Positive Effects of Video Games:

Cognitive Ability:

In a study involving 2,000 youngsters, it was shown that those who said they played video games for three hours or more each day outperformed youngsters who had never played video games on cognitive skills tests including impulse control, working memory and more.

Researchers discovered that kids who admitted to playing video games for three or more hours noticed that the variations in brain activity between the two groups matched the disparities in cognitive function. Children who played video games for three or more hours per day had increased brain activity in areas of the brain linked to attention and memory than children who never played, according to functional MRI brain imaging studies. Additionally, children who played video games for at least three hours per day had increased activity in the visual regions of the brain and increased activity in the frontal brain areas linked to higher-order cognitive activities.

The researchers also emphasize that cause-and-effect studies are not possible in this cross-sectional study and that kids who excel at these kinds of cognitive activities may choose to play video games. The researchers stress that their findings do not support the idea that kids should have unrestricted access to TVs, computers, or mobile devices, and that results are highly dependent on the activities that kids choose to perform. For instance, they guess that various video game genres, such as action-adventure, puzzle-solving, sports, or shooting games, may have varied impacts on neurocognitive development; however, the study did not analyze this degree of precision about the type of video game played.

(National Institutes of Health, Video gaming may be associated with better cognitive performance in children 2022)

Hand-to-eye coordination:

In the August 2016 edition of Psychological Science, Li Li, Rongrong Chen, and Jing Chen investigated whether playing video games improves visuomotor control, or what is commonly referred to as hand-eye coordination.

In one study, the researchers compared young individuals who played action video games for at least five hours a week for at least six months versus those who played for less than an hour each month. These games included driving simulators and first-person shooters. They put them to the test by having participants maintain a car in a straight line during a driving simulation. The crosswind was blowing the automobile in an erratic direction.

Overall, action video game players outperformed non-players at this lane-following challenge. Keeping the automobile in its lane was easier for game participants than it was for non-players. They also responded to crosswinds more swiftly and precisely.

These findings show that there is plenty that people may do to enhance their hand-eye coordination more broadly. Coordination-intensive activities can significantly improve a person's performance. Given how many people spend a lot of time in front of screens watching television, movies, and browsing the internet, these findings are very intriguing. According to this research, individuals might benefit from participating in more coordinated activity-requiring activities. Even playing action video games will probably be more advantageous than just staring at a screen.

(Markman Ph.D., Video game play benefits coordination 2016)

Improvement of Literacy:

A survey consisting of 42,000 children between the ages of 8 and 18 was conducted. In-game communications are, according to one poll, the second most popular on-screen reading activity for this age range, right behind personal/direct messaging. (e.g. via text, WhatsApp, Discord or Instagram).

87.5% of children and young people say they read in-game messages, while 92.4% read personal/ direct messages

84.2% of children and young people say they write text or messages while playing video games

More boys and older children say they read and write in-game communication, compared with girls, those who self-describe their gender differently as other than boy or girl and younger age groups

3 in 5 (58.4%) children and young people said they had talked to or messaged friends more while playing video games in early 2021.

According to comments made by young people and adolescents, talking to others while playing video games helps support and strengthen friendships. In addition, comments indicated that while playing video games is a significant component of young people’s free time and social life, it is not a substitute for other hobbies like reading, writing, physical activity, and socializing.

(Literacy Trust, Children and young people's video game playing and literacy in 2021 2021)

Improved Historical and Cultural Knowledge:

The themes of some video games, including "Age of Empires," "Civilization," and "Mythology," are based on historical events that occurred. The interest in geography, the history of the world, ancient culture, and international relations can be simulated by playing these games. To encourage learning, parents can link these activities to publications, exhibits, and media about geography and culture