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Most people think of video games as a hobby, but research shows they can also teach us important life skills, including communication, cooperation and empathy. Multiplayer action games, cooperative puzzles, or serious educational simulations – many types of video games create the ability to work together, express ideas effectively, take initiative, and connect with others. For many, games are more than entertainment – they are tools for building stronger teams and relations.
Learning teamwork through play
Studies show that playing games together helps people develop problem-solving, cooperation, and leadership. In one study, teams who played video games like Halo or Rock Band for less than an hour performed better on group tasks afterwards than those who did traditional team-building exercises. The reason is simple: games create a sense of flow – clear goals, real-time feedback, some repetition of strategic planning and challenges that encourage teamwork and creativity.
Similarly, students who played multiplayer games such as Overcooked or Fortnite reported that they learned how to allocate tasks, plan and communicate clearly with each other.
Building friendships and communities
Games don’t just build skills – they also create communities with similar interests and experiences. Some online games bring players together to achieve shared goals. Working in teams, players learn to trust each other, coordinate roles, and support the group.
Players in these online communities often experience stronger self-esteem, less loneliness, and better social skills, because of seeking the same goal, communication with like minded individuals and the happiness of achieving the goal or strategic mindset to oversee the mistakes and learn how to do better. Gaming communities can become spaces where friendships grow and where people feel part of something bigger than themselves.
Cooperation, empathy, and trust
Cooperative games are especially powerful for teaching trust and empathy in the group setting. Players must rely on one another to succeed, whether it’s solving puzzles or surviving in a game world.
Serious games – those designed for learning – take this further. For example, PeaceMaker was created to teach empathy and understanding in conflict situations, while the Finnish game NoviCraft helps teams practice communication and leadership through problem-solving challenges. These examples show how games can be used not only for fun, but also for education and peacebuilding.
Games as preparation for real life
Games reflect the real-world challenges of working together. In survival or strategy games, players need to share resources, plan strategies, and cooperate under pressure. As game designer Jane McGonigal has argued, games can inspire us to become “better versions of ourselves” – more resilient, creative, and willing to work with others.
From classrooms to online communities, games are proving to be powerful tools for teamwork and community building. They teach players to cooperate, lead, empathise, and trust one another – skills that are essential in our daily lives.
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