Nothing is more exhausting than a particularly long day at work – perhaps someone was getting on your nerves, or the commute may have been longer than usual. Whatever the reason, it’s absolutely draining.
It makes coming home all the sweeter, being the perfect time to unwind and take some needed time to yourself, whatever that may look like.For some players, however, it means launching their games… and going to work.
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Either these players are just a little bit insane, or there’s something about these games that they’re playing –the ones that simulate another job. It could be a full-fledged simulation of the job or of life itself.
So, what is it?What is it that makes us want to come home from our 9-5 (figuratively or literally) and then immediately work another 9-5?It has to go deeper than work itself, since it’s outright addictive.
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You would think there isn’t a market for these kinds of games – but givenAnimal Crossing’sinsane popularity, it’s clear that there is.
Animal Crossingis a more notorious (andcozy) example of the subgenre, but there are other games where you’re not just doing chores but working a literal job (i.e.,Powerwash Simulator).
It can be easy for some to assume that there’s nothing to be gained from working a virtual job in a video game, that you’re just doing chores and labour for no apparent reason. However, players (including myself) would immediately argue otherwise.
First and foremost, these games are still video games at the end of the day, so completing a task almost always feels rewarding. However, in these games where you have to put in a little bit of elbow grease, it feels far more than just rewarding – it’s euphoric.
I experienced this phenomenon for the first time withAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, desperately seeking some comfort away from the COVID-19 pandemic. It ended up being a balm for my mental health (I even went as far as to write about it for mythen-university’s magazine).
You’re working towards something, and it’s a goal that you want to meet. Whether it be building a bridge on your island or finding the last butterfly for your museum exhibit, there’s something enticing that you’re working toward.
So, when you hit that goal,it’s instant dopamine.
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The gratification and feelings of success alone are addicting enough to fans of these games. It’s the classic quest-and-reward system at its core.
And even still, there’s more that players are able to get in return for the work they’re doing. For some games (the simulatorsare most prominent with this), it’s simple, monotonous work that ends up becoming relaxing. So relaxing, in fact, that it’sa guilty pleasure.
There’s another incredibly important feeling that players are able to harness in these games, especially if it’s something they may not have much in their current lives:control.
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There’s no denying it: the world is scary, especially right now.
More and more people are feeling like their lives are out of control and are desperate for anything they can grasp, any form of escapism they can manage. In these games, that’s exactly what they get.
You can’t always control the outcome of how your day will go, but you can control what buttons you press and what you have your character do.You can control the outcome of this virtual day, and for some, that’s enough.
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This is especially prominent in games likeThe Sims,where you get to control every aspect of this little life that you created, all the way down to the clutter on your desk.
Having a sense of control, for many players, brings a sense of peace. This is even more amplified if the player is struggling with mental health issues when they don’t feel in control in some way.
So, by providing a game that gives these players (such as myself) complete control, that’s another box that’s checked off as to why the games become borderline addictive.
Communication and Community Thrive
Virtual Jobs Are Helpful in More Ways Than One
Doing lots of hard work on your own can be challenging – practically overwhelming – so it’s not uncommon to see games develop a small community around them. In thesewholesome communities, players help each other, make new friends, and create something brand new.
Humans crave connection just as much as they crave control or routine, and it’s only natural to want to make connections over a common love.
Stardew Valleyis an excellent example of this, where you quite literally work as a farmer throughout the game, but you have an entire village at your back. Plus, even these simple interactions are always excellent for communication skills.
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Of course, there’s a lot that players can learn from video games as well –whether intentionally or not– ranging from simple trivia to improving communication, to critical thinking/problem-solving skills and even outright employability skills.
I’m a high school teacher by day, and I watched in real-time how strategy games helped strengthen my students' problem-solving skills. It’s remarkable and outright awe-inspiring to see how a simple game controller can contribute so much to a young mind.
Football Manageris one shining example on the employment end, asone Ligue 1 coach got a head-start in their careerbecause of this game.
All of this to say, we play these games that feel like work not just because they’re fun, but because of the copious rewarding emotions that we feel when we play.
We crave a life we can control, one where the work that we do ends up meaning something – and in these games, that’s exactly what we get.
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