Playing games is a fun way to spend your time, but playing games by yourself gets pretty lonely at some point. When you play games with friends, not only will you have more fun and be happier, it can literally change your life.
Since the dawn of online gaming, gamers all over the world have been crafting friendships and creating lifelong bonds with people they never would have met otherwise. Through various games and game services, gamers have forged communities built on a common love for gaming.
This shared love also spawned many gaming gig platforms like the Gank app, where skilled gamers put out with side hustles to earn a side income by providing gaming gigs such as game coaching to those who need them in the community. Many even built their careers from these platforms as it provided them an entry point into the gaming industry, building respectable portfolios while they were at it.
There are thousands of stories across the globe about gaming changing people’s lives for the better. Numerous couples have met through online gaming, some even getting married. Gaming groups have come together to bring hope to a terminally-ill friend or hold charity gaming marathons.
These are just a few examples of how online gaming friends can make your life better, and here’s how it helped me.
I used to play League of Legends solo as a teen. Countless afternoons and nights of my teen life were spent on Summoner’s Rift, trying to grind and climb out of Gold on my own. LFG in other games were usually a draw of luck. If you’re ever played a competitive multiplayer online game, you know that this experience can be pure misery a lot of the time.
I was your typical shut-in gamer, only caring about my League rank and reflecting the toxicity I encountered in game into my real life. My grades suffered, my motivation to study dropped, and slowly, I became very depressed. It was a lonely time in my life; I had lost contact with some of my best friends due to them moving, and I had no idea how to connect with new people in a meaningful way.
I felt like there was no point in socializing and I was resigned to being a lonely gamer… That is, until I met Janet* through League of Legends. She was playing support while I was the AD Carry, meaning that we played in the same lane. Throughout the game, she would encourage me when I made bad plays and congratulate me when I did well, the opposite of the toxicity I was so used to receiving from other players.
We won that game, thanks in no small part to Janet’s bubbly positivity. I added her as a friend afterward, and asked if she wanted to play some more together, which she agreed to. We became regular duo partners and began playing a lot, eventually meeting up in real life and playing at a local internet café. We became very good friends, and whenever I felt down, Janet would be there to pick me right back up, like a real-life support.
Eventually, our duo became a 5-stack as our friend group grew. This was the first time in my life that I had an actual group of friends that I could regularly hang out with both in game and in real life. I felt myself become happier and more motivated because of my new friends and the way we each genuinely cared for each other. Having a group of buddies also helped me become less awkward socially and I learned how to talk to people and make friends in other situations.
Eventually, Janet went on to work for a gaming company, and when she resigned, she offered to recommend me to take her place. I eagerly agreed, and started working in the same gaming company she used to work at. It was at this gaming company that I was given the opportunity to be a shout caster and grew to have a deep love for esports.
Suffice to say, having a friend to play games with changed my life in a huge way. Friendships built on gaming can be some of the strongest friendships you can ever have, so if you’re feeling like you’re getting a little tired of gaming solo, try to keep it fresh and fun with some new friends!
FAQ
How does online gaming affect people?
Online multiplayer games usually encourage interaction between players. Not only is social interaction a strong motivator for playing multiplayer games, forming lasting friendships with other gamers is also a key aspect of why people prefer online gaming.
How do video games affect friendships?
Playing video games have shown to forge and enhance friendships amongst players. Be it competitive or collaborative, players can develop friendships as they share the gaming experience with one another.
