Beginner’s Guide to Watching Esports (Even If You Don’t Play Ranked)

I love games, but I’m not a ranked grinder. I don’t have the time, reflexes, or patience to climb competitive ladders. Even so, I’ve gotten really into watching esports over the last couple of years – and you don’t have to be “good” at games to enjoy them.

If traditional sports can be fun to watch even if you’ve never played professionally, the same is true for esports. You just need a bit of context so you know what’s going on.

Pick One Game and Stick With It for a Bit

Instead of trying to follow every title, choose one game whose visuals or themes you like and follow that scene for a while. The more you watch, the more you’ll start recognizing patterns, big plays, and common strategies.

Most esports broadcasts do a decent job explaining basics, but it still takes a little repetition before it clicks. That’s normal. You don’t learn football in one match either.

Focus on the Storylines

The easiest way to care about an esport is to care about the people playing. Look up which teams are underdogs, which players are veterans, who just swapped rosters. When you know the backstories, tournaments suddenly feel a lot more dramatic.

You don’t have to know every stat to enjoy the show. As long as you have a rough idea of “these are the favorites, these are the newcomers,” you’ll have someone to root for.