I’ve played many mindfulness games in my life. And their soundtracks tend to be relaxing too, similar to classical music. They tend to have simplified gameplay that does not overtax the brain (which would cause stress). They often have graphics that focus on relaxation (either by showing natural environments or by using relaxing colour schemes). Relaxing, so called “Meditation games” tend to be the slower ones. So, what meditation games should you play? We can choose to use games for our betterment. We can choose to monitor the reactions we are having to video games and seek out relaxing experiences rather than stressful ones. However, we can choose to be mindful gamers. Some gamers, when they are in the state of flow, will actually experience gamer rage (anger), which certainly is not similar to meditation. Then again, some gamers aren’t very relaxed when they play. So, in some ways playing relaxing games is a better option for many people than a hardcore meditation session. So, both meditation and games increase flow state, and many would say it is easier to experience flow by playing video games than by meditating. In 2013, Belgian researchers (Pickut et al) found that eight weeks of meditation increases grey matter density in the caudate nucleus, which leads to more experience of the flow state. Meditation also includes the state of flow. Some experts believe that the sole reason why games are entertaining is that they create a state of flow. Flow refers to the state of being “in the zone”. One of the main links between meditation and games is the state of “flow”.įlow is a term coined by psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi in 1975. Because there is, indeed, a link between mindfulness and gaming. Heck, I don’t suppose many of the famous meditation teachers (Jon Kabat Zinn, Thich Nhat Hanh, Sharon Salzberg etc.) play too many video games. And although there are mindfulness apps like Calm and Headspace, surely there is no link between meditation and video games. It’s based on the idea of present-moment mindfulness. Meditation is, after all, a psychological exercise derived from Buddhism and used in therapy. It might seem weird to think that there is any sort of link between mindfulness meditation and games. And one way that can happen is through what I call “Meditation Games”-relaxing games that make you feel Zen.
The interactive medium can change lives for the better. And today we are starting to see the rise of games used for entertainment, health, and relaxation. Yes, video games can be a positive form of entertainment. Just as some television is good for you, so are some types of games, specifically, meditation games and apps. But games can also have positive effects. They talk about how games make us stressed and angry.
The media talks more about the negative effects of video games than anything positive. Video games sometimes get slammed because they are supposedly antisocial-although, in my experience as a former part-time esports commentator, I do think there is a good social scene around some games. Why Meditation Games & Apps Are So Relaxing
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