For decades, video games have been the poster child for everything supposedly wrong with modern childhood. Critics blame them for shortening attention spans, promoting violence, and encouraging laziness. But now, science has tossed a bit of a curveball into that narrative.
A team of international researchers from the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden has published a surprising finding: children who spend more time playing video games might actually see a small but meaningful boost in their IQ.
Yes, video games. The same ones that have long been frowned upon by teachers, parents, and anyone who ever used the phrase “When I was your age…”
Let’s dive into the research, unpack what it means, and why it might change how we view screens, smarts, and everything in between.
🧠 The Study: Who, What, and How
The research comes from an ongoing project called the ABCD Study (Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development)—the largest long-term study of child brain development in the United States. The researchers zeroed in on a group of 9,855 kids, all between 9 and 10 years old, and followed their digital habits over time.
They asked: How much time do these kids spend on screens each day?
Here’s the breakdown:
- 2.5 hours a day watching television or online videos (YouTube, Netflix, etc.)
- 1 hour a day playing video games (on consoles, computers, or mobile devices)
- 30 minutes a day socializing online (think chatting, messaging, and scrolling social media)
After collecting this data, the researchers returned two years later to check how the kids’ intelligence had changed. They used a variety of standardized cognitive tests to evaluate things like:
- Reading comprehension (Can they understand and interpret text?)
- Visual-spatial processing (Can they mentally manipulate shapes and images?)
- Working memory (Can they hold and use information in their minds?)
- Cognitive flexibility and self-control (Can they shift attention and regulate behavior?)
Read more: 10 Traits That Reveal Someone’s Been Through A Lot—Even If They Seem Fine
🧩 The Results: A Surprising 2.5 IQ Point Boost
Here’s where things got interesting. Kids who spent more time than average playing video games showed a 2.5-point increase in IQ—above the average increase that comes with age and schooling.
Now, 2.5 points might not sound revolutionary. It won’t turn someone into Einstein overnight. But in a large sample of children, any measurable increase in intelligence is worth noting—especially when it flies in the face of long-held beliefs that video games are brain-draining time sinks.
In contrast, kids who spent more time watching videos or socializing online showed no significant changes in intelligence—positive or negative. In other words, gaming stood alone in its potential to give kids’ brains a tiny mental boost.
🧬 It’s Not Just About the Screens: Genetics & Context Matter
A crucial part of this study is what the researchers did behind the scenes. They didn’t just compare kids who gamed versus those who didn’t. They also factored in important background details, such as:
- Genetic influences: Some kids may naturally have a higher cognitive potential.
- Socio-economic background: A child’s home environment, parental education, and access to resources can all shape development.
By controlling for these variables, the researchers strengthened their findings. They weren’t just observing smart kids who happen to like video games. They were observing a pattern of cognitive improvement that appeared to be linked to gaming itself, even after filtering out other influential factors.
This is a big deal in psychology and education research, where cause-and-effect relationships are notoriously tricky to pin down. It means the link between gaming and intelligence isn’t just a coincidence—it might be something more.
🎮 Why Might Video Games Help?
So, what is it about video games that could be nudging those IQ scores upward?
Well, many modern games—especially those designed with puzzles, strategy, exploration, or problem-solving in mind—require a constant juggling of mental skills. Players often have to:
- React quickly to visual and auditory stimuli
- Solve complex puzzles or navigate obstacles
- Adapt strategies on the fly
- Remember rules, maps, or enemy patterns
- Manage multiple objectives at once
These mental gymnastics aren’t so different from the kinds of skills used in classroom learning or real-world decision-making. In fact, they might train the brain in ways traditional schooling doesn’t always reach.
Even fast-paced action games, often dismissed as mindless, can require split-second decisions, multitasking, and situational awareness.
Read more: Waking Up Between 3–5 AM? Neuroscientists Say Your Brain May Be Sending a Warning
🛑 A Few Caveats: This Isn’t a Free Pass
Before we all rush out to buy the latest gaming console and crown video games as brain food, there are some important limitations to keep in mind.
🕹️ Not all games are equal
This study didn’t break down which types of games were played. Educational games? Puzzle apps? First-person shooters? Minecraft? Candy Crush? We don’t know. That means we can’t say for sure what kinds of games are most beneficial—or if some might be harmful.
💤 Other factors weren’t measured
The researchers didn’t explore how screen time affected other important areas of life, like:
- Physical health or exercise habits
- Sleep quality
- Mental wellbeing
- Academic performance
So while gaming might boost intelligence, it’s still possible for it to interfere with other key parts of a healthy lifestyle—especially if it replaces sleep or social interaction.
🧠 Intelligence is complex
IQ is just one measure of intelligence—and it doesn’t capture things like creativity, empathy, or emotional intelligence. So, even if gaming improves certain mental abilities, it’s only part of the picture when it comes to brain development.
🔬 What Comes Next? More Research, Please
The research team isn’t done yet. In fact, they see this as a starting point rather than a final answer. They plan to continue exploring how screen-based activities shape developing brains—and how different environmental factors (home life, school, friendships, etc.) influence cognitive growth.
As they put it themselves: “We’ll now be studying the effects of other environmental factors and how the cognitive effects relate to childhood brain development.”
This means future studies may dive deeper into which types of games are most beneficial, how different kids respond to screen time, and whether these patterns persist into adolescence and adulthood.
Read more: Health Experts Warn: These 6 Hidden Risks of Watermelon May Catch You Off Guard
🎯 Final Thoughts: A Shift in the Conversation
This study challenges the doom-and-gloom narrative that video games are purely harmful. It doesn’t mean gaming is the holy grail of brain development, but it does suggest that—when balanced with real-world experiences—games can be more than just entertainment.
They can be tools. Learning platforms. Cognitive trainers in disguise.
For parents, this is a chance to reframe the conversation. Instead of “How do I stop my kid from playing video games?” maybe the better question is:
“What kinds of games might help my child grow—and how can I guide them in using screens wisely?”
So, next time you see a child deep in concentration, controller in hand, eyes glued to the screen—it might not just be for fun. It might be a tiny workout for the brain.
