Valorant, Minecraft, Fortnite, Call of Duty—the list goes on. These popular games are keeping gamers worldwide on the edge of their seats, especially with new releases like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (re-release/port) and the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto VI. With all the excitement going around, people find themselves wanting a piece of the excitement by diving into these new and exciting worlds—including myself.
But as someone who’s only ever played on her brother’s PC here and there, I’m completely lost as to where to start. Am I even considered a gamer if I’ve only played a few rounds of Mario Kart and lost drastically? The answer is your preference; whether it’s a hobby or a passion, gaming is for everyone! But for new gamers, where do you even start?
Cozy Games
First, don’t get overwhelmed by the options. You can start anywhere from Roblox and Animal Crossing to Fortnite and Minecraft. Start small and easy. Indie games like Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, and a personal favorite, Sky: Children of the Light, provide beginners with a self-paced or slow-paced story or adventure. These games are easy to navigate, and their easy-to-learn controls on PC, mobile, or controllers allow the player to choose their adventure without the rush of a timer or other teammates.
Minecraft is often a first choice for new gamers, as the player can choose to play in “Creative” or “Survival” mode, and in both modes, there’s room for improvement and confidence in how you play. When you’re ready to move on from single-player modes, Minecraft has servers players can join. Minecraft servers allow for multiplayer interaction, and with thousands of servers to choose from, you can find creative servers or more action-based servers based on your preference.
I reiterate: don’t get overwhelmed by the options. You’re allowed to game at your own pace. If you’re not confident in your skills, you’re free to stay in whichever mode you want and build your own adventure.
Animal Crossing, Minecraft, Roblox and Stardew Valley are available on most PCs, mobile devices and the Nintendo Switch.
Action Games
Now, if you’re more action-driven and want some chaos, games like Mortal Kombat 11, Street Fighter 6 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are great beginner-friendly games. They provide in-depth tutorials, single-player practice modes, and a wide community where you can practice with other players. There are pathways for progression and leveling up, whether it’s with XP or points, and this leads to upgrading your characters more noticeably than in cozy games. These games don’t entirely throw out the storytelling/lore aspect; rather, they blend nicely with the overall goal of the game.
I enjoyed Super Smash Bros. Ultimate because I could choose any character and learn their unique moves, which led me down a rabbit hole of the lore of each character I played. I personally really like Kirby from the Kirby series because of his unique move “Hammer Flip.” I can use that move a few times in a single jump and cause more damage compared to his other unique moves. Imagine my surprise when I finally landed a substantial blow on my opponent with Kirby as my character. It’s really exciting to see your hard work leading to noticeable progress and leveling up.
These games provide a stepping stone from slow-paced games to moderate, leveled games that have clear progression, vivid characters, and strong communities and fanbases. With detailed tutorials and practice modes, you have the choice to develop your skills on your own or practice with other players.
Mortal Kombat 11 is available on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Steam, and Google Stadia. Street Fighter 6 is available on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and is an Arcade game. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch family of systems.
Shooter Games
If Minecraft is too slow-paced for you or if Super Smash Bros. Ultimate isn’t chaotic enough but you still want a sense of structure, you’ll likely enjoy first-person shooter games like Call of Duty and Gears of War.
With much higher stakes, but the option of forgiving battles, beginners get an easier grasp of the controls. Accessible shooting mechanics, training and practice modes and campaigns, whether alone or co-op, allow new players to jump in equipped for the rapid gameplay. Call of Duty allows customization like loadouts, perks and attachments to fit a slow, defensive playstyle rather than forcing high-mobility techniques and overwhelming the player.
Alongside the stories, these games give players a sense of adrenaline and high stakes. Constant practice leads to faster reaction times and better aim. The foundation of these games leaves gamers equipped with skills that can transfer from game to game. The community behind these games and franchises makes it all the better, whether that comes with teaming up or going solo. Gamers come together to battle each other or team up against other gamers, talk about lore, or just to play the game. There’s a sense of belonging within these communities from day one and they continue outside of the games themself.
Call of Duty is available on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Steam, Windows, Nintendo Switch 2, and mobile iOS and iPad. Gears of War is available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows and Steam, and the PlayStation 5.
OU Gaming Lounge
Either to train or to keep it casual, the OU Gaming Lounge is located in OU’s Cross B building on the first floor for new, intermediate and advanced gamers. With PCs, PlayStations, Xboxes and a wonderful staff of students, the Gaming Lounge is there for all gamers, new or seasoned. Hours throughout the week are 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5 p.m.- midnight on Fridays, 2 p.m.- midnight on Saturdays, and 2 p.m.- 5 p.m. on Sundays. Along with the Gaming Lounge, you can join the Gaming Club Discord server and chat with over four thousand people who share the same love of gaming.
Newbie to newbie, I got overwhelmed looking into games to start. With gaming being so popular and there being other parts of gaming—competitive and Esports—I thought I missed the memo and fell behind. What’s great about these games for new gamers are the communities. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or check the tutorials again. What’s fun about being a new gamer is seeing how quick people are to help. If you’re wondering where I got these recommendations, I asked gamers around me what games they enjoyed and would be easy for me to start with. Each gamer was excited more than anything to geek out about their games and share them with me. The culture around gaming is welcoming and exciting; it pulls people in with the common ground of games and fun.
So, if you’re scared or overwhelmed by the options, don’t be afraid to jump in or ask for help from any gamer. Gaming is for everyone, and gaming can be for you, too.
