It's my escape from the daily grind. For that time, I'm not thinking about the stressors in my life, I'm in another world and enveloped in that character.

Without it, I'd surely suffer from serious depression and stress related illness

It was there for me during my years of depression and still here for me in my happiness

Distracts you from a world which is filled with such pain and misery and takes you to place where you have a chance to make it better.

I forgot

It's a way to relax. I especially appreciate it these days. Also a cheap hobby relative to other hobbies.

Its the easiest way for me to be competitive against other people

When I was 7 years old, my family was very poor. We couldn't afford much.

That was the year Pong came out. And I scraped for a single quarter. Didn't often get one. I watched a lot more than I played. That's how arcades were for a poor kid.

Then, the Atari 2600 came out (though it wasn't called that to start). I couldn't afford one, knew a bunch of people who had one, so I saved every penny for literally years so I could purchase a used Intellivision. My friends and I shared cartridges and played all we could.

As the years passed and I matured and made more money, I was able to play through all of the generations going from a SNES to a Genesis to the next and the next. I had a PS1, a Dreamcast, an Xbox, a WII, a PS3, a Switch, until my present system, a Series X.

Video games have been a huge part of my life. And now, as I near 60, my abilities are falling off and I play slower games. But thanks to GamePass, I get to try a little of everything. I might not be good but I figure you don't have to be good at rides in an amusement park so I can goof off on whatever game I like.

I recently got addicted to Dysmantle, btw. It's cotton candy for the OCD brain.

Because I'm a life where things sometimes extremely stressful, and impossible often, games are a fantastic escape to a place where I can do things I couldn't do otherwise... Also they're fun...

Because it gives a bitter glimpse into what I can't have or achieve no matter how much I desperately desire it.

It's a constant reminder to always want more than the world offers you and to never settle for a depressing life. To work towards enjoying the smallest shred of what I'm able to carve off from those impossible dreams.

It’s gotten me through some tough times and was all art of some of the earliest and most special memories in my life

Ya know, I've never really considered the actual gaming very special.

Now that you've asked though, really, it's the friendships I've made (and lost) that keep bringing me back.

Also, there have been a few periods of my life where I just watched tv/movies ALL the time. I figured, if I'm just gonna be sitting here, I might as well accomplish something. Thank you Soul Calibur 2, 3, and 4. I think I'll know those moves/combos for the rest of my natural life. lol

Great question!

Cheers.

Allows me to enter another world to get away from the struggles of life. It's really nice when you get to relax with a videogame after a long day.

Helps me relax. I can play a game for any mood I’m in. I can engage my mind, mindlessly kill, roleplay whatever I want. Gaming is always there. An escape and lifelong hobby. I suck at most games but doesn’t stop my enjoyment. I tend to be an introvert so gaming also gives me comfort. I can play all night or 10 minutes in the afternoon or whatever my schedule allows.

In my case gaming is living great adventures who in real life it is impossible to have moreover I grew up with playing video games so gaming is a part of my life.

In videogames I'm not a disabled person with crippling depression.

It’s fun

It was my escape from reality, now I’m having fun with my best friend I met 7 years ago and with my fiance I met almost 4 years ago and my brother who has became my best friend.

For me,it taught me a lot, first of all English is not my native language so it helped me get a grasp of it. Second: games like AC helped me understand history. Third: encouraged me to develop games and animate. 4th: it let’s you have a break from the rat race.

Been playing games since I was 2. I guess it gives me a feeling of comfort, even if I’m playing something scary or something that makes me angry. Plus I met my current partner of 7+ years in a game! It’s special to them and special to me🥹☺️

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