Study Validates Postgame Depression in Gamers

A new study from researchers in Poland has provided scientific validation for a feeling long familiar to video game enthusiasts: the sense of emptiness and sadness that can follow completing an immersive title, now formally termed postgame depression.

The research, led by psychologist Kamil Janowicz from SWPS University and psychologist Piotr Klimczyk from the Stefan Batory Academy of Applied Sciences, introduces the first validated scale to measure this phenomenon. Published in the journal Current Psychology, the study involved 373 participants recruited via social media platforms, Reddit, Discord, and mailing lists. Most respondents reported playing video games daily or nearly every day. Through surveys assessing wellbeing, mental health, and emotional responses after finishing games, the team identified four core dimensions of postgame depression: intrusive thoughts and ruminations about the game's story; a challenging emotional conclusion to the experience; a strong urge to replay the game immediately; and media anhedonia, or a diminished interest in other forms of entertainment.

The findings indicate that postgame depression correlates with broader depressive symptoms and...