Are first-person online games more popular?

First-person online games are more popular than other genres, with games like Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and VALORANT redefining the competitive side of gaming. Gamers across continents, different age brackets, and from all walks of life know this game franchise and all the titles it has produced.

Playing video games can, indeed, be good for your health. In fact, first-person shooters have been singled out in the studies as having the most accuracy in terms of visual processing, spatial, and attention allocation skills. One may be tempted to cite this as the sole reason why this game genre is more popular than others. But, there’s more to first person gaming than just improving your cognitive abilities. 

Here are the reasons why first-person shooter (FPS) games are more popular than game types such as real-time strategy (RTS) and role-playing games (RPG) games:  

Easy to Learn

Even video game newbies instantly get hooked on first-person shooter games because of the genre’s simplicity. A lot of the mechanics and strategies are easy to learn and utilize. And, even if you’re just starting out, there’s no steep learning curve to overcome. 

But, the low learning curve in FPS games doesn’t mean the genre is boring. On the contrary, it makes it more fun and challenging because you can dive into more difficult settings once you learn the basics. Some Call of Duty players even invest in the best Warzone hacks to keep active in the game and improve their overall game performance.

Engrossing

Ask any seasoned player what made them decide to stick to video games instead of other forms of entertainment. They’ll most likely tell you that they got hooked because they felt challenged by first-person games. Unlike RPG and RTS games, the first-person genre isn’t known for repetitive missions or tasks. Players are competing against other human players, often making their own decisions without the aid of game-generated teammates. You need to be competent and master the game. You kill or be killed. 

A study conducted to track the differences in how professional and casual FPS players play proves that the genre offers a higher degree of challenge. The results showed that to be good in this genre, you need to have total focus, mastery of the landscape, and the uncanny ability to predict where enemies will pop up. This level of challenge makes this type of video game more engaging for beginners and seasoned players alike.

The Flow

FPS games provide players with a sense of happiness and control. Psychologists refer to this state as flow. This condition occurs during play, wherein the player becomes totally absorbed by the game. It’s not exclusive to video games. One can also feel the flow in gambling and other sports.

The sensation that motivates you to kill or be killed provides not just an escape or adrenaline rush. It also allows you to identify with the environment and be one with the game. It’s the reason most FPS players become hardcore fans of the genre.

Intense Excitement and Stimulation

It’s one thing to say that a game provides a high degree of challenge, but it’s quite another to claim that it creates an adrenaline rush. FPS games offer both. When you play a first-person game, you face situations where you need to make split-second decisions that could make or break the game. This kind of stimulation can be addictive. It’s also why FPS games are more popular.

Sense of Freedom

All types of competitive games provide players with a wide variety of psychological stimulation. But first-person shooter games are ahead when giving the player a sense of freedom or autonomy. As an FPS player, you’re in control of your actions. You live or die in the game solely by the decisions you make. 

Unlike in other genres where you’re some omniscient strategist ordering your units to attack enemies, you’re the boots in the ground while playing FPS games. You go down the paths you choose. 

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that first-person online games are more popular compared to other genres. Players love FPS because the games are engrossing and easy to learn. They also allow players to attain what psychologists call flow, create an adrenaline rush, and illicit a sense of control among players.