A recent study commissioned by PopCap Games found that casual games like Bejeweled and Peggle can help lift people’s moods and help combat stress, fatigue, psychological tension, and anger. In a six-month study of 134 people, they found that playing Bejeweled reduced stress by 54 percent compared to a control group. The games also help lift participants’ moods, particularly with Peggle, where there was a massive 573 percent improvement after playing.

I’m pretty sure I’d take up professional people killing as a profession if it wasn’t for video games. Not that they’re my profession or anything, but if you’d like to pay me for it I’ll play you some.