Essay Sample on Benefits of Video Games

Video game players attain many new skills, as they play. These skills can help any player in their everyday life. I spend my free time playing games like Fortnite, Minecraft, and World of Warcraft. When I play these games, I explore creativity, critical thinking, organization, and above all these, playing video games provides stress relief. According to Utah Valley Pediatrics (UVP) there are many possible takeaways; education, life skills, improved brain function, and even job skills. How can something so simple, and fun really help anyone with all this, and possibly more?  

When playing games, you constantly explore new ideas, situations, and opportunities. Let’s begin with exploring creativity, and critical thinking. First, the brain uses the prefrontal cortex to process both creativity, and critical thinking, while you play strategy games, you are increasing the functionality of this portion of the brain. This can lead to better strategical thinking, and better decision making, according to Simone Kühn (Effects of Computer Gaming on cognition, brain structure, and function). Where do we use creativity in our everyday lives? We explore new ways to solve issues, reach our goals, and get to our destinations every day. How do we use critical thinking daily? We work around things that come up in our schedules, and we also work with other people, not knowing fully what they will bring to the table. Playing simple games such as Minecraft, or Minesweeper can greatly improve your cognitive skills. Next, have you ever heard of video games, and stress relief in the same sentence? 

Did you know that video games can provide stress relief? When playing video games, you are allowing yourself to remove your focus from bothersome things, thus allowing your stress levels to lower, at least temporarily. This method is often called redirection, as it redirects your focus. How does this help you in the long run? First, it provides you with a known method of escape when you need to cool down or take a break. Second, playing video games allows you to create new bonds and friendships, which allows for a more confident social capability. According to Andrew Fishman, (How Video Games Help Connect People) “Video games and other online spaces are “safe” for these individuals because they allow people to communicate when they want to, with little or no pressure to respond immediately and without requiring them to be in the same physical space with others.” Video games provide a diverse people stress relief daily. Now, let’s explore organization and educational habits of players and non-players. 

Video games provide an opportunity for people to explore their organization skills. When you play games, you prepare yourself for the situations that will come. For example, while playing first-person shooting games, you must be constantly prepared for anything. Without preparation, and organization your game is as good as shot. What is the point in playing a game without intending to win or accomplish a goal? When you play a video game, even if your only goal is to entertain yourself, or to relieve your stress, the game initially comes with a goal to complete. When you improve your organizational skills, you become better at achieving goals, both in real life, and in your video games. As humans, we create goals for ourselves daily, monthly, and even longer than this. Some examples of goals are a dream job, passing a test, and even participating in class. When you play video games, you explore the needed organization for you to be successful. Now let’s look at the skills you develop while playing video games that help you later. 

Did you know, Video games level up life skills. Video games have other benefits such as helping players gain life skills, job skills, and some forms of education. What life skills can you gain from sitting behind a screen? First, it is not that simple to assume all video games are nothing but screens. In a study done by Matthew Barr, over an eight-week period, the study group who played video games, of various types had increased scores in resourcefulness, adaptability, and communication skills. While not even half of the control group increased in any of the three areas. There was a notable decrease in social anxiety, much like that of someone who played on a sports team. This means, that playing video games with others, in online settings, or in person can improve a person's teamwork ability. If video games can help people who play them with future life skills, then why isn’t everyone playing them? 

Video games aid players in gaining everyday skills, that make life much easier. Over time, video games have gotten a bad rap, often over speculation about the contents of certain games. Most opposing arguments when it comes to video games are about the violence, that they ‘promote’ or contain. Though this is not true in most cases, these arguments are made based on certain games, created to portray a violent atmosphere for the purpose of the game.