Over the years, video games have been the subject of numerous studies, often debated as both harmful and beneficial for mental health. A recent analysis, however, specifically explores the types of games that require different playstyles and how their impact can vary.
According to research conducted by teams at Imperial College London (UK) and the University of Graz (Austria), open-world games have a positive effect on players’ mental health and can serve as a therapeutic tool to combat stress.
This type of game is defined by expansive, detailed environments where gameplay is often non-linear and unstructured. Players can freely diverge from the main storyline, engage in side quests, or simply explore their surroundings, granting them complete freedom of action.
“The competitive nature of some games creates high levels of excitement and urgency. In contrast, open-world games often emphasize the player’s experience over predefined objectives. This allows them to set their own goals and pace, whether it’s building a new settlement, taming wild creatures, or mapping unexplored territories.”, the researchers explain.
This sense of autonomy helps gamers achieve greater relaxation and improves their mental state. In the long term, open-world games could be utilized as a therapeutic tool to alleviate stress and anxiety.
To study the relationship between open-world games and players’ mental health, researchers surveyed over 600 individuals who played titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Red Dead Redemption 2, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative analyses.
The results pointed to what the researchers called “cognitive escapism”—players’ ability to temporarily disconnect from stressful thoughts by immersing themselves in the game, which ultimately improved their mood and psychological well-being.
