Online strategy games can be exceptionally demanding. The skills and strategies required, particularly from a psychological perspective, include mental resilience, effective attention management, and self-efficacy. Dr. Peter Gray penned an op-ed in Psychology Today titled, ‘Cognitive benefits of playing video games’ in which he discussed the extensive research about video games and mental abilities.
Even simple formats like solitaire games now incorporate competitive elements that challenge players to think ahead, manage time efficiently, and adapt under pressure. These classic games have transitioned into modern digital platforms where reflexes, pattern recognition, and intelligent decision-making can make a real difference. As a result, even casual players often find themselves improving focus and cognitive agility while enjoying fast, accessible gameplay that rewards mental sharpness.
Contrary to popular opinion, avid gamers do not necessarily suffer from all the maladies perpetuated in the media and our cultural zeitgeist. For example, specific tendencies, social isolation, and obesity are mischaracterized and a non-starter based on the stereotype. Researchers have uncovered astounding evidence detailing the enduring positive effects of gaming on basic mental processes.
Mental Agility Through Gaming
The American Journal of Play published its findings a decade ago. The report found that online players enjoyed substantial cognitive benefits in decision-making, memory, attention to detail, and perception. These mental processes serve people well in all aspects of life, from relationships to competitions and the business world.
The groundbreaking study revealed that gamers outperform non-gamers in cognitive tests, regardless of the method used. This enhanced performance is likely due to the superior mental and perceptual abilities of people who choose to play online games. This begs the question: what skills and strategies are needed to play online games? The answer to this question is diverse and detailed.
Skills that Translate Beyond the Screen
Active players tend to enjoy significant improvements in vigilance and attention to detail. These reflect the skills that players require to succeed in the fiercely competitive gaming realm. Additionally, players tend to reflect improvements in executive functionality, enhanced job skills, improved ability to track motion in a field filled with distractions and enhanced spatial attention. Viewed holistically, these skills are significant in every conceivable facet of daily life.
It is clear that top-rated skill games typically develop strong problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities. By design, strategy games test a player’s ability to plan. These games enhance memory, improve concentration, and foster adaptability. All of these skills are highly beneficial in real-life situations.
Strategic Thinking in Action
Indeed, the Games Learning Society (GLS) recently published an article titled, ‘Do strategy games make you a better strategist?’ The answer was an unequivocal yes. Given the skills needed for decision-making, planning, and problem-solving, players must employ a rigorous cognitive regimen to navigate the intrinsically complex gaming milieu. It’s all about awareness, adaptability, and action-oriented behavior.
Cognitive Elements of Strategy Games:
- Managing limited resources and allocating them accordingly.
- The ability to solve problems in real-time, with critical thinking skills.
- Planning, leading, organizing, and controlling resources, anticipating challenges, and proactively adapting to circumstances.
- From a cognitive perspective, strategy game players need to analyze, synthesize, and organize information in real-time.
Beyond the Gameboard: Real-World Applications
Fortunately, it’s not all for naught, and it’s easily transferable between the gaming arena and real-life situations. Players routinely implement the skills, lessons, and abilities they learn from strategy games into their personal lives. This can lead to enhanced efficiency, better decision-making, budgeting, career management, etc.
Of course, the skills and abilities of players are equally important in other aspects of life. Notable applications include management and leadership in the business world. Pursuing organizational objectives hinges upon a formulated vision, ably assisted by tactics and strategies. Therefore, we can unequivocally state that strategy games improve myriad skills. These include resource management, planning, leading, organizing, controlling, focus, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
A debate rages about whether strategy games can improve intelligence. The phrasing should be modified slightly since it’s less about overall intelligence and more about a player’s ability to perform tasks better, process information more efficiently, and utilize cognitive functions optimally. In a sense, this presents as improved intelligence, while it’s about optimizing innate skills, abilities, and processes.
Brain Power from Game Power
From a strategic thinking perspective, strategy games can positively impact cognitive function. There are peripheral issues, including cognitive flexibility, memory, and spatial reasoning. All of these benefit from immersive play in the strategy gaming paradigm. Much has been written about which types of people enjoy strategy games – suffice it to say that intelligent people certainly do.
Some people score high on IQ tests and enjoy rigorous strategy games, including Civilization, Go, Chess, Age of Empires, Starcraft, etc. We see positive evidence, with substantial improvements in working memory, better risk assessment, improved resource allocation, and enhanced strategic planning skills.
Given the extensive studies conducted on strategy games and the transferable skills they confer to players, it is clear that so much more than entertainment is taking place. This is real learning, skills development, and strategic engagement. Players are absorbing the lessons learned in these all-encompassing games and using them in the gaming and real worlds. It’s a win-win for everyone!
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