The association between video game play and cognitive ability: A systematic review and meta-analysis

As video games become increasingly prevalent in modern society, numerous studies have investigated their impact on cognitive abilities, yielding substantial yet inconsistent evidence. To systematically examine the association between video game play and cognitive ability, we conducted three meta-analyses (correlational studies, between-group comparison studies, and controlled trials) of 133 studies published between January 2005 and August 2025 (searched in September 2025), yielding 269 effect sizes from a total sample of 14,245 participants. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist, with the majority rated as medium (69.93%), followed by high (25.56%) and low (4.51%). The results of the random effects model revealed a statistically significant but small correlation between video game play and cognitive ability in the domains of memory, spatial ability, visual attention, cognitive control, and intelligence across all three study designs. Moderator analyses indicated that factors such as gender, age group, health condition, game type, intervention duration, and cultural context did not significantly influence the findings. These findings suggest that playing video games may play a role in enhancing cognitive ability and provides reasonable suggestions for the better utilization of video games.