The online gaming world is one that many users that have access to the internet, are enjoying nowadays. There’s been such a significant rise within this part of gaming and it’s something that you would certainly look to benefit from if you’re struggling with your mental health and wellbeing.
Entertainment after all is a welcome distraction from everything going on in the world, whether that’s personal, work-related, or political.
Online games benefit your mental health and well-being in many ways but how? Let’s take a look at the rise of online gaming and how online games might benefit your mental well-being this year.
The rise of online gaming – everything you need to know
Online gaming has certainly become more popular with each passing year and possibly this is due to the advancements made in technology.
It’s risen significantly over the last twenty years and recently jumped more so during the pandemic. In 2021, Statista reported that 82% of children
Over the last 20 years, online gaming has boomed! But there’s been a huge jump in recent years, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021. In 2023, the global online gaming market generated around 26.14 billion US dollars. That’s a lot of money in just one market of gaming.
Gone are the days when people would play traditional board games because now even those same board games can be played online.
How do online games benefit mental health and wellbeing
So how do online games benefit mental health and wellbeing? What could be gained by playing online games for an hour or so every day or a few hours a week? Depending on how much time you have to spare will often determine how many of these games you can indulge in per week.
Some games might require you to have more time on your hands like chess or sudoku for example. Others might be fast-paced games that you can hit pause on once you’ve passed a level.
Here are some of the many benefits that online gaming provides for your mental health and well-being.
They provide a welcome distraction
Online games can provide a welcome distraction from life in general. Whether that’s problems within your work life that you’re trying to get away from, to issues that you’re having at home and you’re needed to switch off from life itself.
A welcome distraction is something that can be helpful to have in life and that’s where online gaming can prove beneficial. There’s nothing like being able to engage in something that swallows you up in the best way possible. You sit down to play and before you know it a number of hours have gone by.
The distraction is helpful, especially when it comes to your mental wellbeing. Having something like online gaming to detach from life’s woes and stresses can be helpful, even if you’re not typically a gaming person. You might find yourself surprised by what you enjoy.
It can be educational
With some online gaming, there are plenty of educational elements to it. Depending of course on what type of game you play. Some games can be helpful to apply in the real world, whereas other games might have a historical element that’s either taken from history itself or inspired by historical events.
Games predominantly aren’t the mind-numbing, cell-destroying enemy that many people claim it to be. If played on sparingly and explored through different gaming genres, they can be incredibly helpful for gaining skills and learning something new about life.
A lot of younger generations grow up with technology and online gaming, which is why gaming developers are trying to provide as much educational benefit through the games as possible. Whether it’s knowledge-based learning or gaming that helps develop certain soft skills.
Keeps the brain active
The brain is an organ that needs to be worked. It’s important to give it some exercise every day, even though your brain is working constantly, even when asleep.
Online gaming can help to keep the brain active, especially when the games are complex and require a variety of skills to complete successfully.
The more you can keep the brain active, the longer you’ll likely live, much like looking after the rest of your body. Keeping the brain active is universal for all ages, whether you’re in your teens, early thirties, or even more so in your later years. Those brain training games are going to do wonders to keep your mind active for longer.
Often provides social interaction
Social interaction is important and it’s something to work on, especially for those who consider themselves to be a little introverted when interacting with others. The bottom line is that we all need to have some degree of social interaction for the sake of sanity.
If you’re not working on your social interactions, then you might find it even more difficult to interact with others on a daily basis. Being shy is a common trait for many but it’s something that can be worked on and improved.
When it comes to social interaction, it’s useful to play games because a lot of them connect you with other people online. It can lead to both audible interactions and typed interactions depending on what type of platform you’re playing on.
Online gaming is now a more socially interactive experience, rather than being a solo one like it was a couple of decades ago.
Helps to waste away time when commuting or traveling
When you’re commuting to work or traveling, it’s beneficial to have something that can make the time go quicker. Wasting away time when you’re stuck in one place with very little to do can be challenging if you’ve not got a book or phone in front of you.
As most people have a phone or electronic device that connects to the internet, online gaming has become the norm for those who are commuting on a daily basis. If you’re on a long-haul flight to your next vacation spot, having a few online games to play and progress through is helpful to pass the time.
If you’re a regular commuter, then there’s nothing better than immersing yourself in the gaming world and having your travel time fly by. Before you know it, you’ll be stepping off the train or plane at your destination.
Useful as an outlet for stress
Stress is an emotion that you’ll want to manage because it can be one emotion that can have a physical and mental impact on your body. Too much stress and you could find yourself anxiety-ridden and/or depressed.
The physical damage done to your health through stress can include premature aging, as well as health conditions that appear as a result of stress.
Finding as many outlets for stress as possible is useful for your health and well-being. Online gaming is a great relief when you’re feeling stressed and needing to distract yourself from it for an hour or two.
Great for problem-solving
Problem-solving is something that can be great to have in life both personally and professionally. While many people think games are for purely entertainment benefits, they are actually fantastic for problem-solving skills.
Navigating through levels of a game requires a certain degree of thought and strategy. Therefore, it’s good to look for games that are helpful in problem-solving and that will therefore be a positive influence on your life. Whether that’s for your personal or professional life’s goals.
They can be a mood booster
If you’re struggling with your mental health and wellbeing, then online games can be a great mood booster. There’s nothing more refreshing than working on your mood because sometimes, you might not always wake up on the right side of the bed.
Online games can provide a lot of joy for those who are looking to find happiness or excitement. There are so many different genres of games to choose from too, which makes the options available even more thrilling for new and existing gamers of all ages.
What online games are worth trying?
When it comes to online gaming, it’s all about finding the right sites to play the games on. While there are plenty of online gaming sites out there, not all of them are legitimate or offer a good variety of games. You should also be aware of what game developers are the standouts amongst the crowd.
Consider what types of genres you enjoy playing typically and don’t be too opposed to trying something new. You might find that you enjoy playing certain games that you would have otherwise avoided.
Online games are great in today’s society to enjoy for a variety of different reasons. Aside from simply holding entertainment value, they can be educational and great for your mental health. As online games and gaming in general evolve, there might be more benefits to your well-being, particularly that of your physical health when it comes to playing with VR and AR.
Online games are something to enjoy for everyone, so use these tips to ensure you get the most out of them for your mental health and well-being this year.
