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Video gaming is undoubtedly a popular type of entertainment, with 3 billion hours spent in front of screens each week by video gamers. Scientists have studied how video games alter the brain and behaviour due to their ubiquitous use. Are these consequences beneficial or harmful? We investigate the evidence.

On the surface, over 150 million people in the United States play video games on a weekly basis, or for at least 3 hours. The average player in the United States is 35 years old, with 72 percent of gamers being 18 or older. When it comes to children’s video game use, the majority of parents (71%) believe that video games have a good impact on their child’s life.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Battlefield 1, and Grand Theft Auto V were the top three best-selling video games in 2016. These games fall into one of two genres: first-person shooter or action-adventure, which account for 27.5 percent and 22.5 percent of total sales, respectively. The first-person shooter and action genres are frequently accused of inciting violence and addiction.