tech
January 14, 2026
What’s behind the phenomenon of ‘gamer brain’
If you’ve ever refused to knock down a game’s difficulty level, or chased a purposefully pointless achievement, you might have this pernicious but pleasurable affliction
TL;DR
- The article explores "gamer brain," the tendency to pursue objectively pointless achievements in video games.
- Examples of gamer brain include repeatedly trying for a high score, exploring invisible boundaries, or refusing to lower difficulty settings.
- The game Baby Steps uses its design to tease players into attempting ridiculous feats and reflects the player's psychological state.
- Creators Gabe Cuzillo and Bennett Foddy discuss how Baby Steps' jokes rely on the player's awareness of their own gamer brain tendencies.
- The concept of gamer brain is sometimes viewed as a masculine trait, but the article suggests it affects all genders.
- The article recommends Itch.io, Steam, IndieCade, Games for Change, Indie Game Reviewer, John Walker's Buried Treasure, and Bluesky for discovering indie games.
- Sword of the Sea is a new game recommended for its soothing, mindful gameplay reminiscent of Journey.
- Other topics include an article on playing Hollow Knight: Silksong with chronic pain, Lego's Pokémon sets, and legal issues faced by former Rockstar Games employees.
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