Gaming Cafe Etiquette: 10 Unwritten Rules Every Gamer Should Know

Gaming cafes run on shared space and good faith. Follow these unwritten rules and you'll be the regular every owner wants — and the squadmate everyone invites back.

1. 1Leave the station as you found it — wipe down, push the chair in, no leftover wrappers.
2. 2Use your own headset if you can; if not, ask for a sanitizing wipe.
3. 3Keep voice chat at a reasonable volume — you're not the only lobby in the room.
4. 4Don't hover behind someone else's match uninvited.
5. 5Respect booked slots — if your time's up and someone's waiting, wrap it up.
6. 6Ask before changing shared settings like monitor resolution or in-game configs.
7. 7Tip or thank the staff who keep the rigs running.
8. 8No food or drinks over the keyboard — spills cost the owner real money.
9. 9Report a faulty rig instead of silently switching seats.
10. 10Be a good winner and a better loser — toxicity clears a room fast.

Good etiquette is why some cafes feel like a community and others feel like a waiting room. Find one with the right crowd near you on HangOn.