Essay Sample about Benefits of Video Games

As kids get home from a long day of school kids all around the world get on their favorite consoles and get on for a session of gaming. Is that right? Is it wrong? Many people all around the world have many different views on this controversial topic. An underrated opinion is that video games are actually beneficial, and have many benefits to it. Furthermore, some of the benefits are that it enhances critical thinking, helps kids be more social, and could even make a full time career out of this fresh niche of gaming. On the contrary, parents say the issue is that video games become addictive; although it is up to them.

Video games are a very significant way for enhancing students' critical thinking. One way video games archive it, is that it rewards quick analytical thinking. For example, in the game Minecraft, you have to make decisions in a matter of seconds by choosing what weapons out of hundreds, you decide to pick in your inventory of  weapons. You have to keep in mind long rage fighting, close encounters, mid range fights, and even healing utilities that are used when an opponent shoots you. A recent study done by Harvard University states, “Video games are a very powerful source to enhance the brain. Decision making is a skill that is one of the biggest benefits you get from playing. On average decision making skills are increased by over 5 seconds.” This can be very beneficial in a school setting or even an office setting where billion dollar deals will be signed due to a quick decision made by someone.

Continuing on, another benefit from playing video games, is that it helps develop your social skills, and can lead to long lasting friendships. One of  Minecraft's most famous personalities, Dream, who was a very shy youtuber. But through his platform on youtube, and his interactions on minecraft, he opens up and makes lifelong friends, such as, Mr.Beast, Sapnap, and many more friends that will last him a lifetime. But he wasn’t always like that, he was a very shy, lonely person, who didn't talk to anyone, but as his youtube channel grew, so did his personality. Continuing on, In an interview conducted by Evan Charmi cheal, Mike Persson ( Main Game Developer) said, “ Minecraft has changed my life, not just the money, but the relationships created are far more valuable.” This shows that even though he has a net worth of over 1.9 billion dollars he still values the good relationships he built over the course of the 10 years of the game being launched. These social skills built online can also easily translate to the real world and can be beneficial to speaking in front of a large crowd or even in group settings. 

In addition, one more way that video games are super beneficial to people is that it can create a long and high paying career. For example the highest paid Minecraft youtuber makes over 20 million dollars per year playing a video game. A research experiment done by the guys at Social Security says, “The average American’s yearly salary is $51,480.” For perspective, he is making over 400 times what the average American earns per year playing a game he loves. This amount of money can allow you to live your life however you want and have financial freedom for you and your family’s life. 

In conclusion, there are many reasons why video games can be very beneficial for not just kids but adults as well. They can enhance critical thinking and grow parts of your brain, they help grow social skills, and they can also turn into a high paying job as well. Many people stereotype video games as kids wasting their time, but are they really? However the other side is true as well, too much can lead into addiction, but that is with anything. One way to solve this issue is by putting screen time. Many consoles have screen time where they can limit how much, and at what time kids can play.Video games are like medicine, if you take the right amount they are extremely beneficial, however if you have too much, they lead to serious problems. People still think medicine is a good thing even though it can kill people, so are video games.