The Biggest Gaming Communities Online and IRL
Gaming communities are various message boards, forums, websites, and meeting locations where players gather to talk online. They can enrich the playing experience by fostering a sense of comradery and offering tips and troubleshooting opportunities for those stuck in an adventure with no way forward.
A few prominent gaming communities exist on:
● Steam
● Discord
● Xbox Live
● Local Clubs
● School Opportunities
If you’re interested in learning more about some of the biggest gaming communities online and in real life, you’re in the right place. The more you know about these forums on the internet, the easier it will be to find one that suits your technology interests. Let’s dive into a few of the most prominent locations where gamers talk about their endeavors.
Reddit is one of the most popular places for gamers to connect online. It offers subreddits, which are little chats tailored to specific subgenres of gaming. For instance, Minecraft players can gather in a different subreddit than those who choose Halo as their game of choice.
Here are a few examples of popular subreddits available for participation:
● r/playitforward
These are just some of the subreddits on Reddit. The coolest part about Reddit is that it offers niche, tailored community opportunities. For instance, you can talk in a general gaming community for something like Assassin’s Creed, or you could focus on a chat stream for gamers who are disabled. The opportunities are endless.
Steam
Steam is a popular platform that gamers can join to purchase, play, and download the games of their choice. It also offers the opportunity to create a gamer tag and speak with other players on their hub. Steam offers a singular brain cell-type community method, so it isn’t as divided up as Reddit.
Participants can participate in various Discussion boards under a general Discussion category, where people can post on any topic, including the following examples:
● Sandbox game recommendations
● Opinions on various game sales
● Technical issues
Players can choose if they want to answer or ask a question and pick their board from there. Steam tends to be a little more open-ended than Reddit, which some users don’t like. However, it’s an excellent resource if you have all your games on Steam and want to stick with a singular platform for your gaming experience.
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Discord
Discord is another location where gamers can speak to each other about their adventures. It isn’t even limited to gaming - Discord divides its chat opportunities into Gaming, Entertainment, Education, Science and Tech, and Music for those who want to delve into other subjects with their friends.
If you check out the gaming section, you’ll find categories like the following:
● Nova
● Roblox
● Valorant
These are just a few of the thousands of categories Discord offers. On Discord, you can do more than type questions and answers inside a chat and specified forum. You can chat with people live and enjoy ample communication, but you can choose whether you want to talk with a microphone or not. It’s a very engaging community for gamers who are ready to learn while they talk.
Xbox Live
If you’re a fan of the Xbox and all the people and games associated with it, Xbox Live might be the gaming community for you. In the Xbox Live gaming community, you have the chance to learn about the latest video game news, locate exciting events, and even speak with new users if you decide to access the Xbox Live pass.
Xbox offers discussions about items like:
● Forza
● Sea of Thieves
● Halo
● Gears of War
There’s plenty of room to talk with Xbox Live. On top of their internet presence, you will also enjoy the vast social media offerings through Xbox Live and various events they have throughout the year. You can become an Xbox Ambassador or participate in one of their various online events to further connect with gamers who use Xbox as their main gaming endeavor.
Local Clubs/Game Stores
For those who would prefer to meet in person, there are sure to be local clubs in your hometown or somewhere nearby. Often, people try to gather in groups at public places like a local library, a community center, or a gaming facility that provides access to computers or some form of technology that is suitable for gamers.
Several sites, such as Meetup or Reddit, offer information about local events in your area. Also, check in the newspaper, ask locals, or look for flyers that indicate an opportunity to join a gaming community. If you prefer to speak to people in person, this choice is right for you.
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School Opportunities
Whether you’re in elementary, middle, high school, or college, there are often school clubs available for gamers. These allow participants to meet a couple of times a month to play games, participate in tournaments, and prepare for matches together. You get to talk to people face-to-face about something you all love.
If you’re unsure whether or not your school provides a gaming community option, we recommend reaching out to them to see what they have. If not, there is always a chance you can start something yourself. Ask for the requirements and see what you need to do to make it easier for a community to pull itself together at your school.
If you’re a gamer and want to connect to other people with similar interests, there are plenty of opportunities for you. Consider Reddit, Steam, Discord, Xbox Live, local clubs, and opportunities at your school to find somewhere to chat and gather a group of helpful friends to surround you in your endeavors.
We hope this information was helpful! Although it might be stressful to locate a helpful community as a gamer, there are ample opportunities. If you want something in person and there’s nothing in your area, consider starting something yourself!
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