Maybe you already spend hours gaming every week. That’s time you could use to get better at English – without touching a single textbook.
I remember a student who jumped from B1 to C1 in six months. His secret? He played every RPG in English, with full voice acting and no subtitles at first. When he got stuck, he rewound and turned on subtitles. That simple loop – hear, read, repeat – built his vocabulary faster than any class.
Let’s break down how you can do the same.
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Why Games Work for Listening and Reading
Games drop you into a story where understanding the language isn’t a test – it’s the only way to progress. You want to know what the NPC says about the hidden treasure. You need to read the quest log to find the next objective.
This turns every dialogue line into a high‑stakes listening exercise. And every item description becomes an unskippable reading task.
Listening: More Than Just Audio
In a game, you hear the same phrases over and over.
- Repeated dialogue – town vendors say the same lines. After hearing “Need something?” twenty times, you will remember the word “need”.
- Cutscenes – Full sentences, spoken at natural speed. Pause and replay if you miss something.
- Multiplayer voice chat – Real, messy speech. You hear accents, interruptions, slang. Perfect for training your ear.
Tip: Start with subtitles on. Once you feel confident, turn them off for five minutes. Then turn them back on and check what you misheard.
Reading: Built‑into Every Click
Games force you to read for information, not for practice.
- Quest text tells you where to go and what to do. Skip it, and you’re lost.
- Item descriptions explain how a potion works or why a sword is special.
- Lore books – optional, but full of complex sentences. Great for advanced learners.
If you are a beginner, pick a game with simple, short sentences (like Stardew Valley). If you are intermediate or above, try something dialogue‑heavy like The Witcher 3 or Disco Elysium.
Choosing the Right Game
Not all games help equally. Here’s a quick guide:
| Game Style | Best For | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| RPG (e.g., Skyrim) | Both listening & reading | Set language to English. Read every note. |
| Adventure (Life is Strange) | Natural conversations | Rewatch cutscenes. |
| Simulation (Animal Crossing) | Everyday vocabulary | Read item names, talk to villagers. |
| Multiplayer (Among Us) | Fast spoken English | Try voice chat. |
Your Learning Flow
Here’s how one session can look:
Choose a game with English audio.
Focus on dialogue. Guess meaning from context.
Turn on subtitles. Connect sounds to words.
Catch new phrases. Write 2–3 words down later.
Play without subtitles next time.
No need to take notes during the game. That kills the fun. Just play, and after the session write down 5 new words. You’ll remember them because you saw them in action.
A Few Pitfalls to Avoid
- Don’t pause every sentence. That turns the game into a tedious lesson. Let the story flow.
- Don’t stick to one game. Switch genres. You need variety – a shooter uses different vocabulary than a farming sim.
- Don’t rely only on subtitles. You’ll train your eyes, not your ears. Once you understand 70% of the spoken lines, drop the subtitles.
Ready to Test Your Progress?
All that listening and reading should show results. Want to measure where you stand?
At English Measure, you can test your level for free in reading and listening (also writing and speaking). It takes about 20 minutes. Then you’ll know if those gaming sessions are working – or where you need to focus next.
Give it a try: Check your English level now →