Many players feel a void and a sense of real sorrow after their favorite games. Psychologists have conducted a study on this “post-game depression,” and the results show: One particular genre is responsible for this phenomenon.
What was the study about? A new scientific study has confirmed that the so-called “post-game depression”, or “P-GD” for short, is not only a real psychological phenomenon but that a particular genre is especially susceptible to it. This refers to the feeling of emptiness, sadness, and loss after finishing a highly engaging video game.
For the study, researchers surveyed around 373 regular players of various video game genres in two rounds and published their results in the journal “Current Psychology“. They measured the “post-game depression” based on four main characteristics that were already established in a study in 2023 in the context of P-GD:
- Rumination (most intense)
- Constant, intrusive thoughts about the game’s plot or universe.
- Difficulty accepting closure
- The problem of accepting that the emotional experience is over.
- The urge to replay
- The desire to restart the game immediately to regain the feeling.
- Media anhedonia
- A temporary loss of interest in other games or films, as they seem unable to fill the “gap” left behind.
Since there has been little research in this area so far, psychologists Kamil Janowicz from the Center for Personality Development Research at the SWPS University Institute of Psychology and Piotr Klimczyk from the Stefan Batory Academy of Applied Sciences in Skierniewice analyzed the topic more comprehensively and developed the first instrument for scientifically measuring the intensity of this phenomenon: the Post-Game Depression Scale (P-GDS).
They found that particularly role-playing games can trigger P-GD in their players.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a classic example of a game that has triggered post-game depression in many players:
According to the study, role-playing games often lead to emotional emptiness after completion
Why do role-playing games particularly lead to P-GD? The study found that role-playing games like Baldur’s Gate 3 or The Witcher 3 would trigger the strongest post-game depression. The reason is that players often have the most significant impact on the story development through their decisions, and thus dive deepest into the events and worlds.
They often spend hundreds of hours with the story, forming deep parasocial relationships with their characters. It holds that: The stronger this bond, the harder it is to return to reality at the end.
Our research shows that the virtual world becomes such a significant source of emotions for many gamers that returning to everyday life requires time and suitable psychological resources. These findings can help us better understand gamers’ experiences and may be useful in the game development process. They also raise a number of questions regarding the ethical aspects of game development, particularly concerning the potential impact of gameplay on players’ well-being.
– Dr. Kamil Janowicz in Post-game depression scale – a new measure to capture players’ experiences after finishing video games. Current Psychology.
The researchers compare the feeling to a form of grief, similar to saying goodbye to a loved one or the end of an important life chapter. It was also found that individuals who tend to ruminate or process things pessimistically are more susceptible to experiencing intense P-GD.
Especially among the newer role-playing games, one stands out, as a multitude of players reported such a feeling. This is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a surprise hit from France in 2025: After Expedition 33, players feel empty: “I will never find something like this again”
