Gaming

Gaming is great!

I've been playing video games since day 700. My first console was a beautiful, silver Game Boy Advance SP, and I still have it to this day! I was hooked on how fun they were. I mean, you're telling me I can run as a BLUE HEDGEHOG at the SPEED OF SOUND? Sign me the hell up!

I'm writing this blog post partly as a love letter to the hobby, but also as a plea to those who've dismissed it to give it a try. At least one.

Benefits

Mental

Gaming is an incredible mental workout. You'll need to make split second decisions that determine the outcome of the game. Should you send an army of suicide-bombing bugs into the enemy base now or later? When is the optimal turnip selling price? These decisions keep your brain sharp and improve decision-making skills. Don't believe me? Try playing a game and see for yourself.

Social

Gaming has helped me make so many friends–from plotting how to get rich in Animal Crossing Wild World to captaining my own degenerate pirate crew in Sea of Thieves. It doesn’t matter if the person I’m talking to speaks broken English, I’m able to instantly connect with them when I ask them if they played Smash. Tell me that isn't beautiful. I used to be a shy and socially reserved kid in high school until I found Super Smash Bros. for 3DS/Wii U. Suddenly, I became a social butterfly. I'd ask everyone with a 3DS if they wanted to play Smash and made so many friends. Hell, by the age of sixteen, I was organizing local Smash tournaments at my local college.
Gaming has enabled me to keep in touch with all my friends no matter how far apart we are. Whether they be from elementary school or college or just someone I met while shopping for shoes, I've been able to keep in contact. If you start gaming, you are bound to make tons of friends.

Creative

Unleash your imagination! There are sandbox video games like Minecraft and Terraria that allow you to build anything your heart desires. Someone even made a freakin' computer playing minecraft, IN MINECRAFT! How badass is that? Even if you aren't playing a sandbox video game, you still need creativity to solve problems. Say you are playing a fighting game and your opponent keeps blocking your attack. What do you do? You could grab and throw them, or you could run behind them and hit them, or you could pretend to hit them and fake them out. The possibilities are endless and they are all yours to make!

What to play?

Okay cool Prabhjot, I get it. Gaming can be fun and beneficial but where do I start? Great question Anon. Let me help you out.

Want to take your time methodically calculating what the best choice is? Play Civilization V or Fire Emblem: Three Houses!
Want an action-packed shooter? Play Apex Legends or DOOM!
Want an immersive turn-based story game? Play Baldur’s Gate 3!
Want a sandbox adventure? Play Minecraft or No Man's Sky!
Want a simple puzzle game? Play Bejeweled!

Do none of those games tickle your fancy? No problem! Just google what you’re looking for and I'm willing to bet my original copy of Sonic Adventure 2 Battle that there is a game out there for YOU! If you personally need some help picking a game, email me at prabhjot@hey.com. I hope you have a blast gaming, it’s great!