The Psychology Behind Open World Games And Developing Useful Skills

Even with a myriad of genres available today, open world games remain one of the prime choices for many gamers. Something about a massive virtual world is so incredibly liberating that you just can’t put it down. It acts as a true representative of gaming’s core philosophy: an escape from the real world. But did you know that even this virtual space can teach you a lot of very real skills?

Gaming began as a hobby, an entertainment medium, and for a long time, it served just that purpose. However, today, video games are so much more than that. A piece of art, a musical masterpiece, the hardest puzzle, and even a career, gaming has taken a lot of forms, and there’s a lesson to be learned in every single one of them. Let’s see how open worlds fare.

The Core Design Of Open World Games

To discuss the things to learn from open world games, first we need to look at how an open world game plays out. For starters, you’re presented with a large map, with objectives and side content scattered all over, and the freedom to approach it as you see fit. The open world density and structure varies from game to game, but generally these virtual worlds feel alive and established.

The appeal lies in the sense of discovery and wonder as you explore this fantastical land. Some people appreciate the breathtaking visuals, other marvel at the degree of realism, while some like to complete every objective they could find. You’re only limited by your creativity. In fact, many open world games today, like Tears of the Kingdom, for example, encourage letting your creative mind do all sorts of crazy stuff.

How you allocate your time to tackle various objectives is also up to you. Whether you wish to randomly explore and discover stuff, actively pursue the main story, or go for completion objectives across the map, it’s all about how to prioritize. At the end of the day, we all play open world games for different reasons, but our appreciation of a rich virtual world filled with things to do remains the same.

Valuable Skills To Learn

Now, let’s take a look at all this differently, and try to contrast it with real-life skills. When presented with a massive world filled with things to do, you opt for the most effective and efficient solution, which improves your decision-making and choice. Exploring an alive world could polish social skills and interactions subconsciously. Deciding what and how much to complete in a limited time teaches the most valuable lesson: time management.

The non-linear and open-ended design teaches proper planning and corrdination. And above all, open world games polish your creative thinking and the ability to come up with imaginative solutions the most. The freedom of approach and a sandbox design means you can do the most crazy of stuff, which in turn enables you to think outside the box. On the surface, you’re just having fun, but it indirectly develops very useful real-life skills that will be of use someday.

What makes an open world truly great for you?
byu/TheLastViking_NBS ingaming

Because of all this, I always say not to discourage young, growing minds from exploring this medium, especially students. While they’re relaxing from their stressful day, games help polish reflexes, coordination, and overall mental capacity subconciosuly. Besides, with all the pressure they’re under, evident by many students’ use of an essay writer for hire, they’ve earned a good relaxing gaming session.

All About Mentality

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: learning is an on going process that is all about your mentality and intentions. If you approach something with an inquisitive mind, you’ll surely learn something from it, be it open world games, or anything else. If you just treat is a convenient time pass, that’s all it will evert be for you, no matter what anyone else says. If you wish to learn, everything around you can teach you something.

People say video games are a waste of time, but there is nothing else I'd rather be doing.
byu/mleclerc182 inCasualConversation

Games usually get the bad name of being a waste of time and just another entertainment medium, but that can’t be farther from the truth. Gaming requires more mental faculties and dedication than anything else, and even the simples of titles help your growth. From sharpening your mind, and improving coordination to learning new and valuable skills, gaming can be a valuable teacher for those willing to learn.