Across the world, more than 3 billion people play video games; a figure that keeps rising as the industry continues to grow.
Thanks to the latest technologies, video games are now much more accessible to people across the world as they’re not only more affordable but also accessible on devices that people already own.
`Not to mention, technologies like virtual reality are now bridging the gap between the physical and virtual worlds to create a whole new gaming experience that appeals to people who never would have considered themselves as gamers.
While many people consider gaming to be a distraction from everyday life, gaming can develop essential skills that are valuable outside of the virtual world. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the essential skills people can develop from gaming.
What Skills Can Be Developed From Gaming
Mathematical skills
As a child in school, we all ask why we needed to learn fractions and what purpose they would serve in adult life.
However, as adults, we can see how essential it is to have strong mathematical skills to develop a career, build our own financial independence, and have the ability to perform essential tasks such as filing taxes, weighing ingredients for a recipe, or working out a percentage in a sale in a department store.
Gaming is one of the last things we would think of for developing mathematical skills, yet many games like Monopoly Live from Virgin Games can develop essential mathematical skills in a fun way.
From considering whether it’s worth buying a property, to calculating how much tax you owe, there are lots of different ways Monopoly Live and other games can put your mathematical skills to the test.
Patience
Being able to show patience has many benefits in everyday life and can limit the effects of stress on our bodies.
Not only this, showing patience is beneficial in our social relationships, at work, and in tense situations when we need to act fast and think clearly.
Many video games involve repetition as players must follow a pattern or complete obstacles to get to the end of a level.
Patience in a video game helps the player to perform better and keep being persistent, a skill which can be transferred to tasks like doing homework, completing a tricky DIY project or dealing with a challenging person.
Problem-solving
Problem-solving is an essential skill that everyone needs in life. Video games that develop problem-solving skills include puzzle games like some casino games, adventure games like Animal Crossing, and social games like Among Us.
Problem-solving skills are especially useful when handling difficult and crisis situations, work challenges, personal relationship conflicts and scenarios that require you to think outside of the box.
One of the best things about developing problem-solving skills in a video game environment is that these skills are developed in a safe, fun, engaging and stress-free space where there are no real-life consequences if you don’t get it right the first time.
Social skills
Many people that play video games are introverted and may find it challenging to be confident and act like themselves in social situations. Playing video games that incorporate a social element such as online bingo, gaming chat rooms and leadership boards encourage people to step outside of their comfort zone and mix with others in a virtual environment where their personal identity is protected.
In many video games, there are also multiplayer modes where players can work together to achieve a common goal or beat an opponent or opposing team.
Creativity
While many people value practical skills like problem solving and mathematical skills above all else, the ability to be creative is equally important. Being creative has many long term benefits on our mental and physical health, such as allowing us to sleep better, regulating our mood, and helping to burn stress.
Games that foster creativity include Minecraft as it is a game that helps players use their imagination to create unique structures. In Puzzle games, players are challenged to think outside the box which also helps foster creativity.
Studies have shown that creative people are more adept at developing confidence in their own abilities, as well as being resilient when making errors, and are also more willing to try new things.
Teamwork
Many of today’s video games are also available in multiplayer mode, enabling people to build essential teamwork skills as they work with other players to achieve a common shared goal. Gaming genres such as adventure games require teamwork, as well as action games where players must work to protect their team members as they battle their opponents.
Outside of the gaming world, teamwork is essential in work life and can help to form key relationships with colleagues, as well as those in managerial positions. It can even lead to being promoted into a managerial position if shown among other key skills.
Overall, while gamers have a reputation for wasting time, it’s clear that there is far more to gaming than first meets the eye. When looking at the bigger picture, gamers can develop a number of key skills that are essential in everyday life and will be beneficial not only in the game but in the real world too.