If you want to become a better competitive gamer, you might think that sticking to one game and mastering it is the best strategy. However, playing multiple games can actually improve your skills in various ways. In this article, we will explain how diversifying your gaming portfolio can benefit your performance, creativity, and adaptability in the esports scene.
Playing multiple games can help you develop a range of skills that are useful for competitive gaming. For example, you can learn different strategies, mechanics, and tactics from different genres and modes. You can also improve your cognitive abilities, such as memory, attention, and problem-solving, by challenging yourself with different tasks and scenarios. Playing multiple games can also prevent you from getting bored, burned out, or frustrated with one game, which can affect your motivation and mood.
Different games require different mechanics that sort of activate different parts of your brain. Playing multiple games allow you to flex those parts of your cognitive thinking you might not get a chance to while playing one game. This may allow you to approach challenges or obstacles in your competitive game of choice with a unique and fresh perspective.
Esports like any other challenge requires being great not only to stay on the top of your game and to be competitive but to win. This means constant practice and training. Practicing same skills over and over will sharpen that skill yet will limit your judgement for different scenarios. Need different games with different strategies to see different outcomes. The best Marshall art fighter needs also to train on calmness and silence to keep blood pressure low and enhance his vision in combat which will make the difference determining the winner. Practicing the same game over and over will make you good at it but distributing your knowledge, mastering opposite skills combined with your main game’s skills will make you great at Esports.
I've always found helpful to jump from game to game when I've stopped growing as a player. Is it muscle memory that ends up with me making the same mistakes over and over? Is it adhering too much to the tactics I've developed? I do not know, but jumping over to another game clears my mind and I have a fresh perspective again when I return to the first. I believe gathering and analysing different experiences only helps one grow. But be careful to not switch them too often; it's not a means to escape a streak of bad performances nor will it definitely prove beneficial. Balance changes and new tactics will elude you, if you don't stick around for long.
Between practice makes perfect and the variety of mechanics different games give players, the knowledge for player scan olny grow and help them suceed competitivly.
Different games have different focuses on the types of skills involved, but also have transferrable skills that carry over to another. When I was working with T2/T3 level players in esports, they did not just play 1 game in their lifetime. Most have experiences in other fps games and some of those skills can carry over to another game. For example, Overwatch players who have been trained in team coordination for special abilities in game, their experiences and knowledge carry over to Valorant.
Of course, not all games are equally beneficial for your competitive gaming skills. You should choose games that complement your main game, or that offer something new and different. For example, if you play a fast-paced shooter, you might want to play a slower-paced strategy game to balance your skills and mindset. Or, if you play a complex MOBA, you might want to play a simpler arcade game to relax and have fun. You should also consider the quality, popularity, and relevance of the games you play, as they can affect your enjoyment and learning.
The simple answer is: what you enjoy. However, while not all genres might be as appealing and not all mechanics help you play to your strengths, do not be afraid to try something new. While genres might seem (and be) different, there are shared aspects between them which could help you grow. Fun is the most important aspect, for me: I'll never stick around for long when I'm not enjoying my time, even if I'm doing well. So, try different genres and games, give them time and see for yourself.
While working with T2/T3 players, most choose the games they enjoy or the people around them are playing. Most players do not think specifically oh this game will train for that specific skill when they are picking the games themselves. Now if you are a coach, then you might have different perspectives and goals when picking other games for players to try out outside of practice.
Playing multiple games can be fun and rewarding, but it can also be challenging and time-consuming. You need to balance your gaming time wisely, so that you don't neglect your main game or your other responsibilities. A good rule of thumb is to allocate 80% of your gaming time to your main game, and 20% to other games. This way, you can maintain your focus and proficiency in your main game, while also exploring and experimenting with other games. You can also adjust this ratio depending on your goals, preferences, and schedule.
I'm not sure a mathematical formula would work for everyone, but generally, I try to allocate 50% of my time to a single game and 50% to all others combined. Sometimes, after long sessions my judgment becomes clouded and I'm not playing to the best of my abilities; that's when I definitely take a step back and switch to another game. I'll play for as long as I'm fresh, so the 50% rule holds mostly true but it's not mandatory. Also,, top: a losing streak of 3+ games usually means I'm not in the best form and continuing will only make my mood and decision-making deteriorate further. Don't be afraid to admit it and cut a session early.
There is no such thing as using % to control how much time to balance gaming time at the moment. But if an esports player is in a team, then automatically the main focus is on team practice and improving in that game. The spare time after real-life responsibilities and team practices is when the player can go enjoy other games.
One of the main advantages of playing multiple games is that you can transfer your skills from one game to another. This can help you improve your performance, creativity, and adaptability in your main game. To do this, you need to be aware of the similarities and differences between the games you play, and how they relate to your main game. For example, you can apply the map awareness, positioning, and teamwork skills you learned from a strategy game to a shooter game. Or, you can use the reflexes, timing, and accuracy skills you learned from an arcade game to a MOBA game.
Fighting games help you spot openings and practice restraint. A MOBA or strategy game might teach you to think in the long-term and develop your strategies accordingly. A shooter should help you develop your reflexes and on-the-spot problem-solving skills. Even adventure games, with their bizarre, out-of-the-box approach to puzzles could help you in, say, a MOBA. The point is, there are enough similarities between multiple genres, even if only conceptual. Try to spot the parallels and use your acquired or developed skills to succeed in any situation; there might be more similarities than a first look might reveal.
Another way to improve your competitive gaming skills by playing multiple games is to learn from other players. You can watch, follow, or interact with players who play different games than you, and see how they approach and overcome challenges. You can also compare and contrast your own skills and styles with theirs, and identify your strengths and weaknesses. Learning from other players can help you gain new perspectives, insights, and tips that you can apply to your own game.
My rule of thumb is: if someone beats me in a game, what did they do better than me? I try to analyze how I end up losing. For example, I noticed a pattern: I was ranking high in kills for the match, but also had as many deaths. In the end, my team would end up winning but not by a huge margin and the reason for both was mostly me. I realized that I'm rushing headfirst into action, racking up lots of kills but this would also put me in danger more easily and I paid the price more often than my teammates. I scaled back the aggression and my kills were reduced, but my deaths were reduced even more. To sum up: spend more time analysing why you lost, instead of won, but keep an eye on both.
Finally, playing multiple games can improve your competitive gaming skills by making you enjoy gaming more. Gaming is not only a skill, but also a hobby and a passion. Playing multiple games can help you discover new genres, modes, and experiences that you might love. Playing multiple games can also help you appreciate the diversity and complexity of gaming, and the skills and talents of other gamers. Playing multiple games can also help you have fun, relax, and express yourself through gaming.
Don't force yourself to play something you do not enjoy. Play for fun first and foremost. Games are not here to torture the players to learn specific skills only.