Ten proven ways to stop rage-quitting and start dominating the leaderboard.
Ten proven ways to stop rage-quitting and start dominating the leaderboard.
First-person shooters (FPS) are some of the most competitive and fast-paced games out there. WHether you’re dropping into Call of Duty, grinding ranked in Apex Legends, or battling it out in Valorant, one thing’s for certain—these games demand skill, strategy, and nerves of steel. But improving at FPS games isn’t just about raw aim or lightning-fast reflexes; it’s about understanding the mechanics, playing smart, and sharpening the habits that separate the casual players from the killers.
This guide will help break down ten proven tips to help you level up your game—ranked from foundational skills to advanced tactics. From perfecting your aim and mastering movement to making smarter calls and keeping your cool under pressure, each tip is designed to help you stop rage-quitting and start climbing the leaderboard. Whether a complete rookie or a seasoned veteran looking to polish your play, these strategies will help you dominate the battlefield with confidence.
Yeah yeah, we know—it's cliche but practice does indeed make perfect…and in this case, it makes for a trained assassin that can easily enjoy their game of choosing. FPS games have countless moving parts, and improvement doesn’t happen by accident. Every game has its own movement mechanics, shooting physics, and map design to master.
If your goal is to clutch that first 1v3, or boost your K/D to a level that demands respect from the lobby, consistent and focused practice is the only way. Don’t just mindlessly play, in the current space of this genre, it is paramount that you learn to be a Tony Stark--learn from your mistakes. Identify your weaknesses, whether it’s your aim tracking, crosshair placement, or reaction time, and target them during practice sessions.
The real key to success is to simply just know your’re game…but what if you don’t have a game? If you’re looking to try something new but are a die-hard FPS addict—we understand. Here’s our list of the best first-person shooters on Steam.
In FPS games, your ears can be as—if not more important than your eyes. Gunfire, footsteps, reloads all paint a picture and you need to be the artist. The key is to invest in a decent headset. It doesn’t have to be the latest and greatest set of Turtlebeach either, but rather a cheap pair of baseline headphones that allows for proper directional audio and volume. Simply put, if you can hear where your enemies are coming from, you can act before they do. New players who are attempting to play FPS games without the use of headphones will likely experience an entirely different dynamic once they have stepped foot into the world of heightened hertz.
In that same order, the soldier must be mindful of the environment by which they are in. If you have come to the conclusion that you are in an area that is occupied by significant enemy forces and are out gunned, the smart and tactical play would most likely be to remain in a couched or prone position where your audio cues are minimized and your element of surprise remains at your advantage. You are not Rambo so do not try to be Rambo.
Every weapon has its own recoil pattern. Memorizing these patterns and learning to counter them with your mouse or stick movements can mean the difference between hitting your shots and dishing out a mean serving of lead into the wall behind your opponent. This can be a more challenging aspect of FPS games, which is why you need to practice. Many games nowadays have practice ranges where you can experiment. Find weapons that suit your control style and stick with them until controlling the recoil is a subconscious ability.
Beginner players…we’re looking at you. It’s easy to fall into the trap of running and gunning but we’ll say it again—you are not Rambo, friends, so do not try to be Rambo. Running in the open is an easy way to be sent back to the spectating gods above. Always move from cover to cover, and use height to your advantage. Think in three dimensions—the high ground doesn’t just look cool, it wins fights. Similar to the practice of learning to control recoil, make these a subconscious habit and you will be contending with the best of them!
Your aim sensitivity, FOV (field of view), button-layouts and keybinds aren’t a one-size-fits-all. Spend time experimenting until you find what feels natural. A lower sensitivity may improve precision for some or be the sole reason why you keep losing your 1v1’s. A wider POV may give some more peripheral awareness and make it difficult to see objects from range for others. Your setup should feel like an extension of you, not something you constantly have to fight against. You never know what may put you at an advantage in a gunfight.
That small squire in the corner of your screen is essentially pixelated gold. One quick glance at the minimap will provide you with critical information that will increase your situational awareness ten-fold. Be sure to learn to interpret the various symbols that are present on it as they could be vital to your success. Check it regularly—it’s free information that oftentimes goes ignored by a great deal of players.
Not everyone can be the entry fragger or the sniper hero. Good teams win because every player understands their role. Whether you’re anchoring a site, supporting with a utility, or taking point, learn what your team needs and fill that gap. A coordinated team almost always beats a group of solo superstars.
This seems to be one of the more popular topics in the debate of what separates a good player from a mediocre one. This is likely because it can be a very difficult skill to master, as movement isn’t just about speed--it’s about unpredictability. Every FPS seems to have its quirks but a good place to start would be slide cancels, strafing, and bunny hops. The great Muhammad Ali said it best, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” that’s the name of the game if you want to dominate the battlefield.
Clear, concise communication can win rounds before a single bullet is fired. If you’re not communicating, you’re cooked! But seriously, you may be holding your team back if you fail to make call outs of any kind. If you’re just getting started, try calling out enemy positions, notify teammates when you’re rotating, and share intel about low-health opponents. There is no “I” in “team” but there is a “T” and here at ESG, we like to think it stands for TALK. If you’re not comfortable talking or simply do not have access to a microphone, keep in mind that numerous FPS games have a ping function that allows for you to communicate with your team without saying a word.
There is no shame in living to fight in another 3 minutes. Overextending after a kill or chasing a fleeing enemy often ends badly. Many players make this mistake, believing that the best play is to push forward, when it may very well be the opposite. Retreating lets you heal, reload, reset your positioning before re-engaging on your own terms. A well-timed disengage can bait overconfident players into bad positions, flipping the momentum of the fight entirely. Patience is often more lethal than aggression.
Improving at first-person shooters isn’t about luck—it’s about discipline, awareness, patience, and most of all fun. All skill players know that these games are much more enjoyable when you can compete. Every tip here builds toward the same goal. Turn your instinct into strategy. Learn the maps, trust your ears, communicate clearly, and never stop learning from your mistakes.
Even small adjustments can separate a casual player from a true contender. So the next time you drop in, play smart, play calm, and remember—sometimes the deadliest weapon on the battlefield isn’t the gun…it’s your brain.
