What do you think of when you hear the words: video games? Do you associate it with little kids or teenagers? Or maybe those who shy away from society? Well, video games span more than those misconceptions and can bring you great mental health benefits.
Personally, I started to play video games in my late 20s. Before then, I felt it was childish; or a waste of my time. I was wrong. It ended up feeling like a different way to exercise the brain – with limits, of course, almost like a stress reliever of some sort. That’s when I realized I wasn’t the only one who felt this way.
According to Web MD, the benefits of playing video games span mental stimulation, feeling a sense of accomplishment, mental health recovery, social interaction, and emotional resilience. The source notes that “playing video games works with deeper parts of your brain that improve development and critical thinking skills.” No wonder it keeps you captivated and on your toes!
For those curious about video games – and more now knowing there are science-backed benefits – here are five diverse video games invented in Latin America that you should get your hands on.
Rock of Ages 3 (Chile)
This game is “an eclectic adventure” featuring bizarre and irreverent takes on legendary characters. You can create and share your own levels to compete with friends and strangers online in a “real-time mix of hectic tower defense and epic boulder-racing arcade action.” Rock of Ages 3 is brought to you by ACE team, the indie game developers based in Santiago, Chile.
Aztech Forgotten Gods (Mexico)
This game is described as: “a cyber-stone action-adventure game that follows the story of Achtli, a young girl who confronts the colossal Forgotten Gods.”
To discover the truth behind her futuristic Mesoamerican metropolis, Achtli will have to use the power of the gods against them as she flies through the city with grace and power using an ancient artifact. It’s brought to you by Lienzo, a company based in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Done Strike Force (Argentina)
This game is a “challenging online shooter with three-dimensional gameplay for competitive, skill-based combat with drones.” It’s brought to you by Nimble Giant Entertainment, a company based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Fidel Dungeon Rescue (Argentina)
This game is described as: “Fidel needs to do some dungeoning to rescue his owner. Both a Dungeon Crawler and a soft puzzle. It is pretty big and has many surprises.” It’s brought to you by the indie game developer Daniel Benmergui, who is based in Argentina.
Charrua Soccer (Uruguay)
This game is “a casual retro style soccer game with a stylized 3D look.”
Charrua Soccer has stylized 3D graphics inspired in the retro style of the games from the ’90s, evoking nostalgia!” It’s brought to you by Batovi Games Studio, a company based in Montevideo, Uruguay.