Summary
Every esports fan knows that one of the most intense genres for competitive gaming is undoubtedly the shooter. That goes some way to explain why the genre has enjoyed such a long and enduring degree of popularity, particularly among the more competitively minded gamers.
However, as with any genre’s evolution, some shooters have become complex enough to actually be pretty difficult to pick up for beginners, with some having pretty intense learning curves. Whether it’s learning the ins and outs of massive maps or the unique abilities of intimidating rosters of characters, there are plenty of stumbling blocks for a beginner to try and overcome.
Though theTitanfallfranchise is likely gone for the foreseeable future, Respawn Entertainment can rest easy with their smash hitApex: Legends,which did the impossible and managed to find some market share in the crowded Battle Royale market and even cultivate a competitive esports scene-based upon snappy gunplay and engaging characters.
However, becauseApex: Legendsis based on the lightning-fast shooter gameplay of theTitanfallgames, as well as introducing a pretty big roster of characters all with unique abilities, as well massive maps that require learning,Apex: Legendshas a surprisingly steep learning curve to get on the level of more seasoned players, thoughthe upcoming 2.0 update may be a good place to start.
ThoughOverwatch 2is a controversial entry into the once-beloved franchise (but new announcements are giving the player base hope), it is hard to deny its popularity. Using Blizzard’s best-in-class character design and storytelling, the world ofOverwatchis incredibly appealing to players of all stripes who want to jump into competitive shooter gameplay.
That being said, the roster list of heroes inOverwatch 2is one of the biggest around, only really beaten out by a couple of other shooters and MOBAs likeDotaorLeague of Legends.For new players, it’s a steep difficulty curve to try and figure out what each unique character can do, and even more difficult to figure out how to pick characters that complement the team composition.
In the late 2010s, it was becoming increasingly difficult to find a space in a saturated Battle Royale market where a game could really shine and find a loyal player base. Crytek took a leaf out ofPUBGandRust’s book, making the wise decision to focus on the still-nascent genre of the extraction shooter and imbue it with a truly unique Western-horror mashup monster hunting premise that makes it stand out to this day.
The only problem is that the game is brutally difficult, and the meta is so developed that new players may struggle to figure out how to get a foothold in the game with a player base with years of experience. Which antique gun is best? How best to hunt a monster? What are the tips and tricks to use? The game doesn’t do a great job of explaining them, meaning new players usually need a guide to get started.
The originalInsurgencygame was made as a direct response to the arcade-driven shooter gameplay from the likes ofCall of Duty.Instead of being fast-moving and arcade-driven,Insurgencydecided to make things as realistic as possible. That means minimal HUD, bullets killing very quickly, and no killstreaks. What results is a brutal game that demands maximum attention and skill.
InInsurgency: Sandstorm, these elements were further dialed up, providing one of the most undeniably brilliant video game depictions of modern combat but also a brutally difficult game for new players to get into if they don’t know the meta or the best strategies. By throwing themselves at the problem, new players will figure it out, but the difficulty curve is intimidating for most.
For the longest time,Counter-Strike’sdominance as the esports shooter of choice was considered gospel, butValoranthas made an impressive run of innovating Valve’s trademark quick gun-play battles that prioritize accuracy and quick thinking by hybridizing it with the hero shooter.
What results is not only a game that demands a high degree of skill to keep up with a player base with honed trigger-fingers but also an increasinglygrowing roster of heroes with unique abilitiesthat can make gunfights very hard to parse for new players. Though it’s a rewarding experience to learn, the first hours ofValorantcan be overwhelmingly intimidating.
If any franchise is renowned for taking modern combat simulation to its logical limit, it must go toARMA. Though it’s sometimes better known these days as the progenitor ofDay Z,ARMAhas its own retinue of fans who delight in its obsessive simulation of modern military combat to near ludicrous degrees.
Unfortunately, with a player base over a decade old, that means new players are going to run into a host of problems with learning the game’s map, the different server types, the weapons, the best strategies, how to use the vehicles, and countless other challenges (not to mentionthe thriving mod scene). It’s no surprise some players decide not to try at all.
ThoughRainbow Six: Siegehas had something of a rocky development with peaks and valleys in its quality, its player base remains very large and is undoubtedly one of Ubisoft’s biggest hits. However,Siegetakes the problem of hero bloat and leans into it, making an already difficult game almost impossible for new players to stomach due tothe sheer quantity of possible characters.
With so many operators that it can be difficult for seasoned players to remember every ability in detail, it becomes difficult for new players to figure out how to even play the game because of a well-developed meta that is rewarding for those in the know but unassailable for new players. Without a friendly guide to answer the many questions aboutSiege’s complex design, new players will have a really rough time.
There’s an old joke that people who put 1000 hours into aCounter-Strikegame have finally reached mediocrity. That’s because, despiteCounter-Strike 2’s seemingly simple outward run and gun design, the mechanical depth is so intense that it is a nearly impossible task to match franchise veterans.
While new players can pick it up and play for fun, if they want to get anywhere near more competitive games, they need to put a lot of hours into learning the game’s more obscure systems and meta by playing with a fiercely competitive player base. ThoughCounter-Stike 2’s relatively new release may have drawn in some new players, it’s hard to deny how intimidating theCounter-Strikeexperience is for many others.
