There’s something of the adrenaline junkie in all of us. You don’t have to take up skydiving or windsurfing to feel that adrenaline rush. Sometimes, just being there on the side lines during an exciting sporting event or perhaps watching a good horror movie is more than enough to get the pulse racing.
Gaming is the perfect pursuit for sensation seekers, as it places you in a virtual world where you are at the heart of the action. Here, we’ll take a look at three game types that are particularly effective when it comes to releasing those endorphins into the brain.
Action Adventure Games
The category is broad, but here, we are thinking about titles like Red Dead Redemption II, games that incorporate a compelling narrative that draws you in but where you also have to use your skill and wits to survive. We mentioned earlier that watching a good movie can elicit an adrenaline rush. With the movie, the script is already ordained, and you can only watch.
But playing a game like this, places you at the centre of the action, and success or failure is all down to you.
Loved by all including Jack Black
Rockstar are masters of this type of game, and their legendary Grand Theft Auto series is another in this genre that can get the palms sweating and the pulse racing. Another great example is the truly disturbing Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Here, you are thrust, unarmed and defenceless, in a dark network of chambers and passages, with unknown creatures lurking around every corner. Initially, all you can do is hide and hope they go by without seeing you, and as these player reactions show, the game definitely gets pulses racing.
Casino gaming
A night at the casino provides plenty of drama, and when there’s big money resting on every spin of the reels or turn of the cards, it can definitely create an adrenaline rush. The good news is that you don’t have to venture out to Las Vegas or Monte Carlo to experience it. Convenience isn’t the only benefit that the online platforms bring, however. It’s one thing craving excitement, but you shouldn’t put your financial security on the line in the process. You don’t have to risk losing your money when you can get your adrenaline groove on with free spins that require no deposit at all.
Free spins predominantly apply to slot games, so they won’t give you a risk-free pass to sit down at the virtual poker table. However, some will give you access to games like video poker and even to casino versions of TV games like Wheel of Fortune. However, it is the classics that have the most universal appeal. Think of a casino and you think of the roulette wheel or the blackjack table. Most of today’s online casino platforms offer live gaming with a real dealer, so you get the same buzz you’d experience in Vegas. The great thing about games like these is they are low volatility, so you get frequent small wins – as long as you do not wager large amounts, you’re unlikely to suffer any catastrophic losses.
Sport games
Again, this is an area we touched on earlier. Right now, football fans are immersed in the drama of Euro 2020, and one look at the reactions that greet every goal tell you everything you need to know about adrenaline. FIFA is one of the most popular games of all time, and it places you at the heart of the action in exactly the same way as those action adventure games we mentioned. FIFA is an intriguing example as it has also found its place in the world of eSport. In recent years, the ePremier League enjoyed TV coverage on Sky Sport, so there really is less of a gulf than ever between playing virtually or in real life.
There is, however, more to sport gaming than FIFA. Yes, there are other famous EA Sport titles, but you can also look to simpler sport-based games that are free to play and produce just as strong an adrenaline rush. Stick Sports is a perfect example of this principle in action. Originally famous for their cricket game, you can now play stick versions of tennis, football, baseball and more. The games are easy to learn but hard to truly master, and despite the rudimentary nature of the graphics, you get well and truly drawn into the game’s universe.
And more
These three represent the categories of games that are likely to bring the biggest adrenaline rush. But don’t rule out others. After all, even something as simple as a game of Words With Friends played against an elderly relative can get the pulse racing when family honour is at stake, so why not challenge a loved one this weekend?
Robert Griffith is a content and essay writer. He is collaborating with local magazines and newspapers. Robert is interested in topics such as marketing and history.
