New research from comparethemarket.com has revealed which video games are most likely to give players an adrenaline boost. The top five games in the study were found to increase heart rate by a third or more.
As part of the study participants were fitted with heart-rate monitors and asked to play 15 of 2020’s most popular games1 while having their pulses analysed.
THE TOP TEN HEART-RACING GAMES
The top ten heart-racing games (based on participants’ average resting heart rate compared to their average BPM while playing each game) are as follows:
| Rank | Game | Increase in BPM from resting heart rate |
| 1 | The Last of Us | 49% |
| 2 | Call of Duty: Warzone | 42% |
| 3 | Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout | 34% |
| 4 | Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege | 34% |
| 5 | FIFA 21 | 33% |
| 6 | Fortnite | 33% |
| 7 | Red Dead Redemption 2 | 32% |
| 8 | Grand Theft Auto V | 28% |
| 9 | NBA 2K20 | 27% |
| 10 | Assassins Creed: Valhalla | 23% |
Taking the number one spot, survival horror game, The Last of Us caused an average BMP (Beats Per Minute) increase of a huge 49%.
Call of Duty: Warzone takes the number two slot with players heart rates increasing by 42% when playing the game. It took participants an average of 20 minutes to reach their heart-rate peak while playing.
In joint third place, increasing gamers heart rate by more than a third (34%) were games, Fall Guy: Ultimate Knockout and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege.
Other heart-racing games that just missed the top 10 include Marvel’s Spider-Man (22% increase in BPM) and Need for Speed (20% increase in BPM).
Explaining why certain games affect our heart rate, Christopher Ferguson, Professor of Psychology at Stetson University, says:
“We experience a wide range of emotions when gaming such as excitement if we’re playing a game for the first time, relief if we manage to dodge an obstacle, amusement if we’re playing with friends or suspense if we’re struggling to make it to the finish line.
“Some games are soothing, whereas others are more likely to get the blood pumping as indicated by increased heart rate and blood pressure. Of course, it’s always important to remember that all of these emotions are experienced in the context of fun, and evidence has increasingly clarified that gaming is safe and is not associated with negative outcomes.”
Holly Niblett, head of digital at comparethemarket.com, says:
“During lockdown, many have rekindled their love for gaming as a way to keep entertained. In fact, time spent playing video games in the UK increased by 29%.
“Whether you’re trekking across an open world or winning a cup final, making sure you’ve got the best possible broadband speed is essential for a fun, immersive gaming experience, while also helping you keep connected with friends and family during this uncertain time.”
For more information about the study, or for tips on increasing your broadband speeds to avoid interruption while gaming, visit: https://www.comparethemarket.com/broadband/content/top-heart-racing-games-ranked/
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