Many of us grew up with negative notions surrounding video games. They’re violent and even addictive is what our parents — or ourselves — preached. But as the saying goes, time changes everything. And the roughly 50-year-old video game industry is no exception, with research increasingly bucking some of those stereotypes and indicating there are indeed positive health benefits of gaming.
It’s been reported that strategy games can make us smarter. And other research shows that gaming may even help with post-work recovery — whether you work in an office or work at home. Cooperative or multiplayer games can also provide opportunities for socialization and alleviate loneliness.
The takeaway: Video games are not just a means for entertainment anymore. They can improve our quality of life, if you know which relaxing video game to play. To help, Norton crowned more than a handful of video games with calming qualities, highlighted in the infographic below. Go on, and game on.
