The term "post-game depression" gets thrown around a lot, but it sounds like there could really be some substance to it. At least according to early research into the phenomenon, which has identified some behavioural patterns in those who experience depression-like symptoms after completing a game.

This study was conducted by researchers at SWPS University Stefan Batory Academy of Applied Sciences (thanks, Dexerto), and explores the self-reported behaviours and moods of players after they have completed a game. The study found that many struggled to move on from what they've played, and showed less interest in starting a new game so soon or engaging with other forms of media.

Furthermore, the researchers claim that RPG players were the most likely to experience what they defined as "post-game depression". The study concludes that this is because RPGs give us more control over character development and narrative decisions, which makes us more invested and, therefore, unable to let go.

We Finally Have A Study Into Post-Game Depression, But What Does That Mean?

First of all, we have to define what post-game depression actually is. For the purposes of the study, it is behaviours that can be linked to depression. The study went with the following:

Game-related ruminations: intrusive thoughts about the plot
Challenging end of experience
Necessity of replaying the game
Media anhedonia: a loss of interest in other media products.

Intrusive thoughts should be self-explanatory, but are often misunderstood. An intrusive thought is not just "I want to do something", but is an unwanted, distressing thought or mental image. Often, it is not something that reflects what you want or your values, which is why it is so hurtful that it pops into your mind in the first place. So, we might be stretching the definition a bit when we talk about video games, but if you're constantly thinking about the ending of a game and it is causing you distress, I can see how it fits in here.

As for the other symptoms, they could definitely apply here. When you're depressed, it is common to seek out something familiar - like replaying the game. Also, a lack of interest in activities is an incredibly common symptom of depression, so experiencing a sudden lack of interest in other media is a fitting symptom of post-game depression.

The study finds that the more intense post-game depression is, the more likely you are to experience "stronger depressive symptoms and lower well-being". This is where the apparent risk to RPG players comes in.

"Our research shows that gamers playing role-playing games (RPGs) are most susceptible to post-game depression," says Dr Kamil Janowicz. "It is in these games that players have the greatest influence on character development through their decisions, and build the strongest bonds with their characters. And the more engaging the game world and the closer the relationship with the character, the more difficult it is to return to reality once the game is over."

Furthermore, the study likens post-game depression to "parting with a loved one or the end of an important life stage". In other words, a perfectly legitimate reason to have feelings or symptoms of depression. Not that anyone ever needs a reason or justification, of course, but the feelings associated with finishing a game are nothing to sneer at.

If you're curious, you can look through the research yourself here. While it would take some time for me to parse through it all, since much of it is in Polish, we can see that there is at least one limitation of the research here: the vast majority of the 373 participants were men. Men made up 71.4 percent of the participants, with 25.7 women, and 2.9 percent being non-binary. While the aim would likely be to best represent more passionate gamers (i.e. those who play most days of the week), it is hard to see how that figure is accurate, as the gaming space is more diverse than this.

Still, this is the first study of its kind, so there's more work to be done in this area. It will be interesting to see what other finds are made.