Let's Get Creative–How Video Games May Foster Creativity
Studies have shown that video games can have many negative outcomes. However, there are also positive aspects. One of them may be enhanced creativity. In this episode, we discuss a study on how it (may) works.
• Video games provide players with many opportunities to get creative e.g., building structures, exploring the world, or strategize battle plans.
• Genres and game mechanics may affect cognitive processes and creativity differently.
• RPG games allow players to act out differently (e.g., as a knight in medieval times).
• In Minecraft, the amount of items allow for great amount of combinations, e.g., even building a working computer inside the game.
• Path of Exile and Baldur's Gate 3, social aspects, skill trees, the number of characters and many more aspects can spark creativity in many ways.
Although playing video games has many negative outcomes, there are also positives (e.g., see last week's episode). On top of that, serious games (i.e., educational and training games) can help achieving learning goals.
The study we'll be looking at today argues that commercial games are connected to creative engagements and creative outcomes, meaning fostering cognitive processes that are involved in creative thinking.
"Video games can provide players with opportunities to build structures and environments, strategize battle plans or puzzle solutions, customize play with avatars and multiple choices for game decisions, and sometimes even evaluate players on their creative process and products." [1]
More specifically, factors within each video game may affect different creative processes by affecting players differently. For example, depending on the genre (fantasy, racing, or role-playing) or mechanics (crafting tools or driving) can cause various motivations which, in turn, allows for divergent thinking, creative actions, creative goals and so on.
Some studies have already shown a link between gaming and creativity. For instance, more time spent gaming correlated with a higher score in trait creativity. Another study found "creativity scores significantly increased after [a] Minecraft workshop" [1].
🧑🎨 Let's get Creative
"RPGs [Role-playing games] allow players to experience and interact with game worlds as a specific character or an avatar embodying a specific lifestyle (such as knights in medieval times)." [1]
Acting out such kind of preferences is nothing short of acting and could easily be counted as a creative process. Similarly, video games that provide a large variety of materials and items–e.g., Minecraft–open up the realm of possibilities for players to do something creative–unique and inventive combinations.
"Players can decide their own goals for each play-through, as there is no narrative or set path the player has to follow, which also means players can continuously come up with new problems they want to solve." [1]
In September 2024, the user ryan_boulds posted a video on his TikTok channel. The video showed a giant computer within Minecraft–talking about learning, creativity, and problem solving. Someone actually build a working computer within a video game (I guess we are living in a giant simulation?).
Open-world games such as Skyrim have basic mechanics, leaving it up to the player to do what every he wants. Exploring the world and taking screenshots to post on your socials, engaging with all NPCs to follow the storyline in depth, looking for game bugs or glitches, or completing the same quest using different ways... all of that may foster creative thinking.
A third example: Baldur's Gate 3 or Path of Exile. The shier amount of customization or number of characters and their skill trees offer players a lot of room for creative behavior. On top of that, multiplayer games add a social motivator–spending your Saturday evening with friends online in a game while having a drink or two may end up in a disas... ah I mean "creative" exploration of what's possible in a game.
Lastly, some of you guys know that I'm a StarCraft II guy. Strategy games allow you to get creative when it comes to beating your opponent–e.g., strategies in building an army or strategizing to come up with a winning battle plan.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you all have a great week. Cheers,
Christian 🙂
