Well, it starts out as “just a quick match”, right after you get off of work. Then somehow it’s 11:47 p.m., the jaw is clenched, the shoulders are up by the ears, and the whole house can feel the tension radiating off one person like a space heater. The controller is getting gripped hard, surprisingly not being crushed. And okay, sure, it’s technically “fun,” but the body is acting like it’s in a survival situation. And that’s because it tricks your brain into thinking that, yeah, video games are honestly a quick way to have fun, and some are, really, it’s true.
But anyway, that’s the thing with adrenaline games, especially a lot of modern video games. They’re built to keep the nervous system on high alert. Which is great if the goal is feeling locked-in and hyped. It’s not so great if the goal is relaxing, unwinding, and not going to bed annoyed at pixels or someone shouting on the other end pushing your buttons (which happens all the time).
But keep in mind here that adrenaline isn’t the enemy. In all honesty here, a little rush can be exciting. It can feel like a release. But when the main entertainment choice constantly hits the stress-response button, it stops being a break and starts being another thing that drains patience. Like, it’s not fun if you’re stressed and mad the whole time, that’s not fun or healthy!
It’s Like a Whole Workout (Without the Benefits)
But how? Well, gaming looks chill from the outside. You’re sitting down, minimal movement, snack nearby, very cozy. But the body doesn’t care about the chair. If something feels urgent, competitive, loud, fast, and unpredictable, the body responds as if it’s real pressure. You see the problem here?
That’s why some games make hands sweat, heart rate climb, and breathing get shallow. That’s not imagination, that’s adrenaline. And okay, in small doses, it can be kind of thrilling. But if it’s happening for hours, repeatedly, day after day, the body stays revved up longer than it should. Now, with that part said, that “one more round” thing is not a character flaw. Well, you could technically call it that too; some people just can’t stand losing, but it’s also a design feature.
But a lot of adrenaline-heavy games don’t leave the brain satisfied. They leave it activated. So instead of feeling done like a heavy workout would do, the brain wants to fix something, chase a win, undo a loss, or prove a point to someone who is not even in the room.
The Stress isn’t Always During the Game
Well, that’s another thing to point out here, though, because people play board games and video games to have fun, like they’re meant to help avoid any sort of stress, they’re meant to relax you, have a good time, kill some time even. Now, it’s not like they don’t do that or whatever, but they certainly aren’t relaxing you during and after the game is done for the day.
A lot of people don’t connect the dots because the stress doesn’t always show up as “this game is stressing me out.” It shows up as being snippy later. It shows up as feeling annoyed at random stuff. It shows up as scrolling in bed with the brain still racing, thinking about what should’ve been done differently.
It Makes Everythign Boring
You know how TikTok videos and YouTube Shorts are, well, short? They’re meant to give quick fixes of dopamine, be addictive, give multiple feelings all at once, and so on. Well, adrenaline-based games do the same (mainly video games). With board games, they’re slow, they’re always going to be slow, but video games, especially ones that are intentionally there to give you an adrenaline rush, they’re super fast-paced.
Sometimes there is adrenaline in games, like playing Chess, be it online or on an actual board, there is some adrenaline (and it works the mind like a muscle, it is), but it’s nothing compared to a fighting game, first-person shooter, or racing game, you get the idea.
Basically, adrenaline games can make everything else feel boring. Like a slow TV show, a normal conversation, or a quiet evening starts feeling too low stimulation. Not because those things are bad, but because the brain got used to high-intensity input being the baseline. So then someone tries to “relax,” and the brain’s like, okay, but where’s the action, where’s the urgency, where’s the dopamine hit? Which is how free time turns into a constant search for stimulation instead of actual rest.
It’s Not Relaxing if it’s Anger-Inducing
Yes! Yes! Yes! Well, there’s a difference between challenge and stress. Some adrenaline games don’t just challenge the brain; they test patience. Well, a lot of them do that. How? Well, you’ve got the timers, rankings, surprise attacks, punishments for tiny mistakes, people trash-talking, teammates doing the most, and suddenly the match is less “fun” and more “why is this ruining the mood.”
And yeah, sure, some people thrive on that. But if a game regularly creates anger, frustration, or that gross, edgy feeling, it’s not a break anymore. It’s just stress with better graphics. Yes, video games are known for causing anger. Thankfully, some people rage quit before they do something they regret, but yeah, overall, it can cause anger.
And there’s always pressure, no matter what. It’s pressure, pressure, pressure, and then maybe a win, and then immediately more pressure. It can feel like the brain never gets to exhale. That is not good for your nervous system!
Don’t Forget About Sleep
Well, one more thing you absolutely have to keep in mind here: adrenaline-heavy gaming late in the evening is basically telling the brain, “stay alert.” Then bedtime happens, and the brain is expected to magically switch into sleep mode like it’s a lamp. Yeah, that’s not how it works.
Even if the body is tired, the mind can stay wired. People replay moments, think about mistakes, feel irritated again, and suddenly it’s 1:00 a.m., and the heart is still doing that slightly-too-fast thing. Like, it’s all a really bad idea, and it just sticks with you
