The Most Addictive Video Games – Games You Can’t Stop Playing
What are the most addictive video games? This is a difficult question to answer because a video game that is super addictive to one person may be terribly boring to someone else. Now, some people may be sceptical of this whole concept and ask "Are video games really addictive?" However, given the variety of computer games and the number of genres, chances are that if you play video games, you will probably find something that is really tough to put down. Most people can play without becoming obsessed, but some players truly become addicted to video games, find it almost impossible to quit, and may seek help and treatment for video game addiction.
Because new games are always being released and the fact that different gamers obviously enjoy different games, it is probably impossible to create the definitive list of the most addictive video games. However, we can talk about some of most addictive types of video games (i.e., game categories) and provide a few examples in each category.
Because new games are always being released and the fact that different gamers obviously enjoy different games, it is probably impossible to create the definitive list of the most addictive video games. However, we can talk about some of most addictive types of video games (i.e., game categories) and provide a few examples in each category.
Online Role Playing Games
No list of the most addictive video games would be compete without mentioning online role playing games (sometimes known as MMOs or MMORPGs). In MMOs like World of Warcraft, Everquest (it’s old but people still play it), and Runescape players take control of a character (often set in a fantasy environment) in which the primary goal is (at its most basic level) the development of the character. For example, the player may have to focus on building the character’s strength, abilities, powers, magic, leadership, wealth, weapons, status, rankings, and / or control of the resources in the in-game universe. These games are almost universally though to be the most addictive types of video games and stories of players spending massive amounts of time engaged in the fantasy world of MMOs are very easy to find (see wowdetox.com for huge number of World of Warcraft addiction stories).
First Person Shooters
A second category of video games that many people get addicted to is those in the First Person Shooter genre. In games like Call of Duty or Halo the player assumes a “first-person perspective” of their in game character. That is, the gamer sees what his/her character would see if he/she were actually in the game – with the only visible part of the character being a gun or weapon. Even though there are game variations to keep things interesting (e.g., capture the flag, king of the hill, etc.) the main goal of a first person shooter is incredibly simple – kill the other players before they can kill you. Although first person shooters have single player game modes, for those who become addicted the draw is almost always the multiplayer modes. In multiplayer modes, players (who often join others as part of a team) test their skills against other gamers in online competitions or tournaments for points, rewards, upgraded skills, or simply “bragging rights”.
Casual Games
The so-called casual video game genre is perhaps deceptively named. Whereas it is obvious that MMO and FPS games require a lot of time invested from the player, casual or puzzle games like Bejeweled, Plants vs. Zombies, or Angry Birds are very easy to pick up and play due to their simple objectives and gameplay. They can technically be played for short periods of time, do not involve complex character development, massive online competitions, and do not require expensive computers or gaming consoles. However, the simplicity and ease of having “just one more game” can make causal games very addictive for some players. It used to be that these deceptively addictive games could only be played on computer, but they have now found a new home on iPods, smart phones, and tablets – thus making it possible to play virtually anywhere.
Are You Addicted to Video Games?
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Also, check out this interesting list of video game addiction symptoms – how many apply to you?
Also, check out this interesting list of video game addiction symptoms – how many apply to you?