Backseat gaming: What’s behind the term?

The term backseat gaming comes from English and means “playing from the back seat”. The term was derived from the “backseat drivers”.

Backseat-Gaming

The term “backseat” is increasingly used in combination with various activities. For example, backseat gaming or backseat survival. The term is derived from the “backseat drivers”. So the passengers in the car who don’t understand what it’s like to sit behind the wheel.

• Use: Backseat gaming refers to interference in gameplay by non-players. For example, comments or the unsolicited sharing of opinions about the player, the gameplay or the game itself.

• Passive backseat gamer: This variant of backseat gaming is harmless. This refers to people who watch the game and make their disapproval of the style of play known in an unobtrusive way. This backseat gamer can only be found when gambling among friends. He usually doesn’t stand out in the livestream.

• Informative backseat gamer: Often these “gamers” just want to share their knowledge about a game. However, it is often information that does not fit the current gameplay. Like anecdotes related to the development of the game. Sometimes it is also about sales figures or setting variations in the game. The constant chatter can be distracting and annoying.

• The know-it-all: This variation of the backseat gamer often occurs in livestreams. The viewer has played the game himself and is of the opinion that he knows everything better. There may be the rare case that his opinion helps to solve the problem. However, in most cases he just wants to show that he is much better. One of the biggest problems this backseat gamer has is spoilers.

• Troll: This backseat gamer pretends to want to help, yet his solutions are inaccurate. He deliberately gives false information to make fun of the gamer.