Gamers are everywhere these days. Gamers are in every crowd, in every demographic, in every walk of life. There has been an absolute explosion in the video game market in recent decades and it’s one that has brought millions of people together under the gaming banner, all eager to make the most of the fun this offers – but what is it about gaming that gets its claws into our hearts and hangs on tight? What calls us to boot up the games over and over again, drawing us in for all our free hours, attracting us week after week, month after month – even year after year?

A lot of gamers disagree about whether they play for the challenge or to relax. Are we looking to unwind or to test our skills? It’s a fascinating question – let’s dive into it!

The Goal of Gaming- Do We Play for Challenge Or Relaxation?

Realms Of Relaxation: Unwinding In Unreal Worlds

First, the relaxation argument. What’s downtime for, after all? It’s an opportunity to kick back, put your feet up, and move into a non-stressful space where your actions aren’t too consequential and you don’t have to stress about what you’re doing and whether it’s right. We’re all looking for the best possible ways to relax when we’re unwinding, and a lot of people state video games are a top option!

And we can see this in how tons of games interact with their players, requiring minimal effort and offering lots of payoffs. Pokies, for example, have become an age-old go-to for the gaming enthusiasts who don’t want to be trying to solve complex puzzles or best their opponents.

You just flip the lever, press the button, or click the mouse and watch the reels go crazy, then wait with bated breath to see how the symbols fall. It doesn’t get simpler! It’s one of the reasons online pokies at Ignition have such a massive following, and it’s not looking likely to change any time soon. We love the slots – and games like them that are similarly low-effort – because they let us have fun without having to engage the old thinking muscle. They’re fun without work. They’re full of bright colors, rewarding sounds, and enjoyment, and they require basically nothing in return.

There are plenty of other games like this, where the effort is minimal and the payoff is big. Games like Bejewelled and other matching games spring to mind, and if we go up a click in the level, we’ve also got things like Rollercoaster Tycoon and other world-builders. There’s a bit more brain power needed here, but the stakes are low and the mechanics super simple. No question, these games were built for those of us who really just want to let out a deep breath and relax.

And then we have the other side of the coin…

Challenging Choices: Charging Into Chaos

These are the hard video games, the ones that don’t just engage your brain, but force it into overdrive, ask it to work like crazy. These are the ones where you can spend hours puzzling out a puzzle, mapping out a maze, learning a labyrinth. These are the real head-scratchers, or the ones that will have you gripping your controller like a vice and fighting the same boss again and again because you just can’t quite ace it.

They’re also the games that when you finally – and we really do mean finally – complete whatever challenge you’ve just spent a week on give you a serious thrill of achievement. At long last, you’ve done it. You’ve cracked the code, wiped the floor with the boss, come out top of the player list – whatever it might be. You’re the champion. You’ve put in the time and you’ve undisputedly got things to show from it.

Of course, we’ve got games at both extremes and games that land somewhere in the middle, but how do we know which to pick? Is gaming meant to be relaxing or challenging?

Best Of Both!

You’ve probably already guessed it, but there’s no single answer and it’s super gamer-dependent. Some gamers love the building frustration (even if they don’t admit it) and the thrill when the dam finally breaks and they get the payoff of success. Others just want to meander around, having fun, taking on the occasional easy test, and doing some deep breathing. There’s no right or wrong here! Indeed, many gamers oscillate between the two. 

You might be enjoying the pokies one day after a tiring day at work, and on the weekend, firing up a more complex, narrative-driven game like Guild Saga, or testing your mind against a real gauntlet like The Witness – bound to boggle the brain cells and leave you scratching your head, but equally guaranteed to leave you delighted when you crack that puzzle and move on to the next one (and you’ve always got walkthroughs if you’re really stuck).

The good news is, gamers have pretty much unlimited picks these days, and wherever your particular preferences fall – or even if they oscillate – you’re going to have an amazing time in the gaming world!