Does playing video games make you sharper at work?

For many, picking up a controller at the end of a long day to neutralize some zombies or take on a side quest with a fairy is a way to unwind and escape from the demands of work. 

But it might also have some unexpected benefits that follow you from the character select screen and into the office. 

A new report from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) finds that the motivations behind gaming go far beyond fun. While 66% of the more than 24,000 players in 21 countries surveyed say they play primarily for enjoyment, the majority credit gaming with developing real-world skills, like problem-solving, teamwork, adaptability, and critical thinking. All useful transferable skills to play up in a job interview. (Maybe don’t reveal you honed them playing Fortnite, though.)

More than half the respondents say playing video games helps relieve stress (58%). Forty-five percent say playing video keeps their minds sharp, and nearly half (43%) of players say video games have positively influenced their education or career path.

“The player perspective is supported by scientific research, with many studies concluding that video games improve cognitive skills and decision-making,” Stanley Pierre-Louis, president and CEO, Entertainment Software Association, told Fast Company. 

“A number of industries have already embraced interactive technologies for training employees, from medical treatments and surgery to astronautics and emergency response,” says Pierre-Louis. “I anticipate more will recognize gameplay as a way to engage with and develop their workforce in the near future.”

Brain health experts are a bit divided as to whether some games, like Wordle, actually improve cognitive function. And while the ESA report is of course an industry one, there’s other data out there that may support its findings.

A 2022 study found that kids who play video games showed better impulse control and working memory than those who didn’t. Another from 2021 found that playing video games does improve not only cognitive functions, but also mood and emotional well-being in elderly people.

Another, from 2020 from University of Liechtenstein, found a strong correlation between video game skills and managerial ability. “In fact, being adept at video games can significantly boost one’s career,” the researchers wrote. 

A literature review published in Procedia Computer Science, cited in the ESA report, also found that gaming can enhance perception, attentional control, and decision-making. Nurses and doctors, for example, who trained with simulation games showed improvements in both risk assessment and response time.

These benefits aren’t limited to just life-or-death scenarios. Retailers have also turned to game-based tools to prepare employees for peak shopping events, the report notes. Sports teams use simulation tech to help athletes train. Across industries, gaming has become a quick fix to boost preparedness and improve team outcomes.

Of course, spending hours gaming in the evening is not always the answer to your work woes. Sometimes it’s just a way to unwind after a long day. (There’s research that suggests mental health benefits of having hobbies, by the way.)

But research has also previously found that gaming can actually hinder the amount of work young men do by 15 to 30 hours over the course of one year. And excessive gaming can be detrimental to mental health, or even spiral into addiction for some people. 

As companies struggle to maintain engaged employees, burnout is on the up. Who knows? Maybe a chill pastime in front of a glowing screen is just the thing to take the edge off. (Or, in some ways, may also give the edge you need to perform better at work.)

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