If you’re someone who plays a lot of online casino games, you know the thrill of slots, roulette, bingo, and everything in between. And as far as the fun of the game goes, there’s a lot to be said about being able to win some money each go!
If you also spend a lot of time trying out games like these, you might feel that you should give more traditional gaming a go.
Loading up a creative world in Minecraft, or finally trying out CS:GO with that one friend who’s been wanting you to join him for a while. That’s the kind of gaming you’re probably looking to get involved with now.
But the jump from casino games to games like these can be a big one. You’re used to short, simple functions that are easy to do again and again.
When you try out other games, you’re in for a longer haul and a bigger commitment. The reward for this gaming is entirely internal too. And for some people, that can be incredibly off putting.
And yet, you would love to try a gaming experience outside of the casino! So let’s go about it in a more productive way. Here are a few ideas to try out if you want to get into the kind of gaming that doesn’t rely on the casino cycle.
Work Out What Challenges Feel Rewarding to You
If a game is going to keep your attention, it needs to feel pretty good to play. And not just in the moment either. You need to feel a small sense of satisfaction, and even pride, when you see a level clear screen come up at the end.
So, what kind of challenges feel rewarding to complete? Do you like solving puzzles, where there’s no clear guide or hint system to follow? Do you like training your aim and scoring progressively harder shots on shooters?
Whatever lights up the center of your brain and makes you feel like you’ve really achieved something, look for that kind of opportunity in the video game you decide to play. It’s the best way to get yourself onto the kind of gaming that gives back.
Try One New Game at a Time
One new game at a time means you won’t overwhelm yourself with all these new things to do. You’ll just have the one game to get stuck into.
When you’re trying out gaming for the first time at an older age, trying to learn multiple different game mechanics at once can mean you’re always making mistakes when you load into a game.
That’s not satisfying to play at all! In fact, you’re just likely to rage-quit and never come back.
Get Stuck into a Puzzle or Two
Playing casino games can leave you a little burnt out on the cycle of tap and wait. So if you want to try something that’s different – and helps you find your joy with gaming again – do the complete opposite. Try a game that requires you to do something more than just press buttons and look at the screen.
And there’s one type of game that ticks this box more fully than any other: puzzles! Puzzle games engage the brain and ask you to focus and think, both in and outside of the box. So, if you’re looking for something genuinely different, start looking at the puzzle category on the App Store or Steam.
You can start with casual and simple puzzle types, such as playing word search on a phone app or a few rounds of no-stakes solitaire. And if you get into the spirit, you can move onto bigger, more involved puzzle games. There are plenty of older, more renowned titles like Myst to try out, as well as plenty of newer indie entries, such as The Rise of the Golden Idol.
Don’t Stick to Just the One Genre
Games within a genre are as different to each other as they are to games outside of the genre. So when it comes to trying out some more traditional games, you might feel you just want to try one genre at a time. There’s enough variance there to keep you on your toes and enjoying yourself.
But at the end of the day, the reason these games are all in the same genre is down to the very goal of the game itself. And when you realize you’re just doing the same thing over and over, you’re probably not going to be having all that much fun. So try to diversify a bit here.
Try a game from one genre, then try out another genre, and keep going back and forth. This way, you still get to focus on one game at once, but when you finish and want to play something else, you’re not just going back in for round two. You’re actually trying out something different, that promises something fundamentally different to engage with.
You won’t get bored, and you’ll have a far better time figuring out the game genres you actually like.
Want to Branch Out From Casino Games?
If you do, we’ve got some good news for you: it’s quite easy to find a few other things to play. You just need to know what you’re into, take it slow and steady, and don’t overwhelm yourself with everything that’s out there to play.
After all, the more you play the same game over and over, the harder it’s going to be to find enjoyment in other game types. So branch out and get a bit more diverse with your gaming choices, but keep it simple until you find your feet. That’s how gaming can become a proper and enjoyable hobby for you.
If that means getting into puzzles that are quick and simple, or trying out turn-based strategies and learning the ropes, or just having a go at a game a friend loves, give it all a try and see what you think.