Games like “Grand Theft Auto,” “Call of Duty,” “Fortnite” and “PUBG” have many fans. But why are these violent games so popular? A study has found plausible answers.

Violent games are among the hottest game genres within the video games section. Their popularity is soaring day-to-day, and this may increasingly need to do with their ability to “offer opportunities to satisfy psychological needs and motivations for obtaining status, feeling dominant and feeling like a high-quality intimate partner,” in accordance with a recent study from the University of South Wales Sydney’s School of Psychology, which was published in Motivational Science.

In other words, these games tap into human desires by providing a way of autonomy, social cohesion and competency, that are all motivators for behavior. These psychological needs are fulfilled while choosing weapons for an upgrade, working along with other game characters or completing goals or missions.

“Violent video games lend themselves to [our psychological needs] because they’re designed in a way that permits us to attain a way of control and accomplishment, and so they help us determine where we sit in a social hierarchy [based on our performance in them],” study co-author Michael Kasumovic said in a news release.

Violent video games also allow players to face precarious situations in the protection of their homes and regulate their emotions.

“Violent video games help explore our fears around death and may help with the expression of emotions, particularly anger,” Kasumovic added. “Before, people might need gone outside to play with others. Now, we have now the means to do that through digital interactions.

Furthermore, these games urge players to enhance their skills in order that they can move up within the rating system.

“You get quick feedback on the end result of your performance, and there is a positive feedback loop that drives you to play more because you must improve in the sport and improve your standing against others,” Kasumovic explained.

“That will be problematic if it overtakes your life and reduces your capability to self-care, and we expect some individuals could also be more liable to that than others,” he added.

In the longer term, the researchers wish to analyze the prosocial effects of playing violent video games.

“We hope the research will help to broaden people’s minds, perspectives and understandings around video games because they’re complex. They are not going away. If anything, [the landscape] is simply going to grow to be more intense,” Kasumovic concluded.