Why Playing Video Games Is GOOD For You
5. They Teach Lateral Problem Solving Skills
On the surface it might seem like video games are examples of taking the player from point A to point B with cutscenes in between. However in reality it's much more the case that it's a fractured journey filled with paths being blocked, puzzles to master and items to find in order to progress.
This allows developers to create problems for players to really get their grey cells firing, requiring them to memorise patterns, recall information that has already been divulged to the player and to think laterally about how to overcome these obstacles.
And you'd be surprised at how many times these puzzles come up in titles, as it's not just games like Professor Layton which thrive on head-scratchers, it can been in the likes of Doom or Spyro where the path ahead requires some mental and physical acrobatics in order to get around.
And when you start to think laterally you'll notice that you become able to recognise the same patterns in real life, increasing your chances of success should something of the same nature occur to you.