17 Surprising Benefits of Playing Video Games

Video games often get a bad rap, but they offer more than just an escape from reality or a way to waste time. In fact, they can actually improve various aspects of your life—sometimes in surprising ways. Whether you’re defending a fortress, racing around a virtual track, or solving intricate puzzles, video games have a lot to offer beyond the fun. Here are 17 unexpected benefits of playing video games.

1. Improves Problem-Solving Skills

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Games are full of puzzles and challenges that require players to think critically and come up with creative solutions. Whether you’re figuring out how to open a locked door in The Legend of Zelda or strategizing the best way to take down a boss in Dark Souls, your brain is constantly working. These problem-solving abilities don’t just stay in the game—they can help you tackle real-life challenges with a more analytical mindset.

2. Enhances Hand-Eye Coordination

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Ever wonder why surgeons sometimes play video games? Games that require precise control, like first-person shooters or racing simulators, can actually sharpen hand-eye coordination. The fast-paced nature of these games forces players to react quickly and accurately to what they see on the screen, which translates to better reflexes and coordination in the real world—ideal if you’re defusing a bomb or just trying to catch a falling remote.

3. Boosts Social Connections

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Gone are the days when gamers were isolated in dark rooms, playing solo. Many of today’s games are online, meaning players can connect with others across the globe. Whether you’re teaming up with friends in Fortnite or coordinating strategies in League of Legends, video games provide a platform for social interaction. Even in single-player games, online communities form around shared interests, leading to friendships that sometimes go beyond the screen.

4. Teaches Teamwork and Collaboration

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Playing multiplayer games often requires cooperation and teamwork, especially in games like Overwatch or Apex Legends, where each player has a specific role. Working together to achieve a common goal teaches players the importance of communication, coordination, and compromise. These are essential skills not just in games, but also in the workplace or any group setting where collaboration is key.

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5. Improves Memory and Concentration

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Video games, particularly those with complex storylines and multiple objectives, can improve your memory and focus. Whether you’re remembering clues in a detective game or tracking various objectives in an open-world RPG, your brain is being trained to retain and recall information. This heightened concentration can spill over into other areas of life, such as studying or staying focused during long work meetings—though admittedly, those don’t usually involve dragons.

6. Fosters Creativity

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Games like Minecraft and LittleBigPlanet allow players to build their own worlds and levels, letting their imaginations run wild. These games encourage out-of-the-box thinking, whether you’re crafting elaborate structures or designing intricate puzzles for others to solve. This creative freedom can inspire players to think differently, potentially sparking new ideas in their day-to-day lives—or at least a killer treehouse design.

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7. Reduces Stress

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After a long day, nothing beats the satisfaction of completing a level or defeating a tough boss. Video games can provide a much-needed escape from the pressures of real life, helping players to relax and unwind. Studies have shown that playing games can reduce stress levels by giving people a break from their worries and offering a sense of accomplishment, even if that accomplishment is just surviving another round in Call of Duty.

8. Promotes Persistence and Patience

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Few things build patience like trying to beat a particularly difficult level in a video game. Whether it’s replaying a mission in Dark Souls or retrying a tough race in Mario Kart, games teach you that sometimes, failure is part of the process. You learn to keep trying, improving your skills bit by bit, and eventually overcoming the challenge. This persistence is valuable in real life too, whether you’re working toward a promotion or trying to master a new hobby.

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9. Encourages Multitasking

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In fast-paced games like StarCraft or Fortnite, players are required to manage multiple tasks simultaneously—gathering resources, planning strategies, and executing actions, often all at once. This ability to juggle different tasks at the same time sharpens multitasking skills, making it easier to handle several responsibilities in real life, whether it’s balancing work projects or keeping track of a busy family schedule.

10. Increases Brain Flexibility

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Puzzle games like Portal or The Witness push players to think in new and unconventional ways. The more you play, the more your brain adapts to solving different kinds of challenges. This mental flexibility can help you approach problems in real life with a more open and innovative mindset, whether you’re facing a tricky work problem or just figuring out how to pack a suitcase efficiently.

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11. Improves Decision-Making Skills

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Action-packed games like Call of Duty or Fortnite require players to make split-second decisions with high stakes—mess up, and it’s game over. The constant need for fast, accurate decision-making sharpens this skill over time, making players better at making quick, informed decisions in everyday life. Whether you’re deciding what to have for dinner or how to navigate through a crisis, video games have unknowingly trained your brain for this.

12. Sharpens Vision

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While staring at a screen for too long isn’t ideal for anyone’s eyes, certain studies suggest that playing action games can actually improve contrast sensitivity—the ability to differentiate between shades of color. This is crucial in situations like driving at night. So, while your mom may have told you that too much gaming would ruin your eyesight, science says there might be some visual perks after all.

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13. Builds Leadership Skills

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Online multiplayer games often put players in positions where they need to lead teams or coordinate group efforts. Whether you’re leading a raid in World of Warcraft or guiding a squad in Valorant, video games give players the chance to practice leadership in a low-stakes environment. Over time, these skills—like delegation, communication, and conflict resolution—become second nature, transferring to real-world scenarios.

14. Increases Empathy

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Story-driven games like The Last of Us or Life is Strange allow players to experience characters’ lives and struggles in ways that go beyond just reading about them. These games often present moral dilemmas and deep emotional narratives that help players understand different perspectives, fostering empathy. It’s hard to remain indifferent when you’ve walked a mile in someone else’s (virtual) shoes, especially if that mile involves saving the world or surviving a zombie apocalypse.

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15. Boosts Mental Health

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Video games can be an outlet for managing anxiety and depression. Games like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley offer peaceful, low-pressure environments that provide a sense of control and accomplishment, which can be comforting during stressful times. Many players find that the routine and structure of certain games help them cope with anxiety by giving them a sense of purpose, even if it’s just growing digital turnips.

16. Enhances Cognitive Skills in Older Adults

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Research has shown that certain video games can help improve memory, attention, and even reaction times in older adults. Games like Brain Age or even fast-paced action games can keep the mind sharp, making them a valuable tool for maintaining cognitive health. Who knew that keeping grandma sharp might involve her battling space aliens or solving puzzles on a Nintendo Switch?

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17. Inspires Lifelong Learning

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From historical epics like Assassin’s Creed to space explorations in Kerbal Space Program, video games have a sneaky way of teaching players about history, science, and even engineering. While you might start off just wanting to jump into some exciting gameplay, you often end up learning a thing or two along the way. These games inspire curiosity and encourage players to seek out more knowledge, whether it’s about ancient civilizations or rocket physics.

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