Playing video games harms players' mental health.

the verdict

CONTESTED PARTIAL

Recorded sources

1 source for · 6 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Is it true that playing video games harms players' mental health?

Partly. The retrieved studies mostly cover narrower populations and specific play patterns rather than the general claim. Several report no significant mental health harm or even benefits from moderate play, while one legal paper asserts that excessive gaming harms mental health, so the evidence is mixed and only partial on both sides.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 1 source for, 6 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Evidence for · 1

Is the software to blame for video gaming disorder?

2025

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Is the software to blame for video gaming disorder?. (2025). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.47743/ejes-2025-0204

Evidence against · 6

Is time spent playing video games associated with mental health, cognitive and social skills in young children?

2016

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Is time spent playing video games associated with mental health, cognitive and social skills in young children?. (2016). ehesp.hal.science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1179-6

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More against · 5

Exploring the possible mental health and wellbeing benefits of video games for adult players: A cross-sectional study

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Exploring the possible mental health and wellbeing benefits of video games for adult players: A cross-sectional study. (n.d.). cir.nii.ac.jp. https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562221103081

Correlates of video games playing among adolescents in an Islamic country

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Correlates of video games playing among adolescents in an Islamic country. (n.d.). cir.nii.ac.jp. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-286

Building Creative Strategies and Solutions to Promote Benefits While Mitigating Harms of Video Games: A Workshop at CHI PLAY 2024

2024

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Building Creative Strategies and Solutions to Promote Benefits While Mitigating Harms of Video Games: A Workshop at CHI PLAY 2024. (2024). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1145/3665463.3678860

The Effects of Playing Video Games on Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Loneliness, and Gaming Disorder During the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic: PRISMA Systematic Review.

2022

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F, P., A, P., & F, M. (2022). The Effects of Playing Video Games on Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Loneliness, and Gaming Disorder During the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic: PRISMA Systematic Review.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2021.0252

Seligman’s PERMA Model in Video Games – The Positive Influence of Video Games on Well-Being

2023

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Seligman’s PERMA Model in Video Games – The Positive Influence of Video Games on Well-Being. (2023). ifip.hal.science. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8248-6_4

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