The general quality of video games has risen considerably over the past twenty years. And that’s not the only thing that’s changed either. In the olden days, commentators would often view gaming as a waste of time. But that view has been challenged in recent years. Today, critical opinion is much more sympathetic. And that’s especially true of sports video games, which have been shown to offer a wide range of previously overlooked benefits. FIFA, for example, helps to bring together distant loved ones and friends, providing a much-needed social outlet. It also improves a person’s understanding of the real-world game. If you’ve played hours of FIFA, you’ll likely have good insight into what might happen in a real match. And, with betting offers and fantasy football leagues available, it’s possible for gamers to put their soccer knowledge to the test. Ultimately, FIFA — and other sports video games — give the player something they don’t get anywhere else.
Don’t believe us? Just check out the many benefits below.
It’s An Anti-Anxiety Tonic
Feeling stressed? Then a couple of hours of playing FIFA might be just the thing you need to relax the mind, body and soul. OK, so we should mention that FIFA can sometimes be stressful. There’s nothing worse than pushing for a last-minute equalizer when the clock is running down faster than you’d like it to. But still, by and large, playing will help you to unwind, mostly because it distracts your mind, sucking you into a virtual game that requires full concentration at all times. Just be sure not to take it too seriously. Otherwise, you may indeed walk away feeling more tense than when you started — unless you win, that is.
You Learn About Tactics
Most football fans watch the real-world game for the narrative, not necessarily the match itself. Ask the average person in a stadium what tactics either team is using, and it’s unlikely that they’d be able to tell you in any concrete detail. That’s not a criticism of fans — there’s no way that they could know about tactics. They don’t teach them in school, and even people who have played football all their life only have a vague idea of tactics. People understand positions, but not much more.
FIFA changes that. If you play for long enough, you’ll develop a sense of how different tactical formations impact the playing style, and that’s something that you can take into your enjoyment of football. By utilizing your tactical awareness, you’ll find that it’s much easier to predict what may happen in a real-world fixture. Rather than just looking at the players on the pitch, you’ll have a sense of how each team’s setup will impact the game. And you might just find that you can correctly predict results more frequently than you might expect.
… And Up and Coming Players
Playing FIFA can also give you a head start on up-and-coming, under-the-radar superstars who will be household names in years to come. This is especially true when you’re playing in career mode, in which you’ll spend a fair chunk of time looking at young players who you can buy on a budget.
FIFA’s producers have a reputation for being oddly accurate in their assessment of a player’s skills. If you see that an 18-year-old has above average stats for his age, then you can safely assume that he’s got talent. When you see that player on the bench in a top-tier game in the future, you’ll know to keep an eye out for his performance. Having this kind of information can make you appear extremely knowledgeable about football.
It Can Inspire People to Play
FIFA has also been shown to inspire people to play soccer, a phenomenon that’s always been seen in other sports. This is especially true in areas of the world that don’t play as much as other countries, such as the United States. It makes sense that if you spend enough time playing the virtual version of a sport, at some point you’ll be curious to try it in real life. The player might give up after one attempt, but hey, at least they gave it a try!
It Teaches Resilience
No one’s a natural expert at FIFA — or any other sports video game, for that matter. It takes time to learn how to play correctly. If you want to get to the level where you’re not getting beat 5 – 0 every time, you’ll have to go through the learning curve. But eventually, you’ll get to the point where you’re playing better and getting beat by less of a margin — and then, you’ll top the scales and find yourself winning. There’s a good life lesson in there: if you want to win, then you’ll need to work for it. Nothing is given to you on a plate.
…And How to Accept Defeat
Playing FIFA can also teach you how to accept defeat. Unless you play real-world sports or other multiplayer video games, the number of times you experience defeat might be relatively few, if any at all. That’s not because you’re winning all the time, but more because you’re not stepping into battle. You’ll win a fair few games if you play enough FIFA, but you’ll also get beat a lot too. Over time, you’ll learn that it’s not the winning or losing that counts, but simply trying your best.
Many people learn that when they’re young, but most people don’t — and sometimes, it’s FIFA and other video games that can make the message sink in.
Final Thoughts
Playing FIFA or any other video game isn’t going to radically change your life. But as we’ve seen above, it can probably bring more benefits than you previously thought, and may even open up your eyes to new skills that you didn’t even know existed. In the worst-case scenario, you can have faith that it’ll help you to relax and connect with friends. And sometimes, that’s all we need to know.
