Do Video Games Improve Focus & Concentration?

July 25, 2020

Mind Lab Pro

I’ve been gaming since I was 10.

From Halo to Elden Ring, I’ve spent thousands of hours playing, but recently, I started wondering…

Are video games actually helping my brain, or it’s just brain rot?

Let’s look at the science…

What games actually improve?

Not all games help your focus, but the right ones can.

Studies show that action games (like FPS or real-time strategy) train your brain to:

🔹 Switch tasks faster
🔹 Stay locked on targets
🔹 Ignore distractions
🔹 React quicker under pressure

Think Counter-Strike, COD, Valorant etc.

A major meta-analysis (2000–2015) found gamers scored 0.55 standard deviations higher in attention than non-gamers. That’s a big cognitive boost.

Another study from University of Limerick found gamers were 12.7% faster in attention tasks and 17.4% faster in memory recall.

🟧 The key improvements include:

🔸 Selective attention - focusing on what matters while filtering out noise
🔸 Divided attention - managing multiple streams of info at once
🔸 Task switching - jumping between tasks with less brain lag
🔸 Working memory - holding and using info on the fly

So yeah… if you've been told games rot your brain, science says otherwise (if you're playing the right kind).

What’s happening in the brain

When you play the right games, your brain literally rewires itself.

Here’s what studies show:

🔸 Neuroplasticity kicks in - action games strengthen the networks between your hippocampus (memory) and prefrontal cortex (attention control)
🔸 EEG scans show sharper brainwave responses during focus tasks
🔸 Even 1 hour of gaming can boost brain activity in regions tied to attention and control

And then there’s dopamine…

Gaming triggers around a 100% increase in dopamine (same as sex). This motivates you to stay engaged, alert, and focused.

The combo of fast decisions, rapid feedback, and visual overload creates a cognitive training loop:

Stimulus → Response → Reward → Repeat

That’s how games condition your brain to process info faster and stay dialed in.

So if you’ve ever felt ultra-focused mid-game… that wasn’t a fluke - your brain was locked in.

Which games work best?

Not all games boost focus the same way.

🟦 Action games (like Call of Duty or Overwatch)
🔹 Best for selective attention, fast decision-making, and visual processing.
🔹 They train you to track moving targets, react quickly, and ignore distractions.

🟦 Strategy games (like StarCraft, Age of Empires)
🔹 Boost task-switching, working memory, and planning skills.
🔹 Perfect for flexible thinking and holding multiple ideas in your head.

🟦 Puzzle games (like Tetris, Lumosity)
🔹 Improve spatial reasoning and cognitive flexibility, especially in older adults.

🟦 Therapeutic games (like EndeavorRx)
🔹 Clinically proven to improve attention in kids with ADHD.
🔹 FDA-approved. 25 minutes a day = real cognitive changes.

💡 Pro tip:
Mix genres. Action games for speed. Strategy for depth. Puzzle for clarity.

Different games, different gains.

What are the downsides?

Yes, games can boost focus, but it’s not all upside…

Here’s what to watch out for:

🔴 Sustained attention struggles

Some studies show gamers (especially action game players) struggle to stay focused during slow or boring tasks.

they get used to fast stimulation… then crash when things get quiet.

🔴 Violent games can hurt attention

A study with teens found that just 45 minutes of violent gaming worsened attention test scores.

Short-term effects, but still worth noting.

🔴 Overstimulation

Too much gaming (especially late at night) can mess with sleep, attention span, and mental fatigue.

🔴 Real-world transfer is limited

Getting better at a game doesn’t always mean better focus at work or school.
Training gains don’t always translate outside the screen.

So yeah… games can help, but they’re not a magic bullet. Use them smart.

How to use games for better focus

You don’t need to quit gaming, just game smarter.

Here’s how to actually use games to boost focus:

✅ Pick the right genres

Action games = best for attention switching and speed.
Puzzle & strategy = great for older adults and working memory.

✅ 1–3 hours is optimal

Short daily sessions show the best cognitive benefits.
Overdo it and the gains fade, or flip into distraction.

✅ Take breaks

Every 25-30 mins, pause. Walk, stretch, reset your brain.

✅ Try mindfulness games

Games like Tenacity train sustained attention using breath control.
Research-backed and ADHD-friendly.

✅ Use adaptive games

Look for games that get harder as you improve, keeps the challenge level just right.

✅ Set a goal

Don’t just play aimlessly. Track performance, aim to improve, test your focus.

✅ Minimize distractions

Play in a quiet space. Turn off notifications. Make gaming a focused task, not a background one.

✅ Stack it with nootropics

Pairing your session with a brain supplement like Mind Lab Pro, can give your focus, clarity, and mental stamina an extra boost. I take it before deep work or gaming. Highly recommend.

Use games as brain training, not just escapism.

Tools & Resources

🔸 Mind Lab Pro - My go-to nootropic for focus, clarity, and mental stamina.
🔸 CogniFit - Science-based brain training games for attention and memory.
🔸 Reality Is Broken (book) - Why games are powerful tools for learning and focus.

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