Most people will know that video games were not always as widely accepted by society as they are today. Their origins are surrounded by controversy, and they were met with distrust by the public when they were first released. They seemed to capture the attention of the world’s children and those adults that enjoyed them were seen as ‘nerds’ or even weird. That has all changed today as it is estimated that there are around 2.5 billion active gamers around the world. Considering the world’s population, this is a staggering number and a massive achievement to the industry. However, many of these players might not realise that there are several benefits to gaming.

The fact that gaming has clear benefits means that it transcends being solely an activity, it is actively beneficial both for physical health and mental health. Despite this, much like anything else, it does have its negatives that should be avoided. Playing games for too much can cause eye strain and headaches, especially with those who are sensitive to light. In the same way, playing them for too long could theoretically cause apathy and disinterest in doing anything else but playing video games. These issues can be managed by moderating the time that is spent playing video games. In comparison, the beneficial side of gaming is plentiful.

Perhaps the single biggest reason people enjoy gaming is that it offers them an escape from the world. This is necessary at the best of times but following the lockdowns that the world experienced over the last year, gaming became even more needed. In fact, it acted as a haven for those who wanted to escape from the hardships of their life, and some games feature fantastical worlds that facilities this. A standout would be GTA V, where players are gifted a massive sandbox in which they are free to do whatever they like – even go to the casino. This is an activity that many missed over the lockdown, the best online sites can be accessed at https://www.bettingsider24.com/, and the fact that some video games can offer people a version of doing what they love shows how useful they are as a form of escapism.

Several health benefits come from playing video games. These are normally understated, but they do have clear effects on adult life and the development of children. One example of this is how some video games can be a great educational tool when it comes to history. Franchises like Assassins’ Creed are historical games that are set over the backdrop of some of the most fascinating periods of history, such as the Renaissance and the Golden Age of Piracy.  While this would be interesting to an adult, to a child’s mind, they will simply soak this information up, which could be useful in school. Many games also feature puzzles that challenge the player to come up with creative solutions, which will inevitably lead to an increase in logical thinking skills.

Video games have come a long way since they first came out, and they now have the benefit of actively improving our lives through physical, social, and mental means.