Playing familiar video games like Super Mario Bros. and Yoshi may help reduce burnout among young adults, according to a new study.
The research, published in JMIR Serious Games, looked at how classic games affect mood and stress levels. It focused on young adults who reported feeling mentally worn down, even during their free time.
Participants said the games felt easy to return to and required little effort to enjoy. Many associated them with earlier periods of life, before school, work, and constant digital demands became central.
The study found a clear pattern. People who reported feeling more “childlike wonder” while playing also reported feeling happier. Those same participants were less likely to report symptoms linked to burnout.
When researchers reviewed the data, happiness explained the connection. In other words, the games themselves were not directly reducing burnout. The positive mood that came with playing them was.
Researchers described these short gaming sessions as “digital microenvironments,” meaning brief experiences that allow people to mentally reset without planning, tracking, or self-improvement goals.
“This study suggests that the path to combating burnout in young adults may lie not just in traditional wellness but also in reclaiming joy,” said Andreas B. Eisingerich in a press release. “Games like Super Mario Bros. and Yoshi may offer a potent antidote to the cynicism and fatigue characteristics of burnout.”
The findings add to a growing body of research showing that stress relief does not always come from structured programs or productivity tools. For some people, familiar play may be enough to take the edge off.
Source: Discover Magazine