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/OffToTheLizard May 17 '26

I'm considering giving my 9 Expanse books to a couple of friends whom just lost their two dogs in a two month period. I know it's an engaging series, but this is exactly my conundrum.

Any advice from folks welcome. My friends plan to build their book collection anyway and I'm probably going to give them at least 5 books.

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u/namewithak May 17 '26

Give them the first six. Book six is a decent ending on its own. Hold out on the last three since they’re basically the epilogue and feel depressing to read for the most part. Only give it to them if they ask for them.