Which game should I play next?

Nowadays, we live in an age of choices. Sometimes too many, if you ask me (though the opposite would be worse). As a direct result, of us being spoilt for choice… it is now excruciatingly difficult to know what phone to buy, which bank to trust (in countries like mine). Or even, things like – which game should I play next?

It might seem like a very simple question, but its not. I’ll try and make my answer as short as possible, so… listen up! This article is important because, ideally, you are going to invest a lot of time and (possibly) money into the game you choose. And, nothing is as bad as realising (down the line) that your game of choice has ruined you, in some way, or another. Financially, emotionally, socially, or something like that.

Things to consider when choosing a video game

Some of you may wrongly assume that – I could just Google the best games today, and start playing one of those. Problem solved! That has its advantages, and disadvantages. Lots of disadvantages. For instance, things like cyberbullying, toxic communities, servers getting shutdown (making the game you bought totally unplayable).. all that stuff, tends to happen in highly popular games! Google’s top rated games.

What you want, are the hidden gems. Smaller (but not too small) games. Trust me, I’ve been burnt before.

Smaller games rarely get infested by toxicity, and hordes of Aimbots. People who do that kinda stuff want to go into games where the harvest is plentiful. Popular games! With servers that are overflowing with potential victims (like you). So Googling up “top new games” isn’t always going to give you the happiest gaming experience. And yet, on the other hand.. searching for anything has become easier thanks to search engines like Google.

Don’t trust the marketing hype

Another disadvantage about playing the most marketed, and over-hyped game out there is this – Grandmasters! Some games are soooo popular that you get viciously competitive opponents, and (every time you play that game) no one seems to be a beginner (like you).

Some blame poor matchmaking, and rightly so.

In those games, you’ll struggle to catch up with the other players, even if the game is brand new. Some people get games before they come out (for testing, feedback, and reviewing). Other people are just legendary in certain game genres, even if the game JUST came out. That skills-gap won’t be something you’ll enjoy. And, its a gap that’s rampantly found in a lot of popular/hyped games.

In the next segment let me try and explain how best to Google-up games that are worth your time, and money.

Research the game studio that made your game

Some studios have a bad rep in the industry, and with good reason. Avoid those studios, and their games. Read about their previous games, what went wrong, why do people hate that studio so much. And, learn from their past.

Googling “best games to play today” or whatever, is something you can do. But, only if you take an extra step: go to Reddit, or some other community and read what gamers have to say about Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Valve, or any other studio (which made your game of choice). Before you get hooked on one of their products. Most of the “bad” studios always repeat the same shenanigans.

My advice would be – (in the current climate of things) rather stick to indie game studios who make offline, single player games. Or good couch coop games, with offline bots. Many gamers have been recently burnt by big studios that make games which can only be played online. After a while, those studios tend to shutdown servers, and the problem is only getting worse.

Conclusion on ‘which game should I play next’

In conclusion, don’t fall prey to games that are overly marketed with high budget marketing, and excessive promotion (easier said than done). If such a game fails to give back the kinda financial returns being expected, the studio that made the game will… shut.. it.. down! Mark my words. Even though you bought the game, and only played it for a month or two. That’s the danger of Googling “best games to play today” without doing further research about the game’s creators. And the publishers too.

Some creators mean well, but they sometimes get into bed with the wrong publishing company. As you google ‘Which game should I play next’ – be warned, choose your games very carefully. My final advice would be – know the game genre(s) you prefer, and try searching for games within YOUR favourite genres. Whilst ignoring all the marketing noise around you. I hope this advice has opened your eyes, even just a bit.