One of the greatest things about being truly, magically, wonderfully high is sinking deep into things like conversation, movies and gaming.
Whether you’re into games of strategy, shoot ‘em ups, sports, or old-school Donkey Kong, a little bit of weed goes a long way. But what are the best strains for gaming? Does cannabis help with focus and concentration? What makes the perfect strain for games?
Let’s find out…
Playing video games requires attention and focus. You want complete immersion, a bell-jar over your brain, as few distracting thoughts as possible.
Shut down all non-essential systems and dedicate your mental servers to the task at hand.
The obvious choice is a stimulating, cerebral sativa, but many gamers find these almost too good, a little too twitchy, mentally-speaking.
It depends on the toker.
Our top five gaming strains consist of three sativas and two indica cultivars.
If you find the indicas too muggy, try a sativa.
If you find the sativas too keyed-up, try an indica.
Discovering your best strain for gaming is more about the journey than the destination—but it’s a truly enjoyable ride.
Genetics: Strawberry Fields x Pure Haze.
Type: Sativa.
THC: 25%.
Effects: Calming, focused, uplifted.
Are you surprised to see the Cough? Thought not.
If there was ever a cannabis strain PERFECT for gaming, it’s Strawberry Cough. Few cultivars boast the same levels of clarity, the same lucidity of thought, the same higher state of consciousness as the Cough.
It’s a pair of VR goggles for the brain.
Strawberry Cough is perfect for intellectually challenging games like Portal, helping you see complex problems from multiple angles at once.
It delivers a quick sharpness with a composed unflappability, creating the perfect game-playing persona. Creating the best YOU.
In professional gaming circles, they say it’s so good, it’s almost cheating. And if they don’t, they should. 😃
Kyle Kushman says: “Great flavours, great aromas, great high. Just ask Michael Caine!”
Type: Sativa.
THC: 20%
Effects: Creative, energetic, focused.
The Dream Queen is a reboot of the classic, Green Crack.
Steve’s version is a genuinely easy-to-grow phenotype, with all the hard-hitting, mind-warping goodness of the original Crack.
Now listen, this is an intense high, really cerebral, taking absolutely no newbie prisoners. You might find it a bit extreme for chilled-out games like Journey or No Man’s Sky, but a few tokes before Call of Duty: Warzone could easily turn you into a superhuman killing machine.
Steve DeAngelo says: “She’s the right choice for a serious, focused session, but maybe not the best for a quick dog walk before rejoining the family.”
A strong sativa can add mental energy and sharpness of thought, but, like too much caffeine, this can be counterproductive. Sometimes, you need a strain that can slow time down, that can dilate, that can stretch rapid events into a super-calm slow-mo.
One of those strains is Hindu Kush.
This heirloom Kush delivers a full-bodied, expansive high with a profoundly peaceful euphoria. Growing Hindu Kush is equally relaxing, and playing games after a few bowls delivers nothing but cool serenity.
Remember Neo languidly battling 100s of Agent Smiths? He probably just ripped a full bong of Hindu Kush.
Try it with racing games like DIRT 5 or Forza Horizon 4, but keep plenty of snacks to hand… Hindu Kush makes you HUNGRY.
Genetics: Heirloom cultivar.
Type: Indica.
THC: 18%.
Effects: Euphoric, happy, relaxed.
Kyle Kushman says: “It has a subtle sandalwood aroma with a sweet undersmell, delivering a positive, mellow stone when blazed. It’s potent, though, so take it steady.”
Don’t be fooled by the name, this cultivar is alert and expansive, delivering a focused, immersive gaming experience like no other.
It’s great at keeping you calm under pressure, ideal for complex strategy games with that added bit of urgency. World-building games like Sid Meier, Civilization and Age of Empires, or old-school offerings like the classic, Sim City 4—arguably the best world-building game of all time!
If you’re going to try this Haze, try it gently.
It has a booming, relentless high that can knock newbies for six. You’ll either win at everything, or not care. Either way, you’ll be grinning yourself to sleep when it’s over.
Genetics: Amnesia x Pure Haze.
Type: Sativa-dominant.
THC: 22%.
Effects: Creative, energetic, relaxed.
Kyle Kushman says: “Slight hints of ammonia cut through the fug of woody dank.”
Our final choice is the choice of pure champions.
What’s not to love about White Rhino? It’s potent AF, it delivers stupidly big yields (in the region of 2.5 pounds per plant), and it’s been helping gamers improve their skills since the ‘96 Cannabis Cup victory.
The Rhino delivers a strong, unrelenting, powerful high, a high that could pull an airplane with its teeth.
You’ll be so deep in the zone, the world beyond will seem distant and silent, until woken by the whooping and hollering as you smash another high score.
If you’re enjoying a multiplayer game, you must insist on sharing your Rhino, for fairness.
You don’t want to be accused of cheating!
White Rhino is an amazing supplement to classics like Goldeneye and modern multiplayer shoot ‘em ups like Valorant and Fortnite. We’re not saying it can help you see the future… but it might make you think you can. 😉
Genetics: White Widow x Pure Indica
Type: Indica
THC: 20%
Effects: Euphoric, relaxed, uplifted.
Kyle Kushman says: “Explodes into your grow-space like a tank through a wall.”
Growing and gaming are hobbies with more in common than you think.
You need practice and dedication to succeed and you need to love showing off the fruits of your labor.
Oh, and both are great things to enjoy with a bowl.
While there are hundreds of great games, one of the best things about growing is the number of different strains you can buy.
You can grow strains for any and all occasions—especially gaming.
With sites like the Homegrown Cannabis Co listing nearly 500 cultivars, with at least 20 of them on BOGO, you’re limited only by your imagination.
Enjoy the game, enjoy the grow.
