Three Cognitive Benefits of Games

One:

Challenge and Consolidation– Good games offer players a set of challenging problems and then let them solve these problems until they have virtually routinized or automated their solutions.

Games then throw a new class of problem at the players requiring them to rethink their now, taken-for-granted mastery, learn something new, and integrate this new learning into their old mastery.

James Paul Gee, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Two:

Games can allow people to think the “unthinkable” games provide the freedom to explore actions, thoughts and ideas that are not acceptable in other realities and allow the player to consider variables he or she may not have previously considered. For example: In the 1970’s BP created a board game in which one of the scenarios was a catastrophic oil spill. War games are all about working through different scenarios and thinking outside of normal thought patterns. A well designed game can allow thoughts and actions that are unusual but that might trigger additional insights or ideas.

Three:

Repetition, games are great for encouraging repeat activities. Players conduct those activities again and again and, if designed correctly, they don’t mind. Drill and practice becomes less tedious.