{"id":395127,"date":"2026-05-24T03:48:04","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T03:48:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/?p=395127"},"modified":"2026-05-24T03:48:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T03:48:04","slug":"why-do-i-enjoy-video-games-so-much","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-do-i-enjoy-video-games-so-much\/","title":{"rendered":"Why do I enjoy video games so much?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_67_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-do-i-enjoy-video-games-so-much\/#Why_do_I_enjoy_video_games_so_much\" title=\"Why do I enjoy video games so much?\">Why do I enjoy video games so much?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-do-i-enjoy-video-games-so-much\/#Understanding_the_Psychology_of_Gaming\" title=\"Understanding the Psychology of Gaming\">Understanding the Psychology of Gaming<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-do-i-enjoy-video-games-so-much\/#The_Role_of_Dopamine\" title=\"The Role of Dopamine\">The Role of Dopamine<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-do-i-enjoy-video-games-so-much\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_I_enjoy_video_games_so_much\"><\/span>Why do I enjoy video games so much?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>You enjoy video games so much because they fulfill your <strong>need for competence, autonomy, and relatedness<\/strong>, which are fundamental drivers of human behavior, and provide a <strong>completely focused mental state<\/strong> known as <strong>flow<\/strong>, where you are fully engaged and immersed in the gaming experience. The <strong>reward center in the brain releases dopamine<\/strong> in response to <strong>pleasurable experiences or hyperarousal<\/strong>, creating a strong drive to seek out that same pleasure again and again, making video games a highly enjoyable and potentially <strong>addictive<\/strong> activity. <\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Understanding_the_Psychology_of_Gaming\"><\/span>Understanding the Psychology of Gaming<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The psychology behind why people enjoy video games is complex and multifaceted, involving factors such as <strong>escape from reality<\/strong>, <strong>social interaction<\/strong>, and <strong>personal achievement<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Role_of_Dopamine\"><\/span>The Role of Dopamine<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The release of <strong>dopamine<\/strong> plays a significant role in the enjoyment of video games, as it associates the activity with <strong>pleasure and reward<\/strong>, motivating players to continue playing to experience that feeling again.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>What is a gamer?<\/strong>: A <strong>gamer<\/strong> is a proactive hobbyist who plays interactive games, especially video games, tabletop role-playing games, and skill-based card games, and who plays for usually long periods of time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>What are female gamers called?<\/strong>: Most people use the terms <strong>gamer girl<\/strong> and <strong>girl gamer<\/strong> interchangeably, with <strong>girl gamers<\/strong> being a kind of gamer, but gamers first and foremost.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is gaming a hobby or an addiction?<\/strong>: Video games are deliberately designed to be <strong>addictive<\/strong>, and gaming can turn from a fun hobby to a destructive <strong>addiction<\/strong> if the balance tips and gaming starts to consume your every waking hour.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How much is too much video games for adults?<\/strong>: Although there isn&#8217;t a definitive answer, the amount of time spent gaming isn&#8217;t as relevant as how much it <strong>interferes with daily activities and responsibilities<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do video games help with anxiety?<\/strong>: Video games can act as <strong>distractions from pain and psychological trauma<\/strong>, and can also help people who are dealing with mental disorders like <strong>anxiety<\/strong>, <strong>depression<\/strong>, <strong>ADHD<\/strong>, and <strong>PTSD<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How many hours of gaming is considered an addiction?<\/strong>: For video game play to be classified as <strong>addictive<\/strong>, one must engage in them for at least <strong>15 to 20 hours each week<\/strong> or more.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do people with ADHD play a lot of video games?<\/strong>: Individuals with <strong>ADHD<\/strong> are more prone to play video games more often, but this play does not cause <strong>ADHD<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Does ADHD make you addicted to video games?<\/strong>: Many children and adolescents suffering from <strong>ADHD\/ADD<\/strong> can literally become <strong>addicted to video games<\/strong>, regardless of how bright or intelligent they are.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Are gamers more happy?<\/strong>: Playing video games may improve your <strong>mental health<\/strong> and make you <strong>happier<\/strong>, according to a scientific study that used industry data from gaming companies to analyze players&#8217; wellbeing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is gaming good for your mental health?<\/strong>: Gaming, when used positively, can be a really helpful way to look after your <strong>mental health<\/strong>, providing a space to <strong>unwind, relax, and take time out<\/strong> from the pressures of daily life.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is it OK to play video games as an adult?<\/strong>: Gaming as an adult isn&#8217;t that bad, and it&#8217;s really not that vastly different as before, especially if you left college only a few years ago.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How long is too long for gaming?<\/strong>: It&#8217;s good to set <strong>video game time limits<\/strong> by age, with kids over 6 years old limited to <strong>60 minutes on school days and 2 hours on non-school days<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>What is a gaming disorder?<\/strong>: <strong>Gaming disorder<\/strong> is defined as a pattern of gaming behavior characterized by <strong>impaired control over gaming<\/strong>, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other aspects of life.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How many hours do gamers play a day?<\/strong>: At <strong>7.6 hours per week<\/strong>, the average gamer plays just over <strong>one hour every day<\/strong> on average, with US gamers spending the longest time on games.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Are there any famous people with ADHD?<\/strong>: Yes, famous people with <strong>ADHD<\/strong> include <strong>Simone Biles<\/strong>, <strong>Emma Watson<\/strong>, <strong>Johnny Depp<\/strong>, and <strong>Channing Tatum<\/strong>, who have all spoken publicly about their experiences with the condition.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why do I enjoy video games so much? You enjoy video games so much because they fulfill your need for competence, autonomy, and relatedness, which are fundamental drivers of human behavior, and provide a completely focused mental state known as flow, where you are fully engaged and immersed in the gaming experience. The reward center &#8230; <a title=\"Why do I enjoy video games so much?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/why-do-i-enjoy-video-games-so-much\/\" aria-label=\"More on Why do I enjoy video games so much?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-395127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/395127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=395127"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/395127\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=395127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=395127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=395127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}