Of course playing video games are great for cognitive development, reflex training, and strategic thinking. I trace my skills as a programmer, racer, and leader directly back to StarCraft, Quake, Unreal, and tens of thousands of hours of overall gameplay. START YOUNG, STAY YOUNG!
Frequent video gamers performed on cognitive tests like non-gamers that were ~13.7 years younger
Sep 14, 2026 · 5:27 PM UTC
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I've gotten all my boys started with cooperative shooters like Fortnite from age four. Minecraft at the same age. And a million other games. I pity the kids who are deprived these formative years of gameplay. world.hey.com/dhh/house-rule…
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@Londelo_111 Yes! Mostly Tetris and Fortnite. But also other retro stuff. Need to play more.
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@dhh strategic thinking from StarCraft sure, but the abstract is oddly quiet on anxiety and depression scores for gamers
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@fireplyai Finish reading it! "Was unrelated to mental health". No measurable impact.
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@04_Leonidas It's already awesome, but we will make it even awesomer when Roblox and Fortnite lands 😄
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@dhh. Was a top 1% player in Q3, UT, and SC. Felt like just gaming at the time but taught me strategy, patience, anger management, scheduling (showing up for clan matches), how to work out issues with teammates, self-discpline, and so much more.
I think mostly it just instilled a competitive spirit within me that carried over into life and the business world.
I think mostly it just instilled a competitive spirit within me that carried over into life and the business world.
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@dhh I learned everything I know about business from Roller Coaster Tycoon 2
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@dhh what games do you recommend for an old man? (must run on omarchy)
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@dhheal, everyone thinks video games are bad but they’re vastly better than watching Netflix or drinking your weekend away watching football
I’m not one to pick on any activity, people can do as they please. But video game hate was always so strange to me, they difficult and provide skills
I’m not one to pick on any activity, people can do as they please. But video game hate was always so strange to me, they difficult and provide skills
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@dhhof the best developments from mechanically demanding video games is the power of speed and precision.
Even today, you constantly run into people at work who are incredibly slow with their software interfaces, and don't seem to think there's any benefit to being faster.
This is in spite of the fact they spend 90% of their time typing, reading, tabbing, etc.
Even today, you constantly run into people at work who are incredibly slow with their software interfaces, and don't seem to think there's any benefit to being faster.
This is in spite of the fact they spend 90% of their time typing, reading, tabbing, etc.
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@dhh is a correlation, not a causation.
There's nothing one can do raise his IQ meaningfully. Even specialized schools give up after 3 years of bare minimum 1-3 IQ points raise (which makes it not worth it due to time and knowledge trade-offs).
IQ is a stable accross time that bad environments can limit for a bit. It will catch up in the adulthood, as all the twin studies show.
Therefore, at best, the conclusion is that smarter kids/people play video games, or stick with them longer.
They don't develop cognitively or develop some strategic thinking. Rather, they are developed enough cognitively enough to play a complex game, and to understand strategies it takes to play and win.
Same way playing chess does not increase anyone's IQ. High IQ people tend to excell at it, therefore, they play it more often than lower IQ people, and get ranked higher, and become grandmasters, and so on.
There's nothing one can do raise his IQ meaningfully. Even specialized schools give up after 3 years of bare minimum 1-3 IQ points raise (which makes it not worth it due to time and knowledge trade-offs).
IQ is a stable accross time that bad environments can limit for a bit. It will catch up in the adulthood, as all the twin studies show.
Therefore, at best, the conclusion is that smarter kids/people play video games, or stick with them longer.
They don't develop cognitively or develop some strategic thinking. Rather, they are developed enough cognitively enough to play a complex game, and to understand strategies it takes to play and win.
Same way playing chess does not increase anyone's IQ. High IQ people tend to excell at it, therefore, they play it more often than lower IQ people, and get ranked higher, and become grandmasters, and so on.
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@dhh I built my entire career on the skills I developed raid leading WoW raids when I was 14.
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For years, we were told that gaming rots your brain.
The stereotype: poor attention, zero problem-solving, and a lazy mindset glued to a screen.
But the science is far more complicated.
Certain types of games can train specific cognitive skills, from spatial reasoning and mory and problem-solving.
Here’s what gaming can actually demand from your brain: 🧵
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@dhh On the flip side, 3000+ hours in Dota 2 could have been better spent doing something more productive 😅
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@dhhund it a drain and they set me back in life. And I’ll admit, i got hooked.
I tried letting my kids play for a bit under limited circumstances and the problem was they just started thinking about games all the time instead of anything useful or productive.
I’ll grant that they can offer some benefits but the downside is substantial as well.
I tried letting my kids play for a bit under limited circumstances and the problem was they just started thinking about games all the time instead of anything useful or productive.
I’ll grant that they can offer some benefits but the downside is substantial as well.
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@dhh I heavily played Civilization and WoW. So now I’m a digital nomad, constantly destroying the black layer covering the map, just to see what’s underneath.
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@dhh FInally a study that simply pours a syrop into my ears. Off to Steam, not getting back any soon
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@dhh Totally agree! This sentiment keeps coming back to me in different forms.
Games taught me progression, prioritization, strategy, grinding, hacking, trading, markets…I’m sure there’s much more I’m forgetting.
Especially before kids can drive, games open up their world a ton.
Games taught me progression, prioritization, strategy, grinding, hacking, trading, markets…I’m sure there’s much more I’m forgetting.
Especially before kids can drive, games open up their world a ton.
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@dhh The Quake rocket launcher on the map with a bunch of launchpads could steal years of your life
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@dhh You forgot about being a builder because of Fortnite unless you can't crank 90s
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@dhhe days video games are what i bond with my 9 year old son over.
He plays a lot or Fortnight and together we play a lot of indie games.
If you haven’t tried Brotato, you haven’t lived.
Super simple game loop but OMG insane fun. I haven’t sunk that much time into a game in decades.
Two Crowns was also a huge hit—once we figured out how the hell to play it. We discovered it before they included any onboarding and it was TOUGH.
I’m still waiting or a sequel. Might just have to make one myself.
He plays a lot or Fortnight and together we play a lot of indie games.
If you haven’t tried Brotato, you haven’t lived.
Super simple game loop but OMG insane fun. I haven’t sunk that much time into a game in decades.
Two Crowns was also a huge hit—once we figured out how the hell to play it. We discovered it before they included any onboarding and it was TOUGH.
I’m still waiting or a sequel. Might just have to make one myself.
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@dhh I just played some Starcrat II last night. Keeps you sharp
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