Admittedly, Escape from Tarkov is not the most beginner-friendly shooter. Even Twitch streamer TimTheTatman had to find that out when he dared to try the game again after years.
What kind of streamer is he? TimTheTatman is an old shooter veteran who gained fame in 2017 during the hot phase of Fortnite around Ninja. By now, he has made a name for himself and even made his old buddy look really old in the release hype of Marvel Rivals 2025.
So TimTheTatman actually has pretty good prerequisites for Escape from Tarkov, but he has never really been caught by the shooter. However, his friend streamer Hutch convinced him to take another look – after all, so much has changed with the launch of 1.0.
Streamer complains for half an hour through the tutorial
This is how it went for the streamer: About as expected by everyone – including TimTheTatman himself. The streamer had previously explained that he was simply “too dumb” to play Tarkov. The inventory system was the most stressful thing he has ever tried to understand in his entire life.
Realism for hardcore shooter enthusiasts is nice and good – but he himself needs hitmarkers to understand that he has hit an opponent.
After mastering the first challenges (finding a free username and getting coached by a friend through the settings), TimTheTatman was ready to start the tutorial. With the help of his chat, the streamer managed to pick up a weapon and magazines from the ground and even find a note.
Then came the first firefight and also the first crisis when the streamer first had to patch up his arm with a CMS kit, and then heal himself with the AFAK. He managed this difficult situation with only a minor rant and some support from the chat.
By now, TimTheTatman had wasted so much time that he had to hurry to make it to the exit. As the timer mercilessly ticks down to 0, his chat urges the streamer to just leave everything behind and extract.
With only a few minutes left, he finally rushes towards the objective – and right into the waiting enemies. Miraculously, he survived and managed to drag his character to the Extraction Point with his last strength.
After nearly 25 minutes, the tutorial was completed. Conclusion: He felt like he had been at the car registration office and the dentist in one day and also had to do community service. At this point, TimTheTatman was pretty much at the end of his ropes – but the planned gaming session with his buddies was just starting.
In the following hours, the streamer fluctuates between sheer panic and absolute triumph. For example, when he actually manages to take out another player. Whether Tarkov really hooked him after this experience remains to be seen.
For the viewers, it was an entertaining experience, even if some Tarkov veterans might have desperately pulled their hair out. You can watch the entire chaos on YouTube.
Are you into the hardcore realism in Tarkov? Or do you empathize a bit with TimTheTatman and wish for hitmarkers? Discuss in the comments!
For those who, unlike TimTheTatman, truly enjoy the realistic and merciless shooting, there will be joyful anticipation with the upcoming titles from the Tarkov creators: BSG has just announced 3 new games related to Escape from Tarkov: One is coming in 2026, free and for the weapon fanatics among you
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