Scientific study confirms anti-stress effect of video games of any genre

A new study has shown unexpected results about the impact of video games on stress levels. Scientists have found that even intense and violent games help reduce stress indicators, although they can be subjectively perceived as alarming. The experiment involved 82 people aged 18 to 40 years, most of whom had gaming experience.



The study methodology included creating a stressful situation using an ice water test, after which the participants played A Plague Tale: Requiem. One group went through intense action scenes, the other - calm research episodes. Paradoxically, despite the subjective feeling of increased tension in the first group, objective indicators (cortisol levels and heart rate) decreased in all participants after the gaming session, and more significantly than after the initial stress test.



These data confirm that video games of any genre can serve as an effective tool for stress relief, although the mechanism of action is different. For those who prefer classic relaxation methods, the researchers recommend calm games like Stardew Valley, which tops the experts’ list of the most relaxing titles. The results of the study expand our understanding of the therapeutic potential of video games and refute the stereotype that action games have an exclusively negative impact on our psycho-emotional state.