A survey of 2,252 adults found that people who played The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Yoshi’s Crafted World reported less loneliness and higher scores on a measure of stoicism than nonplayers. The researchers propose that open-world challenges may encourage persistence and self-reliance, while gentler games may promote calm attention and emotional recovery. The study was cross-sectional and used a convenience sample, so it cannot show that playing these games caused lower loneliness or greater resilience. The players who reported less loneliness were not necessarily meeting more people online. Many were spending time alone inside large digital worlds or bright, low-pressure adventures. Their games offered exploration, setbacks, small discoveries, and repeated chances to try again. The researchers use that term to describe emotional resilience, self-control, and a calm response to difficulty. They suggest that certain single-player games may strengthen those qualities without relying on online social contact. The cross-sectional survey does not prove that games caused the differences. Still, it complicates the familiar picture of gaming as little more than escape. “Contrary …