Video games are powerful neurological tools and can be extremely therapeutic. But like anything powerful (drugs, exercise and even love) with that power comes the potential for harm.
The design of video games that serve to addict the players and separate them from disproportionate amounts of their time and money have nothing to do with the positive effects of game play. In most cases when these mechanics are modified to protect from addiction the games get better, more medicinal and way more compelling for the player.
When making medicinal media (the transformation of games into intentional therapeutics), the risk factors must be weighted and those game mechanics that serve only to draw the player back in must be modified to use healthy engagement.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-12-loot-video-games-problem-gambling.amp
