College libraries are well-known for being treasured troves of academic information; books, print and digital peer-reviewed academic journals, trade publications, and documentaries are just a few of things patrons can expect to see in an academic library. What if we told you, however, that video games are becoming increasingly common in libraries across the US, including college libraries? What if we told you that video games can actually help students succeed in college? This blog will focus on how video games can have a positive impact on your college experience and introduce you to the extensive video game collection that is housed in Smith Library.
Video Games and College Success
Despite the popular notion that video games are just recreational tools that enable poor decision-making and procrastination, academic literature tells us that video games have been positively linked to academic success! In a 2023 study, Van Horssen et. al found that playing video games created opportunities for undergraduate students to develop critical and reflexive thinking skills when comparing the historical events depicted in video games with their historical counterparts (Horssen et. al, 2023). In another study, Pum (2025) calls for college faculty to implement gamified quiz tools as a method of assessment (testing) to enhance the learning outcomes of college students (Pum, 2025) It may seem surprising, but just search “Video Games” AND “Student Success” in one of our databases, and you will get more results than you think!
In addition to being linked to academic success, video games are also great facilitators of self-care for college students. Trachsler & Wegbreit (2025) found that, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many college athletes used video games as a positive coping method while sporting events were shut down (Trachsler & Wegbreit, 2025). Another study by Ferguson et. Al (2018) found that people who were given a choice of activities that suit their interests (two of which involved playing different types of video games), recover more effectively from stressful situations (Ferguson et. Al, 2018). Finally, a study by Almomani et. al (2021) found that college students (age 20-205) advocated sleep and video games as a positive coping strategy during the stressful COVID-19 pandemic (Almomani et. Al, 2021). While the priority of HPU Libraries is to support the rigorous requirements of our academic programs, we certainly maintain that a balance must be struck to avoid burnout and stress. Our Video Game Collection consists of over 200 titles across 15 different consoles that provide academic support for our nationally ranked Game Design and other related majors, such as Education, Music, English, and History. We also encourage you to take these games back to your dorm (or play them in the library!) when you need a break from any stress.
The Classics (1977-2001)
When we started the video game collection back in 2023, the goal was to provide users with access to the classic masterpieces that inspired today’s modern games. The earliest games in our collection come from the Atari 2600 (1977), and feature games like “Mr. Run & Jump” and “Berzerk,” both in their original cartridge format (Wikipedia, 2026a). We also provide access to the unique title “10 games in One Cartridge”, which requires players to place notches on the cartridge in a particular sequence in order to access the game they want to play.
Atari 2600 “10 Games in One” (2023)
Other examples of games patrons have access to with this collection include “Sonic the Hedgehog” via the Sega Game Gear, the “Super Mario Bros” Series via our Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), and “Tetris” via our GameBoy Advance SP. In the history of video games, these are seminal works that inspired many of the video games we play today. Patrons can also expect to find games from the Sega Dreamcast, PlayStation, and Nintendo 64 consoles available for checkout.
Sega Dreamcast and SoulCalibur (1999)
This librarian recommends checking out (no pun intended) “Super Mario 64”, “SoulCalibur”, “Kirby’s Dreamland”, “Super Smash Bros.”, and “Mortal Kombat II”. When we think about retro video games, it doesn’t get any better than this!
Contemporary Games (2001-Present)
HPU Libraries prides itself on offering access to a diverse collection of games. Patrons can access retro games as well as games that are newer and more advanced in terms of graphics and gameplay. Many of these games take longer to make than a Hollywood film! The last 25 years have presented gamers with some of the most critically acclaimed and entertaining titles in the history of gaming. The early-to-mid 2000s brought us the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, and GameBoy Advance series (Wikipedia, 2026b). The GameBoy Advance SP is fondly remembered by gamers as being the first handheld console with a backlit screen, making night play easily accessible right out of the box.
Gameboy Advance SP with Pokémon Red Version
Users can expect to find quite a few games from that generation in our collection, including “Halo: Combat Evolved”, “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker”, “Final Fantasy X”, and “Pokemon: FireRed Edition.” The next generation of gaming would see the release of the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii (Wikipedia, 2026b). Standout games from this era that are available in our collection include “Super Marion Galaxy”, “Halo 3”, “Call of Duty: Black Ops”, and “Assassins Creed II.”
Assassin’s Creed II and other Xbox 360 games
The PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Wii U would come to gamers next, and many gamers are still playing these consoles today! Hit games from this era include “God of War”, “Horizon: Zero Dawn”, and “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.” The most current games users can find in the library collection include games from the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The Nintendo Switch represented a revolution in portable gaming, as it allowed the player to play games either portably or on their TV in a higher visual resolution. Nintendo Switch 2 improves this idea, providing even more power and higher resolutions to games available on the console. The Nintendo Switch 2 also provides a visual boost for games originally on the Nintendo Switch, making them look better than ever before. In our collection, gamers can enjoy “Super Mario Odyssey”, upgraded versions of “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and its sequel “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom”, and the newest smash hit, “Donkey Kong: Bananza”, made by the developers of best-selling hit, “Super Mario Odyssey.”
Nintendo Switch 2
It is difficult to believe that the video game collection at HPU Libraries is only 3 years old! Whether you are a Game Design major analyzing modern masterpieces for course assignments, or a casual gamer who enjoys revisiting the classics of your childhood, this collection will have something just for you! You can also come to the library to enjoy one of our many game nights during each semester. Building this collection has been a long road, with so many people responsible for its establishment. Without the help of many HPU librarians who acquired, organized, and made this collection available for patrons, this collection would not exist. We would also like to thank the many donors that have contributed to this amazing collection; we are so thankful for these contributions and for your investment in it. We hope everyone will stop by the library to enjoy this collection, whether it be to enhance your learning, or enable self-care during times of stress. We can’t wait to see how this collection will grow in the future!
Blog Post written by Bryan Nicholls, Multimedia Librarian
References
Almomani, E. Y., Qablan, A. M., Almomany, A. M., & Atrooz, F. Y. (2021). The coping strategies followed by university students to mitigate the Covid-19 quarantine psychological impact. Current Psychology: A Journal for Diverse Perspectives on Diverse Psychological Issues, 40(11), 5772–5781. https://hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org/oclc/9480500825
Ferguson, C. J., Maguire, R., & Lemar, S. (2018). Pick your poison: Choice of activity determines mood management following a stressful task. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 27(3), 332–346. https://hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org/oclc/10309301432
Pum, K. (2025). Examining the Predictive Role of Weekly Game-Based Online Quiz Performance on Academic Achievement and Engagement. Asian Journal of Distance Education, 20(2), 25-38. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?q=Video+Games+and+Academic+Achievement&pr=on&ft=on& ff1=eduHigher+Education&id=EJ1492789
Trachsler, T., & Wegbreit, E. (2025). Videogaming as stress coping in NCAA Division III student-athletes during the pandemic: An exploratory analysis. Journal of Leisure Research, 56(1), 60–70. https://hpulibraries.on.worldcat.org/oclc/10559963084
Van Horssen, J., Moreton, Z., & Pelurson, G. (2023). From pixels to pedagogy: using video games for higher education in the humanities. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, 28, 1-22. https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/875/773
Wikipedia (2026a). Atari 2600. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600
Wikipedia (2026b). History of Video Game Consoles. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_game_consoles