Yes, Gaming is a Legitimate Hobby

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By Danica Basta

In his USA Today article, Mike Snider says “For players during the pandemic, video games were a source of stress relief (55%) and distraction (48%), the survey found.”

For the past year and a half, people all around the US have had to find ways to keep themselves entertained at home. For many, including myself, this was not a difficult task. Diving headfirst into the world of video games provided a place of comfort in such an unpredictable and scary time. I have long since been a gamer, which is obvious from my extensive Steam library. So, keeping myself from going insane would be easy as pie.

Long have gamers been asked whether they are going to exit that phase of their life and stop being so childish. But video games are not just for children. That much is apparent when you look at the wide range of video games offered on online gaming platforms such as Steam, Epic Games, Nintendo, and many more.

Despite the boom in the gaming industry, brick and mortar stores like Gamestop are “floundering,” Anne D’Innocenzio writes in her article on The Chicago Tribune. This has been a long time in the making, as online gaming has been flourishing for the past several years. And the appearance of the pandemic only served to further increase online audiences that sought to play games that might provide easy solace or connection with others.

This was definitely the case given how much attention surrounded Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons when it was released in March of 2020. During a time when we suddenly weren’t able to travel and visit loved ones, many people settled for visiting one another on each other’s Animal Crossing islands.

Group shot with friends in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Photo: Danica Basta

Despite these wholesome interactions that have ultimately been the driving factor in keeping many people going during this tough time, there are those that continue to criticize video games as a whole.

There have long been debates on whether video games have positive or negative impacts on their players. An article posted by the American Psychological Association (APA) back in 2000 claimed the research they conducted proved that violent video games increased aggression in its players. However, studies done in the last few years have disproved such claims, as reported by CNN.

With the increase of online gaming and the popularity of platforms such as Steam, many independent creators and smaller companies have been able to carve out smaller corners in the community for themselves. These games often sit on the opposite side of the spectrum from the “violent video games” that some parents and experts believe taint today’s youth.

One game that comes to mind is one that I played about two years ago for a game culture class. Published by Annapurna Interactive in 2018, Florence is structured more like an interactive fiction piece with a variation of puzzles that move the plot forward. It focuses on Florence Yeoh, a 25-year-old woman seemingly stuck in her normal routine. Upon meeting her first love, however, she suddenly starts to view the world in a different light. Although this game is only 30 minutes long, it is an emotional rollercoaster that highlights an important message about relationships.

Screenshot from Florence by Mountains. Photo: Danica Basta

To sum it up, Florence has interesting mechanics that drive its storyline, beautiful artwork and was created by a hardworking independent developer. If it looks like something you would like, or have even played already, here’s a few other games that I suggest:

Screenshot from Eastshade by Eastshade Studios. Photo: Danica Basta

For many people, video games are a legitimate hobby. By sitting down at your computer or picking up a controller, video games often provide a place to escape the anxieties that real life throws our way. They can even improve your mood and promote relaxation that you might not find in other pastimes.

As time marches on, gamers will continue to retreat into these immersive worlds, and there is nothing wrong with that. Like running, playing an instrument, or yoga – video games are a legitimate hobby that proves to be a source of happiness for countless people not just in the US, but all around the world.