The Psychology Behind Why We Play Video Games

[Gilbert]

To understand gaming's power, we first have to understand why humans play at all. Games — whether digital or physical — are built on three core psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

Autonomy: Games give us freedom. Inside a virtual world, we choose our paths, make decisions, and see their outcomes. It's a safe environment to exercise control — something that might be harder to find in real life.

Competence: Every level beaten or puzzle solved gives us a hit of satisfaction — a tangible sense of achievement. This drives confidence and persistence.

Relatedness: Modern gaming connects millions of players across the globe. Whether you're teaming up with friends in Valorant, exploring dungeons in Final Fantasy XIV, or building cities in Minecraft, you're part of something bigger.

Games, at their core, are motivation engines. They reward effort, encourage resilience, and celebrate progress — the same principles that help people grow in real life.