”I just recently finished that game, it was great; anything you’ve played that you’d recommend?” ”The best part about that game is the multiplayer, do you play online a lot?” As with any stranger you start a conversation with in public, don’t harangue them; if they try to end the conversation or walk away, let them.

Try to get whomever you enjoy spending time with on voice chat; this is sometimes the only to tell who is female, as character gender may not always mirror that of the player. Note that this method may not find you women in your area; MMO games include people from all over the world. You may have to settle for a correspondence companionship in your search for a female gaming partner. It may be worth seeking out games like Second Life which have an active dating sub-community within them. Other less popular games such as Luna Online or Lucent Heart have game mechanics dedicated to people seeking partners online. [2] X Research source

Conventions may be the most opportune places to meet like-minded women, as they’ll most likely be there because of their own interest, and they’re engaged in a large, public setting which makes anybody more open to conversation: ”That costume is incredible! How long did it take you to make?” ”The wait for this booth is insane, but I’m such a big fan of [video game/comic book] that it’s definitely worth it. What’s your favorite thing about [video game/comic book]?”

For Meetup, seek out groups of people who get together to play games, or do video game-related activities. When you’re at your first Meetup, take your time to get know the women there. If there’s any one you find especially engaging, ask her on a date before the event ends. On Facebook, don’t be afraid to shoot a private message to female Facebook friends who share you interests. Hopefully there’s a game you might both play online that you can suggest; if not, try being a little forward and asking her out.

You’ll want to look for women who’ve listed video games as one of their interests or hobbies. Dating apps and sites also make the introduction a little easier; use whatever interface is at hand to let them know you’re interested. Don’t neglect their other attributes, either. Just because a woman shares your interests in video games doesn’t make her a perfect match. Be sure to be comprehensive when looking around.

If you are aware of any one woman who is interested in video games, don’t be afraid to engage them on the subject, but be sure to do it organically. One easy conversation starter is to ask how their weekend was. Hopefully they may mention video games, but you can bring up your own favorites to try and inquire into their likes and dislikes.

Dinner and a movie is a timeless date idea. Try to decide on a movie together beforehand, and be sure to see it before your meal. This way the movie is ample fodder for dinner conversation. While it may seem logical to invite her over for video games, there’s still quite a bit of getting to know one another which should come first. Try not to focus your date conversation solely on video games.

Try to lose any bravado or hyper-competitiveness when playing; if you’re both playing to win don’t lose on purpose. Losing on purpose is at best unsportsmanlike, and at worst insulting. Keep things light-hearted and fun, and remember to enjoy yourself. Though it may be difficult, do your best to relax and put down your guard in this situation–remember that this is someone you’ve sought to game with, so there’s no reason to be nervous.

If there is a game in which you’re heavily invested time-wise, like World of Warcraft or League of Legends, know that you’ll need to introduce your new romantic partner to this more “serious” world of yours. At the very least you’ll need to offer. Plenty of women will be happy to give you your “serious” time with a game that matters a lot to you, provided you allowed them every opportunity to be a part of that world.

Remember to take a back seat and allow yourself to be introduced to new games. Don’t be a pushover for the sake of agreement, however; some games you just won’t like. Be sure to extend to her the same courtesy you hope she extends to you in this situation.

More than anything, make sure this is a person who you’re happy to spend time with, regardless of being able to play video games together.

Realize that you’re not gaming with her to kill time, but you’re gaming together as a chance to bond and spend quality time with one another. Make sure the focus when gaming is on your mutual enjoyment.

Know what it is you’re hoping for out of a relationship with a fellow gamer, whether it is a girlfriend to play games with or a gamer friend who is also your romantic partner. Knowing your priorities will be key to a healthy relationship.