Study officially crowns the most stressful video game of all time
A certain blue shell might be the root cause
Every gamer has their own personal pick for the title that boils their blood the most but a recent study has revealed the most stressful video game of all time - and it's one that you might not perhaps expect.
Despite their nature as entertainment and a fun pastime, games can be surprisingly stressful to pick up and play, especially if you lean into the more competitive side of things.
Multiplayer titles are known for their capacity to send players into fits of rage if things don't go their way, and it won't take long when watching a popular stream on Twitch to experience a historic crash out.
Thankfully, as reported by Forbes, one study has revealed once and for all what the most stressful video game of all time is, and it's something that we've all bound to have been frustrated when playing at least once.
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Calculated by measuring the average heart rate increase over a 30 minute period, the study indicated that Mario Kart caused players the most stress with an increase of 32.81%.
It registered a whole percentage point higher than it's closest rival, and it's not hard to image why when looking into the specifics.
The simple mention of a blue shell is likely to send any seasoned Mario Kart player into hysterics, as the almighty leveller is known as a controversial argument starter when it sends you from 1st place to 10th just before you reach the finish line.
On top of this, the sheer tension of playing against your friends and family in a split-screen environment is bound to get the heart pumping, as they'll often be right behind you as every single action matters, leaving the victor with the ultimate bragging rights.
Three out of the remaining four entries in the study's top five are multiplayer titles, with FIFA (2nd, 31.25%), Call of Duty (3rd, 29.69%), and Fortnite (5th, 26.56%) rounding out the list.
It's understandable why these would often cause stress and heart rate increases, as the tension of competing with others naturally gets your body going as you increase your focus.
Battle royale titles like Fortnite are known especially for those clutch moments when its you against one final player to determine the winner, and you can often feel your heart pounding from your chest as you approach the final seconds of the game.
The only single player title on the list is FromSoftware's Dark Souls, which is notorious for it's difficulty - especially in its extremely tough boss fights. While it's you against the game instead of another player, these moments are filled with the same tension and competitive drive that makes you desperate to get over the line.
Players will often attempt bosses for tens if not hundreds of times, so getting close to beating one is bound to increase your stress levels.
Who would have thought though that between horrifying bosses and competitive battlefields, it would be an moustached Italian plumber in a go-kart that would provide the most stress.