Video games develop intelligence better than chess: what a new study showed.

According to ТСН: Video games can influence the development of cognitive skills more than traditional board games, including chess. According to a new study, this happens because video games require players to process multiple streams of information and adapt strategies in real-time.

"Constantly facing new challenges and the need to navigate even entirely new systems is beneficial for the brain, " says Dr. Kurt Dean Squire, a professor of computer science at the University of California, Irvine, whose research focuses on learning through games.

In his opinion, players are forced to think outside the box, viewing problems from different angles.

What skills do video games develop

"Different games help develop different types of intelligence, " notes Dr. Nathan Carroll, a certified psychiatrist and author of the book "Internet Gaming Disorder".

Games that emphasize collaboration, such as Animal Crossing and Minecraft, as well as MMORPGs, promote the development of social intelligence when played together. Role-playing games, where players control characters in fictional worlds, can enhance linguistic intelligence through descriptive texts.

"In fact, I personally learned to read by playing role-playing games on the Sega Master System in the 1980s. To interact with them, I had to learn the words on the screen, " admits Carroll.

Games where players build and manage bases or empires, such as Minecraft, Valheim, and 4X, contribute to developing logical and spatial intelligence. Additionally, augmented and virtual reality games, such as Beat Saber and Fruit Ninja, open up opportunities for developing kinesthetic intelligence.

What are the benefits of chess and other board games

Dr. Fernand Gobet, a cognitive scientist who studied the psychology of board games, notes that there is a connection between chess skills and various types of intelligence.

"This is explained by the fact that more intelligent people tend to be more attracted to entertainment like chess, " he notes.

Gobet added that many games provide specific skills or knowledge. For example, if you want to improve your math or business knowledge, choose "Monopoly". Classic games like chess, go, and checkers encourage careful consideration of one's actions, which is an important component of executive function—skills that aid in problem-solving and decision-making.

"Games also develop social intelligence, such as respect for opponents and the ability to lose, " he adds.

Let us remind you that psychologists claim that true intelligence manifests in thinking, reactions, and attitudes towards oneself and the world. There are three simple yet clear signs that may indicate a high level of intelligence.

Thus, the research emphasizes the importance of video games in developing various cognitive abilities while not undermining the benefits of traditional board games. Both video games and chess can be useful in learning and shaping skills that will be valuable in real life.