Video games are said to be bad for mental health. Max Birk disagrees. He studies how the enjoyment derived from gaming and the intrinsic motivation behind gameplay can have a positive impact on mental health. His research combines psychology, computer science and digital health studies. People play video games because they enjoy it, not because they are compelled to. As they play, they also complete challenging tasks and learn new skills, giving them a sense of accomplishment and pride. In addition to the positive effects of respectful game design, Max also examines harmful design choices, for example games that prompt players to buy something or that have reward systems similar to those used in gambling.