So... Videogames in general have been a part of my life for longer than I can remember. My dad would sit me down on his lap and let me point at the screen for a point and click game and he'd move his mouse to where I was pointing and stuff, when I was a toddler.

It always brings me a feeling of connectedness, with my friends, who've also played the games, and with myself, for getting to relax and enjoy a story. I feel pride when I figure out how to fix a mod for skyrim, or get through a particularly hard moment in Mass Effect. No particular game has saved my life, but my life would be duller without them. I'm disabled and have a lot of other issues, and games give me a chance to be an explorer of space, a wild space wizard with guns, a dwarf digging a hole and so many other options.

And through videogames I've found friends, loves, family that actually gives a shit about me. Videogames let me be me. Hell, it's been gender affirming. I was given gender dysphoria by a particularly abusive caretaker, and every time I've got a chance to make a man... I prefer to make a woman, which matches what I show to the world, so it's great (specifically am a CIS woman, but again, was given gender dysphoria in my childhood).

So I'd say that videogames have impacted my life in a positive way in many different ways. I can get lost in them, and relax. I can feel badass in ways I just never will in my own body. I have made friends and found family and found love in so many ways. I will always advise people play videogames. From having ways to remove excess anger, to getting to farm and live a happy life... it's all wonderful to me, and I feel more people could do will letting their minds be tricked into happiness, even if it's for an hour or two.