Reuters: New research backs up that video games can be an antidote to stress and anxiety [interactive article]
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To be honest, most of the games I've played in the past 5+ years since I've started to get back into the hobby are stressful in various ways. That doesn't mean they aren't "quelling" stress and anxiety for me, just that when I'm playing them, they stress me out and give me anxiety.
Take for instance my current game du jour: Doom 2016. When battles are going, I'm for sure sweating and amped up, stressed, anxious, and what have you. It's anything but relaxing while playing. But still quite enjoyable.
So, perhaps the "quelling" comes after? A bit like a workout, where you're hyped up and exerting yourself, but after the fact you mellow out and relax?
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Most FPSs give me the same feeling. Whenever I play one I ask myself, do I want to relax or get amped up from gaming today? and maybe play something relaxing instead
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Nothing calms me down like the adrenaline rush of cutting demons in half with a chainsaw in doom eternal
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Wait, fun can be an antidote to stress and anxiety?! Since when?
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If you are a fan of extremely fast-paced and frantic combat, you should try ULTRAKILL.
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I go into a meditative, Zen-like Trance playing the Doom titles.
For reference, I've been playing Doom since it came out in 1993, arguably, I've played it for more hours than possibly anyone alive on the Internet at the present moment. Maybe over a solid 128,000 hours between D1/D2/D3/D2016/D:Eternal.
I still play it, various MegaWADS featured in the CacoAwards, and whatnot, but I digress.
My feeling with this is, as they'd say:
"Your judgement for the sin of wrath is an eternity in Hell".
"Why are you smiling? It's supposed to be a punishment."
"No, adjudicator, I heard you perfectly. An eternity in paradise."
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Woah, I couldn't tell that my relaxing daily gaming sessions in the evening are a stress relief without this research.
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It's still important to do the research though. That way you can show your boss when he pulls you in his office for gaming all morning.
And why you need to spend an extra 2 hours this afternoon to recover now.
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Good point
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If you like the stress of combat, and as much as you say “quelling”, I must recommend Warhammer 40k Darktide. Since the last big content patch in ~October that pretty much finally brought it to 1.0, it has essentially been the roguelite, frenetic FPS I’ve been searching for. High skill ceiling, skill-based movement system, target prioritization is paramount, tons of play styles with builds and classes. Give it a shot. Do some ripping and tearing for the emperor.
