Escaping Responsibly: Player Perspectives on Healthy Escapism

Recent literature on escapism in video games often categorizes escapism into healthy or unhealthy experiences. The purpose of this research was to investigate how video game players experience healthy aspects of escapism, from the perspective of previously proposed four pillars of healthy escapism framework. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 participants to inquire about how they experience healthy escapism. The collected qualitative data was analyzed with reflexive thematic analysis. Six interrelated themes emerged: Boundaries & Balance, Social Aspects, Empowerment, Reset & Re-entry, Recognizing Overuse, and Identity & Safe Worlds. Findings showed that healthy escapism is not only a motivation, but also a managed process. The themes extend our understanding of prior dualistic models of escapism by emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries and recognizing when habits are becoming excessive and unhealthy. This suggests that players can maintain healthy escapism through strategies such as self-monitorization and balanced approaches to gaming.