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For many years, video games have been viewed as unproductive distractions from reality and, in some cases, unfairly blamed for instances of violence. However, there has been plenty of research in recent years to indicate that, on the contrary, video games can provide young people and adults with a variety of benefits. Of course, they should still be played in moderation, especially at younger ages. The American Academy of Pediatrics says children under 2 years old shouldn't have any screen time whatsoever and kids ages 2 to 5 should be limited to about an hour per day on weekdays and three hours per day on weekends.
Below are six surprising research-backed benefits of playing video and mobile games.
Enhances Focus and Hand-Eye Coordination
Many games, especially those focused on action-adventure, role-playing, and sports, require the player to be attentive to auditory and visual cues to accomplish tasks. This trains players to stay focused on the screen at all times, looking for certain clues or prompts to advance to the next level or stage of the game. Action-adventure games, like Resident Evil or Tomb Raider, can also enhance hand-eye coordination via quick-time events, which prompt players to quickly press the button displayed on the screen.
There's real world evidence in the medical field that lends credence to the idea of improved hand-eye coordination from gaming. A study involving laparoscopic specialists published in the Archives of Surgery in 2007 found that those who engaged in gaming activities for at least three hours per week made 32 percent fewer mistakes in practice procedures than specialists who did not play video games.
Boosts Cognitive Performance
Most video games are not mindless distractions and instead include problem-solving activities that require players to think critically about potential solutions. Several studies have concluded that gaming can increase the brain's gray matter, which has billions of neurons that help control movement, regulate emotions, and retain memories. This can help boost overall cognitive performance.
While excessive gaming can contribute to behavioral or attention issues, an October 2022 report published in JAMA Network Open using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study found children who play video games can reap various cognitive benefits. In the study of almost 2,000 children, those who played video games for at least three hours each day recorded better scores in working memory and impulse control than those who didn't play video games.
"While we cannot say whether playing video games regularly caused superior neurocognitive performance, it is an encouraging finding, and one that we must continue to investigate in these children as they transition into adolescence and young adulthood," explained lead study author Bader Chaarani, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Vermont. "Many parents today are concerned about the effects of video games on their children's health and development, and as these games continue to proliferate among young people, it is crucial that we better understand both the positive and negative impact that such games may have."
Improves Social Skills
While some suggest gaming is an alienating activity that keeps kids from socializing with others, that's no longer true with online gaming, allowing multiple players to simultaneously play and converse with each other. Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, in a 2016 study involving data from children between the ages of 6 and 11, found that high video game usage was associated with good social skills and better peer relationships. One of the researchers, Katherine M. Keyes, suggested this is due to the collaborative nature of gaming and that those who play frequently are better able to integrate into the school community.
In the study, researchers also linked high video game usage with a 1.75 times increase in potential for high intellectual functioning and a 1.88 times increase in likelihood for "high overall school competence."
Interactive and Stimulating
Playing video games can also improve children's task management abilities and attention to detail. In RPGs like Mass Effect, for example, players have a lengthy list of objectives they need to complete to finish the game as well as side objectives that can be fun and engaging. Each of these objectives unlocks rewards that can advance the in-game character's abilities. This risk-reward aspect of gaming provides stimulation and a sense of accomplishment, teaching perseverance and other lessons that can be applied in the real world.
Helps People with Dyslexia
As mentioned, most games require players to exercise intense focus to accomplish their goals. They also have frequently changing environments that keep players focused and engaged. These elements of gaming, researchers suggest, can help people with reading comprehension. In one study, published in Scientific Reports, researchers found that people with dyslexia scored better in reading comprehension—both in word recognition and pseudoword reading performance—after playing action-oriented video games than they did prior to gaming. Subjects in the study also performed better in reading speed and accuracy after gaming.
