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October 8, 2022

These five reasons explain why playing video games is good for you

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Parents and other adults often tell us how bad video games can be for us. But in reality, video games are one of the most powerful tools to help people develop new skills and learning capabilities. In fact, video games can be great learning tools.

Here are the five reasons why!

Video games are now more fun and exciting than ever, with more and more sophisticated graphics, characters, and stories. There’s so much to explore, whether you want to step into the shoes of a superhero or experience the life of someone living in a different time. 

It’s a great form of escapism and a form of relaxation. It allows you to escape the dreary weather outside, discover new things, develop new skills and tactics, make friends, make new business connections, improve your hand-eye coordination. – And they’re fun!

Why play video games?

There are several types of games, but typically, the objective is to defeat opponents or complete objectives in different ways. 

Playing video games can improve manual dexterity

The faster the player can use their hands to interact with the videogame, the more in-game points they will receive and the more likely they are to win. This is true in many videogames, especially games that focus on improving the dexterity of the player’s hands, such as the piano in Rock Band.

Hand-based games are great for your whole body! In a study involving a group of surgeons, researchers found that those who played video games were faster at performing advanced procedures and 37% less likely to make mistakes than those who didn’t. Video games are often used as part of physical therapy in the form of rehabilitation for people who have suffered serious injuries, e.g. stroke victims.

It improves your social skills

Video games can improve social skills in different ways. The positive impact can be seen in the way people communicate while playing and interacting in a game. The influence of video games on social skills is also seen with players that are more motivated to work in teams and learn to work well with others. But the most important thing is that respect, patience and tolerance are increased. 

A competitive game where players easily lose to someone else serves as a good tool for learning how to lose in a good way. With the help of the digital world, you can learn the art of effective communication in a very entertaining way.

Video games increase your brainpower

It’s a common belief that playing video games can make you smarter. While this may not be true for every game, there is some merit to this idea. Games actively engage the brain, improving cognitive functions, reading comprehension, short-term memory, and can even teach you a new language! Working your brain like this can make it stronger overall, leading to improved reasoning and memory. 

A study performed by Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK, measured brain activity of those who played video games and those who did not. The study found that those who played video games had high levels of brain activity in the pre-frontal cortex, one of the main brain regions that is active in learning, decision making, and complex thought. This means that the more you play video games, the more your brain is stimulated and the greater your brainpower can be.

Reap cognitive rewards

Video games can increase cognitive function. We’ve all heard about the detriments of video games, but one thing that isn’t talked about as often is how they can increase intelligence. When you play a video game, you’re forced to learn how to overcome challenges. This type of stimulation can improve your brain’s problem-solving and decision-making skills. The more complex the game, the more your brain is working. So if you find yourself getting bored, try taking a break and going for a round of your favourite video game!

Actively improve physicality and competitiveness

Most modern gaming consoles feature the technology to get gamers off the couch and moving around for a bit. The future of AR/VR gaming will take things to a whole new level with realistic sight, sound, touch, and smell to build on this immersive experience. Mobile game programmers have also started to create games that are played across physical space, building them around real-world location data and inspiring gamers to relocate themselves to advance further into the virtual world. Even if you’re not very competitive, games can be a really fun way to challenge your friends. 

The world of gaming is changing faster than ever. Gaming is more than just a way to pass the time, it’s a tool that can be used to improve your life. However, it’s important to keep in mind that video games can harm overall life if they are played too much. Playing a little bit each day can be beneficial, but playing excessively can cause eye strain, poor sleeping habits, and increase anxiety and stress.