Video games can have a negative perception when it comes to our well-being. We often hear claims that “too much screen time” harms your health. But there is plenty of evidence to the contrary that gambling is good for your mental health and can even boost your happiness.
If you want to lift your spirits, grabbing your favorite gaming device and trying one of these games will improve your mood when feeling down.
How video games can benefit your mental health
Most of us are familiar with the buzz of video games—the dopamine rush that makes us feel good when we complete a virtual challenge. Additionally, there is research evidence that gaming can support our mental health.
According to a 2021 research paper by JMIR Publications, Playing video games can benefit your mental health as an effective, inexpensive, and easily accessible therapeutic resource. It can be beneficial for anyone struggling with depression and anxiety.
The study highlights video games’ mental health benefits, including socialization, cognition, and emotion regulation.
For anyone looking to improve their mental health without leaving their home, the next video games may be the answer:
1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons graced store shelves at a much-needed time in 2020, when its exhilarating, action-packed gameplay was just what we’d been looking for.
You’d be hard-pressed to find another social simulation game as charming as Animal Crossing. The cartoonish design of the Nintendo Switch exclusive adds to the cheerful nature of everything, including the anthropomorphic animal characters that help and encourage you to build the island of your dreams.
Being a real-time game, Animal Crossing offers a calm pace of virtual life, where your day revolves around making friends, sourcing materials, and building and designing the perfect habitable island. There’s little danger to your life on the island (aside from being stung by the occasional hornet!), and time pressure is sporadic, making gameplay relaxing and smooth.
Perfect for creative minds, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is also ideal for anyone craving a social boost. NPCs are cute enough to interact with, but if you want honest social communication in the game, you can visit other real-life players’ islands and invite them to your island (Nintendo Switch Online membership required).
Playing Animal Crossing at night can help you calm down and relax if you’re having trouble sleeping. Nocturnal activities include:
- Stargazing.
- Hunting only nocturnal creatures.
- Engaging a Night Wisp character.
- Simply continuing to design your island while the other characters sleep.
2. Stardew Vale
Another creative game that relies on community support, Stardew Valley has been growing in popularity since its indie creator, ConcernedApe, launched it in 2016.
Available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox, PS4, and mobile devices, and now as a tabletop game, Stardew Valley is an open-ended rural RPG designed in 2D and an exquisite style. After becoming disillusioned with overcrowded city life, you move into your late grandfather’s old farmhouse in Stardew Valley. Here you build your farm, make friends with the locals, fish, and participate in the community’s life.
The game is addictive, with various missions, customizations, and storylines to follow, and the fulfillment you can get as a player will lift your mood. There’s nothing stressful to watch in Stardew Valley; it’s a smooth and relaxing game, which makes it so replayable.
Each character in the game has their own story, another fascinating feature of the premise, and you can choose to boycott or support the JoJoMart that threatens local businesses.
There are also multiplayer options, so you can collaborate with a friend to complete missions locally via split-screen or remotely over the internet.
If you want to experience the game at a lower price than what is available on a PC or console, you can check out the Android or iOS mobile app versions.
3. LEGO Harry PotterTM
Let’s be honest; any LEGO game will make you laugh, but if you’re one of those… Harry Potter fans, This is one of the best LEGO games out there. Featuring soundtracks from classic films, the LEGO® Harry PotterTM collection is sure to lift your mood.
The classic LEGO comic version of a family-favorite family franchise offers gamers on both consoles and mobile devices an utterly captivating experience. LEGO Harry PotterTM provides a healthy dose of nostalgia (an emotion suggested by a 2013 article in WISE Magazines to heighten optimism) and leaves nothing for fans of the blockbusters. You play through the seven years of Hogwarts, following storylines from the books and unlocking your favorite characters as you go.
Whether you’re a Harry Potter fan or not, it’s hard to deny the appealing qualities of LEGO Harry PotterTM. There is also a multiplayer option, which allows the players to share the fun of the game with other players. As with all LEGO games, this one is full of fun and humor, guaranteed to brighten your day.
If you’re looking for a low-stress, funny, endorphin-boosting game with a touch of nostalgic charm, then LEGO Harry PotterTM is for you. Besides, who doesn’t want to visit Hogwarts again and again?
4. Just dance.
Dancing is not only good for your physical health; it also supports your mental health. It’s a fun activity that releases dopamine (the “happiness hormone”), which can help boost your mood. Learning dance moves can also increase your confidence while providing other benefits of physical activity, such as stress reduction, better heart health, and better sleep.
If you’ve got the energy, the Nintendo Switch game Just Dance is a surefire way to get your dopamine going and put a smile on your face. Nintendo releases a new version of this game every year so that you can dance to the best songs of the year. You can also expand your access to any Just Dance games with a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Alternatively, you can play Dance Now on your mobile phone if you don’t have a Switch.
There are a variety of songs, dance routines, and difficulties designed to appeal to all ages and dance abilities. Even if you’re the most uncoordinated gamer out there, you’ll still laugh while running to a Ghostbuster song or trying to keep up with faster-paced pieces.
Each dance routine is led by an on-screen character, ranging from XNUMXs-style humans to more exotic animal characters, such as the bejeweled panda, who gives everything to Baka’s Dance.
Whether dancing alone or with friends, Just Dance is a fun game to improve your mental health.
Playing video games can help improve your mood.
Playing video games can improve your mood when you’re feeling down, from boosting dopamine to giving you a sense of completeness.
If you’re struggling to find happiness, playing one of the above games could be the tonic you need to improve your mental health.
