- Primary Subject: Video Game Grinding (The "Comfort Grind" & Flow State)
- Key Update: In 2026, the "Slow-run" movement, where players intentionally over-level through grinding to bypass stress, has become a major mental health trend, especially with the 4K 60fps "Definitive Edition" of Xenoblade Chronicles X on Switch 2.
- Status: Confirmed (Cultural Trend)
- Last Verified: February 27, 2026
- Quick Answer: Grinding provides a "flow state" that offers psychological comfort, giving players a sense of control and a temporary escape from real-world stress through repetitive tasks.
When people play video games, it's common to spend countless hours getting lost in them. Normally, it's due to being amazed by a fascinating story, the beautiful scenery, or the missions and objectives that need to be fulfilled.
However, one of the biggest culprits of eating away at a person's gaming time is usually grinding. This is where you repeatedly complete tasks, either designated by the game or by you, to gain rewards. Usually, it's to gain experience points in role-playing games, but there are other reasons why someone would want to grind. Perhaps they're doing it for a piece of equipment in a shooter or an achievement in a platformer, so it's all up to the player in the end.
While it is a method that allows anyone to acquire what they desire eventually, there's no denying that, aside from taking so much time, it is one of the most monotonous and sometimes tedious things to do. A person can spend days or even weeks repeatedly doing a task, and still only get halfway to the goal.
Considering how much work that sounds, why on earth would people even consider the act of grinding? As someone who also does it, I would say it's due to the fact that, despite the time and effort it takes, it provides a sense of comfort. The first way is that it allows a player to forget about real-world issues.
So, let's say you're having a rough day, perhaps things didn't work out well for you at work, or there are a lot of personal issues bringing you down. To try to relax, you choose to play a JRPG like Xenoblade Chronicles, and given the genre, you know it's going to have a lot for you to do.
While playing, you encounter huge roadblocks in the form of unique and powerful monsters that are much too strong for you to beat. Because of that, you search for grinding spots that allow you to rack up the experience points, and while you do manage to find one, you know it will still take a particularly long time until you get to the level of strength you want.
You do it anyway, despite the amount of time it will consume. Countless hours pass, but you barely notice it, and during the process, you've forgotten what your troubles were. That temporary period of repeatedly doing the same task and losing yourself in it is perhaps the biggest reason why many players do it.
Focusing on doing something repeatedly, especially in a video game, helps people forget that there are even things they need to worry about. While that may not sound like much, it actually helps more than most people think. Those who grind will no doubt get to the real-world things they need to do eventually, but the monotonous act offers some relief and a way to forget about everything, and sometimes that's all someone needs to keep going.
Besides helping a person escape real-life issues, grinding also provides players with control. When playing video games, there is almost always a main goal that needs to be achieved, and it's usually something that you're forced to do no matter what. Although it's something you will get to eventually, perhaps you don't want to just yet. So what do you do? Well, grinding is usually a common answer.
By choosing to do tasks that you've set for yourself repeatedly, you're essentially telling the game that you're going to play it your way. Again, this may not sound like much, but the control that grinding gives players can actually help make them feel good and enjoy what they're playing. Through it, you get to dictate things like when your journey is supposed to end, and knowing you have control over that can enhance the experience of a playthrough.
Another thing is that there can be no end to grinding, as its end goal is entirely up to you. Because let's say you've finally gotten the item you want after numerous hours of hunting monsters. While you could end the grinding session there, perhaps there's another item that you don't particularly need, but would be nice to have in your inventory. And if you get that, then perhaps there's another, and more.
Grinding is completely optional, and since there are possibly a lot of things to grind for, it means there's a lot that you have control over. Knowing that can provide a sense of satisfaction, as it's you who chooses whether how much you've obtained is enough and whether you feel good about it.
So, at the end of the day, if some think that grinding isn't worth the hassle for a single reward, it's important they know that it offers a lot more than just that. It's a method that has helped players both in the game and out, and that's all the more reason to do it.
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