Video games can sometimes get a bad rap because they can be "too violent" or some people consider them to be "a waste of time." However, I disagree. For me, video games help me take my mind off what's going on in my life, they can help me relax (or get really frustrated and rage quite) and I enter a new world where I can take on a new persona. Whether you're into games like Fortnite, puzzle games, RPG (role-playing games), etc. there's something for everyone.

For the most part, I mostly play RPG games like the Pokemon, Zelda, and Persona series, "Undertale" and "Deltarune," and sometimes visual novels like "Danganronpa" and "Doki Doki Literature Club." For the most part in games like these are story driven and single player games, which I prefer to play over multi-player ones, such as "Fortnite" and "Overwatch." There's no particular reason why I don't play them other than it's a personal preference. Professional gamers can make a good amount of money from playing these more competition based games, and I have a lot of respect for them.

I play video games that help me escape what's going on and so I can de-stress after a long day or week when I can. If it's a good game with a gripping story, it's all I'll want to do and if I have nothing else going on, it is all I will do. To me, there's nothing more satisfying than finishing a game with a great story and it really made me feel like a part of the game. The reason why I love the Persona games so much is how driven the story is and because I really feet like the characters in the games are my friends, and like I matter. Which when I'm feeling down and having a bad time, can really make a difference.

As sad as it might seem, if I'm going through a depression episode I tend to veer towards playing a game to help me feel better about myself, especially if I don't want to bother my real friends about it. Playing games have also helped me learn more about myself and improve certain skills like problem-solving and multitasking. Just because the "you" in the game is different from the "you" in real life, doesn't mean it has to stay that way.

To me, playing games help me escape reality and every now and again I've made some new friends from the gaming community. I don't consider myself to be a gamer, but it is a hobby I enjoy. There are so many different kinds of games out there for everyone, regardless if you like popular titles or not. Just because it's not something everyone enjoys, doesn't mean you should look down on them because you see it as "a waste of time."