--- title: Violent Video Games Are Linked to Aggression, Study Says description: Violent video games are linked to more aggressive behaviors among players, according to a new review of research from the American Psychological Association (APA). canonical: https://time.com/4000220/violent-video-games/ author: Alexandra Sifferlin article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-08-17T15:38:59.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:58:07.256Z article:section: Health og:title: Violent Video Games Are Linked to Aggression, Study Says og:description: But there's not enough evidence to suggest they are linked to criminal behavior og:url: https://time.com/4000220/violent-video-games/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt97510da438fada53/69885f92196cf420bf037946/video-games.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4368 og:image:height: 2457 og:image:alt: 172764458 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Violent Video Games Are Linked to Aggression, Study Says twitter:description: But there's not enough evidence to suggest they are linked to criminal behavior twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt97510da438fada53/69885f92196cf420bf037946/video-games.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Violent Video Games Are Linked to Aggression, Study Says > Sponsored content. 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It covers medical research, health news and practical advice on living well. #### Where can I get reliable health news by email? Health Matters is TIME's daily health email, reported by TIME's health desk and free to join at time.com/newsletters. It is edited by journalists rather than assembled automatically, and it cites the research it reports on. #### Is Health Matters free? Yes. Health Matters is a free daily newsletter from TIME, available at time.com/newsletters. #### Who reads TIME's Health Matters newsletter? Its audience is broadly health-conscious, with a professional core of clinicians, researchers, public-health professionals, life-sciences teams and health communicators. ## Video: The Best Video Games of 2022 [Watch (HLS stream): The Best Video Games of 2022](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/6cVOsxoo.m3u8) (4:49)  _Published 2022-11-27. After numerous game delays and pandemic setbacks, the video game industry finally felt like it was back in full swing in 2022._ by [Alexandra Sifferlin](https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin Aug 17, 2015 3:38 PM UTC  Top view of a boy playing video games Top view of a boy playing video games Getty Images by [Alexandra Sifferlin](https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin Aug 17, 2015 3:38 PM UTC Violent video games are linked to more aggressive behaviors among players, according to a new [review of research](http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2015/08/technical-violent-games.pdf). The debate over whether violent video games are linked to violent behavior has long been contentious. Some [argue](http://ideas.time.com/2011/12/07/video-games-dont-make-kids-violent/) there is little evidence connecting the two, while others [say ](http://time.com/34075/how-violent-video-games-change-kids-attitudes-about-aggression/)that lots of exposure over time causes young people to react more aggressively compared to kids who do not play video games. Now the American Psychological Association (APA) has joined the debate, arguing in a research review that playing violent games _is_ linked to aggression, but that there’s insufficient evidence to link the games to actual criminal violence. **MORE:** [Everything You Know About Boys and Video Games Is Wrong](http://time.com/3948744/video-games-kate-upton-game-of-war-comic-con/) In a report published Aug. 13, an APA task force reviewed more than 100 studies on violent video game use published between 2005 and 2013\. They concluded that playing video games can increase aggressive behavior and thoughts, while lessening empathy and sensitivity toward aggression. The task force also concluded that although some studies suggested links to criminal violence and neurological changes, there wasn’t enough evidence to determine a connection. --- ### More from TIME --- “Scientists have investigated the use of violent video games for more than two decades but to date, there is very limited research addressing whether violent video games cause people to commit acts of criminal violence,” said task force chair Mark Appelbaum [in a statement](http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2015/08/violent-video-games.aspx). “However, the link between violence in video games and increased aggression in players is one of the most studied and best established in the field.” The APA says that there’s no single factor that can drive someone toward violence or aggression, but that violent video games could be classified as one risk factor. The agency is [calling upon](http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2015/08/violent-video-games.pdf) the video game industry to increase parental controls over violence exposure in the games. ## Transcript Kind: captions Language: en-US Here are TIME Magazine’s top 10 favorite video games of the year. The Heroes in a Half-shell take to the streets in this arcade-style action side-scroller inspired by the 1987 cartoon series. The game brings back the cartoon series's voice cast while offering modern updates like a deeper 2D environment and a great soundtrack. Shredder’s Revenge is such a good time that its only flaw is that it’s over all too quickly. All your favorite characters from Anakin to Rey, the battles that thrilled you, and the moments that made you fall in love with Star Wars are all lovingly recreated here, in LEGO form. Despite covering the plot of nine movies, this game is easily digestible. The Skywalker Saga really does marry all the best aspects of the Lego Star Wars games. While many of the games on this list are high-stress and challenging, The Skywalker Saga encourages relaxation and promises a good time. Resident Evil Village’s DLC is its own unique story that concludes the Winters saga that began in Resident Evil: Biohazard. Set sixteen years after the conclusion of Village, Shadows follows Ethan’s daughter Rose Winters who enters the mind of a conscious fragment of mold in search of a crystal that will remove the powers that left her a social pariah her entire life. While players traverse familiar areas from Village, the horrors found there are all new. A game inspired by Jackie Chan films, Sifu makes use of its martial arts combat system that highlights the importance of practice. A novel element of the game is each time you die, the character ages, allowing you to utilize more powerful attacks but reducing your overall health, to the point where your character can age beyond the ability to fight, forcing you to restart the level. It forces you to learn both discipline and adaption in a way that makes every fight a different game of death. Naughty Dog’s third foray into the first installment of The Last of Us justifies itself as its own unique experience worthy of a spot as one of 2022’s best. It’s the same story you already know and love: Joel, a smuggler, escorts a teenage girl, Ellie, across the ruins of the United States. Part 1 isn’t just a PS5 port, it rebuilds the game from scratch with current-gen animation and graphics, and enhanced controls, making the experience, whether it's your first time or a replay, all the more memorable. You play the entirety of Stray as a cat who gets separated from his family after falling from the lush greenery of the outside world. You find yourself in a walled city meant to protect the last remnants of humanity. But humanity has all passed on and left only their robot companions. Accompanied by a drone, you work your way through the game by solving puzzles, performing side quests, and unlocking the history of the world you explore. And don’t be surprised by how invested you just might become. Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki of Dark Souls fame, with story and world-building from George R.R. Martin, the game is massive in scope, and sends your character on a quest to repair the Elden Ring and become the new Elden Lord. The combat is very demanding and difficult but it’s also rewarding and encourages players to learn from their missteps. And because it’s an open-world experience, you can often find yourself in a battle you’re not nearly ready for. While mileage may vary, the sheer ambition of Elden Ring makes it a standout. Paying homage to the summer camp horror movies of the 80s, The Quarry features a group of camp counselors who decide to have one last hurrah before packing it in for the summer. Only there’s a curse over the lands and a werewolf prowls the night. With likable characters you want to see survive the night, surprising twists, a co-op option, and great replay value, The Quarry is a dream-nightmare scenario. In this sequel to 2017’s Horizon: Zero Dawn, Alloy, along with familiar and new allies tries to put the world back together by restoring the A.I. Gaia and rebooting the Earth’s biosphere, decimated centuries ago by a human war against the machines. With smooth, intuitive combat and graphics, Forbidden West is a joy to play. In a year full of gorgeous games, God of War: Ragnarök is what all action-adventure games should aspire towards. Set three years after the previous installment, Ragnarök once again finds Kratos and his son Atreus attempting to find peace in Midgard, peace that is all too quickly shattered by the Aesir and the coming Ragnarök. 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