180.1 billion dollars! According to Statista, that is the projected revenue of the gaming industry by the end of 2021.
One thing is for sure- this sector is undoubtedly profitable. Those working within the industry are not the only ones benefiting from it.
Instead, as a consumer, video games are an excellent product for the masses, whether it be children or full-fledged adults. In a hectic life, video games can surely help in relieving stress and anxiety. Apart from console games, one can also play online games to spend their spare time.
Why play online games in your spare time?
Here are the reasons why playing games is a great way to spend your spare time.
1. It helps boost your memory
Depending on the type of online games you choose, you can end up boosting your memory via it. Games that revolve around strategy building and decision making generally help with improving memory.
For instance, building your own civilization may look like a fun task. But, the strategy you put into creating the most sustainable civilization can end up helping your brain cells.
Thanks to modern technology, we now live in a world where the online gaming world mimics the real one. The immersive nature of games further impacts our memory positively.
For instance, let’s say you play an online game that demands multiple tasks to be carried out all at the same time. You must fight your opponent while juggling obstacles and collecting rewards. Such multitasking further helps in exercising your hippocampus, which is responsible for memory building.
Additionally, to add credibility to this benefit, it has been observed that studies prove the cognitive benefit of playing video games!
There have been various studies that help gauge the effectiveness of playing video games on our overall cognitive health. The results have been relatively positive.
For example, according to a 2015 University of California study, gamers tend to have a better memory than non-gamers. They also benefit from better hand-eye coordination.
2. Games aid in spatial visualization
Playing online games don’t just help your memory. Instead, they also aid in spatial visualization. According to a study conducted by the American Psychological Association in 2013, shooter games help individuals in judging distances between objects.
How is this a benefit?
Well, in the real world, better spatial visualization means being able to gauge speed and distance of moving cars, being able to parallel park in a very tight spot, or organizing items so that everything fits perfectly in a given space.
3. It helps you polish your social skills
Humans might be social animals. But, not all of us are great at mingling with one another. One of the most significant criticisms of modern technology is that it isolates people from one another. All of us spend more time looking down at smartphones than interacting with one another.
While this change has been part of the modern evolution, this doesn’t mean that advanced technology is a villain through and through.
Playing online games is a great way to meet new people and interact with one another. Now, many online games allow people to converse with one another. Many regards the gaming community to be an actual community. Hence, it can be said that playing online games help in building social skills and finding like-minded people.
4. It improves decision-making capabilities
Online games, Dungeon Sweep or Pac-Man, require quick decision making. You need to decide which is the best path to take and how to avoid monsters. Similarly, action games like Call of Duty and Counter-Strike also require swift thinking.
Such fast-paced games help an individual in improving their decision making skill. A study was conducted in 2010 by the University of Rochester. The study concluded that gamers were better at making precise choices than non-gamers.
So, if you play fast-paced online games in your spare time, you can end up making your work time more productive. You won’t have to waste your time in deciding what to eat for breakfast or what to wear to work. Taking decisions will become easier.
Best online games to play in your spare time
Now that you know playing online games in your free time isn’t that bad after all, the next question you might have is what game to play. Let’s face it. There are just too many options to choose from!
Well, here are the top three online games you can play.
1. Moles in Holes
Unlimited Gamez Mo brings quite a fun and simple strategy game in the form of Moles in Holes. Here, all you need to do is bring each mole closer to its food. The challenge is to ensure that the paths of none of the moles should cross one another.
Depending on the number of moles you have, you will have to think ahead and decide what the best path for each mole will be.
2. QuizUp
Do you like trivia? If you wish to strain your brain and check your memory even in your free time, QuizUp is a game for you. This online quiz game can be played with friends or with other online players.
The game offers a wide variety of topics, ranging from sports to chocolates. Test your knowledge about each.
3. RuneScape
When you have to war, you might need certain troop and keep everything engaging. Through runescape, it is easier to keep moving along struggle and improvements in the gaming world. The game is a multiplayer platform. Here player need to win rs gold and level up through upgrading. This nails up your way of approach in gaming.
4. 8 Ball Pool
When it comes to snooker, no other online snooker game is as accurate as 8 Ball Pool. In this online game, you feel as if you are playing snooker in real life. In terms of physics and accuracy, this online game has undoubtedly nailed it.
Not to mention that it helps in improving spatial visualization and hand-eye coordination!
Verdict: Go play away
All in all, online games are a great way to break everyday monotony. Unwind with the perfect game. Immerse yourself in the online gaming world and watch as all your concerns and tiredness seeps away, even if for just a while.
Do you play online games? Are you planning to? Let us know your top choices!
Author: Alycia Gordan
Alycia is a freelance writer who loves to read and write articles on healthcare technology, fitness and lifestyle. She is a tech junkie and divides her time between travel and writing. You can follow Alycia on Twitter.
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