Popular Hobbies and Interests for Gamers (2023)

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

The world of gaming has expanded tremendously over the years, leaving avid gamers looking for new ways to immerse themselves in their passion. Aside from the ever-evolving range of video games available on various platforms, there are numerous hobbies and interests that can complement a gamer’s lifestyle. By exploring these related activities, gamers can foster personal growth, enhance their gaming experience, and connect with like-minded individuals.

Hobbies and interests associated with gaming span a wide spectrum of activities, varying in complexity and skill level. From artistic pursuits like drawing or crafting to intellectual challenges such as coding or puzzling, there is a plethora of options for gamers to explore. Engaging in these leisure activities serves to enrich a gamer’s life, offering opportunities to build skills, unwind, or simply find enjoyment outside of the digital realm.

Some particularly popular options for gamers include board games, card games, and collectibles that provide a physical and social aspect not always found in video games. Additionally, interests such as anime, coding, and music allow gamers to dive deeper into the culture, technology, and creativity behind their favorite pastimes. By discovering new hobbies and interests related to gaming, players can achieve a greater sense of balance, fulfillment, and camaraderie in their gaming-centric lives.

Table of Contents

Types of Gaming Hobbies

Gaming hobbies come in various forms, providing numerous opportunities for enthusiasts to engage and have fun. This section will discuss three main categories of gaming hobbies: Video Games, Tabletop Games, and Role-Playing Games.

Video Games

Video games are highly popular among gamers, offering a wide range of genres, platforms, and styles to cater to different preferences. Some popular video game genres include action, adventure, strategy, puzzle, and sports games. Gamers can play these games on various platforms, such as PC, consoles (e.g., PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo), and handheld devices (e.g., smartphones and tablets). Playing video games often helps improve problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination, and social skills through online multiplayer experiences.

Tabletop Games

Tabletop games encompass board games, card games, and miniature wargames, providing a more tactile and social experience for players. Some popular examples of tabletop games include:

Board games: Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Monopoly.
Card games: Magic: The Gathering, Poker, and Uno.
Miniature wargames: Warhammer 40,000 and Star Wars: X-Wing.

These games encourage strategic thinking, face-to-face interactions, and collaboration among players, fostering a sense of camaraderie and friendly competition.

Role-Playing Games

Role-playing games (RPGs) allow players to assume roles of fictional characters and engage in various adventures within imaginary worlds. Two primary types of RPGs exist: pen-and-paper and live-action.

Pen-and-paper RPGs: In these games, players typically sit around a table while a designated game master (or GM) narrates a story and guides them through various scenarios. Players use character sheets, dice, and rulebooks to navigate through the story and make decisions. Examples include Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder.

Live-action RPGs: Also known as LARPing, live-action role-playing adds a physical aspect to the gameplay by having players dress up and engage in character interactions or simulated combat within a designated area. Examples include Vampire: The Masquerade and Amtgard.

RPGs often promote creativity, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills, making them an enjoyable gaming hobby for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Communities and Social Engagement

Online Gaming Forums

Online gaming forums are digital gathering places where gamers come together to share their experiences, insights, and expertise. These platforms often foster camaraderie among players and can provide a supportive environment for new gamers to learn and grow. Some popular gaming forums include Reddit’s various gaming subreddits and gaming-centric websites like NeoGAF and GameFAQs. In these forums, members engage in discussions, share tips, and organize multiplayer events, thus creating strong social bonds within their gaming community.

Local Gaming Clubs and Events

Local gaming clubs and events provide another avenue for gamers to connect and socialize with like-minded individuals. These clubs usually host regular gatherings, tournaments or workshops to help participants improve their skills and make friends in the process. In addition to gaming-focused clubs, broader pop culture events, such as Comic-Con and PAX, often have gaming-related exhibitions and activities for attendees to enjoy.

Such local organizations and events cater to a variety of gaming interests, spanning from video games to board games and tabletop role-playing games. These in-person gatherings not only encourage socialization among gamers but also promote a sense of belonging and support within the gaming community.

Gaming Hardware and Accessories as a Passion

Gaming enthusiasts often find great joy in exploring and collecting various gaming hardware and accessories. This passion emerges from their appreciation for high-quality products, cutting-edge technology, and the enhanced gaming experiences these items provide.

Consoles

One of the most popular aspects of gaming hardware is consoles. Gamers are often devoted to a specific brand like Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, or Nintendo Switch. Each console has its unique features, exclusive games, and a community of dedicated fans. Collecting different consoles across generations allows gamers to dive deep into the world of gaming history and to play a wide range of games, from retro classics to modern blockbusters.

PC Gaming Gear

For dedicated PC gamers, developing a passion for gaming hardware and peripherals is almost inevitable. High-quality gear, such as gaming mice with more precise sensors and multiple buttons, can considerably improve their gaming experience. Some gamers even choose to build their custom gaming rigs tailored to their preferences. This process often includes researching and carefully selecting components like graphic cards, processors, and RAM that meet their gaming needs.

Additionally, PC gamers often invest in peripherals such as mechanical keyboards, monitors with high refresh rates, or gaming headsets to maximize their in-game performance and comfort. Accessorizing and customizing these peripherals through items like custom keycaps and RGB lighting further fuels their passion for gaming hardware.

Gaming hardware and accessories allow enthusiasts to immerse themselves in their favorite games, express their unique identities, and curate a gaming experience that aligns with their personal preferences. For many, this passion goes beyond playing games and extends to the appreciation and pursuit of the technology and hardware behind the gaming world.

Creative and Educational Aspects

Gaming is not just about entertainment; it can also provide creative and educational benefits. This section will discuss the aspects of game development, cosplay and crafting related to gaming hobbies that can stimulate creativity and learning.

Game Development

Game development is a rewarding and educational hobby that allows gamers to create their own gaming experiences. By getting involved in game development, individuals can learn various skills like programming, graphic design, and sound design. There are numerous tools available, such as Unity and Unreal Engine, that make it easy for beginners to start creating their own games. Additionally, online tutorials and communities offer support to those who are just starting out in the world of game development.

Cosplay

Cosplay, or costume play, is a popular hobby among gamers that involve dressing up as their favorite characters from games, movies, or television shows. This creative outlet allows individuals to express their love for a particular game or character by designing and creating their own costumes and accessories. Cosplay can lead to the development of valuable skills such as sewing, sculpting, and painting. Participating in cosplay events and competitions can also help to build a sense of camaraderie among fellow fans and provide opportunities to showcase one’s creative talents.

Crafting

Crafting is another hobby that gamers can engage in to express their love for their favorite games. From creating handmade merchandise like keychains, enamel pins, and posters to building intricate replicas of game-related items and props, crafting enables gamers to explore their artistic side. The process of crafting can teach valuable skills such as woodworking, metalworking, and digital design. Moreover, selling these handmade items online or at local gaming conventions can also introduce gamers to business and marketing concepts.

Gamer Hobbies A – Z

A

Arcade Games

Arcade games are a classic form of gaming that involves playing games on large machines at an arcade. These games can range from pinball machines to fighting games.

Augmented Reality Games

Augmented reality games use technology to superimpose a game world onto the real world. Games like Pokémon Go are popular examples of this genre.

B

Board Games

Board games are a traditional form of gaming that involves playing a game on a physical board with pieces. These can range from classic games like chess and Monopoly to modern games like Catan and Ticket to Ride.

Battle Royale Games

Battle Royale games are a popular online gaming genre where players fight against each other until only one is left standing. Games like Fortnite and PUBG are well-known examples.

C

Console Gaming

Console gaming involves playing games on a dedicated gaming console like the PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch. These games can range from single-player adventures to multiplayer online games.

Card Games

Card games can be physical games like Poker or Magic: The Gathering, or digital games like Hearthstone. They involve strategic gameplay and can be played solo or with others.

D

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a classic tabletop role-playing game where players create characters and embark on fantasy adventures guided by a Dungeon Master.

Dance Games

Dance games like Dance Dance Revolution or Just Dance involve physical movement and rhythm, making them a fun and active form of gaming.

E

Esports

Esports involves watching or participating in competitive gaming. This can range from professional tournaments to local competitions.

Escape Room Games

Escape room games involve solving puzzles and riddles to “escape” from a locked room. These can be physical locations or digital games.

F

First-Person Shooters

First-person shooters are a genre of video game where players view the world from the perspective of their character and typically involve combat with firearms. Examples include Call of Duty and Battlefield.

Fighting Games

Fighting games involve combat between characters in an arena. These games, like Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat, often require quick reflexes and strategic combo moves.

G

Game Development

Game development is the process of creating your own video games. This can involve coding, art design, sound design, and more.

Graphic Novels

While not a game, graphic novels are a popular interest among gamers due to their shared elements with video game storytelling and art styles.

H

Handheld Gaming

Handheld gaming involves playing games on portable devices like the Nintendo DS or PSP. These games can be played anywhere and range from puzzle games to RPGs.

Horror Games

Horror games aim to create a sense of fear and suspense in the player. These games, like Resident Evil or Amnesia, often involve solving puzzles and surviving against terrifying enemies.

I

Indie Games

Indie games are independently developed games often known for their innovative gameplay and focus on storytelling. Examples include games like Celeste and Hollow Knight.

Interactive Story Games

Interactive story games are a genre where the gameplay primarily involves making decisions that affect the narrative. Games like The Walking Dead and Life is Strange are examples of this genre.

J

Jigsaw Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles involve assembling a picture from small pieces. These can be physical puzzles or digital ones, and they range in difficulty from simple images to complex landscapes.

JRPGs (Japanese Role-Playing Games)

JRPGs are a genre of video game that originated in Japan and often feature complex stories, turn-based combat, and extensive character development.

K

Kinect Games

Kinect games are motion-based games designed for Xbox’s Kinect sensor, which captures the player’s movements and translates them into in-game actions. These games often involve physical activity and can include genres like dance, sports, and fitness.

Kart Racing Games

Kart racing games are a sub-genre of racing games featuring small, motorized vehicles. These games, like Mario Kart, often include fantastical elements such as power-ups and unconventional track designs.

L

Live Streaming

Live streaming involves broadcasting your gameplay on platforms like Twitch or YouTube. Streamers often interact with their viewers in real-time, providing commentary and responding to comments.

LAN Parties

LAN (Local Area Network) parties are social events where gamers gather to play multiplayer games on a high-speed local network. These events can range from small gatherings with friends to large-scale, organized events.

M

Mobile Gaming

Mobile gaming involves playing games on smartphones or tablets. These games can range from simple puzzle games to complex strategy games and MMORPGs.

MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games)

MMORPGs are online games that involve a large number of players interacting in a virtual world. These games, like World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV, often involve cooperative gameplay, quests, and player versus player combat.

N

Nintendo Games

Nintendo games involve playing games developed by Nintendo, including franchises like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokémon.

Narrative Games

Narrative games focus heavily on story and character development. These games, like The Last of Us and Detroit: Become Human, often involve player choices that can affect the outcome of the story.

O

Online Multiplayer Games

Online multiplayer games involve playing games with other people over the internet. These games can range from competitive games like League of Legends to cooperative games like Destiny 2.

Open-World Games

Open-world games are games that provide a large, open environment for players to explore. These games, like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Grand Theft Auto V, often provide a high level of freedom to the player.

P

PC Gaming

PC gaming involves playing games on a personal computer. These games can range from indie games to AAA titles, and the platform often offers more customization options than consoles.

Puzzle Games

Puzzle games involve solving puzzles to progress in the game. These games can range from traditional puzzle games like Tetris to more complex puzzle-platformers like Portal.

Q

Quiz Games

Quiz games involve answering questions on a variety of topics. These games can be played solo or with others and can range from trivia games to educational games.

Quick-Time Events

Quick-time events (QTEs) are a feature in some games where the player must press a specific button or sequence of buttons during a cutscene to progress. These are often used in narrative-driven games to keep the player engaged during non-playable sequences.

R

Retro Gaming

Retro gaming involves playing older games on systems like the NES or Sega Genesis. This can involve using original hardware or emulators.

Role-Playing Games (RPGs)

Role-playing games involve the player taking on the role of a character in a fictional setting. These games, like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, often involve character development, storytelling, and strategic combat.

S

Simulation Games

Simulation games involve the player controlling a virtual representation of a real-life activity. These games can range from life simulations like The Sims to vehicle simulations like Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Strategy Games

Strategy games involve gameplay where the player must make strategic decisions to succeed. These games can be turn-based, like Civilization, or real-time, like StarCraft.

T

Tabletop Role-Playing Games

Tabletop role-playing games involve players describing their characters’ actions through speech and using a set of rules to determine the outcomes. Games like Dungeons & Dragons are popular examples of this genre.

Tower Defense Games

Tower defense games involve defending a player’s territories or possessions by obstructing enemy attackers, usually achieved by placing defensive structures along their path of attack.

U

User-Generated Content Games

User-generated content games are games where the majority of content is created by the players. Games like Minecraft and Roblox are popular examples of this genre.

Unreal Engine Development

Unreal Engine is a game engine developed by Epic Games, used to create many popular games. Learning to develop games with Unreal Engine can be a hobby in itself.

V

Virtual Reality Games

Virtual reality games use VR headsets to generate realistic images, sounds, and other sensations that simulate a user’s physical presence in a virtual environment. Games can be of any genre and often involve interactions that mimic real-world interactions.

Visual Novels

Visual novels are a genre of game that features mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art. As the name might suggest, they resemble mixed-media novels or tableau vivant stage plays.

W

World Building Games

World building games involve creating and managing a whole world or society. Games like SimCity and Civilization are examples of this genre.

Walking Simulators

Walking simulators are games that primarily involve exploring an environment. These games often focus on narrative over gameplay and include titles like Gone Home and Dear Esther.

X

Xbox Gaming

Xbox gaming involves playing games on any of the Xbox consoles, from the original Xbox to the latest Xbox Series X. These games can range from exclusive titles like Halo to multi-platform games.

Xtreme Sports Games

Xtreme sports games simulate extreme sports like skateboarding, snowboarding, and BMX. Games like the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series are well-known examples.

Y

YouTube Gaming

YouTube gaming involves creating and watching gaming content on YouTube. This can range from Let’s Play videos and walkthroughs to reviews and speedruns.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Game

Yu-Gi-Oh! is a popular trading card game based on the anime of the same name. Players use decks of cards representing magical monsters, spells, and traps to defeat their opponents.

Z

Zelda Games

Zelda games involve playing games in The Legend of Zelda series, a popular series of action-adventure games developed by Nintendo.

Zombie Games

Zombie games involve fighting zombies in a survival or horror setting. Games like Left 4 Dead and Resident Evil are popular examples of this genre.

Conclusion

For those captivated by the exhilarating world of gaming, hobbies and interests go beyond the high-stakes action of epic quests or the strategic plotting of battle royale arenas. They’re about exploring new worlds, creating unique experiences, and embarking on fascinating journeys both inside and outside the gaming universe.

This is just the beginning of the adventure, though. Gamers, brace yourselves for an expanded universe of hobbies that perfectly complements your love for gaming. Our definitive list of passions, hobbies, and interests is a treasure trove of intriguing possibilities. From game design and coding to eSports and VR exploration, our guide takes you beyond the console into the heart of the gaming world. Ready for a new level of exploration? Power up and check out our Definitive List of Passions, Hobbies and Interests now