10 Reasons Why Video Games are Good for You

Whether it’s a fast-paced shooter or a cerebral strategy game, we’re always up for a good time with a mouse or controller in our hands.

With the constant stream of new titles being released and the ever-improving capabilities of gaming consoles and PCs, there is a new game waiting for you to test every day.

Luckily for you, there are numerous beneficial reasons to keep playing video games. Not that we need any, but just in case you need to convince someone, right?

If somebody tells you you spend too much time playing video games, point them to this list of ten reasons why video games are good for you.

They Improve Your Decision-Making Skills

In daily life, it helps to make little decisions quickly so that you may go on to the next task. You can get real work done instead of wasting time deciding which shirt to wear.

Like in first-person shooter games, you need to make snap judgments to survive and keep your character alive when you’re in a potentially life-threatening situation.

Games like Apex Legends and Call of Duty test your reflexes and critical thinking skills.

Playing these exciting action games can do more than just rev you up: they can also help you make better choices in the real world.

They Also Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills

Solving problems in a simulated environment is excellent preparation for real-world challenges.

Whether completing a puzzle or finding the quickest way out, problem-solving is present in nearly every type of video game. Video game challenges typically aren’t too well spelled out, leaving you to learn through trial and error.

As you try and fail at solving a task in a video game the first time, you’re learning valuable lessons when it comes to dealing with real-life challenges.

They’re an Excellent Stress Reliever

Playing a video game is the best way to decompress and chill out. Even small, quick games can significantly affect someone’s happiness level.

Intense and cognitively-taxing video games can also serve as therapy. When immersed in a video game, you can forget your real-world responsibilities for a while.

This makes playing video games an excellent method to relax and take your mind off the stresses of real life.

They Help Improve Contrast Sensitivity

First-person shooter games like Call of Duty and Far Cry can improve your contrast sensitivity function.

This is crucial for activities like driving as it helps you pick out minute variations in grayscale against a consistent background color.

They Slow Down Aging

Science has found that those aged 50 and up who play video games have a more positive or stable mental state.

Modern video games are challenging and require a lot of brain power. Generally speaking, they’re good for you because they improve your mental activity.

They Can Develop Your Social Skills

While prolonged exposure to video games has been linked to a decline in social skills and an increase in anxiety, research suggests that playing video games in moderation has the opposite effect.

Taking on a fictitious identity in a digital world gives gamers the freedom to practice appropriate social behavior through trial and error.

Those who have trouble interacting with others in real life may find it easier to practice these skills in a virtual environment like a video game.

As a result, they will feel more at ease when dealing with people in the real world.

They Improve Hand-Eye Coordination

People playing video games have greater hand-eye coordination than others who don’t.

There’s no guarantee that non-gamers can’t outperform gamers in a given situation, but action-game players have an advantage due to their “training” in games.

Learning a new sensorimotor skill like typing frequently involves reorganizing one’s visual and motor coordination habits.

Such mastery typically allows a person to progress from incompetent to proficient performance which is distinguished by a high level of coordination.

They Also Work as Exercise

Exergames and other fitness video games have brought about a welcome and unexpected transformation in how people work out.

The ease with which one can “go to the gym” without really leaving home is probably the most significant selling point of such games.

By encouraging players to get up and move about, exergames improve health indicators, including heart rate, blood pressure, joint flexibility, coordination, and balance.

They Improve Memory Retention

Strategy and focus are often required to succeed in today’s popular video games.

In games where you have to fend for yourself and build a civilization from scratch, keeping track of your progress and the locations of the resources you need is crucial.

Many visual and auditory cues exist in today’s games. Game environments have become increasingly realistic, making it easy to transfer real-world skills to the virtual realm.

Research shows that playing video games can help with real-world memory retention.

They Develop Your Set-Shifting Abilities

Set-shifting is the capacity to switch rapidly between various activities.

To what extent you can begin one task and switch gears to another without much of a lapse in concentration indicates your mind’s adaptability.

The capacity to shift focus from one activity to another is a valuable life skill you can get from playing video games.

​​Playing games you enjoy is good for your brain in several ways, including memory and vision. With this list, you can easily back up your passion for gaming the next time someone advises you to cut back.

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