Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games (MMORPGs)
Also known as "MMOs", these types of games have been reported to be the most addictive in nature because of the following unique attributes:
- They never end. You can never truly win or lose the game as a whole. There is always something more to be done and more progress to be made.
- Success in these games is highly dependent on the amount of time you put into them. Playing the game casually will leave you trailing behind others who put in more time, possibly making you feel as if you aren't as good or are falling behind.
- Encourages interaction amongst other people and development of groups (guilds), allowing people to flourish socially online, providing an escape for their struggling social life or ruining their successful social life.
- People may become attached to their new online friends, valuing them equal to or even above their real friends.
- Certain events in the games may require a large group of people, resulting in this group scheduling a set time to attend these events, which may take anywhere from 2-8 hours at a time. Players may be obligated to attend these events.
- Some have been known to find romantic companionship with other people playing the game and value this companionship equal to real life.
Online Multiplayer Games & Singleplayer RPGs
These games, though not always as addictive in nature as the MMORPG type mentioned above, have a different type of appeal for certain crowds.
- These games typically require lots of practice to build up a good skill level. Gamers with high levels of skill are respected more by their online peers.
- They typically involve the user logging in, and then starting a session from scratch. Depending on the game, these sessions may last as much as 4-6 hours, but could be much less. Quitting the game in the middle of a session may result in the loss of progress, giving the gamer a sense that the time spent was "for nothing".
- Like MMORPGs, they encourage interaction amongst other people and development of groups (guilds), allowing people to flourish socially online, providing an escape for their struggling social life or ruining their successful social life. These games typically do not rely on the multiplayer aspect near as much as MMORPGs.
- Like MMORPGs, the gamer may become attached to their new online friends, valuing them equal to or even above their real friends.
- A common goal in these games may be to acquire the best win-loss record or the highest level character with the best items or statistics. This increases the desire for competition and may give the sense that more play time will get you ahead of others.
Console Games
Console games consist of those played on a television through a gaming console such as the Playstation, Nintendo, and Xbox. We have received stories of people spending endless hours on these games, and prioritizing the purchase of new games or consoles over paying the bills. In general, these games have less of a social aspect to be addicted to so the gamers are drawn to the genuine allure of the game itself, though technological advances are allowing some of these games to move into the online multiplayer realm.
Other Games
For certain types of people, any type of game can be addictive. Those with addictive personalities may find themselves interrupted by desires to play a quick game of Pinball or Tetris on the computer, or even Solitaire or Minesweeper, etc. One game turns into another and finally two hours have passed playing a basic, repetitive game that many would never guess you could be addicted to. Though few exhibit addiction to this type of game, it is entirely possible and any problem should be recognized.
Click here to view a list of popular online multiplayer games and singleplayer RPGs. 
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