Usually things like this aren’t a problem unless they’re a problem, i.e. causing the player issues in the rest of their life. If you’re choosing games over relationships and responsibilities, that’s a problem. But if they just prefer games to other things, that’s not enough to say addiction.
An addiction is defined by two things : first, it has negative effects on your life. Second, trying to stop it makes you miserable.
Food for example is not an addiction, it’s a biological need. The need for socialisation is another one.
Video games can be an addiction. But I’d argue that they’re usually not, they usually a coping mechanism. When they are, the problem is elsewhere, and the video games are helping you to survive through the problem.
Foods can obviously be an addiction for people that are massively overweight (not in all cases ie thyroid issues).
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r/deadbedrooms has a good clue about signs of video game addiction 😅
In my (small) experience, people can often be addicted to a specific game rather than to gaming in general. Especially with how games these days are designed to be as addicting as possible because MONEY. A big tell for this kind of addiction is an inability/unwillingness to try new games, even if they’re in a similar genre.
Your living space being a disgusting mess, but you’re able to ignore it by immersing yourself in your games.
Depression. Concealment of behaviour and time spent in the game. Withdrawal from normal social relationships. Prioritising the game over other activities such as self care, personal hygiene, etc.
I don’t think this really applies here. Someone could have a Tetris effect experience after playing for a single day. Addiction is a long term issue.
