Every game has mechanics, objectives and settings, but what truly shapes the experience is something greater: the unwritten community rules. These are the guidelines every seasoned gamer knows instinctively, yet nobody ever teaches. They are the key to keeping lobbies fun, teammates sane and friendships intact.
Here is your light hearted guide to the unspoken etiquette of gaming.
Mute your mic when eating crisps
This is rule number one for a reason. Nothing is more frustrating than the thunderous crunch of someone enjoying a family-sized bag of crisps directly into their microphone. If you are snacking, kindly hit that mute button. Your friends will thank you.
If you cannot play the role, do not instalock it in ranked.
Everyone loves picking the flashy roles, but nothing sinks a lobby faster than someone locking in a specialist position they clearly cannot handle. If you cannot support, do not do it. If you cannot tank, step away from the tank.
Unless it is not a ranked game, of course. Please DO play and have fun with roles you otherwise stay away from and pick them in casual matches, it will be great to learn more about the game and understand your teammates better.
Do not rage ping
One ping is communication. Ten pings is a cry for help. Thirty pings is a meltdown. Ping responsibly; if you don’t, you will tilt your team and make things worse.
Keep the blame game to a minimum
We all get tilted, but blaming teammates never improves the match. Unless someone is genuinely trolling, keep it calm and keep it moving. Focus on your own gameplay first.
Someone once told me: respond in a way that will benefit you the most, not what will make you feel best in the moment.
Respect the warm-up round
The first round is not the time to judge anyone. Nobody is warmed up, half the team is still adjusting their audio and someone is definitely alt tabbing. Let people wake up a bit.
Say gg, even when it hurts
A simple gg goes a long way. It shows sportsmanship, maturity and that you can hold an L with grace. Bonus points if you resist the urge to add “easy” afterwards.
Do not loot everything in team games
If you snatch every item the moment it drops, your teammates will notice. Share the spoils. Nobody likes the squad member who steals all the good gear and then dies first.
Give new players space
Everyone starts somewhere. If someone is learning, guide them instead of verbally destroying their confidence. Today they are a noob. Tomorrow, they might carry you.
Ready up when the squad says ready
Do not make the entire lobby wait while you adjust your loadout for ten minutes. Sort your gear before you queue. Respect the ready button.
Keep background chaos to a minimum
Dogs barking, siblings shouting, a vacuum cleaner starting in the next room. Life happens, but if your mic sounds like a live sitcom recording, it might be time to toggle push to talk.
Do not abandon mid match just because
Unless your house is on fire, your internet has decided to retire, or your mom needs you somewhere, stick it out. Leaving early without a proper reason wastes everyone’s time and ruins the fun.
Be the teammate you would want to play with
Encourage, communicate and try your best. Even in casual matches, kindness makes games better. Check our blog on The Psychology of Tilt for an in depth guide.
And last but best: T bagging
Crouching has become a universal gaming language. One quick crouch can mean “friendly”, a few bounces can mean “follow me”, and a confident spam crouch usually translates to “I am celebrating this moment far too much”. It is a strange, silent form of communication that every gamer instantly understands, even across different titles.
A well-timed t bag can be playful, cheeky and part of the fun, especially among friends or during light-hearted matches. But it works best when the intention is clear and harmless. Use it to joke around, not to tilt someone into oblivion. When kept friendly and fun, it remains one of gaming’s most iconic, silly traditions of all time.
Seeing the bigger picture
The unwritten rules of gaming etiquette exist to keep the chaos fun rather than frustrating. Follow them, and you will make every lobby a better place, whether you are sweating out a ranked match or relaxing in a casual game.
We’d love to hear what rules you’d add to the list!
