Niantic, the developer of Pokémon Go and Pikmin Bloom, released an article today supporting and encouraging people on World Mental Health Day. With a focus on the benefits of going on daily walks and interacting face-to-face, the article talks about the benefits of gaming, particularly the location-based games that the developer makes.
As Niantic’s World Mental Health Day article says, “despite what some may think, gaming can help and be a positive for mental health. Many players believe gaming helped their mental health during pandemic lockdowns. And academic research has highlighted the positive benefits of playing location-based games alongside other treatments.”
They continue to explain the benefits and science behind activities like going on a walk and socialising with friends, encouraging anyone struggling with their mental health to seek out activities that can improve the way they feel and help manage something that everyone struggles with.
Niantic’s World Mental Health Day article
Below, you can see a video sharing reactions from experts for Niantic’s World Mental Health Day output.
While Niantic’s World Mental Health Day is a wonderful first step (and you can check out our best games like Pokémon Go guide for more out-and-about game-playing possibilities), if you or anyone you know is struggling, we encourage you to reach out to one of the many mental health charities out there. CheckPoint and Safe in Our World are specifically designed for people struggling in the games space.