mobile games that you can play them on your smartphone right now.
While that's a good way to get introduced to the casual, multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), or first-person shooter (FPS) games, you might want to find something more immersive and realistic soon, and a smartphone just doesn't have the right specs for such.
If you're satisfied with playing games on your smartphone or tablet, then you can explore further which games will make you happy, but if you want something that's more engaging, challenging, and has better-quality graphics, you need to start looking into PCs or consoles.
Seeing as you're just starting out, a gaming PC might not be the best option for you. In order to run AAA games (which are demanding), you'll need a PC with decent components, and that will cost you a lot compared to the available consoles on the market.
You might also find it complicated to navigate through your computer as there are a lot of configurations, settings, and component upgrades you need to get to have the best performance. With a console, all you have to do is set it up, download games, and play.
When looking into consoles, there are also two types you can choose from which are home consoles and handhelds. If you want to be able to play games anywhere, the portability of a handheld console will be good for you. But, know that it doesn't have the same level of performance as home consoles.
Read Also: Planning to Build a Gaming PC? Here Are 5 Cons You Should Consider First
Which Games Should You Play?
That depends on what you like, and you could really only figure that out by trying out different genres. There are way too many kinds to go through all of it in this article, but some of the most popular ones are action, adventure, fighting, MOBA, role-playing, FPS, multiplayer FPS, and more.
A simple search would provide you with the genres you can look into, as well as the games under that category. Playing the simplest games first is advisable so that you can get used to the controller or the keyboard, depending on which platform you're using.
Find easy ones as well that require little work just to get the hang of how games work, depending on the genre you're exploring. Immediately jumping to harder games might discourage you from playing again.
Under the category you're leaning into, search for the available titles on your preferred platform, since some games' availability depends on the device or the brand like game exclusives. Browse through reviews of the game to get an insight as to what to expect.
Related: PC and Console Gaming: Here Are the Pros and Cons
