I've often thought about why I enjoy jumping straight into ranked modes without playing other parts of the game. In games like Overwatch or Valorant, quick play has almost the same rules and mechanics as ranked, but it doesn't feel as good to me. It's not just about playing the game; it's also about the sense of purpose that ranked play gives me.
There is always something to strive toward in ranked modes. The ranking system, with all of its progress and a clear step-by-step ability, makes each match feel important in a way that unranked modes do not. If there is no chance of moving up in rank or improving, playing unranked can sometimes feel empty as if it doesn't offer a long-term reward. Ranked games provide that feeling that the wins and losses are part of a larger thing.
The grind itself makes me want to continue. The visible increase (or decrease) in my skill level over time made me feel accomplished and let me see that I am getting better at the game. Even failures are important as they present to me points where I can improve, letting me try my skills against better players. This is a rather grueling process but very fulfilling, as it shows me how I stack up against other players.
Ranked matches have that special excitement, since everybody has something to gain. It is not only about having fun; it's about trying to improve and seeing how far I can go. There is that feeling of competition and focus which isn't in casual games. Playing ranked goes hand in hand with my need to succeed and see where I am; it's something casual games just can't do.
It's the structured effort to improve, the risks, and the rewards that make ranked play feel significant.
Over the years lower ranked players have been getting better and better, even in platinum lobbies in overwatch a lot of people have insane aim if we aren’t talking about all the smurf accounts.
Couple key reasons that contribute to that:
Aim Trainers getting more popular
Over the past couple years aim trainers such as kovaaks and aimlabs have been rising in popularity. With a lot more people seeing the protentional that aim training can do for them. With these tools gamers can train a part of their aim that they are struggling with and take the result into game.
More and better gear coming out
In recent years, the amount of mousepads and mice have sky rocketed with options for pretty much everyone and any budget. The cost of entry to a good mouse and performant mouse has gone down a significant amount. Tons of brands and shapes to choose from so everyone has something that will be catered towards them and hopefully make their performance in game better as well.
Same with mousepads, a huge range of options to choose from when it comes to the surface.
Can go with a slower cloth pad if you want something more controlled or a glass pad if you are purely after speed.
People are having a better understanding of how gear can affect their performance
Gamers over the years have also learned that your mouse and mousepad can highly affect how well you play.
Choosing a mouse that works for you and is comfortable throughout your entire session is one of the biggest things people should be after before experimenting with other skates or grips.
Even with your mousepad, maybe a control mousepad isn’t for you or isn’t preferred for the game you are playing.
Stuff like that are what people over the years are learning to understand so they can perform better in game.
There are a lot of reasons why people avoid ranked modes, and one of the biggest ones is simply the fear of failing. That fear can spring from pressure to perform well in an extremely competitive environment where even small mistakes appear to be huge and create a problem with the progress for you and your team. During ranked play, each match is incredibly intense, as one knows that the wins and losses are going to impact their overall ranking and often their self-esteem as well.
Such anxiety, however, comes from not doing well in front of teammates or harsh comments from other players. Unlike the chill modes, in which it's not a huge deal if something goes wrong, ranked matches could bring out rather savage reactions and a toxic atmosphere coming from people especially when someone seems like they're not at the same level as them. That could be darn intimidating, especially for those who are new or less experienced at playing games in general.
Besides, many players may feel that their skills are not "good enough" to play ranked, so they doubt themselves and never try. Some may feel hesitant to invest the time and effort into something that could just end up very frustrating and not worth it if they can't get up the ranks.
Ranked play usually requires you to be more invested in strategy, teamwork, and keeping your focus, which may not be up everyone's alley, especially if you enjoy the relaxation and lower stakes that come with unranked modes. Plus, being judged by that ranking system all the time can get so stressful that ranked play feels less like something you do for fun and more like a job.
On top of that, another thing that really grinds gears within the ranked modes is how SBMM (Skilled Based Match Making) works. It is supposed to match players who are supposedly at the same skill level so that matches feel more balanced and competitive. Sounds awesome on paper, but in reality, it usually creates more issues than it fixes.
Honestly, SBMM can be brutal. You're literally matched with people who are just as good as you, which may sound fair, but it can really spiral into a ton of tough matches that bring you down. If you get stuck in a losing streak, it honestly feels like the system is just pitting you against better and better players, making it that much harder to climb back out. It can feel like the game's out to get you, especially when you're stuck in a rank that seems utterly impossible to break out of.
Some players also argue that SBMM brings frustration because it reduces the "fun" factor; matches are becoming more stressed and less about having fun. Many players feel that it focuses too much on winning and allows little room for casual play or improvement without the pressure of constantly facing equally skilled opponents.
Also, SBMM can be a bit of a hot topic because it's not always as clear-cut as players want it to be. It can certainly feel rigged when you're up against the matchmaking system and you end up playing with people who look a thousand times better than you, even though your rank says you should be on the same level. It can really get you feeling uncertain and frustrated.
Also, some of them believe that SBMM utterly ruins the chance to have fun "stomping" on weaker players or just chill out playing, which is one of the best parts of playing more casually. SBMM stands for Fair Matches and Competitive Games, right? But most of the time, SBMM will mess with your mind and emotions, especially when you're having a tough time moving forward. It kind of makes ranked play feel less fun and more like a chore. A lot of folks end up feeling stuck in a system that gives props to being consistent but doesn't really let you take a break or learn at your own speed.
A whole lot of people get into competitive gaming because of esports. They see their favorite player or team up on a leaderboard and strive and wish to be just like them.
They idolize them and hope to be like them by picking up a new game or just following what they do and try to replicate them. Just like normal sports like basketball, lot of people at a younger age idolize a player and want to be like them and start playing basketball to follow along.
Another thing to note that I have seen quite a lot since the release of Valorant. Is the rise of women getting into gaming and getting into competitive gaming or just content creation. Which is cool to see especially in a hobby or area that is seen as very male-dominated. This visibility of female gamers is inspiring others, showing that gaming is a space for everyone.
Support from the industry, like women’s tournaments and safe communities, also helps reduce harassment and makes gaming more inclusive. The growth of women in gaming not only adds diversity but also brings fresh perspectives and makes the gaming community stronger and more dynamic.
Overall ranked in games can be really fun especially if you are someone that loves that grind or that race to a higher rank but for others it’s more of a chore and anxiety inducing and removes the fun out of the game.
POTENT | SNEKXS