For many young adults, downtime has become strangely exhausting. Even moments meant for rest are often filled with scrolling, notifications, and a lingering sense of pressure to be productive. But new research suggests that relief from burnout may come from an unexpected — and delightfully familiar — place.
A recent study published in JMIR Serious Games reports that classic games such as Super Mario Bros. and Yoshi can provide more than entertainment. By rekindling a sense of childlike wonder, these games boost happiness and help protect young adults from burnout.
The findings add to growing evidence that emotional well-being does not always require structured wellness routines. Sometimes, it can just start with some play.
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How Familiar Games Help Relieve Burnout
Burnout is often framed as a consequence of overwork, but the emotional story is more complex. It involves fatigue, cynicism, and a sense of joy that has been squeezed out of everyday life. According to this new research, classic games may interrupt that pattern by creating moments of genuine emotional renewal.
Participants in the study described Super Mario Bros. and Yoshi games as cheerful, comforting, and deeply nostalgic. These games reminded them of a time before constant academic pressure and the expectations of adulthood. For many students, playing offered them a rare mental pause and a space where the stakes felt low, and enjoyment came easily.
The study found that these feelings are not just trivial. Players who experienced a stronger sense of childlike wonder while gaming also reported greater overall happiness. That happiness was associated with a significantly lower risk of burnout. Importantly, the analysis showed that happiness fully explained the connection between wonder and reduced burnout.
Rather than serving as a distraction, these games functioned as what researchers described as “digital microenvironments” — brief, accessible spaces that allow for emotional reset without adding pressure.
How Researchers Connected Classic Games to Happiness
To understand why these games resonated so strongly, the research team used a mixed-methods approach. They conducted in-depth interviews with university students, asking them to reflect on their gaming experiences, emotional responses, and stress levels. Many students described the games as uplifting and mentally refreshing, particularly in the “always-on” culture shaping modern student life.
The researchers then conducted a broader survey to test whether those personal insights held true at a larger scale. The survey confirmed that greater feelings of wonder during gameplay were associated with greater happiness, and that greater happiness was associated with lower burnout.
Fighting Burnout With Video Games
The study is among the first to identify childlike wonder as a psychological pathway linking everyday gameplay to mental well-being. It suggests that familiar games may offer a uniquely effective form of emotional relief, especially for young adults with limited time and energy.
“This study suggests that the path to combating burnout in young adults may lie not just in traditional wellness but also in reclaiming joy. Games like Super Mario Bros. and Yoshi may offer a potent antidote to the cynicism and fatigue characteristics of burnout,” concluded author Andreas B. Eisingerich in a press release.
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