Aim Assist

A category of input-assistance features in shooter games that help a player acquire or track targets, for example by enlarging the effective cursor area, bending projectile paths toward enemies, or slowing the aim reticle when it is near a target. Aim assist is widely used to accommodate players using gamepads, players with motor or visual impairments, and beginners. Research in competitive multiplayer settings shows that aim assistance alone is often insufficient to balance outcomes against skilled opponents, and that its effectiveness interacts with other factors such as map knowledge and spatial awareness. Concerns about perceived fairness, stigma, and "cheating" labels can affect whether players adopt such features.