Stefan Batory Academy of Applied Sciences

Study Finds RPGs Trigger Strongest Post-Game Depression - GameHaunt

A study published in Current Psychology indicates that players of role-playing games experience the most intense post-game depression. Research involving 373 participants found that deep character bonds and long playtimes in story-heavy titles like Kingdom Hearts and Red Dead Redemption II contribute to stronger feelings of sadness and emptiness after completion. The study identified four key signs of this phenomenon, termed P-DGS, including persistent rumination, media anhedonia, difficulty saying goodbye to characters, and the urge to immediately replay the game.