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The authors review recent research that reveals how today’s video games instanti-ate naturally and effectively many principles psychologists, neuroscientists, and educators believe critical for learning. A large body of research exists showing that the effects of these games are much broader. In fact, some types of commercial games have been proven to enhance basic perceptual and cognitive skills. These effects are significant enough that educators use these games for such practical, real-world purposes as training surgeons and rehabilitating individuals with per-ceptual or cognitive deficits. Although many individuals may still consider video games nothing more than mindless fun, the authors argue that games serve also as serious tools for good. Key words: job training and video games; video games and cognition; video games and learning; video games and the elderly Over the last half-century, video games have evolved from crude contests played by a few enthusiasts to richly immersive worlds enjoyed by bil-lions of people around the world. Games have become big business, bringing in more than sixty billion dollars in global revenue annually (Gaudiosi 2012). They are increasingly recognized as an artistic medium too, as institutions suc