The better alternative to the poor alternative to reality

Video games.

They’re a billion-dollar industry. Check the data and you’ll see a bunch of trends pointing upwards.

People like them.

But why?

They’re fun is one answer. Sure, but so are thousands of other things. Finger painting is wild but I doubt it’s experiencing growth like that.

They’re immersive. That’s closer to the answer, but there’s nothing more immersive than reality.

Obviously, this question has many answers. Nothing is popular for simple reasons.

A key element?

People crave agency and control. It’s human nature. Not everyone wants more responsibility, but everyone wants more power over their own lives.

It’s hard work to get that in the real world.

In video games, it’s built in to the medium. It would have to be a quirky indie title that didn’t give you more control than you have in real life.

This goes right back to the dawn of the industry. Mario single-handedly invades a fantasy kingdom to rescue a princess. Pacman outmanoeuvres ghosts.

You have to go back to Pong before the level of control degrades.

Video games are empowerment fantasies. Generally, those are healthy things. Getting a taste of what’s missing from your world is better than having your sense of it stagnate.

Get more control over your life. Until then, accept a poor substitute for it and play more video games.

Or…

(And you probably know what’s coming here…)

… play more D&D instead.

What video game gives you the most control? Minecraft, maybe?

That’s nothing compared to a TTRPG session, where the limits really are your imagination.

If you want a greater feeling of control, play more. It might just hold your psyche together until you can shape your life.

That’s not the only benefit TTRPGs offer. Even if it were, though, it would be a valuable resource for your mental health.

So play well, play better and play more.