You definitely need the certs even with a degree, so work on A+, Network+, Security+. When I started out, IT tech was touted as a career path where you don’t need a degree if you have the right certs. I honestly don’t know if this is still true.

I know about Windows Server Management (worked a shit ton with VMs in classes) daily drive Linux, do some real amateur game development on the side on my own so I know how to code, not great but I have experience there. Any advice on how to give myself a better shot?

All of these are home projects related to software. This might be your actual passion, but as far as getting your foot into the door in IT, you need to be decent in hardware as well. At bare minimum, you should have home projects that demonstrate some familiarity with hardware as well as software. Some ideas:

• I set up my own security camera system.
• I hooked up my home with various smart devices that I’m also managing with my own server. (See here: https://hexbear.net/post/4377896)
• I fix and build computers for my family and friends.
• I build my own home server from salvaged parts that is running various docker containers that I can show you the interviewers with my phone.
• I know how to take apart a monitor and put it back together. Random video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6cgQZ8zT4o
• I took apart my old smartphone as a fun challenge.

I guess the point is that you have to show that you’re not just some nerd but someone who is also handy. I don’t know how good you are with hardware, but if you absolutely suck, you can always just buy used shit on eBay and try to disassemble it as practice using Youtube videos as a guide. Let your family and friends know that they can dump their old and broken shit on your footsteps. If you can’t reassemble it, who cares, it’s already broken junk anyways. This allows you to make mistakes without them being too costly. Better to ticker with your parent’s old 15 year old laptop than the laptop that you’re currently using to apply for jobs.