How Games Could Improve Your Mental Health
Vol 27, Issue 19
Reuters recently released an interactive article about how cozy games affect your mental health. This isn’t your typical article – as you scroll, you control a little Radish exploring a town called “Rootersville,” where you meet characters, plant sunflowers, and learn all about cozy games while playing one. It’s a whole new take on storytelling.
I definitely recommend checking it out, it’s one of the most creative pieces I’ve seen.
Cozy Games: More Than Just a Trend?
Did you know that the gaming industry is now bigger than both the film and music industries? One of its fastest-growing trends is “cozy games.” These are relaxing, low-pressure games focused on exploration and building, not combat. And they could actually be good for your mental health. Research mentioned by Reuters suggests they might be.
Cozy games have been around for years, with early classics like *Harvest Moon* (1996). But the genre exploded with the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons in 2020, right as the COVID-19 lockdowns began. It sold over 13 million copies in six weeks, offering players a much-needed digital escape. That success led to a surge in similar games, solidifying cozy games as a significant trend.
So, what makes a game cozy? While there’s no official definition, cozy games generally offer calming experiences with relaxing music, soft visuals, and gameplay where you can go at your own pace.
These games don’t just provide entertainment – they also build communities. Online interactions in cozy games can offer a sense of belonging, especially for neurodivergent players. Reuters spoke to Suzanne Roman, an autistic advocate, whose daughter’s gaming community has been a huge support system. For her birthday, friends from around the world even pooled together to get her a special gift, showing how these virtual communities can lead to real-world friendships.
Despite concerns about gaming addiction, the World Health Organization’s 2019 recognition of gaming disorder, some researchers argue that gaming can improve well-being. For example, Hiroyuki Egami, an assistant professor at Nihon University, found that playing video games for just an hour a day can reduce psychological distress and increase life satisfaction.
Another study by Michael Wong at McMaster University showed that casual games are just as effective at reducing stress as meditation. Makes sense, right? When you think of meditation, it’s about calmness and letting go of stressful thoughts. That’s exactly what I felt while playing *Animal Crossing*.
With research like this, video games are starting to be seen as tools for mental health. For instance, Aarón Sújar from Rey Juan Carlos University is studying how gaming can help manage ADHD, proving that the industry’s impact reaches far beyond entertainment.
What Do Industry Experts Say?
To dive deeper, I spoke with Lena Mech, co-founder of Cozy Game Studio, who is passionate about making self-care more accessible through games. Her studio incorporates positive psychology, meditation, and nervous system regulation into their games.
Lena’s interest in games and their effect on behavior goes way back. “Games are powerful at getting people to do tasks, even simple ones,” she explained. “Take clicker games, for example – you’re just tapping your phone, but people play for hours.” This insight led her to explore how games could also promote meaningful activities like self-care.
Her inspiration came from struggling to keep a consistent meditation routine. “I always found meditation boring. I’d start and stop with different apps,” she shared. “Then I thought – why not combine it with a game? If games can keep you clicking your phone for hours, why can’t they help you improve your health too?”
How Game Devs Make A Game “Stress-relieving”
Lena explained that cozy games remove typical stressors found in other genres. “For example, time pressure is a huge stressor, and cozy games often don’t have that. You can finish a quest whenever you like, without worrying about deadlines,” she said. “The pace is slower, and the reaction time is up to you. You can literally just sit and relax for hours if you want.”
Games As A Form Of Meditation
As we mentioned earlier, Michael Wong’s study found that casual games are as effective as meditation for reducing stress. Lena finds this idea especially interesting when we talk about “flow states.”
“In games, we love talking about being in a flow state,” she noted. “Meditation researchers say the same thing. Meditation is about achieving a flow state too. It’s amazing how both fields reach similar conclusions about how our minds work.”
In game design, a flow state is when players are fully immersed in the game, with challenges matched to their skill level. The goal is to keep players engaged without frustration or boredom.
A Tool for Mental Well-Being
In addition to relaxation, cozy games may also be useful for improving mental health. Lena shared a story about her friend with ADHD, who plays *Hue* while having difficult conversations. “Even though she’s looking at her phone, it helps her stay present and calm during stressful talks,” Lena explained.
Cozy games offer more than just an escape – they can help players manage emotions and stress in real-life situations. “Games are escapism, but that’s actually the best part,” Lena said. “Sometimes you need to step away from the stress and do something else. Games have been criticized for so long, but they have so much potential to help us live better.”
Cozy games are more than just a way to unwind. Their stress-free gameplay, meditative qualities, and ability to foster mindfulness mean they could be a valuable tool for mental health. With every year, it’s clearer that these games can offer more than comfort – they might just improve your well-being.
A huge thanks to Lena Mech for sharing her thoughts, and I encourage everyone to check out Cozy Game Studio and their upcoming game Spirit World.
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