Video Games: Addictive by Design

Publish Date : 05/08/2025

How Video Games Became Addictive By Design: What Parents Should Know

Video games have changed a lot since the early days of arcades. In the 1970s, games were played at arcades. Home consoles changed everything. By the 1990s and 2000s, kids and teens could play games on systems like Xbox (Microsoft), PlayStation (Sony), Nintendo, etc. right from their living rooms. Later, smartphones and tablets made it even easier to play games anywhere, anytime.

Today, popular games like Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft are available on many platforms, including phones, tablets, computers, and consoles. Players acquire these games via digital downloads, discs, or even cloud services.

As technology improved, games themselves became more advanced. Modern games are massive, often offering endless hours of unique and exciting gameplay, intentionally designed to keep players from leaving the game and retuning to the real world.

Another recent change has been in how companies make money from games. In the past, you bought a game once and that was it. Now, many games are free or very cheap to download, but they offer lots of items to buy inside the game. These small purchases, called “microtransactions,” include things like character outfits, power boosts, weapons, map packs, season passes that unlock more content, etc.

These purchases may seem small, but as parents and players know, they add up. Some players spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars before realizing what they purchased. In many games, players see ads for these items while the game is loading, game lobbies, during gameplay, or in in-game shops. Some of these games also sell branded toys, clothes, snacks, and more.

To make matters worse, many gaming companies hire behavioral psychologists to help design these games. Their goal? To keep players coming back again and again. The longer players stay in the game, the more likely they are to spend money.

Why This Matters for Families

This kind of game design is raising concerns from parents and legal experts. Some families are now pursuing video game addiction litigation against companies they believe are targeting young players with addictive design and questionable marketing strategies.

If you’re a parent concerned about your child’s gaming habits—or if your family has been affected financially or emotionally by video game overuse—you’re not alone.

Know Your Rights

We help families explore their legal options in cases of video game addiction. If you believe a game has caused harm to your child, our team can help you understand your rights.

Feel free to contact one of our digital addiction attorneys at 1-877-542-4646 or by using the nearby form if your family has suffered any adverse side effects due to video game addiction. Your information will remain confidential, and a lawyer will provide a free legal consultation.