We are struggling. Whether it be exams, projects, grades, drama, money, or any other type of burden, we are struggling, and have been for a long time. At some point, everyone needs a rest, and we all do that in different ways. We’ll do things we enjoy like watching movies, reading, exercising, or playing video games. Gaming is one of the best ways to destress and recharge while simultaneously stimulating your brain, learning something new, and experiencing a story you’ll never forget.
Some background on myself, I’ve been playing video games since I was six years old, and I vividly remember my first experience. I came downstairs one day, saw my brother, who was, ironically, about to leave for college, playing some kind of game on the TV. He noticed me watching and asked if I wanted to join, so I did, and I was introduced to what would become my passion. That game was Halo 2 on the original Xbox, and to this day I still play it. My love for games would only grow over the years, and it became my Zen, my go-to form of entertainment.
During high school, I experienced one of the worst periods in my life, when my parents divorced, my grades fell, and I experienced heartbreak. It was around this same time I decided to play a game called Dark Souls. Up until that point, I barely knew what it was, and only ever heard about its notorious difficulty. Being the “pro” gamer I was, I decided to have a go. The game destroyed me. Never had I experienced a game of such an unforgiving nature. I died, and died, and died, until eventually I deemed the game “just not for me” and gave up. I took a break for weeks to ponder my experience and couldn’t stop thinking about the way I felt playing Dark Souls. I felt weak, like just an ordinary person taking on nigh invincible god-like beings. I had no superpowers, no overpowered weapons, and most importantly, little help.
Despite this, while struggling I managed to defeat several bosses that, at first glance, seemed unbeatable. After completing such a feat, I no longer felt weak and helpless, I felt powerful, despite dying more times than I could count. That satisfying, overwhelming feeling of satisfaction I had after defeating a boss that destroyed me for two hours straight ignited my will to struggle forward until eventually, I gave up, defeated.
I decided to give it another go, and merely changed my mindset throughout the game. I would take it slow, think through the obstacles ahead of me, and ponder each death to find the mistake I made. When I stopped throwing myself at a wall and began to think about how my deaths occurred, I realized that just about all my deaths were completely my fault. The game was not unfair, it was just me refusing to learn from my mistakes. After realizing this, I took the game on in a completely new way, seeking to analyze every aspect of the environment, enemy movements, sounds, and my own character’s abilities to find the best way to conquer each obstacle. I would take the pain in stride, coming back to each encounter with new strategy and knowledge every time.
I began to conquer seemingly insurmountable challenges posed for me and found that, much like in life, failure only made me stronger until, eventually, I felled the final boss.
I cried when I finished Dark Souls for the first time. Alongside the torment I’d received from the unfortunate events of that period was the pride that I finished one of the most notoriously difficult games ever made. Up until that point, I felt inadequate, irresponsible, and ultimately like a failure, but when those credits played, I experienced the most beautiful gratification I have ever received. I cried because I did the impossible completely on my own without any help and felt that I could surpass any challenge. The game changed my philosophy on life, and after that I saw every pain as a learning experience, an opportunity to be better. Suddenly, the world seemed less grim, as I viewed all my demons as obstacles to be overcome rather than torture to endure. I overcame that difficult time, and I attribute this, in large part, to Dark Souls.
My story is just one example. It’s been well documented that challenging games like Dark Souls help people through difficult times and has even aided sufferers of depression and anxiety disorders. Some have even stated that games like Dark Souls saved their lives. Doing a quick search on YouTube, you’ll find countless video essays on how Souls games have helped people.
“Game designers are wizards of engagement. They have mastered the art of pulling people of all ages into virtual environments, having them work toward meaningful goals, persevere in the face of multiple failures, and celebrate the rare moments of triumph after successfully completing challenging tasks” wrote American Psychologist researchers Isabela Granic, Adam Lobel, and Rutger Engels.
Video games are a powerful medium not only because of their enjoyment, but also their benefit to the player. To illustrate this point, I researched professional studies conducted on the effects of video games. A study conducted by American Psychologist in 2014 found that video games improve several aspects of mental health, some including emotional and motivational. Video games improve their players’ motivation, which generally involves self-confidence, optimism, and general willpower. “Although playing games is often considered a frivolous pastime, gaming environments may actually cultivate a persistent, optimistic motivational style. This motivational style, in turn, may generalize to school and work contexts”
Additionally, a cross-sectional study conducted by researchers Jennifer Hazel, Hyun Kim, and Susanna Every-Palmer for the Australasian Psychiatry journal found that games improve mental health and wellbeing. “Perceived psychological benefits from video games were correlated with self-determination theory domains: autonomy, competence and relatedness; and with well being theory.”
That immense feeling of satisfaction I mentioned when defeating a difficult boss is known as fiero, which is a French word for intense pride after overcoming great adversity and is a sensation that many gamers are familiar with.
“It has further been suggested that some of the most intense positive emotional experiences are triggered in the context of playing video games,” wrote American Psychologist.
As a gamer, one feeling I know well is immersion, which American Psychologist discusses. “Flow or transportation is another positive emotional experience described by gamers, during which they are immersed in an intrinsically rewarding activity that elicits a high sense of control while simultaneously evoking a loss of self-consciousness.” I attest that these ‘flow’ experiences are not only indicative of a good game, but also moments of hyper-focus on the task at hand, when all neurons are firing in hopes of achieving your goal. “In psychology, flow experiences have repeatedly been linked to a host of positive outcomes for adolescents, including commitment and achievement in high school.”
Playing games also lessens the effects of mental illnesses like depression. This is due to the emotional rewards that games deliver, especially those earned from a difficult task.
American Psychologist found that “The pretend context of video games may be real enough to make the accomplishment of goals matter but also safe enough to practice controlling, or modulating, negative emotions in the service of those goals. Adaptive regulation strategies such as acceptance, problem solving, and reappraisal have repeatedly been linked to less negative affect, more social support, and lower levels of depressive symptoms.”
When I’ve had a rough day, I tend to play Halo. Nothing sets a fire in my heart like hearing the beautiful main theme and the rush of memories it brings. In the context of higher education, and life at large, we will all struggle, but we need not do it alone. There will be moments of respite which come in many forms, and games are one of them. If you feel like you’re going through a time of distress, it’s okay. There will always be people who know your pain and can help, but in time we all need relief. If you have not seriously tried playing video games, I could not recommend it enough.
Speaking from personal experience, games are the reason I am where I am today. They’ve shaped my life and the relationships I’ve made throughout. We all deal with adversity in different ways, and I implore gaming to be one of yours.
“Be safe, friend. Don’t you dare go hollow” – Laurentius from Dark Souls.
