Many of us love to spend an evening playing video games. And for some, it falls in the “guilty pleasure” category. You could be doing something useful, but instead, you spend hours playing. Sounds familiar? Well, what’s wrong with this perspective is that it entirely disregards the good that video games do to us.
Immersive Escapism
Escapism can be super helpful. The thing is that everyday stressors can be so overwhelming that it’s sometimes difficult for us to switch focus from them. And video games are just perfect for this. They let you immerse yourself in different worlds and stories. For a while, you are no longer yourself. You are a different person (creature?) living a totally different life. That can be incredibly therapeutic!
For many of us, playing games is usually accompanied by affording some little treats we especially love. Some combine their gaming sessions with delta-9 edibles to achieve deeper relaxation and feel the immersion more fully. Others prepare their favorite comfy food, which they commonly avoid. In other words, when we escape reality, we let ourselves be a bit different, a bit closer to what we’d want to be.
Game recommendations:
- “Skyrim”
- “Life is Strange”
- “The Last of Us”
- “Detroit: Become Human” and other games by Quantic Dream
- “Ghost of a Tale.”
Social Interaction
You’ve probably heard of this stereotype that gamers are isolated. And you probably know yourself how far it is from the truth.
Many video games offer social interaction opportunities. Even those that aren’t multiplayer by nature encourage connecting with friends. We invite our friends to play together, to play in turns, or to watch us play. It’s one of the most bonding experiences of all.
Game recommendations:
- “Overcooked”
- “Timeflow”
- “Overwatch”
- “Phasmophobia.”
If you don’t have a company to share your gaming experience with, consider communities on platforms like Discord or Reddit. You are likely to find like-minded individuals there.
Cognitive Benefits
You won’t probably argue that some games are incredibly challenging. You may be required to apply all your cognitive abilities, including
- strategic thinking
- problem-solving
- memory
- attention
- calculations, and more.
It may seem that cognitive challenges have little to do with relaxation. But the thing is that our brain is actually happy to get new forms of stimulation. When you give it unusual tasks, and it completes them, it is super content and fills you with a sense of achievement.
Game recommendations:
- “Portal”
- “Undertale”
- “Syberia” collection
- “Creaks”
Stress Reduction
You may have heard of those studies that say that playing video games reduces stress levels. That’s because when playing, we release dopamine that improves mood. Of course, that is not relevant to all games, but the choice is still immense.
Game recommendations:
- “Stardew Valley”
- “Potion Craft”
- “Stillness of the Wind”
- “Spiritfarer.”
Sense of Achievement
This aspect is largely interrelated to that of cognitive stimulation. The idea is the same: games challenge some of your skills, and when you succeed, you are totally happy.
The challenges don’t necessarily have to do with mental puzzles. Some challenges test your reaction and reflexes. One way or another, when you complete quests, level up, and achieve goals, you get your portion of mere joy. The latter is especially helpful when you’re feeling down or unproductive in other areas of your life.
This benefit is not short-term, by the way. When you get a self-esteem boost, you can develop a more positive outlook. That is, you will be less stressed and more optimistic about your everyday tasks.
Game recommendations:
- “Minecraft”
- “Elden Ring”
- “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice”
- “Spider-Man 2”
- “Raft.”
As you see, playing video games is, in fact, an incredibly enriching pastime. If you’ve ever felt guilty about spending hours gaming, you hopefully won’t feel that way anymore. It’s a whole different world that has so much to offer.