Are you a creative? You should probably be playing video games.

A note: I have yet to complete any major game milestones for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom at the time of writing this article. It’s largely spoiler-free, but does contain mentions of some of the game’s core mechanics and features. Read at your own risk, but if you want to remain totally clear of Tears of the Kingdom content, I suggest checking out one of my other articles here for cool content unrelated to this stellar game.

For me, it’s the single best time of the year- maybe moreso now than in any year. Some of my favorite shows are in full swing (ahem, please don’t spoil Succession for me), playoff hockey is rocking and the weather is warming. It’s the perfect storm of happiness.

Enter: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The direct sequel to 2017’s critically acclaimed Breath of the Wild, this game represents a new milestone in video game design; an open-world concept packed to the brim with engaging puzzles, challenging enemies to fight and all sorts of hidden treasures to discover. It’s safe to say that between work (my 9–5), and this game (my 5–9), my schedule is pretty damn full.

I’m not here to tell you about how great the story is, or how richly developed the characters are- Instead, I want to focus on the creative aspect of video games and just how important they’ll be in sharpening the skills of current and future creatives.

I was recently talking with a friend who’s also deeply immersed in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and I joked that I’m going to give this game to my kids and wait patiently for them to become civil engineers. However, that’s only a half-joke; The mechanics present in this video game allow for ultimate creativity, so much so that it could probably teach a child advanced concepts in spatial and logical reasoning all on its own. For example, there’s a core ability present in the game that allows for manipulating and melding objects in order to build structures ranging from simple bridges to battery-powered jet propulsion systems. If there’s ever been a more fitting time to use the phrase, “the sky’s the limit,” I dare you to find it.

All this to say, creatives and other professionals should look at games like these as an opportunity, not a time suck. Within my job, I’m constantly being asked to find multiple solutions to complex problems, whether it be creating ads or designing for user outcomes. Tears of the Kingdom represents not just an ultimate triumph in UX design, but also in the development of creative thinking for all its players. There have been plenty of studies on video games and their development of higher neuroplasticity in players, but this game’s release may mark a turning point in which video games aren’t just a stress reliever at the end of a long day- pretty soon, they’ll be seen as tools for giving us an essential edge in whatever fields we’re specializing in.

Whether you’re an adult already deep in your career, a student learning the ways of design, or a kid looking to blow off steam after school, games like this one should be embraced and enjoyed to their fullest potential. Maybe one day, the problems you solve in-game will help you troubleshoot the ones you encounter in real life.

Now, I’ve just got to figure out a way to tell that to my mom.

This article is in no way an advertisement for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I do not gain affiliate revenue from links clicked, although I wish that were the case. If my writing has inspired a purchase, I’m glad- this game truly rules.