While video games are often blamed for promoting isolation or unhealthy habits, new research suggests they might actually do the opposite. A study published in the JMIR Serious Games journal found that certain titles can increase happiness, and even help players find a stronger sense of purpose.
Exploring Joy Through Zelda and Studio Ghibli
To test their theory, researchers worked with a group of graduate students, a demographic known for high stress due to academic pressure. Participants played The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Nintendo’s critically acclaimed open-world adventure.
The study aimed to explore how open-world games and the nostalgic emotions often triggered by Studio Ghibli films affect people’s overall happiness. Researchers focused on how experiences like exploration, calmness, and wonder contribute to emotional well-being.
They wanted to know if forms of entertainment like gaming and film could do more than provide leisure and actually nurture psychological and emotional health.
How the Experiment Worked
A total of 518 graduate students took part in the study. Participants were asked to either play Breath of the Wild for 30 minutes, watch a 7-minute clip from My Neighbor Totoro or Kiki’s Delivery Service, or do both. Some did neither, serving as a control group.
Afterward, each participant completed a questionnaire measuring factors such as happiness, calmness, sense of exploration, and overall life satisfaction.
The results were revealing: those who played Breath of the Wild reported higher levels of happiness and well-being than those who didn’t.
Why Breath of the Wild Works So Well
According to the findings, open-world games like Breath of the Wild enhance happiness because they foster a sense of exploration, mastery, and calm. These feelings can help reinforce a player’s sense of meaning and purpose.
Meanwhile, Studio Ghibli films were found to amplify these effects through nostalgia and emotional resonance. Participants who both played the game and watched the films showed the highest overall happiness scores.
Beyond Entertainment
The researchers concluded that video games and films shouldn’t be dismissed as mere pastimes. Instead, they argue that both can serve as cultural and psychological tools that meaningfully improve quality of life.
So while some still question the value of gaming, science keeps pointing to something that players have known all along: sometimes, pressing “Start” can be exactly what your mind needs.
