Frowned upon by ‘real gamers’, the transition of the gaming industry from desktop to handheld mobile supercomputer was inevitable.
It’s cheaper than a console, faster, more convenient, and can be enjoyed by a wide range of demographics.
According to a study conducted at University College London and The University of Bath, it’s also become one of the most effective stress relievers available – even better than meditation exercises and prompt breathing.
More and more developers have focused on creating mindfulness apps to ease today’s culture of anxiety and public uneasiness, ranging from apps focusing on breathing control to meditation practice.
But, it’s simple, time-killing mobile games that are proving to be a more effective solution.
Related: How Smartphones are Advancing Medicine
The aforementioned study involved two experiments. The first asked 45 students to unwind in different ways after a math test; the second asked 20 people to use either a smartphone game or mindfulness app to relax after work. In both experiments, those that opted for smartphone games were more relaxed and more in control.
“To protect our long-term health and well-being, we need to be able to unwind and recuperate after work. Our study suggests playing digital games can be an effective way to do this,” says lead author, Dr Emily Collins.
The authors note that post-work recovery and relaxation is substantially more effective when the person playing is actually enjoying the game and isn’t just doing it as a time-killer. So, relax and go crush some candy or anger some birds.
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