Every gamer, whether that’s a mobile fan, a casino player, or a console lover, has come across a gaming guide. When you’re passionate about your hobby and want to make the most out of it, you make sure you’re well-informed. That’s the appeal of gaming guides.
They promise a lot. Often claiming to be the ultimate roundup or the only information you’ll need. However, players should stop to wonder whether gaming guides are really helping them. Is it possible for a gaming guide to do more harm than good? To figure that out, it’s time to take a closer look and examine what they are and what they do.
The Purpose of Ultimate Guides
Players turn to guides for all sorts of reasons. We all need a little help from the experts every now and then. There are official guides from game developers, and there are lots of other ones floating around on the internet, created by experts and players who are sharing their knowledge.
Guides can help you find games and places to play. For example, if you’re seeking the trusted gambling sites Canada has to offer, there’s a guide for that. You can also seek out the top relaxing strategy games. Not all guides help you find a game, though. Some are made for gamers to make games more enjoyable and reduce frustration at challenging points.
Types of Gaming Guides
The types of gaming guides that you’ll find will vary depending on the game and the purpose. If you need some help when playing, it’s worth knowing which guide you should consult. Some will be of no use, others will give gentle guidance, and there are also options that will tell you more than you want to know.
Reviews and Lists
There are guides out there to help you find games. These are commonly in the format of reviews and lists. If you like a particular playing style, you can use a list guide to find a range of options. Some of these guides also help match you to games by comparing them. For example, if you like Zelda, it will suggest similar options for you to try.
Review guides are the next step along. Once you’ve got some ideas from lists, you can narrow the selection. Reviews tell you more information about casinos, platforms, or games to help you make up your mind.
Tutorials
For players who already have their game but aren’t sure how to play it, tutorials can help. Many game developers offer official tutorials. Sometimes we need an extra helping hand getting to grips with a new level or character. These guides cover the basics, but are specific to a game and platform.
If you’re unsure of the controls or what you’re supposed to be doing, a tutorial is a good place to start. You might feel like you’re not making the most of the game, which can happen in MMORPGs like World of Warcraft. In that case, getting some WoW tips can truly enhance your experience.
Walkthroughs
Even when you’re familiar with the controls and the aim of the game, it’s still easy to get stuck. Some levels are tricky and leave you wandering around the game world, seeking the items you need to trigger the next part of the game. That’s where frustration can kick in.
There’s a guide for that, too, and they are walkthroughs. They take you step by step through each part and level of a game. Do they help? Definitely, but they should be used sparingly. It’s easy to get hung up on getting instructions instead of working things out for yourself, which takes the fun out of the game.
Save walkthroughs for when you’ve tried and aren’t getting anywhere. They’re also handy for when you need to pick up items for side quests and don’t want to miss the locations.
Cheats
The last type of guide is cheats. As the name suggests, these go beyond walkthroughs and can feel a bit like cheating. Do cheaters prosper, though? According to one study, they do feel better about themselves as long as they haven’t done any harm. Cheat guides can help, but they might spoil your sense of achievement in a game.
These guides go straight to the solutions and often give you shortcuts to get around the game structure. For example, they can include commands to give you infinite health or special abilities. They can be fun, but they can also ruin the plot and point of a game.