Learning how to get good at FPS games can be an aggravating experience, especially if you’ve only recently started playing on PC using a keyboard and mouse. You’ll often feel like you’re so far behind everyone else that it’s not even worth trying, and that the games you play online are filled with hyper-skilled people with unnatural reaction speeds and impossible aims.
The good news though, is that you don’t have to simply languish in your own failing and accept your losses, you can, in fact, get better at FPS games, but it does take a bit of practice. While it may seem odd to practice in a video game, it’s actually a fairly rewarding process, and is a big part of why games like CS:GO and Apex Legends are so successful. It’s nice to see your progress and hard work paying off, and FPS games are especially good at showing you the results because being better is so noticeable.
How to get good at FPS games
Now, saying to practice is all good and well, and while it’s important, you’ll likely want more specific pointers. So, let’s break it down a bit more. We’ll be approaching this on the assumption that you’re genuinely brand-new to FPS games, so feel free to skip a bit if you feel that some of these points aren’t what you need. That being said though, it’s always worth practising more anyway, because at worst, you’ll get better. Also, make sure you’ve got a good ergonomic set up, and you’re comfortable controlling the game with whatever your preference is.
If you’re on PC, one of the best things you can do is download Aim Lab. Aim Lab is a game that is designed to help players get used to playing FPS games, and it’s used by an absurd number of players to that end. Along with having an array of different drills for you to take part in, it also has a bunch of stats to look over. It means that you’ll not only be doing drills to help you improve, but you also have quantifiable results you can track and look over. It’s probably the best possible way to practice getting better at FPS games in general, but it’s not the only relevant part.
The other key part is learning your game of choice and the weapons within it. Take Apex Legends, for example, which has an array of different weapons alongside key movement skills that help players get around. It’s not only important to familiarise yourself with the weapons in the game, but also how they feel on the move. You can start by learning to handle the recoil as you’re just firing at stationary targets in the training mode, but once you’ve learned about the recoil patterns, you’ll need to add more layers in. That means you’ll need to start firing as you strafe, as you run, as you jump, and even as you slide around.
You need to fully learn the game you’re trying to play alongside getting better at FPS games in general. It’s a tall order, but the bonus of something like Aim Lab is that those skills will give you a far higher starting ability in any other FPS game you decide to play. If a rising tide raises all boats, then good FPS training will help you improve your KDA substantially even if you’re coming into a brand-new FPS game. That’s all a lot of work still though, so here are some suggestions for games you can play to improve.
Good starting FPS games
We’ve already mentioned Apex Legends here, and it’s an excellent game, and free, but can be daunting. For new FPS players, you’re probably better off getting a feel for things in a more chilled PvE game. So, we’re big fans of the Borderlands series in that respect. While the shooting in this game can be frantic, it’s generally a far slower pace than most FPS games, and the RPG aspects can help new players ease themselves in a little bit more. Plus, the co-op is blast.
If you’re feeling like you still want PvE, but at a faster pace, then Roboquest should be your next game. Roboquest is a fast-paced roguelike. It again has co-op, and feels similar to Borderlands, but it’s a substantially faster pace. Along with that, you don’t just have to think about shooting enemies, but also managing your double jump, unique class abilities, and there are also a lot of different weapons to mess around with. It’s absurdly hectic, but learning to manage that is key if you want to keep getting better.
Destiny 2 is our next pick. This is because it’s got an excellent PvE mode, but also allows you to branch into PvP too. The gunfeel in Destiny 2 is second-to-none, and your ability to transfer your skills from the random mobs you fight out in the world to other people in the PvP modes. It means you can learn your weapons in a less chaotic setting, and then take that confidence into matches against other players and probably do better because of it. From there, you can easily decide to take those skills onto other games like Apex Legends, Call of Duty, or any other FPS. Just keep in mind the quirks that each individual FPS game has.
Shop FPS games here
Get a taste of the best FPS games on offer over on our store, where you can browse our full FPS range and pick up your next favourite shooter. All at prices so good you won’t need a health pack to heal your bank account.
