--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why are online games so addictive? It's…" description: "\"Why are online games so addictive? It's mostly the narcotic appeal of 'leveling.'\" — Clive Thompson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/clive-thompson-15484_addictive_why-are-online-games-so-addictive-it-s-m_141774.png" --- # Why are online games so addictive? It's mostly the… ![“Why are online games so addictive? It's mostly the narcotic appeal of 'leveling.'” quote by Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/clive-thompson-15484_addictive_why-are-online-games-so-addictive-it-s-m_141774.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/clive-thompson-15484_addictive_why-are-online-games-so-addictive-it-s-m_141774.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/clive-thompson-15484_addictive_why-are-online-games-so-addictive-it-s-m_141774.png) > “Why are online games so addictive? It's mostly the narcotic appeal of 'leveling.'” [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Online games exploit reward loops that mimic drug-like reinforcement, making players chase continual progress. **In simple terms:** Games use reward loops like drugs. Key Takeaway Recognize and manage playtime. Themes addiction reward technology psychology Mood engaged reflective Type observational analytical When to use this quote - gaming sessions - idle time - stress relief - social competition - budgeting time Key Concepts behavioral reinforcement dopamine gamification Questions to Reflect On - How do reward systems affect your habits? - What limits can you set? A Different Perspective Not all players become addicted; moderation helps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Leveling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leveling/) [Narcotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcotic/) [Online Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/online-games/) [Video](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video/) ## Related quotes > [I can't play video games because I have that addictive personality. If I started playing video games I wouldn't stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-woodland/i-can-t-play-video-games-because-i-have-that-addictive-personality-if/) [Gary Woodland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-woodland/) > [The humanitarian developers behind World of Warcraft have also discovered a way to bribe gamers into turning off their computers and going outside. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/the-humanitarian-developers-behind-world-of-warcraft-have-also/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [“Regardless of where you started, there is always the next level. You need to keep leveling up your skills.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-saifuddin/regardless-of-where-you-started-there-is-always-the-next-level-you/) [Mustafa Saifuddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-saifuddin/) > [I play role-playing games, and I love the concept of leveling up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/i-play-role-playing-games-and-i-love-the-concept-of-leveling-up/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [We should aim rather at leveling down our desires than leveling up our means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/we-should-aim-rather-at-leveling-down-our-desires-than-leveling-up/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Leveling is the barbarian’s substitute for order.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/leveling-is-the-barbarian-s-substitute-for-order/) [Nicolás Gómez Dávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [Fairness through leveling is the essence of Obamaism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/fairness-through-leveling-is-the-essence-of-obamaism/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [“Smallness is not the level for the loser, because even the great was once small.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/smallness-is-not-the-level-for-the-loser-because-even-the-great-was/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Stalin was the most audible and powerful spokesman in the campaign against what he contemptuously called uravnilovka (leveling). His hostility - voiced in sarcastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stites-richard/stalin-was-the-most-audible-and-powerful-spokesman-in-the-campaign/) Stites Richard > [As leaders, we've all seen the painful effects of team members not keeping pace with company growth - it's called up-leveling, and it's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hyman/as-leaders-we-ve-all-seen-the-painful-effects-of-team-members-not/) [Jennifer Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hyman/) > [Changing diapers is one of the most leveling things that has ever happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lincoln/changing-diapers-is-one-of-the-most-leveling-things-that-has-ever/) [Andrew Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lincoln/) > [Online games for data-mining have a short virtual shelf life. People get bored, especially if the game seems stagnant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-diamandis/online-games-for-data-mining-have-a-short-virtual-shelf-life-people/) [Peter Diamandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-diamandis/) > [I mostly play my dynasty or against someone in the hotel. I don't really like online games. I can't stand people yelling in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-smith/i-mostly-play-my-dynasty-or-against-someone-in-the-hotel-i-don-t/) [J. R. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-smith/) > [“Over the next generation or two, ever larger numbers of people, hundreds of millions, will become immersed in virtual worlds and online games. While…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/over-the-next-generation-or-two-ever-larger-numbers-of-people/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [My goal for the next decade is to try to make it as easy to save the world in real life as it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-goal-for-the-next-decade-is-to-try-to-make-it-as-easy-to-save-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Clive Thompson > [The Internet lets thousands of total strangers collaborate to produce a truly hivelike result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/the-internet-lets-thousands-of-total-strangers-collaborate-to-produce/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [Novelists in particular love to rhapsodize about the glory of the solitary mind; this is natural, because their job requires them to sit in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/novelists-in-particular-love-to-rhapsodize-about-the-glory-of-the/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [When you're an expert in a subject, you can retain new factoids on your favorite topic easily. This only works for the subjects you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/when-you-re-an-expert-in-a-subject-you-can-retain-new-factoids-on/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [More than any other modern tool, computers are a total mystery to their users. Most people never open them up to fix them or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/more-than-any-other-modern-tool-computers-are-a-total-mystery-to/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [When you broadcast your book reading voluntarily, it creates moments of fascinating serendipity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/when-you-broadcast-your-book-reading-voluntarily-it-creates-moments/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [The only reason we don't notice how absolutely interwoven our thinking processes have become with older technologies - pencils, paper, electric light, penicillin, fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/the-only-reason-we-don-t-notice-how-absolutely-interwoven-our/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [“While reading Kasparov’s book How Life Imitates Chess on my Kindle, I idly clicked on “popular highlights” to see what passages other readers had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/while-reading-kasparov-s-book-how-life-imitates-chess-on-my-kindle-i/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [The main message of 'Smarter Than You Think' is an attempt to look at the productively new and interesting ways that we have begun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/the-main-message-of-smarter-than-you-think-is-an-attempt-to-look-at/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [There is something about the ability to externalize our thoughts and compare them with other people in a public way that is really transformative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/there-is-something-about-the-ability-to-externalize-our-thoughts-and/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [Type as quickly as you can and always carry a pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/type-as-quickly-as-you-can-and-always-carry-a-pencil/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [I don't think the Internet has replaced cities in any significant way, nor really could it. Cities are dynamic - and deeply seductive for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/i-don-t-think-the-internet-has-replaced-cities-in-any-significant-way/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [Railing at scientists for massaging tree-ring statistics won't stop the globe from warming if the globe is actually, you know, warming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/railing-at-scientists-for-massaging-tree-ring-statistics-won-t-stop/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [Transactive memory works best when you have a sense of how your partners' minds work - where they're strong, where they're weak, where their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/transactive-memory-works-best-when-you-have-a-sense-of-how-your/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [The amount of writing that people do online is astonishing, and historically unprecedented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/the-amount-of-writing-that-people-do-online-is-astonishing-and/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [The one complaint about the Internet that I wholeheartedly endorse is that most of these tools have been designed to peck at us like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/the-one-complaint-about-the-internet-that-i-wholeheartedly-endorse-is/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) [Explore all 43 Clive Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) ## More Addictive quotes > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [“I'm an acquired taste, he assured her, displaying one dimple, but addictive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-bond/i-m-an-acquired-taste-he-assured-her-displaying-one-dimple-but/) [Stephanie Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-bond/) > [Winning is very addictive, that's why it's very hard when suddenly - boom - you are not the favorites any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-horner/winning-is-very-addictive-that-s-why-it-s-very-hard-when-suddenly/) [Christian Horner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-horner/) > [“hatred and viciousness are addictive. You can get high on them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/hatred-and-viciousness-are-addictive-you-can-get-high-on-them/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“was also finding that it was equally addictive for a coach.  To”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-webb/was-also-finding-that-it-was-equally-addictive-for-a-coach-to/) [Eleanor Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-webb/) > [Heather A. Slomski's stories are downright addictive. I kept promising myself to turn off the light after just one more, and then breaking that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shun-lien-bynum/heather-a-slomski-s-stories-are-downright-addictive-i-kept-promising/) [Sarah Shun-lien Bynum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shun-lien-bynum/) > [I have an addictive personality, so when I like something, I really want it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gigi-gorgeous/i-have-an-addictive-personality-so-when-i-like-something-i-really/) [Gigi Gorgeous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gigi-gorgeous/) > [Showing cats is addictive. All you need is one rosette and you're hooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-andrews/showing-cats-is-addictive-all-you-need-is-one-rosette-and-you-re/) [Donna Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-andrews/) > [That immediate exchange is crack, it's addictive, that live, pulsatingit's a live thing and nothing can stop it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-renner/that-immediate-exchange-is-crack-it-s-addictive-that-live-pulsatingit/) [Jeremy Renner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-renner/) > [“Wandering’s the most addictive drug there is, I think, and every hidden road leads on to a dozen more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/wandering-s-the-most-addictive-drug-there-is-i-think-and-every-hidden/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I have an addictive personality. Sport is my drug of choice these days. It's one of the best drugs there is. It keeps you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-wellington/i-have-an-addictive-personality-sport-is-my-drug-of-choice-these-days/) [Chrissie Wellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-wellington/) > [I have an addictive personality. I was addicted to computer games... and then all that obsessive nature just piled into music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-faker/i-have-an-addictive-personality-i-was-addicted-to-computer-games-and/) [Chet Faker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-faker/) > [The City is an addictive machine from which there is no escape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/the-city-is-an-addictive-machine-from-which-there-is-no-escape/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [Grains are essentially sugar with enough opioids to make them addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lierre-keith/grains-are-essentially-sugar-with-enough-opioids-to-make-them/) [Lierre Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lierre-keith/) > [“Habits are good if you have the habit of the best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/habits-are-good-if-you-have-the-habit-of-the-best/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) Browse all 225 Addictive quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why are online games so addictive? 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