Why and how children need to play on the computer. Can you play computer games? Advantages and disadvantages

  • 15.03.2022

Video games are great! But what happens if you play them too much? This can give both positive and negative results. There are examples all over the world of gamers who played for too long and literally didn't make it to the credits. Overkill in video games can be a serious problem. As with all pleasant things in this world, everything should be in moderation. Too much of anything from sleep to water can lead to certain negative effects.
But despite some tragic effects, video games aren't all that bad. First, they deliver incredible pleasure. Second, they can improve just about everything about you, from critical thinking to motor coordination.
Sometimes they can even make you smarter. Therefore, it is necessary to take a closer look at what impact video games can have on a person and what harm they cause to the body.

You can die from thrombosis

Long gaming sessions are not unusual. But what if they threaten your life? Yes, then it's still too much. A condition known as deep vein thrombosis can develop if you sit still for a long period of time.
One British gamer died due to the fact that he formed blood clots caused by thrombosis, the cause of which was his lifestyle - every day he spent 12 hours in a row playing computer games. And a New Zealand gamer was hospitalized with blood clots in his legs after sitting at his console for four days while on vacation.

Your heart may fail

A 32-year-old man from Hong Kong was found dead in a computer club where he stayed for three days in a row. The man entered the club on January 6, 2015, started playing - and was found dead on January 8. The cause of death is heart failure caused by lack of mobility, low temperature and complete exhaustion due to lack of sleep.
Club staff reported that the same man often stayed at the club for three to four days, and other gamers did not pay much attention to what was happening when the hapless gamer's body was carried out into the street.

You can develop "nintendoit"

Even if you take breaks between gaming sessions, repeated use of the controller for hours, days, weeks, months, and years can take its toll. The game usually requires the gamer to repetitively repetitively move their thumbs and fingers, and a 2003 study found that many gamers suffered from repetitive arm strains (a syndrome that was dubbed "nintendoitis").

You can hurt your back

A 1999 study looked at back pain in schoolchildren and its relationship to what children enjoy doing, including watching TV and playing on the computer. The report indicated that there was an association between computer games and back pain. These pains were manifested in those children who reported to the researchers that they spend at least two hours a day at the computer.

You can hurt your eyes

It shouldn't surprise you that looking at a screen for a long time, whether it's a TV, computer, smartphone or tablet, doesn't have a positive effect on your eyes. There is even such a disease as computer vision syndrome. It manifests itself in people who spend several hours a day behind computer screens.

It can literally affect your brain

If you enjoy playing computer games for too long, it can start to take its toll on your brain. Literally. Research shows that frequent gaming sessions can change your brain. To give specific examples, young children who spent more than nine hours a week playing computer games had an enlarged reward center in their brains that made them want to play even more.

Nowadays, when a computer is in almost every family and in many schools, all parents are very worried about the impact of a computer on a child. Is a computer safe for a growing organism? How long can a child sit at a computer so that it does not affect his health? What causes harm to the computer for children? You will learn about this and much more from women's online magazine Charla.

Actually computer damage consists in the same thing as dignity - in its boundless fascination. Computer harm for children can only be due to non-observance of simple rules that help maintain health. Therefore, when buying a computer for a child, parents should clearly understand: now they will have to monitor how much the child sits at the computer, how much the child plays on the computer. In other words, it is the parents who are responsible for whether the computer will bring benefits to children, or, conversely, harm.

Computer harm for children

People who work in the office and are forced to sit in front of a computer all day long know firsthand how the eyes suffer from this: a burning sensation appears, the eyelids hurt, as if sand had been poured into the eyes. Therefore, it is very important that children do not spend a lot of time at the computer. Since children who are addicted to the computer do not notice the fatigue and fatigue of the eyes, they can overload them very much. Especially if child playing computer, and not engaged in some kind of training program. Computer "toys" can captivate a child so much that he can sit at the computer all day without interruption. Therefore, in order to keep your child's eyesight good, always control how much time he spends in front of the screen.

If a child sits at a computer uncontrollably, then this is fraught with the development of hypodynamia. After all, the human body, and even more so a growing body, needs movement. Due to a long immobile state, the child's well-being worsens, malfunctions occur in the body. When the child plays a lot of computer games, this is accompanied by emotional stress, which also does not pass without a trace. As a result, after sitting all day in front of the computer, the child becomes excited and irritated in the evening, becomes aggressive and uncontrollable, and sleeps poorly at night. And the reason for this is that the parents went on about their child and allowed him to play all day long.

In short, it's all about the sense of proportion. Computer harm for children caused by excessive use of the computer. Therefore, the task of parents is to control the time that the child sits at the computer. So that the computer does not harm the health of preschool children, a child under six years old should not be allowed to spend more than twenty minutes at the computer. Children aged 8-9 years old can play educational games for thirty to forty minutes. And from the age of ten, you can be allowed to sit at the screen for no more than an hour and a half. Of course, parents sometimes want to take a break from a restless child, so they allow him to sit at the computer longer so that he does not interfere with household chores. But this is not the best option: try to keep your child busy with something else.

Since sitting in front of a computer for a long time causes a lot of eye strain, it is recommended to adjust the brightness and contrast of the monitor so that visual fatigue does not occur. On the "desktop" you can install some picture of calm tones, for example, a landscape. It is also desirable to teach the child to do special exercises for the eyes.

The influence of the computer on a child of primary school age

If your child is already eight years old, it is quite possible for him to buy his own computer. With a reasonable attitude towards the computer and your control over how much the child sits at the computer, its influence will be beneficial. So, psychologists note that computers are good helpers for schoolchildren, as they develop certain skills: attention, logic, abstract thinking. Playing educational computer games, the child educates himself, learns to make independent decisions, develops his creative abilities.

If the child sits at the computer for too long

If your child playing computer for hours on end and he cannot be torn away from games, then you are most likely to blame, because you allowed your child to spend as much time in front of the screen as he pleases. Try to somehow switch the attention of the child, divert him to some other activity, sign him up for a sports section, find him a hobby. Talk to your child, explaining to him in a simple and accessible way why it is harmful to sit in front of the computer for a long time. But you don’t need to tell scary stories, force, shout and put pressure on him - he will appreciate your sincerity and honesty much more.

Don't Be Overly Worried About the Negative the influence of the computer on the child, because with a competent and reasonable approach, the benefits of it are much greater. The sooner he gets acquainted with technology, begins to understand it and understand something, the more developed he will be. After all, in our age of technological progress, every person one way or another must come into contact with technology. This smart car will help your child to increase their level of knowledge, he will become interested in the latest technical achievements, and this will undoubtedly be useful to him in the future.

Alisa Terentyeva

This article is addressed to both young parents and teenagers. The author looks, of course, narrowly, “from his bell tower”, but this bell tower is located in such a way that a magnificent view opens from it.

As a child, I spent a lot of time in computer games, without getting any benefit from it. And, of course, I agree with all the negativity that is written about them here. If I could live again, I would hardly touch them at all. But...

But now he has three children growing up, they go to kindergarten, to school. Almost all peers have smartphones, tablets without any parental control. What should I do?
What is the approach to the problem?

It is clear which - to ban. So, the children were told that under 18 no smartphones. Grow up - buy yourself. Dot. The children resigned themselves, but where should they go. But...

Is it right to deprive a child of the experience of communicating with a computer today, when the world literally consists of computers? Will non-computer professions remain tomorrow?

I do not want my children to grow up as savages, so that they have a fear of technology, which many are subject to. Are there really no such games that would not harm, but were useful? I don't mean all the "fine motor skills" and "smartness" that all games supposedly develop. We are talking about serious development - intellectual, spiritual. What parent hasn't asked themselves this question?

Everyone knows: children are drawn to the computer. They are initially drawn not with the passion of a hardened gamer and not to escape the dull school reality (see below). Young children are first and foremost scientists. They explore the world and everything they see in it for the first time. The computer contains a fusion of the great beauty of the laws of nature and the genius of the human mind. This objectively the most interesting thing in a modern house.

I'll explain a little more. Our ancient ancestors have always been interested in the outside world. Looking at the fire was scary, but curious. Having understood its properties, man made a real revolution. Many problems were solved and even ferocious predators began to run not after a person, but from him. Then people became interested in the properties of metals, light, steam, magnets...

We have a deep instinct that makes us stop our attention on some properties of the world around us, because behind them lies a lot of important things. Children, like explorers of the past, don't know that observing rainbows can create lasers, mixing substances can create explosives and medicines, and throwing pebbles can unlock the mysteries of planetary motion. But they, like Sherlock Holmes, feel the subtle nuances of the networks of cause and effect relationships that permeate our world. And they can't help but feel that the computer is a piece of another revolution, comparable in importance to the opening of fire. They look at the computer as if through the eyes of von Neumann, Glushkov, Wiener... They do not know its capabilities, but, believe me, they roughly feel them.

In this light, using a computer for stupid games, social networks or video materials in front of children is almost blasphemy. And, of course, contagious. The cybernets of the 20th century, who dreamed of personal computers in every home, and did not even dream of the technical characteristics we are used to, would despair today, seeing how vulgarized their great dream is.

The first game I installed on my child's computer was Tux,ofMathcommand.

The authors of the game clearly wanted there to be no violence, and therefore, instead of shooting at penguins, we shoot at asteroids falling on them. That is, we save, we protect. Humanism respected. Even blatant humanists should not encroach on the process of shooting itself (in my presence, anyway): shooting, explosions, and so on are normal boyish affairs. Physics and chemistry in other words.

Shooting occurs when you press the button with the answer to the example indicated on the asteroid. There are a lot of tasks of very different complexity and not only in mathematics.

The child played with enthusiasm and reached considerable levels, however, it was clear that the monotony of this, albeit useful, game does not meet the needs of the developing child's brain. And then, I don’t remember by what fate, I discovered two absolutely brilliant games for myself (in fact, these are not games at all, but full-fledged scientific software, but children don’t need to know about it!): Algodoo And ThePowdertoy.


These are, figuratively speaking, "sandboxes" simulating the real world. There you can build your systems and see how they work. Algodoo more with a bias in mechanics and optics, Powdertoy- in thermal, chemical, electrical and nuclear phenomena. To combine both in one program does not yet allow the performance of modern computers.

Algodoo is described in more detail by me.

Powder Toy in Russian is not really described, but this is not necessary. Just download these free programs from the official websites and let the children explore all the materials and types of their interactions on their own. Finding out for yourself that protons and electrons combine into hydrogen, and hydrogen and oxygen turn into water vapor under the influence of a flame, is not a cheap thing. And there, of course, there are online catalogs with tens or hundreds of thousands of other people's crafts from all over the world.

Newton, Kepler, Euclid and many other geniuses of the past would have paid dearly to play such a game for at least half an hour. For example, physicists have long known the “three-body problem”: for an arbitrary system of two bodies (for example, the Earth and the Moon), formulas can be derived that describe orbits. For three bodies, it is impossible, even if you are, say, Euler or Lagrange (they found solutions only for some special cases). In Algodoo, you can throw thirty or, if you like, three hundred bodies and admire their trajectories.

Is it possible to make a stable car with one wheel? How to make a walking or jumping robot? Rocket with three stages? Machine gun? The fountain? Or maybe a jumping machine-gun fountain with three stages? The expenditure of labor and money to carry out the most fantastic experiments in such programs is negligible, and the results often have a real physical meaning.

Someone will ask, where will the children get enough ideas to implement in these programs? I taught classes on them in a circle, studied with my own children and showed the children of my acquaintances ... everything turned out to be very simple .. Children play out their most powerful impressions in computers. Almost all (it seems, all 100%) of children, the first experience is ... "blow up a little man"! What can you do, such is the content of the information avalanche that falls on children from everywhere. At first it scared me. Then I understood the pattern: having played back strong impressions, the child moves on to not so strong, but healthier ones. Then he begins to play with subtle shades of impressions. In the end, it turned out not bad: we watched Star Wars - the younger one made spaceships of the appropriate type in the program, and the older one made a whole game (he made the game when peers are still playing!) With a plot, landscape, active enemies, and the like. We watched "Salyut-7": and now the game is about the docking of ships. We watched "Ice Age" - and now a squirrel is already modeled in a mountain of nuts. This is how impressions that inspired children are channeled into a creative direction.

In addition, children are not fools, but the same people, and they tend to move from simple to complex on their own. So, I get an explosion, but can I make a smooth burning? So, if fuel is supplied too slowly, everything goes out, if it is fast, it explodes... some way of regulation is needed.... In the end, children create the most interesting structures - models of nuclear power plants, spaceships, factories...

One day I could not stand it and brought it to school to show this miracle to the children there. The teacher tried to draw attention to some formal points: “Look, children, we are now engaged in physical modeling! Here we have Hooke's law! No that's not true. It's a game because physics simulation is actually a game. And this is no longer Hooke's law, today it is the law of Petit or Masha, who discovered them for themselves here and now.

Dear parents! Forget at this moment all the formal nonsense that is taught at school, and even the one that is required for the exam. Let the child learn to enjoy playing with nature. First with the painted one, because it is cheaper and safer. The main thing is to feel the taste of science, experimental design work. When you have an idea, you create something, it flies, jumps, crawls the wrong way, you look for a reason, solve a problem, build again and watch how it jumps again, and again look for a reason - and so on an infinite number of times.

At school, they teach simply: each problem has a single dogmatically correct answer, it must be memorized, and it must be given correctly the first time. This nonsense then has to be knocked out of his head with great difficulty. In production and in life, and even more so in science, it’s not at all like that: there are dozens of correct answers, and any of them starts working somewhere from the hundredth attempt ... Physical "sandboxes" prepare children for real life, comprehension, formulation and creative solving a stream of non-standard tasks. Having understood the essence of the creative process, children will inevitably want to go beyond the narrow confines of the virtual world. No, not immediately to machine tools and tools - first through Lego, through improvised materials, gradually increasing the value and complexity of tasks ...

Sooner or later, there is a desire to get out of the flat world into the three-dimensional one. Now the game Golems has appeared - a three-dimensional analogue of Algodoo. Here you can not only assemble three-dimensional structures, but also program them in an original and convenient way, equip them with sensors and drives. This is a good way to get familiar with 3D space, functions, signals and graphs.

Your feedback

The more psychological barriers a child has in everyday real life, the faster and deeper he will plunge into virtual reality.
Computers have quickly become part of the life of modern man. Today it has become customary to see that a person interacts with a computer all the time - at work, at home, in a car and even on an airplane. Gradually, the computer becomes an integral part of the life of not only an adult, but also a child. Many parents believe that it is better for a child to sit at home at a computer in front of them than to walk with a bad company. Thus, the child gets free and unlimited access to the computer.
Indeed, computer games have become an exciting activity for many preschoolers, schoolchildren, students and adults. Preschoolers are sometimes no longer interested in ordinary toys, as before, they tend to get home as soon as possible, because there is a cherished game waiting for them. Schoolchildren skip classes only because they spent the whole night at the screen and did not have time to prepare for the lessons, which become less important than the level of the game passed. And at the breaks at school, one of the most relevant topics is now the topic of computer games and the number of points for them.
The need for the game as such is characteristic of a person throughout his life. During the game, an unconscious cognitive need is satisfied, as a result of which the child gets pleasure. A certain place in a number of computer games is occupied by non-role-playing logical and educational games. Children's perception is arranged in such a way that associations and games are needed to memorize and assimilate information. If you use computer games within reasonable limits (no more than 1 hour a day with breaks every 15-20 minutes for a child of 6-9 years old) and not to the detriment of other aspects of the child's life, then they can bring a positive result: they will teach children to count, to learn a foreign alphabet , enhance concentration, improve mental operations, decision-making processes, will contribute to the formation of artistic imagination, help to develop speed of reaction.
At the same time, a child who prefers only computer games to all other entertainment and hobbies, even if they are educational ones, is at risk of many serious problems. Studies have shown that if a child under 10 years old is addicted to a computer, then this can slow down his development, both physical and mental. Sitting behind a favorite computer toy, such a child begins to lead a lifestyle that is not typical of this age, excluding the necessary physical activity, the development of a wide range of emotional reactions, knowledge of the world around, the formation of communication skills in communication and in ordinary children's games with peers. Psychologists believe that up to 10-11 years of age for the development of children it is much more useful to play sports, outdoor games (bowling, football, volleyball), music, drawing, hiking, rollerblading, skating, skiing, cycling. It should also be borne in mind that it is difficult for children to observe the "measure" in the game, because. their self-regulation processes are not yet sufficiently formed, which means that it is difficult for them to limit the time they play on the computer, take breaks in time, and monitor their diet.
Many electronic games involve not only solving logical problems, but also a certain emotional load, which, in fact, underlies most cases of pathological attachment to games. Electronic games differ significantly in genre and content.
The least dangerous are the so-called arcade games, with simple graphics and sound. These games, as a rule, "kill time", they cannot cause long-term attachment.
Another thing is role-playing games, during which the player "reincarnates" in the hero controlled by him and plunges headlong into his world. In such games, the feeling of reality can be very strong and hold the attention of the player for a long time.
The greatest danger is represented by "shooters", which are characterized by a very primitive plot based on violence. Such games can adversely affect the psyche of the child and cause him to be excessively aggressive.
Factors contributing to the child's addiction to a computer game:
- the presence of his own world, in which there is no access to anyone except himself;
- lack of responsibility;
— realism of processes and complete abstraction from the surrounding world;
- the ability to correct any error by repeated attempts;
- the ability to independently make any (within the game) decisions, regardless of what they may lead to.
It has been established that role-playing computer games, to a greater extent than non-role-playing ones, allow a person to escape from reality into the virtual world. Children and adolescents who have not been able to realize themselves in everyday life, in role-playing computer games, take on the role of a computer character, identify with him and get the opportunity through a new role to satisfy those needs that remain unsatisfied in real life. Following this, the more the child begins to play, the more distinct and important the differences between real life and virtual life become for him. Gradually, the game turns into a means of compensating for his life problems: satisfying the thirst for adventure, the desire to reduce the emotional and psychological stress caused by broken relationships in the family and / or with peers, the need to avoid physical and / or emotional abuse, avoiding problems associated with school failure, the desire to relax and unwind, etc.

Stages of psychological dependence on computer games.
The stage of mild infatuation. After a teenager has played a role-playing computer game once or several times, he begins to “feel the taste”, he begins to like computer graphics, sound, the very fact of imitation of real life or some fantastic plots. The computer allows a teenager with a fairly close proximity to reality to fulfill their dreams. The teenager begins to play, no longer randomly finding himself at the computer, the desire for gaming activity takes on some purposefulness. However, the specificity of this stage is that playing computer games is more situational than systematic. A stable, constant need for the game at this stage has not been formed, the game is not yet a significant value.
Passion stage. A factor indicating the transition of a teenager to this stage of addiction formation is the emergence of a new need in the hierarchy of needs - playing computer games. The game at this stage takes on a systematic character. If a teenager does not have constant access to a computer, i.e. satisfaction of the need is hampered by some circumstances, rather active actions are possible to eliminate these circumstances.
addiction stage. This stage is characterized by a change in self-esteem and self-awareness. The game completely replaces the real world. Addiction can take one of two forms: socialized and individualized. The socialized form of gaming addiction is distinguished by maintaining social contacts with society (albeit mostly with the same gaming fans). Such teenagers are very fond of playing together, playing with each other using a computer network. Game motivation is mainly competitive in nature. This form of addiction is less detrimental in its effect on the child's psyche than the individualized form. Adolescents do not break away from the external environment, do not go "into themselves"; the social environment, although consisting of the same fans, nevertheless, as a rule, does not allow a person to completely break away from reality, “leave” into the virtual world and bring himself to mental and somatic disorders.
attachment stage. This stage is characterized by the extinction of gaming activity, a shift in the psychological content of the personality as a whole towards the norm. A person “keeps a distance” from the computer, but cannot completely break away from the psychological attachment to computer games. This is the longest of all stages - it can last a lifetime, depending on how fast the attachment fades. Computer games have a short history, but there are only a few cases of complete extinction of addiction. A person can stop in the formation of dependence at one of the previous stages, then the dependence fades faster.
Global networks reinforce adolescent computer addiction even more, where a teenager no longer plays with a computer, but with millions of living people whom he does not identify behind printed texts. The web is also a sublimation of role-playing games. Here the "playing" invents his character, i.e. himself, posing as a fictional self to thousands of interlocutors as a real self.
"Player" no longer acts according to the laws described by programmers and designers, but according to the rules invented by him. Awareness of the infinity of the network space, impunity and a huge number of participants in the process constantly pushes a child, a teenager to create and describe their own rules of behavior, to make decisions that are generally not related to real life.
Signs of computer addiction:
- when parents ask to be distracted from playing on the computer, the child demonstrates a sharp emotional protest;
- the child is irritated with a forced distraction;
- the child cannot plan the end of the game on the computer;
- the child constantly asks for money to update computer software and purchase new games;
- the child forgets about household chores and preparing lessons;
- the child loses his daily routine, diet and sleep, he ceases to take care of his own health;
- in order to constantly maintain himself in a waking state, the child begins to abuse coffee and other energy drinks;
- eating takes place without interrupting the game on the computer;
- a feeling of emotional upsurge while playing on the computer;
- limiting communication by constant discussion of computer topics with others;
- impatience, anticipation and thinking in advance of your return to the computer.
The appearance of such signs may be accompanied by disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, pain in the spine, shoulder blades, and wrists. In addition, regular irritation of the eyeballs can contribute to headaches and vision problems. Often insomnia and nervous exhaustion develop.
Facts to watch out for parents:
- the child began to eat, drink, learn lessons without leaving the computer;
- the child began to spend nights at the computer;
- the child began to skip school in order to play at the computer;
- as soon as the child returns home, he immediately goes to the computer;
- the child forgets to eat, brush his teeth, comb his hair, change clothes (which was not noticed before);
- the child is in an irritated, aggressive state, does not know what to do if the computer is broken;
- the child blackmails, threatens if he is forbidden to play on the computer.
A few tips for parents:
1. Build relationships in the family on the principles of honesty and the ability to admit mistakes.
2. Do not insult the child and his social circle.
3. Be a friend and helper to your child.
4. Make sure that the child can trust you always and under any circumstances.
5. Don't be afraid to show your feelings to your child if you are upset by the current "computer" situation. Then he will see in you not an enemy, but a loved one who also needs care.
6. If a conflict suddenly arises, which is expressed in an orderly tone on your part to stop working at the computer, then you should not bargain with the child, you must clearly state your position and explain it.
7. It is always necessary to stipulate the time for the child to play on the computer and strictly adhere to this framework. The amount of time should be chosen based on the age characteristics of the child. For example, it is not recommended to allow a child to access a computer until the age of 5; it is worth encouraging him to explore the world without the mediation of electronics. From the age of 6, a child can begin to get acquainted with a computer (15-20 minutes a day). For a teenager of 10-12 years old, it is desirable not more than 2 hours a day and not in a row, but for 15-20 minutes with breaks.
8. It is strictly forbidden to play computer games before going to bed.
9. It is necessary to instill in the child an interest in active games and physical exercises so that he feels the joy of this.
10. It is necessary to ensure that the game on the computer does not replace real communication with peers, friends and relatives.
11. You should discuss games with your child, choose educational games.
12. Do not protect the child from the computer at all, since this is an integral part of the future in which the child will live.

The world of games is primarily created for entertainment. Already today you can choose a game for every taste and color. However, the question often arises: what to play on a PC? Not all games will leave a positive impression and emotions due to their low quality / non-uniqueness. But at least 5 games in each genre stand out for their graphics, gameplay, or original story. They were remembered by critics and ordinary players, and left their mark on gaming history, and the question “What to play on PC” itself disappears when they are launched. We invite you to get acquainted with the new and outstanding games that are worth playing on PC.

Role playing (RPG)

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a continuation of the Elder Scrolls series. Considered by many to be the best RPG ever. Dragons, magic, the ability to combine classes, artifacts, and a huge open ancient world are far from all the advantages of the game.


The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the third and final part about the adventures of the witcher Geralt of Rivia. The plot tells about the hunt for the witcher Ciri. Meet characters from previous parts, explore the world and fight monsters.


Dragon Age: Inquisition is a new game in the Age of the Dragon series that uses modern technology. Now you can explore the open world, fight ancient dragons, assemble a team of the best fighters and complete story and additional missions.


Diablo III: Reaper of Souls is a major expansion for Diablo III that greatly improves on the original game. Added Crusader - a new playable class. The mining system has been changed, new large-scale locations and a new Adventure mode have appeared.


Fallout 4 is a new part of the post-apocalyptic series in which we return to the Wasteland again. You are expected by scary monsters, a huge open world, a creepy atmosphere, an improved combat system and a non-linear storyline.

Simulators


The FIFA series is a football simulator that is as close to reality as possible. With each part, the graphics, the behavior of the players on the field, the team system are improving. There are new modes that simulate real historical matches.


The Forest is a brutal survival sim that sends players to a deserted island. Crashed, the protagonist is forced to survive alone, searching for food, weapons and shelter. However, the player is not alone in this place.


The Sims is a game about real life. Here you create your family, build and furnish a house, go to work, develop yourself, find a hobby, fall in love, go in for sports. You can realize your fantasies or simulate the real life of your family.


IL-2 Sturmovik is an IL-2 attack aircraft simulator that allows you to control it in real time. Fly using complex realistic controls, destroy ground vehicles and take part in historical battles.


The Long Dark is a simulation game with elements of survival and exploration. Caught in harsh winter conditions, you are forced to look for food, weapons, ammunition and warm places. The player can die from cold, starvation, or being attacked by wild animals.

Strategies


XCOM 2 is a tactical turn-based strategy that includes role-playing elements. Twenty years later, the player again leads the organization to fight aliens. Create your squad of trained fighters and take part in interesting operations.


Cossacks 3 is a strategy set in the 17th-18th century. Being a remake of the first part, the game will allow you to create armies of Cossacks, build buildings and wage war against other players or the computer. Historical companies available.


Total war: Atilla is a large-scale turn-based strategy game that tells the story of the leader of the Huns, Atilla. Created in the best traditions of the Total War series. Choose any country, take part in epic battles and seize power over the world.


Civilization 6 allows the player alone or with friends to develop their own civilization and take over the planet. Choose different paths to achieve your goal, build cities, expand your army and develop tactics.


Tropico 5 is a city-building simulator, a continuation of the popular series. You must build your country to glory, starting with a small settlement. Develop the economy, satisfy the requests of citizens and fight against natural disasters.

Action


The Half-Life series is a cult science fiction action series. The protagonist is a scientist, theoretical physicist Gordon Freeman, who turns out to be the only one who can save our planet from the invasion of aliens.


Grand Theft Auto 5 is the continuation of the famous GTA series. Now the world has become much larger, and the number of controllable characters has increased to 3. Crush, have fun, complete the task, steal cars and organize the robbery of the century.


BioShock Infinite is the third part of the famous action game, but now the action takes place in heaven, in the city of Columbia. Booker DeWitt is to bring in a certain girl, Elizabeth. Sea of ​​action, nice graphics and hurricane gameplay.


Batman: Arkham City is the continuation of the adventures of the famous superhero Batman. Now the gaming zone is a whole city, and there are much more villains. Complete tasks, try out a unique combat system and restore order in the city.


Far Cry 4 - the new part of the famous series will send us to Kirat - a fictional kingdom located among the Himalayas. You are again waiting for a charismatic and cruel villain and an open world. Ride an elephant and show who is in charge here.

Shooters


Overwatch is a new computer game that has captured the hearts of gamers. This is a team shooter where you participate in team fights between players. Dozens of interesting characters, futuristic setting and lightning-fast gameplay.


Battlefield 1 is a realistic warfare simulation set in the events of the First World War. Take part in large-scale battles, control a horse, military equipment or an airship, and destroy everything you see.


Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the best installment in the series, according to many players. As a direct continuation of the previous part, the game again brings you together with D. McTavish and John Price. Use different weapons and win the war.


Metro: Last Light is a post-apocalyptic shooter that tells about the life of people after a terrible disaster. The atmosphere of horror, lack of ammunition and opponents in the form of bandits and monsters will be remembered for a long time. The sequel to Metro 2033.


Spec Ops: The Line is a little-known shooter worthy of attention. Controlling a character from a third person, you find yourself in Dubai. Fight terrorists, use the environment as a weapon, give orders to your allies and try to survive.

MMO


World of Warcraft is one of the most popular MMORPGs that has won the hearts of tens of millions of players. Excellent role-playing component, thoughtful gameplay, pumping system, variety of classes and epic battles.


ArcheAge is a role-playing game set in a fantasy medieval world. Take part in the confrontation between the two sides, upgrade your character, buy or create items and have fun with your friends.


Aion is an unusual MMORPG that allows players to float in the air. Use your wings to move faster or fight in the sky. Also you will find interesting gameplay, a large open world and a lot of interesting tasks.


Tera Online is a legendary MMORPG that allows you to take part in a brutal war between the gods. The use of an innovative non-target combat system makes it stand out from everyone else. Choose your side and go to the battlefield!


Revelation is a modern multiplayer role-playing game that sends players into a fantasy world. Explore a huge world, fight the strongest bosses, create your own guild, build a castle and attack or defend.

Military


World of Tanks is a popular arcade tank simulator. At the beginning, you have an inexperienced crew and a light tank at your disposal. Participate in hot battles, use tactics, interact with allies and open access to historical tanks.


War Thunder is a military simulator in which you fight against other players in tanks and planes. The developers plan to introduce water equipment, and then the battles will become even hotter and more realistic. Several dozen planes and tanks are waiting for you.


World of Warships is an independent project from the creators of World of Tanks, based on hot battles between military ship equipment. Raise your rank, take part in arcade and historical battles, work with a team and win.


Armored Warfare: Project Armata is a tank simulator. You are expected to PvE and PvP on modern armored vehicles, mainly on tanks. Improve your technique, team up with other users and destroy all opponents on the map.


World of Warplanes is another project from the developers of World of Tanks, focused on dogfights. Real modern aircraft and hundreds of technical and visual improvements are at your disposal. Realistic controls and graphics are waiting for you.

MOBA


Dota 2 is a popular MOBA in Russia, which is an independent addition to Warcraft 3. Hundreds of characters with unique characteristics are available to you. Fight 5v5 on the same map and destroy enemy heroes, towers and citadel.


League of Legend is a popular MOBA all over the world. Initially, several heroes are available. and the rest can be bought for game currency. Big map, two teams 5v5, bright graphics, unique abilities of the characters and dynamic battles.


Heroes of the Storm is a game from Blizzard that brings together all the heroes created by this company. Choose one character from Diablo, WarCraft, StarCraft or Retro and take to the battlefield. A unique pumping system and an interesting combat system are waiting for you.


Panzar is a Russian session game set in a fantasy world populated by various races. Battles take place on a large map between 16 players. Choose one race, equip armor, weapons and potions and destroy your opponents.


Prime World is a strategy with MOBA elements. You take on the role of a Lord and recruit various heroes to serve you. In your possessions, you build buildings, develop the economy and military affairs, and demonstrate all your power on the battlefield.

Survival


Rust is a famous and affordable survival simulator. You find yourself in an unknown area, and must survive. In your hands is one cobblestone, but you need to get food, build a dwelling and acquire weapons. Explore the area and beware of other players.


Dead by Daylight is an unusual survival simulator in which you take on the role of either a maniac or a survivor. Everyone plays their roles - the maniac must catch all defenseless people and kill them, while the latter try to find a way out and escape.


DayZ Standalone is a standalone zombie apocalypse game. In harsh conditions, you must get weapons, food and find shelter. Zombies roam this world, but they are not the main problem. Any other player will kill you for a can of food or a bottle of water.


Tharsis is a space survival simulator. While traveling to Mars, your ship crashes and almost all but two of the crew die. You must live to arrive on the Red Planet and learn about the mysterious signal sent.


State of Decay is a computer game in which you take on the role of the leader of a group of survivors. As a result of the zombie apocalypse, most of humanity died. The player fights for survival, builds a camp, fights the dead and bandits, and explores the world.

Race


GRID Autosport is a car simulation game that is the sequel to GRID 2. At the highest level of difficulty, you will find realistic controls and a physical model of the behavior of vehicles. There are 22 locations with different routes.


F1 2016 is a new season of popular races. The game recreates real F1 competitions, and you have to take part in them and change history. Only real cars, tracks and companies. The races themselves are interesting and spectacular.


Need for Speed ​​2015 is a new game, the next part of the popular racing series. It is a reboot of the entire franchise. A large open world has appeared, car tuning has been changed, graphics and visual effects have been worked out.


Project CARS is a great racing game. The developers have created a unique driving system, so during the game you experience a realistic feeling, as if you were driving. There are about 100 cars and 35 tracks.


DiRT Showdown is an arcade racing game part of the Colin McRaeRally series. The gameplay is similar to FlatOut - that is, there is a car damage system. A variety of modes, graphics, changing weather and crazy racing are waiting for you.

Zombie


The Walking Dead is an animated episodic game set in the Walking Dead comic book universe. In the foreground - the feelings of the characters, the drama and the exciting plot. Comic-style graphics only decorate the game.


Deadlight is a platform game with elements of survival and horror. Solve puzzles, avoid the walking dead and find the main character's family. Graphics, visual effects and style are impressive and will be remembered for a long time.


The Dead Rising series is crazy zombie games where you are the hunter and they are the prey. A rich crafting system will allow you to create weapons of mass murder from improvised items. Experiment, explore the area and have fun.


Dead Island is a survival simulator, action, RPG from the first person. You find yourself at the resort, and after a while it turns into a nightmare - the whole area is filled with zombies. Grab whatever is at hand and crush the skulls of the rebellious corpses.


Dying Light is a new game from the creators of Dead Island. The latest parkour system will blow your mind. The change of day and night means the arrival of new monsters, much more terrible than usual. But the bandits are also after you. Look for supplies and fight or run.

post apocalypse


Survarium is a multiplayer post-apocalyptic game similar to STALKER. After the catastrophe and explosion of stations and chemical plants, the territories were contaminated, and people were infected. Survive!


Rage - computer role-playing game, action. You find yourself in a world in which a catastrophe has occurred. Mutants have appeared, and ordinary people are constantly looking for shelter. Upgrade your weapons, explore a large open world and earn money.


S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is a global modification for the popular disaster game. Events unfold six years after the Second Catastrophe. The world is in danger again, and you must prevent it. More content, improved graphics.


Fallout: New Vegas is a role-playing game, part of the Fallout series. The action takes place in 2281, in the devastated Las Vegas, which was not touched by the Great War. A new conflict is born - and you must prevent it. Huge map and varied gameplay.


Borderlands the pre-sequel is a fantastic shooter, RPG. It is a "bridge" between the two previous parts. However, the action now takes place in space, on the moon. Have fun, experiment with gravity and fight crazy enemies.

indie


Hotline Miami 1-2 is crazy action. The player goes through levels and destroys his enemies. It stands out for its complexity - you can die from any stray bullet. Put on different masks to get bonuses, choose a weapon and go to battle.


Braid is a puzzle platformer with the theme of time. Moral - until a person changes, the passage of time is meaningless. Go through numerous levels, solve problems, use ingenuity and save the hero's beloved.


The Binding of Isaac is an indie game with action and RPG elements. Control the top-down hero Isaac as you explore dungeons and fight monsters. There are bosses, killing which will unlock the next level.


Limbo is a black and white adventure game with horror elements. As a boy, you roam the strange world and solve various puzzles. Sometimes you have to run away from monsters. Incredible atmosphere and music will leave only good impressions.


Super Meat Boy is a whirlwind indie game with hundreds of levels to complete. Its peculiarity is speed and complexity - you can die in one location more than 100 times. Overcome obstacles and save the main character's girlfriend.

Space


The Mass Effect series is an excellent RPG series set in space. Controlling Captain Shepard, you must assemble a team and go to save the world. It is possible to travel between planets in a spaceship.


Destiny is a multiplayer shooter where players travel and fight in space. Create a character and set out to explore the planets, complete quests and get items of equipment. Fight other players in PvP mode.


Space Engineers is a sandbox that will delight those who just want to explore the expanses of space. You are an astronaut who builds and maintains space stations. A variety of gameplay will not let you get bored.


Eve Online is a science fiction multiplayer game. You control a ship that can be upgraded. Travel in space, walk on board vehicles, fight other players and develop.


Dead Space series - horror, action. As a result of the accident on the Ishimura ship, Isaac Clarke is trapped with necromorphs - monsters come to life. Collect weapons, try to avoid monsters and save your ammo.

First person


Wolfenstein: The New Order is a shooter in which the main character fights against the Nazis in an alternate reality where Germany won the war. William Blaskowitz is armed and will kill anyone who gets in his way.


Crysis 3 is the final installment in the Crysis series, striking graphics to this day. This is a shooter, science fiction, in which the main character in a special suit performs tasks and fights against ill-wishers.


Far Cry 3 is a new part of the famous Far Cry series. Arriving on the island for the purpose of recreation, Jason Brody realizes that he has fallen into a trap of bandits. He managed to survive, and now he is looking for weapons and wants revenge. A rich arsenal of weapons and an open world await you.


Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege is a tactical shooter where you take on the role of special forces. When performing operations, you must correctly plan actions, work as a team and minimize the number of victims. Go ahead or neutralize the terrorists quietly.


DOOM 2016 is a re-release of the iconic shooter that retains the spirit of the series. This is a "fast shooter", in which the hero is constantly fighting with hellish creatures. There is a multiplayer and a single company.

Third party


Darksiders 2 is a slasher, action game about the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. This time the main character is Death. He decides to find his brother-rebel, and goes on a journey. A new weapon system, dungeons with bosses and a large game world are waiting for you.


Tomb Raider is a re-release of the series of games about the tomb raider Lara Croft. The developers paid attention to her past, so get ready for the defenseless and fragile Lara, who has not yet received her famous title.


Warframe is a multiplayer team game. The player is an ancient warrior who has awakened from suspended animation. Fight the hostile Grineer race, the Infested and the Corpus. Unusual exoskeletons give you powers.


Dark Souls 3 is the third part of the popular role-playing game, which differs from others in increased complexity. Critics and casual gamers are sure that this is the best part of the whole series. Significantly improved old elements and added new content.


Assassin's Creed: Unity is one of the largest parts of the series. The action takes place during the Revolution in Paris. A wide variety of weapons, a new hero, an open world and spectacular murders are waiting for you again.

open world


The Assassins Creed series is a popular series about the confrontation between the Assassins (killers) and the Templars. Each game in the series has an open world, and hidden caches of weapons and armor, and other collectibles.


The Elder Scrolls series is a cult RPG with a huge open world. You can explore them endlessly - unique monster dungeons, cities, villages, monster lairs.


Sleeping Dogs is a crime action game set in Hong Kong. A large open city where you can explore the streets, steal cars, visit shops and complete secondary tasks.


The GTA series is a cult series of open-world action games. In each part, you are given freedom of action - you can go where your eyes look. The game world itself is filled with missions, shops and interesting places.


South Park The Stick of Truth is a game based on the South Park animated series. You can freely move between locations, look for new items and weapons, complete secondary tasks and fight enemies.

Sandbox


Starbound is an exciting arcade sandbox game in which we can travel to other planets in our own spaceship. Get resources, build a shelter, upgrade your shuttle and explore the terrible hellish dungeons.


Garry`s Mod is a sandbox game set in the Half-Life universe. In your hands - a gravity gun, and an extensive menu with various items. You can create whatever you want - a house, a car, an airplane or play any scene from your favorite movie. The limit is your imagination.


Just Cause 3 is a new sandbox shooter game. Before you - a large open world, and the main character - Rico Rodriguez. Destructibility, a large selection of vehicles, non-linearity and the ability to capture bases await you.


Terraria is an adventure sandbox platformer. You must extract resources, build beautiful houses and defend yourself from monsters. An excellent dungeon system will be remembered for you, because you can dig even to Hell.


Minecraft is one of the most popular sandboxes. You find yourself in a cubic world where zombies, skeletons and "creepers" roam. Get resources, cook food, build houses and make trips to the mines. Perfect for playing with friends.

step by step


Warlock: Master of the Arcane is a turn-based strategy game inspired by the Majesty series. You are a mage building a vast magical empire. Fight against other masters, build buildings and win the title of ruler of the world.


The Galactic Civilizations series is a space strategy game with a turn-based combat system. You find yourself in the year 2178. Under your control is a powerful space fleet, with which you must establish control over the Galaxy.


Age of Wonders 3 is the fourth game in the series. It's a 3D strategy game where players take over buildings, create armies, and subdue the elements with magical powers. Choose from 6 classes and start conquering the world.


The Civilization series is a cult series of global turn-based strategies. You run the state and develop the economy. Your opponents are 8 other powerful civilizations. Decide how to eliminate enemies - diplomacy or war.


The Heroes of Might and Magic series are popular fantasy turn-based strategy games. First you choose a race, and then you find yourself on a large map. Controlling a small army, the player fights against others, captures points and develops his own castle.

Tactics


Warhammer is a series of tabletop war games set in a dark fantasy universe. There are battles between monsters and soldiers in the world. You choose a battle scenario, a team and go to the battlefield. Upgrade heroes and win.


The XCOM series are great tactical games where you control an alien-fighting unit. Choose a mission, equip your team and destroy the aliens. Think over every move - otherwise you can easily lose.


Total war: Shogun 2 is one of the games in the Total War series, striking in its scale and beauty. The player chooses a state and begins to develop the economy and the army in order to take over the world. Use tactics on the battlefield - otherwise the army will be defeated.


The Arma series is a tactical war game in which you have to complete a series of interesting and challenging missions. Together with allies you participate in real combat operations. Think over every step and use modern weapons and equipment.


Sniper Elite 3 is a sniper action simulator. In the third part, you can kill Hitler himself. Use cover, develop tactics and silently kill enemies. The system of firing from a sniper rifle has been worked out in detail.

Construction


SimCity is one of the first city-building simulations. The essence of all games in the series is to build a city, develop industrial, residential areas, infrastructure, meet the needs of citizens and collect taxes. Raise the standard of living and create the city of your dreams.


The ANNO series is an economic strategy without military action. The game is available directly in the browser for everyone. Many games in the series will allow you to build a city of dreams both in the Middle Ages and in the future.


The Stronghold series is one of the best strategy games where you have to build a castle from a regular settlement. There are hundreds of buildings to choose from, each of which performs its own functions. Build, create an army and seize dominance on the map.


The Tropico series is an economic strategy game in which the player controls an island. Develop your own state, build various buildings, solve problems and fight against natural disasters.


Planet Coaster is an entertaining simulator in which you build a real amusement park. You need to plan the location of the buildings, calculate the profit and satisfy all visitors.

horror


Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a creepy horror game that you will remember. You find yourself in a strange castle, blood everywhere, a terrible downpour outside the windows. Explore this place and learn about your past. There is an excellent system of interaction with the outside world.


Outlast is one of the most successful modern horror films. The protagonist arrives at an abandoned hospital to find out the truth about the murders in it. The game contains scenes of violence and cruelty, and it is definitely not for the faint of heart.


The Evil Within is a survival horror game. When investigating a murder, the protagonist finds himself in a terrible world filled with monsters. You have to explore it, find weapons and try to survive.


SOMA is a game from the developers Amnesia and Penumbra. You find yourself in an underwater research facility. The artificial intelligence has rebelled and the player is trapped. A lot of scary scenes and terrible monsters are waiting for you.


Resident Evil 7 is a new part of the Resident Evil series, which is different from its predecessors. More horror elements and a dark atmosphere are the style of the new game. There are weapons, but very little ammo. Now you control the heroes from the first person view.

fantasy


Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is an action game set in the Lord of the Rings universe. Events unfold only in Mordor. Talion is a fallen warrior whose family was brutally murdered. However, he is resurrected, and begins to gather his army of orcs to take revenge.


The Dragon Age series is a popular fantasy RPG. Dragons, magic, terrible creatures of darkness, gnomes, elves, terrible dungeons - not all that awaits you. Excellent combat system, pumping characters, the atmosphere of adventure.


Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is an interactive fantasy story. The gameplay is based on the interaction of two brothers with the world and each other. Solve various puzzles and explore the game world by controlling each character.


Dragons Dogma is an action RPG in an open fantasy world. Choose a class and customize your character and go fight. Under your control, there may be several other heroes who will explore the world and obey orders.


The Final Fantasy series are popular RPGs in the fantasy, science fiction genre. Explore a huge game world with a detachment of allies, try out the turn-based combat system, upgrade weapons and abilities. A lot of games and movies have been created around the universe.

Of course, this list is not complete, and it does not take into account other outstanding projects that you can probably remember yourself. Perhaps your opinion in some places will be different, however, these games have been positively evaluated by the gaming community. In our opinion, these are some of the brightest and most high-quality games worth playing on a PC. The variety of genres will help anyone to make a choice.