A reclusive classmate, hiding his apathetic face under a hoodie, suddenly becomes an internet sensation after winning an online Dota 2 tournament.
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Live on stream, he lifts the trophy as confetti rains down, cheers erupt, and the crowd roars. But who’s beside him? His team? Could it be that he knows how to communicate with people?
I exaggerate when I speak so bluntly about the inability of reclusive people to communicate.
I aim to draw your attention to the fact that anyone can find friends, and it’s not necessary to win The International with them to make it happen.
Just Start Playing
Rich guide on how to find friends with similar interests in online games.
Rich guide on how to find friends with similar interests in online games.
It’s as simple as that – if you already play games, you’re halfway there. While single-player games with rich stories and detailed worlds are fantastic, they won’t help you build lasting friendships solely through discussing characters and storylines.
Focus on games that provide opportunities for socializing through voice chat and teamwork.
Having good skills is important and makes you a valuable teammate. It grants you authority and status, which you’ll need to maintain.
Being skilled can make you a sought-after player, helping you bond with others who value your contributions.
Tolerance is just as vital as skill, even if it’s often overlooked in favor of exceptional gameplay.
For example, a team might tolerate a toxic player if they’re the MVP in every match. While paradoxical and sometimes funny, they might get kicked after 2 out of 10 games despite carrying the team.
Levels of tolerance often match or complement each other—people prone to emotional outbursts might find camaraderie or followers among those who don’t overreact to such behavior.
By combining social games, improving your skills, and fostering mutual respect, you’ll have a solid foundation for building a friendly Dota 2 roster in your gaming, which would be a starting point for real friendship.
Check IRL Friends
Consider bringing friends from real life into your gaming world. Perhaps there are already comfortable or interesting people in your life who play or are willing to give it a try.
These could be colleagues from work, classmates, or members of a sports club. You never know who among them might also enjoy discussing Dota 2 latest news or updates.
It’s an effective way to strengthen existing friendships or simply have some fun together.
If you’re skilled and adventurous enough, attending local esports tournaments can be a great option. Shared experiences and the adrenaline rush of competition can quickly bring you closer to new acquaintances.
Filter Your Teammates
Add those with whom you’d like to play again. If someone is pleasant to be around, and you get along without insults or one-sidedness, it’s worth testing this tandem in a few more games.
Analyze how useful they are as an ally. If they’re fun to joke around with but don’t play well or often goof off, that’s fine too – such online friends are great for laughs in Discord or less competitive games.
If you’re both on a similar skill level and feel comfortable talking, that’s already enough. Over 5 – 10 matches, you can gather plenty of information about their level of reliability and attitude.
If a teammate unfairly blames you for a mistake, try responding calmly and explaining that you disagree.
Suggest focusing on playing with clear communication instead. If toxic comments persist, mute their mic, and don’t waste your energy engaging further.
People often get along when they’re comfortable teasing each other or when there’s a leader who, while emotional, provides constructive feedback that improves gameplay.
Alternatively, you might both prefer staying quiet and simply exchanging essential information feeling okay to play like that together.
Try to do something together
By filtering teammates, you’ll create a list of friends with whom, at the very least, it’s comfortable to play matches together.
Of course, you can discuss topics like the Dota 2 roster shuffle, individual players, or their in-game highlights. However, to get closer to true friendship, you should find common ground outside of Dota or your chosen game.
We’re taking a completely different approach here. Earlier in the article, I described a hypothetical tournament winner who found meaningful connections within their team through the game.
But now, let’s shift gears and forget about the grand tournaments so often detailed in Dota 2 news down to the tiniest specifics. Instead, let’s take a closer look at real life.
Sure, sitting at your computer is easier – you don’t have to move, sweat, or face real people eye-to-eye. But if these are your reliable teammates, the ones you play with every evening, why not take the leap and give it a try?
The range of IRL activities is vast – from going to a café to playing paintball, from karting to joining a film club.
Perhaps you’ve been curious about yoga but didn’t know who to try it with, or maybe your online friend has been hitting the gym for a while and could unofficially coach you, making it easier for you to start engaging in physical activities.
Ah, the damp and dynamic world outside the door, brrr… But of course, there’s no need to dive into it headfirst! I’m not here to convince you to leave the matrix of video games, funny videos, forums, and all that.
I’m simply suggesting that if you haven’t had success finding friends IRL for activities, perhaps your online friends could help bridge that gap.
The eternal challenge is distance. An online friend from another city or country isn’t someone you can pop into a bookstore with or share a cup of tea during the week.
However, this could be a perfect excuse for traveling! Just don’t expect a warm reception solely because you took down the throne together. They’ll be a pleasant bonus and a fun character in your travel quest. But remember, the journey itself is your responsibility!
Video games are fun – a way to shift focus from work to play and unwind.
We escape reality into our comforting worlds, finding ways to dominate, achieve, and succeed. Yet, even in these imperfectly perfect worlds, there’s loneliness – a need to share emotions and experiences, to speak out, and to hear praise.
Today, the concept of remote friendship is built on shared virtual experiences.
There are countless ways to spend time online with an internet friend: watching a movie together, discussing life, or playing CS or Dota. Pulling these friends into the real world isn’t mandatory, but it could lead to a true adventure.
Julianne, with a bachelor’s in communication and journalism.
As a communications liaison and editor at Hiddennumerology. With an interest in crystal energy healing, mental health, and psychology, she brings a holistic approach to her work, fostering strong partnerships and delivering high-quality content.
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