Key insights
6 slides
Key role
Video games acted as a critical therapeutic buffer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gaming mitigated psychological distress, social isolation, and anxiety during the global health crisis.
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- 01Video games served as a critical therapeutic buffer during the COVID-19 pandemic by mitigating psychological distress, social isolation, and anxiety.See it on page 19
- 02Games provided users with a sense of personal agency and control through structured environments and clear objectives, compensating for the loss of real-world interaction.See it on page 13
- 03Procedural rhetoric in gaming helped players model complex epidemiological processes and identify the mechanics of misinformation, increasing resistance to conspiracy theories.See it on page 17
- 04Moderate engagement with gaming offers tangible mental health benefits, including improved emotional regulation and individual resilience during times of crisis.See it on page 21
- 05While not a replacement for clinical intervention, the industry's performance suggests significant potential for integrating game mechanics into formal psychosocial wellness initiatives.See it on page 4
- 06Future research should focus on formalizing the use of digital game environments to foster psychological well-being and positive health behaviors during periods of uncertainty.See it on page 25
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Summary
Video games functioned as a critical therapeutic resource during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing a necessary buffer against the psychological distress caused by prolonged social isolation, anxiety, and a pervasive sense of powerlessness. By offering structured environments that foster social connection, personal agency, and emotional regulation, both commercial entertainment titles and specialized serious games served as effective tools for coping with the unique challenges of confinement. These digital spaces allowed individuals to regain a sense of control and self-esteem through clear objectives and immersive exploration, effectively compensating for the sudden loss of real-world interactions.
Beyond immediate emotional relief, gaming acted as a cognitive framework for navigating complex global crises. Through the application of procedural rhetoric, certain titles successfully modeled epidemiological processes and exposed the mechanics of misinformation, helping players better understand and resist the influence of conspiracy theories. By providing a secure environment to process existential anxieties, these games encouraged the adoption of positive health behaviors and bolstered individual resilience.
While gaming is not a substitute for professional clinical intervention, the evidence suggests that moderate engagement offers tangible mental health benefits. The industry’s role during this period highlights the potential for integrating specific game mechanics into broader psychosocial wellness initiatives. Future research should focus on formalizing these interactions to leverage the medium’s capacity for fostering agency and psychological well-being in times of uncertainty.
