Why do we like playing video games?
Scott Rigby’s research company Immersyve has collected data over the past 10 years and conducted its own research in game development studios to explain basic human needs and understand what makes video games so attractive. They named several main reasons, which we will describe in more detail.
Competence
We like to feel that we are better at something, especially when other people recognize it. Video games give us the opportunity to feel progress and achievement of goals in a short time, which positively affects our self-confidence and increases self-esteem. The more difficult the game is, the more fun we will have in the end.
Autonomy and independence
It is important for us to feel a sense of control over our actions and situations. However, in real life, this is not always easy. Many things can happen beyond our control, and this can be frustrating.
Games are a space where players are free from the influence or direction of others. Children who are always being controlled seek out games to feel independent. Adults may gravitate toward video entertainment if they feel they have no control over their work or home life.
For example, free-moving games such as Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, a PlayStation 5 console exclusive, are particularly good because the player can largely move around independently in the game. For those who don’t feel independent in the physical world, video games are a great place to go.
Intimacy
This is the third psychological need that games appeal to. We like to feel that we matter to other people, and multiplayer games, especially massively multiplayer online games, directly provide this connection. In order to understand how to create multiplayer games in a way that creates close relationships and even friendships between players, a study was conducted in 2016. In it, experienced game designers shared the key elements that a game should have to promote friendship during the game: closeness, similarity, reciprocity, and openness. Thus, the researchers came to the conclusion that games are uniquely suited to creating close relationships.
A safe place to fail
Video games also give you the opportunity to fail. You can safely take as many risks as you want. If you lose while trying to defeat a boss, you just start over. If you do not win a competitive match, you will play another one. It is much safer for gamers to fail online than in the physical world. Games teach us that failure is not the end. We can give up, or we can learn from our mistakes and improve. Failure is part of our human experience. Starting over after defeats to become better is a great skill that games teach us.
Relaxation
Many video games are dynamic and intense, but there are also a lot of quiet ones designed for relaxation and unwinding. When the world around us is chaotic and full of stress, it’s nice to immerse yourself in an exciting video game for a while and relax.
Games like Ghost of Tsushima, No Man’s Sky, and ABZÛ help you relax, reduce stress, and explore the open world. Therefore, if you are looking for a way to relax and unwind, video games will be a great option.