We get into games of all kinds, both digital and otherwise, to evoke all kinds of feelings. Games can make us feel cozy, they can get us into a zen flow state, they can challenge our strategic mind, but plenty of people love to play games that make them feel some sort of risk, as well. When we feel like real stakes are on the line, even when they’re not, it can hit in a specific kind of way that other games can’t. But why is it that we chase those feelings, and where are some of the best places you can get them?
We Can Enjoy Adrenaline Without Consequences
Risk is something that we are inherently hard-wired to respond to. When we’re faced with a seemingly threatening situation, adrenaline can hit, causing our heart rate to rise, focus to sharpen, and then a rush of dopamine that can provide something of a high after the fact. Games that are designed to feel dangerous can tap into that biology even when we’re not putting anything at stake. The thrill of these games comes from the uncertainty of the outcome, rather than the idea that we’re actually going to lose something. Even when there’s nothing more on the line than imaginary money or the game state itself, our brain reacts as if there’s a real threat, which lets us enjoy stress-testing the brain in a totally safe environment, much like horror movies.
Risk In A Resettable World, With Video Games
Most video games inherently carry some sort of risk with them. Any that are designed around victory and defeat states carry the risk that you lose every time you put them on. The type of risk you might enjoy in a video game can differ. For instance, for some, survival and extraction games like Escape from Tarkov have a high sense of difficulty due to their difficulty and the relatively high stakes of losing your inventory when you fail, or games like Darkest Dungeon which constant force players to calculate the risk of taking routes that can expose them to more danger to more potential gain, even if they might lose characters permanently on the way.
Fantasy Sports Make A Game Out Of Real Stakes
There’s something inherently more exciting about tying your game to something with real-world stakes. If you’re already invested in sports, then the emotional pull of seeing your chosen players winning or losing can make fantasy sports feel all the more real to you. The outcomes are tied to real games, affected by turns of fate like players being injured or lineup changes late in a game. Even if the consequences are mostly bragging rights or a light penalty for losing to your friends, the uncertainty is the hook of fantasy sports, allowing you to better feel the emotional swings involved in the sport without having to get near the field yourself.
Even Free Casino Games Can Get The Pulse Racing
The world of the casino has made its way online, with plenty of websites offering ways to put up your money for the chance to win real prizes. However, for those who prefer not to put any real stakes up, there are plenty of free versions of casino games, like online blackjack, that allow you to enjoy all of the thrills of the game, such as watching and waiting for cards, placing bets (of digital chips), and calculating risk without financial stakes. Even without the tangible loss that comes with real casino games, you can still enjoy the tension of making decisions and seeing how well they pay off.
Escape Rooms Put Fear In A Puzzle
Not all games about risk are designed to make you feel fear, but in the case of escape rooms, that sense of tension is often a major part of the game. The pressure is all artificial, with the ticking clock and locked doors posing no real threat at all, but the immersion of the situation creates a sense of urgency that mimics real danger and, as such, can make the game even more motivating. It also allows players to get through it, to feel clever and resilient when they’re able to solve puzzles despite that tension. The excitement comes from racing against time and solving problems under pressure, not from real consequences. It’s a perfect example of how perceived risk can be just as engaging as genuine risk.
It Gives Us A Chance To Feel Brave
The danger may only be simulated, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t feel good to summon up your courage and face things head-on. Whether you’re making a bold move in a video game, taking a gamble on a risky bet (even without money involved), or choosing a riskier strategy in a fantasy sports game, risky games allow you to step up as a confident decision-maker. Not only is it great to see it pay off, but it does help a little towards building a real sense of resilience, as well. Because the environment is actually safe, it encourages people ot experiment, push boundaries, and get hands-on with the nature of risk.
Simulated Risk Is A Social Lubricant
One of the reasons that we love ot play high-risk, low-stakes online games, to play card games or fantasy sports with friends, or even go to danger rooms together, is that it can serve as an excellent ice breaker. We get to laugh about bad decisions, celebrate lucky outcomes together, and enjoy the psychology of fear in a harmless setting with one another. These games naturally generate shared stories, which can make them an excellent way to spend time with friends. We all get to enjoy the tension, despite no one actually being harmed by the outcome.
Whether it’s through video games designed around the concept of risk, free casino games, escape rooms, or otherwise, games that feel risky can be inherently exciting, even when they’re totally safe, so it’s worth trying out.
