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\n\t\tResearch says single-player role-playing games are the main cause (Larian Studios)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tResearch says single-player role-playing games are the main cause (Larian Studios)<\/p>\n
People have always talked about feeling down after beating an enjoyable video game, but one team of researchers believes there\u2019s more to it than that.<\/p>\n
Playing video games<\/a> can yield a spectrum of emotions, be they elation from mastering the mechanics in something like Street Fighter 6<\/a> to frustration over repeatedly failing a difficult challenge in Elden Ring<\/a>. And sometimes they can make you sad, simply because you\u2019ve beaten a good game and run out of things to do in it.<\/p>\n That concept\u2019s not unique to video games, but while it\u2019s a shared feeling many of us have experienced, one group of researchers believes there is more to it than that.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why a new study has been published that alleges that post-game depression<\/a> is actually a thing, with role-playing games in particular singled out as a primary instigator.<\/p>\n This comes from a serious medical paper entitled \u2018Post-game depression scale \u2013 a new measure to capture players\u2019 experiences after finishing video games,\u2019 written by a team of researchers from the Polish SWPS University and the Stefan Batory Academy of Applied Sciences.<\/p>\n It\u2019s available to download via News Medical Life Sciences<\/a>, so this is an officially reviewed medical paper, not just random musings from a bunch of gamers.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tExpert, exclusive gaming analysis\t\t\t<\/p>\n Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter<\/strong><\/a> for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.<\/p>\n The paper acknowledges that post-game depression is a complex phenomenon, comprised of \u2018various challenging, intercorrelating experiences.\u2019<\/p>\n 373 people participated in two studies, which identified four aspects of post-game depression: intrusive thoughts and ruminations on the game, a challenging end of experience, a necessity of replaying the game, and a loss of interest in other media products.<\/p>\n Psychologist Kamil Janowicz points to fans of role-playing games as the ones that are most susceptible to post-game depression, since \u2018It is in these games that players have the greatest influence on character development through their decisions and build the strongest bonds with their characters.<\/p>\n \u2018And the more engaging the game world and the closer the relationship with the character, the more difficult it is to return to reality once the game is over.\u2019<\/p>\n Also, they tend to be really long.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n No exact examples are given, but Janowicz\u2019s description points towards role-players with a greater degree of character customisation and player choice, where decisions can have a lasting effect on the story and world. So, more Baldur\u2019s Gate 3<\/a> than Pok\u00e9mon<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s noted, though, that those who experience intense sadness from completing a game are more likely to have pessimistic views on real-world events. So, it\u2019s not so much that the act of completing games can trigger depression, but rather post-game depression is itself an extension of it.<\/p>\n \u2018[Post-game depression] is a specific type of grief after loss, reminiscent of parting with a loved one or the end of an important life stage. Our research shows that for many gamers, the virtual world becomes such a significant source of emotions that returning to everyday life requires time and appropriate psychological tools,\u2019 says Janowicz.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDon’t miss Gaming news! Add us as a Preferred Source\t\t\t<\/p>\n As a loyal GameCentral reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for gaming stories. We have all the latest video games news, reviews, previews, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.<\/p>\n Click the button below and tick\u00a0Metro.co.uk<\/strong>\u00a0to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.<\/p>\n \nAdd us as a Preferred Source<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \t\t Video games are certainly a form of escapism, so for anyone using them to temporarily forget about personal issuesor the general state of the world, reaching the end of the game and being forced back into reality can be an uncomfortable experience.<\/p>\n This can be applied to other forms of media, though, like movies and TV shows, which also function as escapism. A few years ago, reports spread of people claiming to suffer from post-Avatar depression syndrome (PADS) brought on after watching James Cameron<\/a>\u2019s first Avatar movie (per The Guardian<\/a>).<\/p>\n PADS was never recognised as an actual medical diagnosis and, again, was more an indication that someone was already depressed and reacted poorly to their short reprieve being over.<\/p>\n Janowicz hopes that this research \u2018could be useful in the game design process,\u2019 although it\u2019s difficult to imagine the games industry taking any of this on board unless it becomes a truly widespread issue and even then there\u2019s no guarantee it\u2019d do anything about it.<\/p>\n Although you could argue that forever games like Fortnite<\/a> and Minecraft<\/a> are immune to these problems and that live service games in general are a good way of avoiding being upset at a game ending, since they have no end.<\/p>\n \t\t Email\u00a0gamecentral@metro.co.uk<\/a>, leave a comment below,\u00a0follow us on Twitter<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n To submit Inbox letters and Reader\u2019s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our\u00a0Submit Stuff page here<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our Gaming page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"GameCentral](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEC_278479390-558f.jpg\")
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