Beat Games

The Pleasurable Stress of the VRAVG Beat Saber: A Mixed-Methods Study

A mixed-methods study of 34 university participants examined how a 60-minute session of Beat Saber, a virtual reality rhythm game, affected positive and negative affect, perceived exertion, and playfulness, with the aim of understanding whether the game's stress-related effects could be described as a form of mental health…

• A 60-minute Beat Saber session significantly increased positive affect and produced a large reduction in negative affect among 34 university participants, in an exploratory, uncontrolled mixed-methods study.
• Perceived exertion stayed in the light-to-moderate range (average 4.23 on a 10-point scale), suggesting the stress-related benefits occurred without heavy physical strain.
• Lighthearted and whimsical playfulness rose significantly during play, but mediation effects were not supported, and overall playfulness traits changed little.