Video games are very popular among teenagers. According to a study by Avera, around 90% of American teenagers play video games. With advancing technologies, such as VR and AI, video games are very alluring to young people. Social media, such as TikTok and Youtube, also contributes to the popularity of video games. But what video games are popular?

There are many different genres of video games. Each genre has an attractive appeal to it. “I really enjoy sandboxes, because you can never run out of things to do,” said Atticus Mayland, a freshman. A sandbox is a type of video game where the player has some form of control so you can be creative. One example of a sandbox game is Minecraft.”My favorite game is Minecraft, because I play it all the time when I’m bored,” said Mayland.

Another genre that is popular is the Rougelike genre.”Rougelike is where if you die, you start over from the beginning, but you get more powers and skills over time. It feels like overcoming something hard,” said Michael Edwards, the eSports coach.

A lot of video games are fun because of the nostalgia factor. “I love tower defense games because I grew up playing a ton of them,” said Logan Nichols, a freshman. But it’s not all nostalgia-based. Some video games are popular just because of how well-made and helpful they are. “My favorite game is PIKMIN. It’s cute. It has a lot of time management, which I suck at, but PIKMIN made me better at it,” said Edwards.

Most video games are just played to have fun, however. “My favorite video game is Super Smash Brothers. It’s a fun party game, and it’s funny to see the characters launch across the screen when you hit them,” said Nichols.

Not all opinions about video games are positive, however. There are many factors that go into a video game that someone doesn’t like. One reason could be the oversaturation of the genre. “I don’t really like Overwatch 2 because they made a whole new game, but they basically added nothing different from the first,” said Mayland.

A different reason could just be because of money. “My least favorite video game is Fortnite because it is focused on spending money, The Battle Pass feature became popular because of Fortnite, and it made other games focused on money too,” said Nichols.

Another reason could be because of the people who are playing the games. “My least favorite game is ROBLOX, because there is so much censorship that it is hard to speak to people. Most people on there are little kids as well,” said Sebastian Lee Greenwell, a sophomore.

Many people consider video games to be a nerdy and strange hobby to like. But there is much more to video games than competitive battle royales and chatting games. “I view video games as a unique form of art that has visual and auditory elements, as well as your own input. The literature inside these games also contributes to what I like about them,” said Edwards. There is also the fact that these stories can transport you to other worlds. “I like the fact that I don’t have to worry about the real world while playing,” said Greenwell.

Video games are so popular because they make you feel like a different person. It’s a feeling that most other art forms can’t replicate, and that is what makes it special.

Comment with your favorite video game, and why you love it!