How Playing Video Games Can Cause Guilt

Video games are usually praised for the amount of fun and comfort the immersive experience gives them. Though with complex storytelling to guide the story along, there are inevitably negative emotions that accompany the playing process as well.

While many players want the positive, feel-good vibes of playing games, it makes sense that many wonder why and how video games can make them feel negative emotions like guilt. Let’s dive into how video games can both succeed and fail in making players feel guilt.

Why a Player May Feel Guilt

Often times, a feeling of guilt or remorse can accompany difficult game decisions. Mimicking the times we experienced grief in our everyday lives, the feeling can quickly creep in and become overwhelming. In games where the player is repeatedly asked to kill other characters or even steal, harm, or threaten others, even innocent virtual civilians, the guilt can begin to mount.

Guilt doesn’t need to come from the action itself, but it may arise as a byproduct of “real life.” If there are problems in your day-to-day life and you look to video games for an escape, problems can quickly manifest in both worlds.

Additionally, if you’re suppressing feelings of guilt in your life, either related to family, work, friends, or others, the feelings may be displaced and arise during your gaming. But the reality is that gaming should primarily create a wholesome, positive experience.

Why a Player Many Not Feel Guilty 

If you’re particularly keen on games that require a large amount of emotional and mental output, then it’s only a matter of time until you begin to carry those emotions with you. In some cases, however, someone might fail to feel those feelings and wonder why.

The answer usually lies within the game itself. When it comes to narrative games, the idea is that the real-world player can step into the persona of the main character in the game. In order for this to happen in full effect, the person needs to feel a connection with their player.

If this feeling is absent, it does not mean that you’re heartless, but rather that the game creators have failed in pulling together the narrative. For example, games that rely on motivation by the player to complete a mission, such as revenge, can fall flat if the reason for revenge is inadequate.

Should You Be Worried About Guilt from Video Games? 

While it can be normal to feel guilt when gaming, the feeling shouldn’t overwhelm you, but it’s not something to fear. After all, guilt is one of the most fundamental feelings human beings can have and points to our own morality.

If feelings of guilt continue to pile up, making gaming or everyday life difficult to manage, researching ways to cope with the problem can help. Additionally, it may be time to speak with a professional on what, if anything, in your normal life is causing the guilt in your online world too. https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/guilt/

This post was developed via a partnership with BetterHelp.