In a first-person shooter, you find a dark corner. You aim at the door. You wait. An enemy walks in. You shoot. That is camping. The term is derogatory. It means staying in one spot to ambush opponents. It is a valid tactic in some games. It is frustrating in others. The camper gets the kill. The victim gets angry. The chat fills with insults.

Camping is a spectrum. A sniper holding a long lane is playing a role. A player hiding behind a crate with a shotgun is camping. The difference is intent and skill. Some games are built around holding positions. Counter-Strike has bombsite defense. Overwatch has choke points. In those games, camping is strategy. In deathmatch, it is cheap.

Related terms

• Hard camping: staying in one spot the entire match.
• Spawn camping: killing enemies as they respawn, often banned.
• Ambush: a planned attack from hiding, more respected.
• Anchoring: holding a defensive position in a team game, neutral.

Camping is a symptom of game design. If the map has too many dark corners, players will use them. If the objective requires movement, camping is less effective. The best games balance the two. The worst ones turn into a waiting game. In the end, camping is just a tactic. It is not cheating. It is not honorable. It is a choice.