Many gamers are all too familiar with the adrenaline rush that comes with playing an intense video game, and a recent study reveals the effects that certain riveting games like Dark Souls 3 and Fall Guys can have on a player's heart. The results also include which games out of those tested actually lower a player's heart rate.
In order to collect results, 14 self-proclaimed highly-engaged gamers were studied while playing 16 popular and challenging video game titles for at least 15 hours a week. Each participant wore a heart rate monitor to track their heart rates to collect data for this study. Their resting heart rates were measured for a baseline comparison, and heart rates were recorded during 10 second intervals for each individual. The data was then averaged out to eliminate any outliers that may skew results. Each of the 14 participants' max heartbeat was then collected and averaged to obtain the final figures.
This data was measured and analyzed by sports scientists and a team at BonusFinder - a site for legal online gambling - to find out which games induce the most stress while players are engaging in them. The games in the trial were played for a maximum of 30 minutes. They include: Skyrim, Minecraft, Animal Crossing, The Sims, UNO!, Grand Theft Auto, Among Us, Street Fighter, Battlefield V, Fall Guys, DOOM Eternal, Fortnite, Dark Souls 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, FIFA 20, and Mario Kart. Here are the results:
Most Stressful Game - Mario Kart
Many may be surprised to find that Mario Kart was the most stressful game, although fans of it know just how much of a rush it can be trying to get - and stay - in first place, especially when those blue shells are involved. Nintendo's Mario Kart is the most physically taxing out of all the games listed above, with heart rates elevating by an average of 21 beats per minute (BPM) over the course of 30 minutes. This is about 32.81% higher than the players' resting heart rates, with the average heart rate while playing being 85 BPM. The study states that this is the equivalent of engaging in light exercise.
In second place was FIFA 20, with the average heart rate during gameplay being 84 BPM - a 31.25% rise in the resting heart rate on average. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare came in third with an average heart rate of 83 BPM; Dark Souls 3 and Fortnight tied at 81 BPM. Out of the top ten, the remaining games in the most stressful order are: Fall Guys (78 BPM), Battlefield V (76 BPM), Street Fighter (75 BPM), and Innersloth's Among Us (69 BPM). Anyone who has played these titles can testify as to just how exhilarating these games can be.
Most Heart-Stopping Games: Dark Souls & Fall Guys
The study also tracked the peak heart rate increases for participants to figure out which games produce the most heart-stopping, adrenaline-fueled moments overall. The data shows that Dark Souls 3 dominated with heart rate spikes as high as 127 BPM and a whopping 98.44% increase over the players' resting heart rates. This occurred specifically during the boss fight with Darkeater Midir in Dark Souls 3.
Fall Guys came in at a close second, with peaks as high as 125 BPM (95.31% higher than the baseline) during final rounds. Mario Kart came in third place with an average peak of 111 BPM, and Street Fighter in fourth at 110 BPM. FIFA 20 came in fifth place at 108 BPM. The following completed the top ten list in order of highest peak rates: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (106 BPM); Battlefield V (100 BPM); Fortnight (95 BPM); DOOM Eternal (93 BPM); and Among Us (88 BPM).
The results found other popular titles like Animal Crossing and The Sims to actually lower heart rates, which isn't too surprising considering they are relatively chill games that players typically pick up when wanting to destress. Yet Skyrim was also among the games noted to reduce stress, perhaps due to the slower pace and freedom given between battles. Those looking a for a thrilling challenge, however, should stick to titles like Mario Kart, Dark Souls 3, and Fall Guys if they really want to get their hearts pumping.
Source: BonusFinder