General Airsoft

Airsoft can be viewed as the umbrella of the sport and under Airsoft will be other styles. Some of more popular styles are Mil-sim (military simulation) and speedsoft. Airsoft is supposed to be fun, interactive, and easy to learn for new players. Airsoft can have a lot of different objectives found in video games like team deathmatch and capture the flag. If you’re new to airsoft and want to get a feel of the gameplay style, it’s best to start at your local arena or field. A good rule of thumb is always checking with the field’s schedule. Every arena/field has a different schedule and can sometimes be a specialty night such as adults’ nights, kids only or a specific gun game mode like pistols only. Most of the arena/field games can last from 10 to 20 minutes depending on the capacity. A short break will be given within games to give players a chance to re-load and hydrate. This is a great way to get a feel for different games as each session will have a new game.

Mil-sim

Military simulation games are not for the faint of heart. Mil-sim games range from a few hours to 40 hours long. They’re great for players who were veterans of the armed forces and looking for a way to cope with their post-traumatic stress disorder or just find the comradery they had when they served. Mil-sim games can be appealing to players who are interested in joining the military. Other players might see it as a physical challenge and want to see if they can endure a long game. For whatever reason mil-sim appeals to you, it will be fun. Mil-sim games are structured with clear objectives and tactical operation orders. The structure game style is very similar to modern video games like Call of Duty or Battlefield. Players will be assigned to squads and they can choose the class type they wish to play as. Before committing to a specific mil-sim game, read their operation order to find out exactly what you will be doing. Some games may require a mandatory packing list which might increase your overall costs for playing in the game. You may want to search videos online for a previous event from the mil-sim organizer to find out whether it’s for you or not.

Speedsoft

Speedsoft has emerged as a popular favorite gameplay style in the last couple years. Its origins come from paintball for its fast-paced tournament-style shooting. Speedsoft took elements from competitive paintball and tailored it for airsoft. Ideally, most speedsoft games can be found at an indoor facility. Players who are looking for a fast-paced and short game might be interested in speedsoft. Some arenas will host speedsoft tournaments where they will have a team tournament. A 5-man team will go against another 5-man team in an elimination game type tournament. Due to the fast-paced game, most players who play speedsoft will wear full face protection. A paintball mask is typically what is worn by players to maximize protection while playing. Additional protective gear can be worn to minimize the impact of being hit multiple times. To be more competitive in speedsoft, players often tuned and modified their AEG. As a beginner, you might start at a disadvantage going against other players who have been playing for a few months already. It might make you feel that speedsoft isn’t for you. Wait a few months to make modifications to your gun and then try speedsoft again to see if it’s for you.

Choose What’s Fun!

At the end of the day, finding the perfect style of playing is all on you. Having teammates, the location you play, and a positive attitude will all factor in on what you like the most. You can try each of the styles and see which fits you better. No matter which you choose, remember that Airsoft is a sport of honor. Call your hits and have fun!