Why comparison is built into play
People naturally size themselves up against others. It is how we get a sense of how we are doing when there is no obvious fixed standard. Many games lean into this: leaderboards, ranks, tiers, match histories, achievement lists, profile badges and visible item collections all make other people’s results easy to see.
That is not necessarily bad. Seeing what others can do shows what is possible and can motivate you to improve. The trouble starts when comparison becomes the main way you judge your own play, or your own worth.
The title mentions a study, but no one study can tell you how comparison will affect you. Research on social comparison more broadly shows mixed effects that depend on the person, the situation and how the comparison is made. The points below are general observations rather than reported findings.
Upward, downward and sideways
Comparison comes in a few flavors.
- Upward comparison means looking at people who are doing better than you. It can inspire, or it can leave you feeling inadequate.
- Downward comparison means looking at people doing worse. It can feel reassuring, but it can also make you complacent or encourage dismissive attitudes toward others.
- Comparison with similar players can be the most informative, since it gives a realistic benchmark.
- Comparison with your past self tends to be the most useful and the least painful, because it measures your own progress.
Which of these you reach for, and how you interpret the result, often matters more than the comparison itself.
How comparison can sour enjoyment
Narrow focus on outcomes. If you are watching a rank or a rival’s numbers, you may stop noticing whether the activity itself is interesting. Play can drift from enjoyable to evaluative.
Unfair comparisons. Other players may have more free time, different equipment, more experience or a different starting point. A top player’s results may reflect thousands of hours you have not spent. Comparing yourself with them is rarely a fair test of anything.
Curated views. What you see of others is often their highlights: their best clips, their rarest items, their longest streaks. You rarely see the failed attempts or the days they did not play well. Highlight reels make everyone else look more consistent than they are, a dynamic familiar from social media.
Fear of missing out. Seeing friends reach milestones or play together without you can trigger the sense that you are behind or left out. That feeling is explored further in the topic of fear of missing out.
Harsh self-judgment. Comparison can feed a critical inner voice, particularly for people who already lean toward perfectionism.
Hostility toward others. Resentment of better players, or contempt for weaker ones, can spill into chat and make the community less pleasant for everyone.
Signs comparison may be hurting you
These are worth noticing, not diagnosing.
- You check other players’ stats more often than you play.
- You feel flat or irritated after seeing someone else’s achievement.
- You stop playing something you liked because you “will never be as good as them.”
- You judge your day by your rank change.
- You play more hours mainly to keep up with others, which can slide into a sense of obligation.
Ways to keep comparison in proportion
Choose your benchmark. Decide deliberately who or what you compare with. Your own results from last month are usually a fairer and more motivating measure than a stranger’s.
Use others as teachers, not judges. When someone plays better than you, ask what you could learn: a technique, a habit, a way of communicating. This turns comparison into information.
Remember what you cannot see. Behind every impressive result are hours of practice, favorable circumstances and a lot of unseen failures. Reminding yourself of this takes some of the sting out.
Adjust what you see. Many games let you hide or minimize certain stats, or you can simply choose not to open the leaderboard. If a particular view always leaves you feeling worse, you are allowed to skip it.
Set goals based on your own priorities. Realistic goals that you set for your own reasons are less vulnerable to what other people are doing. If you want to improve a specific skill, track that rather than a global rank.
Take breaks when comparison builds. A day or a week away from the stats can reset your perspective. Taking a break is not quitting, and the numbers will still be there.
Celebrate others’ wins honestly. Being happy for a friend’s achievement, while accepting that you feel a twinge of envy, tends to be more sustainable than pretending the envy is absent.
Spread your self-worth around. If your sense of who you are depends heavily on in-game standing, a rank drop will feel large. Investing in friendships, other interests and work gives you a wider base. This is discussed more in the broader piece on how play affects your self-concept.
A note on competition
Competition itself is not the problem. Many people enjoy testing themselves against others and find that rivalry makes play more exciting. The question is whether you are choosing it or being pulled into it. If competitive pressure is making you tense or unhappy more often than energized, that is a signal to adjust how you engage, not necessarily to stop.
When to seek support
Occasional envy or disappointment is normal. If comparison is leaving you with persistent low mood, anxiety or withdrawal from friends, or if play is hurting life in other ways, consider talking with a qualified professional such as a doctor or counselor. This article offers general information, not medical advice.
In short
Ranks and achievement lists make comparison easy, but easy is not the same as useful. Choosing your own benchmarks, remembering what you cannot see and limiting exposure when it hurts can help comparison work for you instead of against you.