What Is A Try Hard Gamer?

After defeating an opponent during a match, gamers may be called a “tryhard” gamer. Generally this term is used derogatorily; however it can sometimes be used as a compliment. For example, Dictionary.com describes a tryhard gamer as “a person who participates in a game or other activity with too much enthusiasm, emotion, effort, or commitment.” We here discuss ten characteristics that make up a try hard gamer and split the list into three “positive” traits and seven “negative” traits.

1.  Low Skills and High Enthusiasm

A gamer is enthusiastic about his match.

Our first positive trait is a gamer that isn’t very good at the game, but still puts their all into the match. These are the players who you’ll find at the bottom of the scoreboard but they stay until the end of the match and still have a good attitude about it. 

Despite having possibly a low score, these players can still be very helpful to the team, either in a support role or even as an objective defender. Even if a player is relatively incompetent at strategy in strategy games can be helpful by donating units to teammates that are better at attacking, or by taking care of conquered territories.

2. Carries the Team

The “Best Squad” screen shows a player who held the team together.

On the other end of the scale, these players are those that put in a level 10 amount of effort for a casual game that requires a level of 2 or 4 and can be found at the top of the scoreboard by a wide margin. This difference isn’t because the player is so much better, but rather because they are putting in so much extra effort.

All gamers have experienced it: a relaxing, slow-paced game, but then one player acts like their reputation is based on their performance. They will capture every objective, get nearly every kill, make every touchdown, and win every race, even while their friends are just messing around and having fun.

3. Increased Focus

A player focuses on his game.

Some players take games so seriously that it is the center of 100% of their focus for the entirety of the match. These players will not detract from their game long enough to even take a sip of water. This comes from an intense belief that “as soon as I look away the enemy will appear.”

While it would be bad to focus on something so intently that can last for even hours, it is good for people to work on their focus, as this would do. With the significant decrease in average focus ability, gaming is in a unique position to help increase peoples’ focus back to normal.

4. Overuse of Meta Strategies

A gamer is surprised at his score after using the current meta.

The internet generally takes “the meta” to mean “the best strategy that can be used” and some believe it to be an acronym: “most efficient tactic available.” That is, the method that maximizes the probability of winning. Meta gameplay can include loadouts, strategies, card decks, and other facets of gameplay.

While maximizing the chances of winning is not inherently bad, gamers generally look down on people playing the meta as it reduces the diversity of gameplay, stifles creativity, widens the skill gap, and makes other players feel like these players lack a skill in the game. New players are especially disadvantaged by this type of gameplay as they may not yet have the knowledge to overcome the current meta.

5. Win-Loss/Kill-Death Ratio Obsession

Players boosting in MW3’s Infected mode to raise their kill/death ratio.

If you ask a gamer what the most important part of a game is, some might say that it is enjoyment, some may say unlock progress, but the tryhards will say either their win ratio or their kill ratio, depending on the gamemode and gametype. Players like to acquire a high ratio as it can be shown off on their profile or on the leaderboards.

Clearly this is a bad aspect to focus on as any well-balanced game will make it relatively difficult to keep a good ratio, whether it is with the use of skill ratings, skill-based matchmaking, team balancing, etc. Focusing on something that is difficult in nature will of course lower the enjoyment felt by these players as their ratios slowly fall or plateau.

6. Exploiting Game Mechanics

A player uses the infamous “Skyline” glitch spot in Battlefront II.

If you asked any Call of Duty player about abused game mechanics during the height of Summer gaming, 2010, most would immediately refer to “The Rock.” This was a spot on the map where players who arrived first and knew the secret became practically invincible while still being able to get kills and score. Game mechanics that are legitimately part of the game, but can give certain players an unfair significant advantage are often abused by players looking for every small bit of edge that they can get. Despite being part of the game, whether intended to be used or not, abusing these mechanics is looked down upon by the majority of players since it, in some cases, completely ruins the game for everyone else.

Even today, most players are haunted by what is known as “head glitching” in First-Person Shooter games. This is where a player’s bullets will spawn from their head, meaning they can see over and over walls and other cover while only exposing a tiny amount of their body to enemy fire. Despite being a part of the arcady feel of games, this is seen as a strategy requiring little skill. In other games, one may find mechanics being abused such as car speed boosting, being able to deal extra damage, trading items that you don’t have, or even skipping levels.

7. Sacrificing Fun for Success

This gamer has optimized the fun out of the game.

People falling into this category are said to “optimize the fun out of gaming” in a bid to gain another win. Generally the purpose of a game is to have at least mild fun throughout the game followed by joy at winning or some slight displeasure at losing, however these players are so busy being optimized that they have no fun during the game and a burst of joy at the end when they inevitably win.

Imagine yourself as a game developer who has spent years making a game with thousands of items and combinations and dozens of strategies only to find that players are all using the same strategy and same item set in order to guarantee a win instead of trying new paths or weapons. This is similar to using the meta, but in every aspect of the game. Perfect loadout, perfect route, perfect strategy, but even perfect gameplay.

8. Taking the Game Too Seriously

A gamer rage quits after losing.

Despite the fact that games are meant to be fun and relaxing, some players act like it is literal life and death for them. These players will do anything to win a match and will fully take it out on their teammates or their defeater when they lose. These are the players that throw a tantrum after losing and potentially have multiple fist-sized holes in their wall.

Rarely one may unironically hear “this is not a game!” while in a game, and these gamers are those who would say this. Clearly games are not meant to be taken this seriously, as it would be almost impossible to be happy with so much self-imposed pressure during every match.

9. Trash-Talking, Taunting, and Lack of Sportsmanship

A player taunts his opponent “in real life.”

These three need no introduction as they are well-known to gamers everywhere and have become quite a meme themselves. The “Golden Age” of trash-talking was in 2009-2010 with Modern Warfare 2 and introduced many children to new and fancy words, although it was all in good fun. Lack of sportsmanship, however, is never acceptable. These are the gamers that quit when they start losing, take cheap shots, committing fouls, and worst of all, never say “GG” to their opponents.

While some of these can be fun in nature with jesting, most of the time it is not. In fact, it has become so bad that some platforms have decided to ban players for participating in (severe) trash-talking and there are options to report players for lack of sportsmanship. With the rise of “emotes” in games, these have become the new way to taunt others in game.

10. Being a “Sweat”

While not a gamer, this is what “Sweats” are pictured as.

Being “sweaty” comes from the fact that people sweat when they are focused, exertive, or stressed. These describe some gamers when they are trying too hard, hence why they may be called “sweaty.” This term has come to use via battle royale games and their strictly competitive natures. 

While some gamers will describe themselves as sweaty, it is generally used as a derogatory term against other gamers after a loss. For those familiar with Fortnite, we can picture this with hindsight: a Fortnite gamer from 2017 is generally not sweaty while a 2024 Fortnite player is almost always sweaty. 

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