If you’ve ever had an interest in professional sports, you’re probably familiar with the concept of ‘the zone’. Getting ‘in the zone’ denotes a state of complete concentration that allows athletes to perform to the best of their abilities, ignoring any external distractions and achieving total focus on the sport or task at hand. With the rise of competitive gaming and esports, gamers have increasingly sought to achieve a similar state of mind.
We’re thinking about the kinds of games that demand the player to have high levels of focus that are typically the most competitive – games that require instant twitch reactions and fine- tuned reflexes. For these sorts of games, uninterrupted attention is required to rise up the ranks. Even the most seasoned gamers recognise that logging on to ranked servers without the right mindset can be a one-way trip to losing.
We’ve put together this list of games that require the most concentration, ranging from intense competitive sports titles to seemingly straight-forward racing games and even the most blissed-out puzzler around. Even the simplest of games still require full concentration if you’re planning on nailing a high score or beating your friends.
If your favourite game is on this list, it might be worth thinking about ways you can shut out distractions and get totally immersed in your game sessions.

FIFA 22
The world’s most popular sports game is a great example of a game that requires the utmost concentration from its players. FIFA demands that players be thinking several steps ahead of their opponent in online matches. To get the upper hand on online opponents, players must think carefully about positioning, formation, and timing to increase the goal deficit.
When on the backfoot, should you double down on defence or go for the counter-attack? When you nab that all-important free kick, do you go for the strike or pass to a winger? These are the types of decisions that you must be able to make without hesitation.
Rocket League
A different kind of soccer experience, Rocket League requires just as much concentration to reach the upper echelons of competitive play. The fast-paced, chaotic, and unpredictable nature of this game means that energy levels must be maintained – one slip of concentration and you could be staring down a cricket score by the end of the match.
Tetris Effect
Puzzle games are renowned for their intensity, and nothing is more intense than Tetris Effect. Even with its chilled-out visuals and focus on musical masterpieces, you still need to have your eye on the ball if you don’t want your stack to creep to the top of your screen before you have a chance to do anything about it. Getting into a flow state with Tetris Effect is an experience like nothing else, but you’ll need to keep your energy levels up to get there.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
It may look cute and simple, but Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one tough cookie, especially when you ramp it up to 200cc mode on Rainbow Road. Slipping on a banana that you didn’t clock until the last second is one of the most heart-breaking moments you can experience in a game, so you need to keep your eyes open and stay attentive of everything going on around the track if you want to finish first.
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