Clear information, offered with care.
VideoGameAddiction.org exists for one reason: so that anyone worried about gaming — their own or someone else's — can find honest, hopeful, judgment-free help in one calm place.
Why this site exists
When you start worrying about gaming, the internet can be a rough place to land — full of alarmism, shame, judgment, or people trying to sell you something. We wanted the opposite: a resource that takes the topic seriously and accurately, treats the reader as a capable adult (or a caring parent), and never makes anyone feel broken for being here.
Our approach
What we are
- Evidence-based, grounded in ICD-11 and DSM-5
- Compassionate and free of judgment
- Completely free — no products, no paywalls
- Honest about nuance and what actually helps
- Privacy-first (the self-check stores nothing)
What we are not
- Not anti-gaming — most gamers are fine
- Not a diagnosis or a substitute for care
- Not a crisis line or treatment provider
- Not alarmist or shaming
- Not selling anything, ever
Who it's for
This resource is for anyone touched by problem gaming: the person wondering if their own play has gone too far; the parent worried about a child or teen; the partner, family member, or friend trying to help; and anyone who simply wants to understand the topic accurately. Wherever you are, the pathway selector on the home page can point you to the right starting place.
How we handle accuracy
We work to represent the science fairly: the WHO's ICD-11 gaming disorder (code 6C51), and the DSM-5's Internet Gaming Disorder as a condition for further study — not yet a formal diagnosis. We're careful to frame effects as possible, not inevitable, and to keep the central nuance front and center: loving games isn't a disorder; impaired control plus harm is what matters. Where the evidence is uncertain or evolving, we say so.
Our promise on privacy
The self-assessment runs entirely in your browser. Your answers are never saved, sent, or stored — there's no account and no tracking of what you check. If you contact us, we only see what you choose to write.
VideoGameAddiction.org provides general educational information and is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or someone else may be in danger or crisis, call or text 988 (US). For diagnosis or treatment, consult a qualified health professional.
If you take one thing from this site, let it be hope. Problem gaming is understandable, common, and treatable. People take back their time and their lives every day — and you can too.
Find the door that fits you.
Understand it, check where you stand, take action, or support someone you love — every path is here.