Benefits of video games

- Video games can improve manual dexterity: Controller-based games can

be great for your hands. In a study involving a group of surgeons,
researchers found that those who played video games were faster at
performing advanced procedures and made 37 percent fewer mistakes than
those who didn’t. Special video games have also been used as physical
therapy to help stroke victims regain control of their hands and wrists.
- Video games can increase your brain’s gray matter : Gaming is really a
workout for your mind disguised as fun. Studies have shown that playing
video games regularly may increase gray matter in the brain and boost brain
connectivity. (Gray matter is associated with muscle control, memories,
perception, and spatial navigation.)
- Games can teach you to be a better problem solver: Open-world,
mission-based, and multi-level games are designed like complex puzzles that
take several hours to solve. Occasionally, the solution varies based on your
actions in the game. Learning to think on your feet and strategize in a fast-
paced fantasy environment is a skill that can translate to the real world
- Video games can have mental health benefits: Studies have shown that
some video games can boost mood and make for better heart rhythms—a
sign that they may also help relieve stress. The correlation (not causality)
between video games and stress has been reflected in numerous unrelated
studies, which is why video games have been used in therapy for over a
decade.
- Video games can inspire you to be more persistent: With video games
you either win or you keep trying, learning from your mistakes as you
progress until you reach the goal. Because of this, some researchers and
educators argue that video games can teach people to be more confident and
to work towards their goals, treating each misstep as just another learning
opportunity.
- Video games can help you make new social connections: Gamers are
sometimes stigmatized as being too insulated, but the opposite is
actually true. The rise of multi-player experiences online has given way
to a new form of socializing in which players work together to solve
problems. But studies have shown games can also be the catalyst for
friends to gather in person: roughly 70 percent of all players play with
friends at least some of the time.
- Video games can reduce stress: While some games are thought to
induce stress—especially when you see your character struck down for
the umpteenth time—the opposite can be true. A major study that
tracked players over six months and measured heart rate found that
certain titles reduced the adrenaline response by over 50 percent.