I love playing video games, I also love playing multiplayer video games. But for some reason, I hate playing competitive multiplayer games! I have tried a lot, from Minecraft to Team Fortress, but I just didn't like any of them! Lately, all of my friends have been getting into competitive gaming and I feel left out. What should I do?

It honestly seems like you're afraid of messing up or embarrassing yourself. Just take it easy and have fun and you'll have a good time winning or losing.

I understand the feeling. I dislike competitive multiplayer games unless I'm playing with friends. Otherwise you generally either get yelled at by your own team for not being good enough or getting made fun of by the other team. For the most part there is a lot of making fun of people and it isn't very fun.


Plus, I find that I don't have the patience to learn all the stupid nuances of a lot of games that are required in order to be good enough to compete with a lot of the other people who have been playing from day 1. I'd rather play a single player game or find a co-op multiplayer game to play.

Because the community always sucks.

1v1 against a friend is fair game but when it comes to people you don't know, they're generally the worst people ever. Especially on Team Fortress 2.

It's okay if you don't like competitive games, not everyone likes to play games as a competition. If you don't like them, don't play them. If your friends are all playing one that you don't like, just ask if you can be in their  Skype/Discord or something. You can still chat with them even if you aren't playing. My friends are obsessed with League, and they love it when I ask a question and they get to unload their game knowledge onto me.

TL;DR: Play vidya how you want 

I come from one of the most toxic competitive gaming communities out there the league of legends community. At first it was annoying when people insulted me and all that when I was new to the game, and they still do (more often, even) even when I carry the team.

I have learned to cope with it but its different for everyone. Try it and see if you enjoy it.

Competitive games can be dangerous. Mario Party isn't called a friendship ruiner for nothing. But...it's not so much the games themselves, but the approach that matters. If you play Mario Party with a group of friends that play for laughs and to grow and to have fun, then you're gonna come out OK, along with your friendships. But when you let yourself become competitive in nature, then you're setting yourself up to fail. It's like gambling: You'll win some, and you'll lose some, but because you were so invested in winning, you're crushed by your losses, whether or not you come out a winner in the end. Better to focus on becoming stronger. If you let yourself focus on doing what it takes to become a better player rather than becoming a better player itself, then you'll likely have a good time. But the opposite approach is addictive and depressing.

Personally, I prefer co-op. Playing through LEGO games, "Subspace Emissary" in Brawl, Rayman Legends, Guacamelee!, Trine 1 and 2, and more. There are a lot of good co-op games out there, and if you have any on Steam (or want to get any), please let me know! I'd enjoy playing with ya sometime.

I do enjoy improving my skills in Sm4sh or Splatoon...but if I have a cooperative (pun not intended, but not regretted) friend, then nothing beats co-op...but if not, "co-op" can turn into a nightmare rather than a bonding experience.

There's pros and cons to each. If you get into competitive play, make sure you come out in one piece with your dignity and happiness intact.

I don't really care for them because if I did play them I'd have no friends to lose in the first place.

Competitive anything can become stressful because everyone is judged by their skill at that specific event. It's tough to be the best when everyone is there to show how good they are and you're afraid of the attacks and criticism that follows.

The best thing to do is go out and compete but find people who are casually playing and don't care about the final result as long as they have fun. That's a tough group to find but they're out there.

yoshirulez1: The communities don't always suck. That's a lie. There are good groups of people who are accepting of all skill levels and you just have to find the ones that don't scream at the screen when they lose.

So, go online and play with your friends. Learn the game. Realize that what other people think of you doesn't matter. That last one is the toughest but once you learn it's the truth for about 95% of life, things get way more easy and way more fun.

Good luck.

competitive is great when its all in good fun but sadly these sweaty, mountain dew breathed, dorito powder stained hand nerds take it way too seriously and will trash the team if they screw up and will maliciously trash the team they defeat.

TristanTehGamer1 : do not even mention that bunch of tossers in here, please

Competitive gaming is one of the greatest forms. Like everyone else has stated,  just stick with friends, don't get too serious, don't let it take you over and run your life. And if someone gets huffy, just reply to everything with "ur m0m" or "git rekt". And most importantly, don't be afraid to fail. I love playing Smash Melee and I suck.

There is nothing wrong with competition,it can help us be our best. Instead of capping some nameless enemy,now you cap another player. Just have fun with it,communicate with your team,and most importantly,do not be a sore winner or loser. You do not want to become another CoD type troll that says stuff like,"OMG U suk so hard,U R nthg but a n00bf@g." Those kinds of players are an embarrassment to all gamers. Yes,some of us get a little salty when stuff is going out way or not and a little ribbing or grumbling is expected. But when you just spew like a Mountain Dew and Dorito volcano,you make yourself look bad,your team looks bad,and anyone that associates with you looks bad. It is a game,games are supposed to be fun,and do not let the game run your life,that has ruined many a person.

Believe me, I know the feeling. I suck at most games, so playing online with others is usually something I don't like to do, unless I'm playing with friends.
Unfortunately, a lot of games are only good if you play online with others, and when you don't have friends who play that game (good example for me is SMITE), you're forced to play with others you don't know. And they could be nice (I've ran into man friendly and understanding people thankfully), or they could be complete jerks and call you every name they can think of and remind you how much you suck...
But yeah, I try to not let that bother me, and when it does, I move on to another game that I can play offline.