The Benefits of Online Gaming for Mental Health and Cognitive Function

Online video games are an escape like no other. Every day, billions of players join the internet portal to participate in their favorite games. 

While gaming is often seen as entertainment, did you know it can improve your mental health and cognitive function too?

Yes, it’s true, and we have the proof. In this article, we walk you through the different benefits of online gaming for cognitive function and mental health. Continue reading as we understand more about these perks in detail in the following sections. 

Benefits Of Online Gaming For Mental Health

Instills A Sense Of Fighting Spirit

When you play online video games regularly, you experience something the scientific community calls "deep practice." The term describes the process of  players undergoing similar gameplay or training several times until they’ve finally achieved a certain level of expertise in the skills required to clear the level. 

While the repetition could initially feel annoying, it is beneficial in several aspects, especially when looking for solutions to difficult problems. For instance, if you’re involved in a shooting game and get shot by the CPU at a particular stage, you will continue to have the same outcome if you keep employing a similar strategy. However, things change when you revamp your approach. 

Interestingly, this factor holds in real life too. Playing online games builds a fighting spirit in your mind. You acquire the ability to direct your mental energy toward finding solutions and solving your problems effectively. 

Invokes A Spirit To Try Out New Things

Online games improve your problem-solving skills by pushing you to experiment with different playing possibilities. For instance, when you’re playing an RPG game like Dragon's Dogma 2 under the quest category, your brain will be forced to try new approaches by experimenting with the Dragon's Dogma 2 new vocations to see which works best per the storyline.

This skill goes a long way in both gaming and real life. Online games teach us that trying things differently is healthy as there could be other ways to solve a complex problem. Learning via experience and practice is advantageous since it boosts your confidence. Most people run away from problem-solving because they think they don't have the required abilities. 

Sites like Solitaired feature popular online card and dice games in a variety of game settings. For example, you can play Solitaire, or some of the faster paced variants like Freecell, or have a crack at scoring Yahtzee! Such gaming platforms allow you to try different games and identify the ones you like best, helping you build confidence in your problem solving abilities.

What’s more? Such creative spirit could also be reflected in overcoming new situations in life. Once your brain is trained enough, it can quickly adapt to new environments and utilize its surroundings and the tools in it effective ways to overcome unfamiliar challenges. 

Benefits Of Online Gaming For Cognitive Function

Adapts Critical Thinking Skills

Thanks to the advancement of modern video games, most adventure games today are designed keeping their players in mind. In a bid to do something beyond the ordinary, online games have evolved to introduce more mind-bending quests and adventures.

For instance, some quest games require you to creatively use different game elements and create a tool for fighting or escape. Only once you’ve strategically used your deductive thinking skills can you pass on to the next level. Thus, by presenting complex problems with creative solutions at every story phase, these games train the brain to utilize gray matter to think critically and accurately. 

Take for example the classic card game Hearts. While it does require a bit of luck, it requires players to analyze each move. Hearts is great for critical thinking because players need to carefully consider the potential consequences of each move. They must make strategic decisions to avoid certain cards and plan their moves ahead to minimize the points they acquire throughout the game, ultimately boosting their critical thinking and analytical skills.

Once you master critical thinking from online games, your brain also starts using it in real life. This helps your brain proactively take you out of situations that would otherwise be challenging. 

Promotes Socialization

Contrary to popular belief, playing online video games can encourage sociability among players. Today, many video games require cooperation and teamwork from other players to complete a given level. 

When gamers interact, they tend to bond and go on similar missions together. Moreover, when your online gaming group continues to play for a long time, there’s a feeling of community and belonging among other players. This factor plays a significant role in developing communication and collaboration skills.

Additionally, the communities over online games give players an opportunity to meet like-minded people from around the world. There are instances when players exchange gift cards among themselves on their birthdays or special days. Gamers even meet each other in person and socialize beyond the internet. 

Now You Know!

This brings us to the end of how online video games aid mental health and cognitive function. Looking at the different perks associated with online gaming, it’s evident that it adds to our life in more ways than one. So now that you know how video games add to your life, don’t hold back from dedicating a few minutes or an hour to online games. 

However, ensure you don’t overspend your time on video games. While they have their perks, video games also have the possibility of turning into an addiction. Studies suggest that spending too much time behind video games could affect your vision and have adverse effects on your physical health in the long term. Play wisely and all the best!

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