With another massive heatwave heading our way, indoor gamers might assume they’re safe from the sweltering temperatures. But staying indoors doesn’t always mean staying cool—especially with screens, consoles, and PCs pumping out heat. If you’re planning to grind through the summer days from the comfort of your room, here are some essential tips to stay cool, safe, and game-ready.
1. Hydration Still Comes First — Especially During Long Sessions
Gaming for hours can make you forget to drink, especially if you’re mid-raid or pushing ranked. Keep a large water bottle nearby and take regular sips, not gulps. Avoid sugary sodas or energy drinks as your go-to — they can contribute to dehydration. If you’re sweating due to room heat, consider adding a little salt and sugar to your water to balance electrolytes.
2. Block Out Sunlight to Keep Your Gaming Space Cool
Natural sunlight through windows may boost aesthetics but can also raise room temps fast. Use blackout curtains, blinds, or even hang a dark sheet to block the sun’s rays. Open windows only at night or early morning to ventilate without heating up your gaming zone.
3. Use Fans Wisely — Or Add a DIY Cooling Hack
A desk fan helps air move, but it doesn’t actually reduce heat. Place a shallow bowl of ice in front of the fan or drape a damp cloth over it for a simple cooling trick. If you’ve got a ceiling fan, make sure it’s spinning counter-clockwise to push cooler air down.
4. Cut Down on Heat-Generating Hardware
Your PC, console, and even RGB lighting can all generate heat. Consider lowering graphics settings or FPS caps during idle or less intensive sessions. Use energy-efficient settings and turn off unnecessary devices or lights to reduce the heat load in your room.
5. Skip the Hot Snacks — Go for Cool Gaming Fuel
Hot meals or cooking indoors will only make your space hotter. Stick with cold, light snacks like fruit, yogurt, or sandwiches. Freeze grapes or cut melon for a quick, refreshing bite between matches.
6. Take Cool Showers or Use Wet Cloths on Breaks
Every couple of hours, take a short break and cool down. A quick shower or placing a damp cloth on your neck or wrists can help regulate body temperature. It also improves your focus, which might help your in-game performance, too.
7. Dress Like You’re Speedrunning Summer
Ditch the hoodie. Choose lightweight, breathable clothes — think cotton T-shirts and shorts. If you’re using a headset, consider taking breaks to let your head cool, or switch to lighter earbuds when possible.
8. Set Up a Heatwave-Ready Gaming Routine
If your setup allows, play during cooler hours — early mornings or late nights. If your space gets unbearably hot during the day, use that time to take care of updates, watch game-related content, or organize your inventory in a less intense game.
9. Check On Fellow Gamers
If you game with friends or community members who are younger, older, or dealing with health issues, check in on them during extreme heat. They might also be relying on gaming to pass the time indoors and could use a reminder to hydrate or cool off.
