The benefits of videogames are often a hotly debated topic. Not every game is about grabbing the biggest gun possible and blasting off alien heads. Conversely, not every game has to be about helping friendly villagers with idle tasks. But even if they are, are they ever truly bad for you? According to a new study, video games can be ‘good for the mind’, regardless of the context of the on-screen action.
Skillprint has published an extensive research study of over 600 mobile games scored across 130 features. These encompass mechanics, goals, genres, relevant moods and skills, aesthetic and meta-game elements. The study serves as a supplementary addendum to prior publication, “Games Can Be Good For the Mind: An Empirical Report.” It offers deeper insights into the cognitive and emotional benefits of gaming. The findings, now publicly available, provide players with tailored recommendations for titles to play through the holidays and beyond, whether they want to enhance creativity, focus, or just unwind.
Skillprint’s cognitive scientist gamers played and rated over 600 games for a variety of features. These included cognitive skills practiced in the game (e.g., perceptual speed, deduction, pattern matching), gameplay features (unlimited time, leaderboards, etc.), art style (2D, realistic, etc.), theme (medieval, sci-fi, etc.), genre (arcade, sports), goals (optimise, obtain, etc.), relevant personality traits (e.g., risk-taking, extraversion), and monetisation features (power ups, cosmetic items, etc.).
Study Findings: Games Can be Good for Many Things
Key findings from the study include:
- Calm: Titles promoting calm provide unlimited time and include puzzles, turn-based board games and simulations, focusing on pattern matching, memory, and visualization. (see Gardenscapes, Blockscapes)
- Focus: Quick reflexes and skilled timing is required, such as in shooter, sports, and arcade genres with leaderboards. (see Temple Run 2, Sonic Dash)
- Creativity: Sandbox, strategy, and word games stimulate creativity, especially those involving recombining letters in word games. (see Scrabble Go, Little Alchemy 2)
- Challenge: Sports, combat, and platformers that demand precise timing, and detective games requiring clue-gathering, foster determination. (see Geometry Dash, Rise Up)
- Curiosity: Adventure, sandbox and trivia games, offering extensive exploration opportunities and rich environments, boost curiosity. (see Stardew Valley Mobile, Design Home)
- Collaborate: Titles which enhance collaboration involve team play, communication, and competitive scenarios, including war games and team-based simulations. (see Spaceteam, Clash of Clans)
- Empathy: Games that require decision-making impacting personal relationships, like romantic lifestyle games and casual puzzle games with storylines, help foster empathy. (see Five Dates, OXENFREE)
“As we celebrate the holiday season, our latest research offers timely insights into the profound impact of gaming on mental well-being. Our study highlights how games are more than leisure; they’re a means to enhance cognitive skills and emotional states. These findings provide players with personalized game recommendations to enrich their holidays, whether it’s for relaxation, sharpening focus, or boosting creativity. At Skillprint, we’re excited to offer these insights and continue making gaming a tool for personal growth and mental wellness. We invite players to explore the diverse benefits of gaming, as we continue to innovate at the intersection of cognitive science and gaming,” said Chethan Ramachandran, CEO of Skillprint.
Access the full report from Skillprint here. How do you feel about the potential positive impacts of gaming? Let us know in the comments below!
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