I was playing Fortnite tonight, exhausted after a long day of work. About twenty five players were remaining in the game and I was extremely low on health. Suddenly, a player with Batman skin attacked me with a laser gun. Thinking I was definitely about to lose now, I immediately ran for the nearest parked car. Suddenly, the commotion died out. When I looked around, I realised Batman had sat in the passenger seat with me. This was when things took a turn. Batman and I formed a poignant friendship. For the next fifteen minutes, we drove around eliminating other players. When we were low on health, we shared gold splashes. Soon, this complete stranger and I were down to the last three people. Not wanting to fight against each other, we just stood on top of a cliff. What I experienced next had me emotionally jarred. Batman started dropping all his loot, mythic and legendary, to pass onto me. Next I knew, he had walked into the storm and bowed out (literally). He eliminated himself to let me have a win. 

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I never found his username, and I still don’t know who this person was. But I am changed. I now realise how impactful video games can be.

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All my assignments remain untouched and I don’t quite remember how to socialise anymore. But at least I got Victory Royale and had a mythic shotgun in the last game I played. That has to count for something, right? 

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Have you ever lost yourself in front of a video game console, not realising where the time went by so quickly? Whether it's chasing a victory royale or levelling up in some other game or even tending to a strangely addictive virtual farm, gaming is a little too enjoyable. It is rewarding, immersive, and extremely fun. But sometimes, they become more than a break from work or studying. Sometimes, they become more about hatching onto an escape from reality, a reality that has become overwhelming, frustrating or even just plain dull. 

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After a full weekend of compulsive gaming on my couch, I was forced to question myself. What is it about gaming that makes virtual achievements so much more satisfying than real ones? When is ‘just one more game’ one too much? 

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The digital world offers an allure like no other. Life is hard. Games are structured. You always know what to do next: defeat the next boss, up your level, or finish the next quest. Every action leads to a well-defined clear reward. Meanwhile, real life is more like an open-world role playing game. It doesn’t have a map to follow — no quest markers, no rulebook. The difficulty curve in real life is so steep, it makes Dark Souls look like a cakewalk. 

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There is also the problem of instant gratification. Leveling up can take hours but at least there is instant reward. Every challenge you take on headfirst in real life bears its fruit in a slow and uncertain manner. Sometimes, it is even non-existent. Studying for weeks to pass a midterm? No shiny loot, no XP gained, just stress. 

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Gaming also offers a sense of connection that is hard to find in today’s world. Whether you are racing with your friends in Mario Kart or playing Roblox together, it is easy for everyone to enjoy together and socialize. It is simpler for people to bond over a shared virtual reality than navigate the shy, awkward small talk of everyday interactions. 

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So when does it become a problem?

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Gaming isn’t bad. In fact, studies have shown that it can improve one’s reaction times and solving skills, amongst other things. However, like anything enjoyable in life — caffeine, Netflix, junk food — it can easily be taken too far. 

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When the highlight of your week becomes finally completing a quest in that one game, it might be time to ask yourself, what are you running from? And no, it’s not always doing your taxes or a group project (although those are totally valid).

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There is a little science that explains these choices. Gaming taps into your brain’s dopamine system, the happy hormone that gets released when you accomplish something. The catch here is that your brain is unable to distinguish between virtual and real achievements. This is why defeating your friends in a fighting game can feel just as satisfying as completing an assignment, although the tangible rewards vary substantially. Since games offer a structured reward system, it becomes a reliable way of chasing that dopamine hit, especially when life feels unpredictable and unrewarding. 

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The solution here is not to stop gaming. You don’t have to sell your console and start meditating anytime soon. The key is to find a balance between spending time with the controllers and saving some time for outside the screen as well. The answer lies in not letting one activity consume your life. 

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Gaming is great, in a nutshell. It is an art form, a tool for escapism, and great for improving reflexes and social connections. But it is also easy for it to take over your actual life, the one that keeps going even when the internet is down. While it can feel important to level up in the game, it is just as important to keep levelling up in real life as well and not lose the plot. You never know what unexpected real-life quests might spring up at any moment. 

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Now, if you excuse me, I really need to go touch some grass. And Batman, I am @samairaV3, still extremely touched by your sacrifice. 

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1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023, April 20). Video gaming may be associated with better cognitive performance in children. National Institutes of Health. Link