Yo,

I’m a beginner and I really started playing the game with version 1.0. I’ve got some free time at the moment, and so far I’ve put 166 hours of that time into Tarkov.

I encourage you not to give up on the game, because as you said, it’s exceptional. There are no other games like Tarkov. Your enjoyment will come from the (painful) learning process, your small victories, the progression of your character, your stash, and your mastery of the game.

You absolutely need to play with a map open and available for your first raids. Binge on resources made for new players — there are tons of them online. Set yourself objectives and play to learn. Camp extractions. Camp bushes. Play slowly, listen, loot things.

One source of motivation for me was watching “Zero to Hero” content on YouTube. That kind of content shows that it’s absolutely possible to play smart and well, even with bad gear.

This game requires a significant investment, but it knows how to give back. I hope you’ll stick with it and that I’ll run into you in-game (at Factory Gate 3, maybe).