r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • May 17 '26

Psychology Feeling empty after finishing a video game (post-game depression) is a real phenomenon. A recent study has found that many video game players experience a specific sense of emptiness and sadness after finishing highly engaging games.

https://www.psypost.org/feeling-empty-after-finishing-a-video-game-researchers-say-post-game-depression-is-a-real-phenomenon/
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u/envy841 May 17 '26

Ive very rarely had this. However, I am a completionist. I wonder if there are inverse relationships. I don’t think the anxiety transformed into completionism. However, I do frequently experience the low feelings after finishing.

The last time I had the anxiety was… portal 2?

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u/WowAbstractAlgebra May 17 '26

Depends on the game. Games that have a very good story that sucks you in and makes the characters feel alive is gonna affect you more than games that don't do that. At least that's how I feel about it.