Why 'Pokémon Go' Is Good for Your Mental Health; Players Cite Benefits of Android and iOS Game
The highly anticipated free-to-play augmented reality mobile game "Pokémon Go" comes with a surprising health bonus, according to some gamers. They claimed that the viral game, which requires users to hunt for special creatures in the real world, has created positive impact on players' mental health.
Gamers Said "Pokémon Go" Has Mental Health Benefits
Nintendo and the Pokémon Company made "Pokémon Go" available in the United States on Thursday, and it instantly turned into a hit mobile game. "Pokémon Go," which was created for iPhones and Android smartphones, featured the classic video game franchise where gamers catch special creatures called "Pokémon" on real-world locations.
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The use of augmented reality when playing "Pokémon Go" has been welcomed with both positive and negative feedback on social media. Among the notable feedbacks from gamers on social media are the claims that "Pokémon Go" has helped players with mental health issues.
Some users expressed through Twitter that "Pokémon Go" has helped their mental health as the game encouraged them to go out and walk around to hunt for special creatures. "Pokémon Go is literally making people with depression and anxiety and agoraphobia leave the house and explore the world and socialize," a Twitter user named Yo! commented.
Other Twitter users aired the same sentiments. They shared that the combination of exercise and spending time outdoors when playing "Pokémon Go" is boosting their mental health.
Does "Pokémon Go" Really Boost Mental Health?
The impact of "Pokémon Go" on mental health has yet to be confirmed by scientists. However, there are several studies in the past that could support the claims of some gamers that "Pokémon Go" is beneficial to players' mental health.
In 2015, a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that a 90-minute walk around in nature could reduce negative thinking. Moreover, in 2014, a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology discovered that a walk in nature has calming effects and could restore a person's exhausted attentional capacities.
"Pokémon Go" Can Be Dangerous
While "Pokémon Go" can make a positive impact on mental health, authorities have warned gamers about the possible dangers that come along with the augmented reality mobile game. Since its release, several crimes related to "Pokémon Go" have surfaced.
USA Today reported that four teens were arrested by the police in Missouri for allegedly stealing and taking advantage of Poké Stops. Moreover, according to ABC13, "Pokémon Go" player Shayla Wiggins stumbled upon a dead body while looking for a special creature in a river.
