Video games are primarily entertainment. Just like the cinema and theatre, they are becoming an increasingly popular way to spend time for your own pleasure. However, unlike other modes of entertainment, video games in society are often shrouded in a veil of negativity. It is believed that computer games are addictive and interfere with normal socialization. And, while this is true for some games, most scientific research indicates that video games contribute to the development of important human skills. In this article, we will tell you what the benefits of games are.

Reaction

First-person shooters develop reactions best of all. This genre, like no other, is designed for a high-speed game. If you gape, then your character will quickly be killed by the enemy. On the contrary, if you quickly catch enemies in the scope and accurately throw grenades, then you will successfully pass the level. Shooters can be played solo or online. The multiplayer game will require even higher concentration and reaction speed from you. To top the list of players at the end of the match, you need to pump your quick response skills to the maximum. 

The racing genre also contributes to the pumping of the reaction. You constantly need to react to the opponent’s movements along the track, follow the turns of the road and slowdown in time – all this in an atmosphere of rivalry heated to the limit.

Strategic Thinking and Planning

To the question “What skills do video games develop?” there is another answer. The genres of puzzles and strategies are still alive. They have become less popular, but projects in these categories still appear on the shelves. They appeal to both hobbyists and hardcore gamers – every player likes a combination of planning and strategy. These skills are, without a doubt, very important in real life. For example, each of us plans our expenses and budget receipts. Or suddenly you are thinking of building something? You can’t do without a plan and a budget. Also, planning helps to move forward in work and get a better position. If you do not go to extremes, then strategic thinking is a necessary skill in everyday life. It is even more important in the context of social interaction. The notorious “Think before you say something” is just a manifestation of tactics in a conversation. How to turn the conversation in the right direction for yourself? How to start a conversation on an uncomfortable topic for yourself or your interlocutor? All of this requires advance planning.

Leadership and Socialization

Probably the biggest stereotype about video games is the portrayal of the typical gamer as anti-social and even anti-social. Video game lovers are thought to live in basements without seeing the light of day. Sitting without work, without family and without friends, all they do is play games all day long. However, if we discard the stereotype, it turns out that video games are not a departure from society, but just another way to contact it. There is nothing more fun than playing your favorite game with your friends. From the earliest consoles, before set-top boxes went online, the only way to play with friends was to sit together in front of the same TV. Years passed, the Internet appeared, but communication remained – with the help of video chats and voice communication, gamers can communicate and interact, even being on different parts of the planet. That is, even a person prone to introspection becomes more sociable in the world of his favorite game and actively pumps his socialization skills.

Agility and Coordination

    There is no better genre for pumping hand-eye coordination than fighting games and platformers. In fights, especially at a high difficulty level, you are required to have a high reaction speed: block in time, dodge, and at the most opportune moment carry out a super blow. The coordination between what is happening on the screen and the movements of the hands must be just perfect.

Knowledge of History and Culture

Among the unexpected answers to the question “What skills do computer games develop?” This knowledge of the school curriculum in history. While many games use fictional locations and universes as the setting, there are projects with real historical past as the background. In such games, you can see for yourself how famous historical events took place and plunge into the atmosphere of a bygone antiquity.

Of course, we cannot say that all games are equally useful. Different video games have different effects on the human brain, and to find out exactly how this or that game changes the perception of reality, it is necessary to conduct a separate scientific laboratory study for each of them. One thing is clear: video games are a powerful tool, and you need to learn how to use it correctly. 

We hope that this article was interesting and useful for you!