SoundaryGaming Addiction Test — Free 9-Question Self-Check
A 9-item self-check based on the DSM-5 internet gaming disorder criteria. It takes about 2 minutes and shows your score, how far preoccupation and loss of control have gone, and what to do next.
Free · See your result right away
What's included
- Questions
- 9 items
- Price
- Free
- Areas measured
- Excessive Gaming Tendency
How scores are interpreted
Excessive Gaming Tendency
This scale examines your tendency toward excessive gaming by combining your preoccupation with games, difficulty controlling them, and their impact on your daily life. A higher score indicates clearer signs of excessive gaming.
0–6pts · Stable
You are maintaining a healthy balance between gaming and your daily life. It is good to continue enjoying games comfortably as you do now.
7–13pts · Mild Caution
There are signs of a slight leaning toward gaming. It would be helpful to self-monitor your playtime and mood changes. Try taking the test again after a while to track your progress.
14–20pts · Significant Excessive Gaming Tendency
Your tendency toward excessive gaming is clear enough to affect your daily life. We recommend reflecting on your gaming habits and, if necessary, feeling free to consult a professional.
21–27pts · High Risk of Excessive Gaming
You show a high risk of excessive gaming. Since it may feel difficult to control on your own, we recommend talking to a mental health professional or counseling center. This result is for reference, not a diagnosis, and you can definitely improve with help.
Sample questions
- 1. Even when I was not playing games, thoughts about gaming frequently filled my mind.
- 2. I felt restless, irritable, or anxious when I could not play games.
- 3. I ended up playing games for longer periods and more frequently to feel the same level of satisfaction as before.
- 4. I tried to reduce my gaming time, but I could not control it as well as I wanted.
Thinking about your gaming habits over the past 12 months, please select how often each statement applied to you.
FAQ
How do I interpret my gaming addiction test score?
The nine items cover preoccupation, withdrawal-like feelings, tolerance, failed attempts to cut down, loss of other interests, continued play despite problems, deception, mood regulation, and harm to relationships, school, or work. The more items you endorse, the higher the likelihood — but real-life impairment over the past 12 months matters more than the raw number.
At what point should I talk to a professional?
Research often treats five or more of the nine criteria persisting over 12 months as a level worth clinical attention. This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis, so even with fewer items, repeated disruption to sleep, school, work, or relationships is a good reason to consult a mental health professional.
Does playing a lot of games automatically mean addiction?
No. Hours played is not the criterion — what matters is losing control despite trying to stop, and the harm that follows. Long sessions with intact sleep, study, and relationships look more like a hobby, while even shorter play that repeatedly costs you commitments deserves a closer look.
Can I use this to check my teenager's gaming?
Teens can understand the items, but a parent answering on their behalf often distorts the picture. Have them respond themselves and review the result together as a conversation starter. If school refusal or a reversed sleep cycle comes with it, a professional assessment is the safer route.
Source
The items in this test are a self-check adaptation based on the original instrument and literature below: American Psychiatric Association (2013), DSM-5 Internet Gaming Disorder criteria; Pontes & Griffiths (2015), IGDS9-SF
Related tests
This is a self-screening tool, not a medical diagnosis. If the result concerns you, please consult a mental health professional.