Playing video games is good for you

12/02/2021

If you're of a certain age then your immediate reaction to that heading is to probably disbelief. However recent research has shown the value of playing video games.

'A growing body of research is showing the flip side, though - video games can help people see better, learn more quickly, develop greater mental focus, become more spatially aware, estimate more accurately, and multitask more effectively. Some video games can even make young people more empathetic, helpful and sharing.' -BBC Future.

If you're still not convinced, you can read the evidence here:

Some of these articles reference specific games like Supermario 4; Tetris etc but there is further evidence that shows particularly during the Pandemic, playing video games is good for mental health.

Types of games

There are lots of types of video games, and if you want to read more about them then look at this blog.

Finding a game:

Think about the type of game or activity you enjoy - word puzzles, matching pictures, numbers, or would you like to create your own world? Whatever you fancy there are loads of free games you can download onto your phone from Google play. (Note: the price for free stuff is always advertising! Never send your friends invitations to join you unless they have asked for an invite.) Many of these games have options to buy extras but you don't have to do this.

Some of the games we like and have played are:

Farmville where you can build your own farm grow crops, keep animals etc. You can play this on a computer, and through facebook.

CandyCrush is one of the most popular games and you can play on your phone or computer. In Candy crush you match shapes and solve puzzles. They become increasingly complex as you go further along.

Tetris is one of the oldest computer games, and here you have to fit different shapes to form full rows, without allowing the shapes to reach the top of the screen. They fall at increasing speed, so it's a great test of your finger dexterity, and your puzzle building skills. You can play it online, or download it onto your phone via Google Play.

Pacman has also been around for a long time (at least 30 years) and here you have to 'eat' dots while avoiding the ghosts.

Homescapes includes a story, and you get to renovate a mansion by solving puzzles.

Fishdom gives you virtual fishtanks. You solve match puzzles to earn coins for fish and decorations.

Block Triangle Puzzle is a great shape orientation puzzle, where you have to combine shapes to form a larger shape.

Wordtrip is great if you like word games, and you have to see how many words you can make from the selection of letters you are given.

In addition to these, there are online jigsaw puzzles; colouring in, almost anything you can imagine. If you'd like to explore some other options this blog looks at the most popular free games.

Playing games is good for you, so now you have an excuse to find one, and have some fun.