Videogames have received mixed publicity since their invention, with some studies suggesting that videogames could heave negative impacts on the youth and their mental health (Harvard Health, 2010). However, A recently released title claims to improve people’s mental health by playing it. Could this claim be true?
PowerWash Simulator is a game about cleaning outdoor surfaces with a pressure washer, nothing more, nothing less. The game allows you to “wash away your worries with the soothing sounds of high pressure water” (Steam Store, 2022). Since it’s launch in 2022, it has received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from its playerbase with over 400,000 positive reviews on its PC store platform, Steam.
A recent study was conducted by Oxford University, which was published by journalism site GameIndustry.biz, in which a sample size of nearly 8700 people from 39 countries had their game sessions recorded (McEvoy, 2024). After over 67,000 gaming sessions it was recorded that players are 72% likely to improve their mood while playing the game during play sessions as short as 15 minutes or less (McEvoy, 2024).
As you can see, there are examples of games that can improve one’s mental health, and they don’t take a lot of time to do so either, which goes to show that the gaming community isn’t for violence or bad behaviour. However, there are examples of that out there too as previously discussed.
References:
McEvoy, S. (2024, September 25). Oxford University study with PowerWash Simulator finds 72% feel happier while playing games. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/oxford-university-study-with-powerwash-simulator-finds-72-feel-happier-while-playing-games
PowerWash Simulator on Steam (14/07/2022). Steam Store.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1290000/powerwash_simulator
Violent Video Games and Young People. (2010, October 1). Harvard Health; Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/violent-video-games-and-young-people.