It’s estimated that there are well over 3 billion gamers in the world – and it’s a figure that’s set to continue rising. With literally millions of different games to choose from it’s an activity that offers something for everyone whether they want to conquer alien worlds or just to set up a successful virtual theme park.
Their reasons for playing are equally varied. Some find it relaxes them. Others simply like the thrill of competition. For many, it’s an intense social activity as they take on opponents who may already be friends, or they may be playing in far-off lands.
The one thing that all gamers face is the potentially high price of indulging in their hobby.
But it is possible to do it on a budget.
Ways to game and save
In recent years there has been an explosion in mobile gaming. It’s outstripped PC gaming in terms of popularity for some time now. The great advantage of this is that most of the games are free, although they do come with some challenges caused by the limitations of mobile devices.
Nevertheless, they make for fun, free gaming. Although it’s important to be aware of the microtransactions that many of these games include. If you’re not careful, they can soon mount up.
Alongside mobile gaming, cloud gaming has also seen a big explosion in the last few years. Because you’re just paying a monthly subscription for cloud gaming this saves the potentially large outlay on the games themselves.
It also gives access to far more games than most people’s collections contain – so you’ll never get gamer fatigue of having to play the same titles over and over again.
If casino games are your thing, they are often associated with risk, which is, of course, true, but you can minimize the risk by seeking out review sites and claiming the bonuses & promotions listed. An online casino like Betrivers has bonus codes that can be used to claim free stake money and even free spins on selected slot games.
There’s also been a real trend for playing older games, the likes of which have been superseded by the current generation of ultra-complex and sophisticated titles. But there’s still great pleasure in playing some of the old classics.
Best of all, they can be snapped up very cheaply in many online marketplaces. Similarly, the consoles and hardware needed to play them can also be bought, pre-owned, for very reasonable sums. This brings us very neatly to talking about how budget-conscious PC gamers can kit themselves out with the essential hardware for their favorite hobby.
The three essentials for high-quality, low-cost PC gaming
Most people would agree that the ultimate gaming experience comes from either console or PC gaming. We’re assuming that you don’t have the hundreds of dollars needed for the latest console so we’re looking at PCs here. So the first and most important item is a PC.
You could have a shot at building your own. There’s plenty of help and advice out there, and it’s not as tricky as it sounds. You just need to hit on the right combination of components to make the hardware sing.
Alternatively, go for high-quality, relatively low-budget models that are available from big brand names like Hewlett Packard, Lenovo, and Acer. These might not have all the bells and whistles that PCs costing thousands might have, but they’ll do the job for you.
Next, you need as good a monitor as you can get within your budget. It needs to be able to handle the advanced graphics of today’s games without stuttering. Recommended brands include ViewSonic, BenQ, and even Samsung. Look for a minimum of a 160 Hz refresh rate, and it should certainly do the job. Finally, it’s worth investing in a quality gaming mouse.
That’s because it’s going to make for a far more enjoyable gaming experience. With multiple programmable buttons to transform it into a comprehensive controller, it can take gaming to the next level.
There’s one brand that has cornered the market in pocket-friendly gaming mice, and that’s Logitech. With various models to choose from, expect to pay around $30 upwards, which is a little more for a wireless model. If you don’t mind pre-owned, then there are plenty of online marketplaces where you’ll find games and kits at knock-down prices.
It’s also worth looking out for when a new model in your preferred range of PCs or monitors is about to be launched, as the previous one is usually available at a discounted price.
So, there you have them. Here are some invaluable tips about how to enjoy budget-friendly gaming. Happy low-cost gaming!