Contrary to the negative portrayal of video games often emphasized in media, a new scientific study reveals that playing open-world video games can have positive effects and contribute to better mental health.
Experts from the Royal College of London and the University of Graz conducted research involving over 600 students who engage in open-world gaming.
The findings indicate that these video games, such as 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild', significantly enhance cognitive escapism, relaxation levels, and overall mental well-being.
According to the published study, 'open world' refers to video games that provide a vast environment where players can freely explore, move, and interact with an imagined world with minimal restrictions.
'They offer exploration of expansive and highly detailed worlds. Such games often present a landscape filled with diverse terrains, towns, and hidden secrets,' the researchers add.
This new study serves as evidence that such types of games could be a beneficial alternative to other digital activities we engage in, such as endless scrolling through social media, which has been shown to lead to a decline in mental health.
'By providing a world you can immerse yourself in, they offer mental diversion, emotional relief, and a sense of significance. These video games can serve as tools to strengthen psychological and emotional health,' emphasize the experts.
Based on 32 interviews and over 600 surveys, participants expressed feelings of 'inner peace', stating they could forget daily worries and disconnect from everything happening around them.
One participant described spending time in the 'open world' as a form of meditation.
Feelings of calmness, relaxation, and satisfaction were frequently mentioned, along with reduced stress levels and alleviation of tension. Some participants reported feeling a sense of purpose in the game and personal development.
It appears that the autonomy enjoyed by participants in open-world games, along with the richness of the virtual world, contributes to improving mental states.
With advancements in gaming technology and increasingly ambitious goals from their creators, open-world video games have become larger and more complex, raising concerns that people may begin to live their 'second life' within them.
Nonetheless, the new study provides further evidence that video games can reduce stress and enhance enjoyment when engaged with in moderation.