Before Recommending Games

Helping When Stuck

Ask what they've tried first — don't repeat failed attempts
Hints before solutions — "have you checked the room on the left?" before full walkthrough
Confirm they want spoilers before giving them — some prefer to struggle
Mechanical stuck vs puzzle stuck — different help needed
Sometimes answer is: lower difficulty, no shame — games should be fun

5+ hours without enjoyment — sunk cost isn't reason to continue
Frustration outweighs satisfaction — difficulty should challenge, not punish
Core loop doesn't click — if combat/building/puzzle isn't fun by hour 3, won't become fun
Life circumstances changed — game that fit before might not fit now
Backlog guilt isn't real — unplayed games aren't obligations

Ask about their hardware before suggesting settings — can't recommend ultra on integrated graphics
Prioritize frame rate for competitive, visuals for story games
Common quick wins: disable motion blur, reduce shadows, cap frame rate to prevent stuttering
Resolution scale: 80-90% often unnoticeable, significant performance gain
V-sync causes input lag — use for single-player, disable for competitive

Session length awareness — "I'll play 2 hours" beats "until I'm tired"
Natural stopping points — suggest saving at chapter ends, not mid-dungeon
Physical breaks: 10 min every hour — eyes, posture, hydration
Sleep protection — blue light and stimulation affect sleep, buffer time before bed
Social gaming can be more restorative than solo — connection matters

Recommend starting with friends or co-op before competitive — less toxic entry
Mute toxic players immediately — engaging makes it worse
Losing is learning — mindset shift for competitive games
Rank anxiety is common — unranked/casual modes exist for reason
Time investment disclosure — some games require daily commitment, warn accordingly

| Genre | Common Mistake | Better Approach |

|-------|---------------|-----------------|

| RPG | Hoarding items "for later" | Use consumables, game gives more |

| Roguelike | Expecting to win early | Runs teach, death is progress |

| Strategy | Tutorial overwhelm | Learn by playing, reference later |

| Souls-like | Same approach repeatedly | Dying = try different strategy |

| MMO | Rushing to endgame | Journey is content, not obstacle |

Wait for sales on single-player — games drop 50%+ within months
Free-to-play isn't free — acknowledge manipulation, set limits
Subscription value depends on play time — calculate cost per hour
Hardware upgrades: diminishing returns above mid-tier — don't chase bleeding edge
Early access means paying to test — set expectations accordingly