Animated by Angela Guo
For many, classic video games like Subway Surfers, Candy Crush, and 2048 are a staple of their childhoods. Characterized by flashy visuals and simple, repetitive gameplay, these games captivated players worldwide, luring millions into spending countless hours to beat the next level or reach a new high score. Today, these types of games have maintained their popularity, yet acquired a new name; we now describe them with the new Gen-Z phenomenon: “brain rot.” “Brain rot” — the 2024 Oxford Word of the Year — can be vaguely described as low-value, low-quality internet content that encourages hyperconsumption, to the point that it negatively affects our cognitive abilities — literally rotting our brains with overexposure to meaningless content. Every once in a while, another game becomes the new trend and takes over the internet and our campus. The frequency with which these obscure games rocket their way to virality prompt us to ask, “Why does this happen?”
The appeal is simplicity. Brain rot games are designed with a elementary premise; in Block Blast, it’s to fill a row or column by dragging and dropping shapes; in 2048, it’s to swipe and merge tiles to attain a 2048 tile; in the viral watermelon game, it’s to combine matching fruits to create watermelons. More importantly, these games often have no definitive end, or a clear, attainable win condition. Instead, they feature rapid “checkpoints,” whether that’s clearing another row of blocks or passing the next obstacle, and constantly provide small dopamine rushes to keep players engaged.
Furthermore, with simple mechanics and the convenience of not requiring an internet connection, these games serve as a low-commitment option to fill up brief moments of idleness. It’s easy for us to spontaneously continue or begin a new game in between classes or during late nights; but minutes quickly melt into hours and, and before you know it, you’ve spent the past hour playing Tetris. While these games seem like a harmless way to pass time, they provide a shallow sense of accomplishment that can create a cycle of addiction and procrastination.
In Andover’s naturally high-stress academic environment, we are incentivized to seek ways to escape the pressure. Complete stillness is anxiety-inducing; procrastination becomes a source of relief. As much as they relieve boredom, games also offer a casual outlet for competition, another channel for the competitive spirit many students possess.
Much like doom-scrolling on social media, brain rot games allow us to mindlessly engage in an activity. They’re just interesting enough to stimulate our senses, but not challenging enough to keep us cognitively engaged. On social media, we are passively receiving information; playing brain rot games, we are immersed in a colorful game with simple tasks. However, there is a distinction to be made between brain rot games and social media. Social media allows people to connect with one another, receive information on current affairs, and engage with trends worldwide. On the other hand, brain rot games are almost exclusively single-player, further increasing detachment from the surrounding world. They hinder connection. Instead of using conversation with others to combat boredom, we rely on these games.
This habit of mindless consumption is not true self-care, nor a sustainable solution to stress. Although escaping from the pressure of responsibility provides relief in the moment, we can quickly become consumed in these addictive activities which can leave us feeling drained, guilty, and even more stressed. Recent suggestions have been made to external regulation of our phone usage. However, the core of the issue lies in the culture of constant need for stimulus. As winter winds mellow into spring breezes, the start of a new term offers a good opportunity to rethink our habits and consider healthier ways to spend empty time. If Block Blast has become your go-to escape, consider enjoying the sunshine instead. With constant entertainment at our fingertips, we have to take a step back to more thoughtfully manage the precious snippets of our free time. It can make all the difference.
This Editorial represents the opinions of The Phillipian, vol. CXLVIII.
