Despite all the claims, playing video games won’t rot your brain. More and more studies have shown that playing video games — in moderation, of course — comes with its own set of benefits, including improved coordination, better spatial recognition, and much more.
Now a new study suggests that in addition to cognitive buffs, gaming can actually help improve your mental health. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, Japanese scientists found themselves with a bit of a natural experiment on their hands.
Retailers had created a randomized lottery to fairly distribute Nintendo Switch consoles, and this lottery allowed the scientists to study the link between gaming and overall mental well-being.
The study analyzed 97,602 responses from gamers between the ages of 10 and 69, according to The Brighter Side. Recommended Videos According to the report, Nintendo Switch ownership was linked with an improvement in mental health by 0.60 standard deviation units, while the PlayStation 5 only increased mental health by 0.12 units.
That sounds like medical jargon, but it boils down to this: There is a noticeable effect on mental health when gaming, and this study suggests that Nintendo might have an edge in that category.