Getting older is a fact of life, but sometimes it can be frustrating, particularly in the fast-paced world of gaming.

You don’t have to be very old these days to feel ancient when playing modern shoot-em-ups, with the faster reflexes of teenage players making those over 30 feel slow by comparison.

Help is at hand, though. Sometimes it’s better to use your head than your fingers, which is why we’ve put together these six smart shooting tips that will give your game-playing a new lease of life.

Always use your mini-map

Mini maps are an overlooked, but an extremely useful, accessory. They offer an overview of the action, with little dots or arrows to denote your teammates’ location.

There are a few vital signs to look out for – Looking at where your colleagues are, you can deduce where your enemies are, too. If your mates are clustered together and pointing in the same direction, you’ll know that they’re in combat with the enemy, giving you the chance to sneak behind and attack from the other side.

If, on the other hand, your team is spread out and looking in different directions, then they’re likely not fighting, so you need to watch out for other areas which are likely closer to you.

Often games come with inbuilt map signals, such as a compass that tells you which direction fire is coming from.

Using these techniques repeatedly, particularly on games with amazing maps, will help give you a sixth sense of where danger is, which may make up for a lack of speed.

Take a break at the edge of the map

Resting is a good idea, whichever type of online game you play, whether it’s a rapid shoot-em-up or one of the many free casino games for UK players that seem to be everywhere these days. We do need to take care of our eyes, after all.

It’s also possible to take a breather during the game, too, while the mayhem takes place elsewhere. Just head to the edges of the map while the others duke it out in the center, typically the busiest area of any battle scene.

This way, you not only improve your odds of surviving, but you also get to survey the battle scene before making a well-timed move.

Resist the urge to always sprint

In games, as in life, kids tend to dash everywhere without really thinking about things.

While the temptation is to sprint straight back into action after respawning, this often just means you run back into danger and another quick death.

Best to start off slow, take in your surroundings. Walk to a safe spot to assess the situation, then make your move.

Players who do this tend to survive longer than those who dive straight back into action.

Make sure you have the right playing equipment

When we leave our 20s, we tend to stop playing with small monitors and splash out on our first flatscreen LED TVs. This is all well and good, but did you know that playing video games on them often does more harm than good to your gameplaying abilities?

The very best gamers around favor smaller monitors of around 70cm (27-inch) that let them keep an eye on everything at the same time. These screens often allow quicker response times, too.

Oh, and make sure you get a good headset with spatial audio: that way, you’ll pick up on crucial noises that could get you out of trouble.

Optimize your settings

Game settings can be a bore, but just a few tweaks here and there can make all the difference.

Go to the settings menu and look for features like aim assist, audio levels, and motion sensitivity. Adjust them until you find the levels that suit you.

If you find this a tad confusing, then there are a bunch of YouTube tutorials from gaming influencers which guide you through this process. Often, just a little adjustment can make all the difference.

Customize your weapons

Your weapon preferences, or loadouts in today’s gaming slang, are crucial when it comes to gaining the upper hand in shoot-outs.

The best modern players vary their loadout according to the game or map they’re playing, so it can get complex. But we can go through a few examples to try and shed some light on it.

For smaller maps that are likely to generate close encounters, submachine guns are great quick options for a sudden clash. In longer distance games, a sniper or assault rifle can get you the best returns.

When it comes to customization, always look to improve accuracy over fire rate. Elements that reduce recoil and extend range are the way to go.

Finally, don’t forget to take in the strengths of your character, if your game has them. Having a hot-headed warrior control a sniper rifle perhaps isn’t a great idea.

So, there you have it, six top shoot-em-up tips that will get you up and running among the kids. Proof that age isn’t always a disadvantage!