There's nothing quite like digging into a new game and immersing yourself in a world for hours every day, for days or weeks at a time.Being able to lose yourself in a good story, or a massive open world, or an RPG that lasts for upwards of 100 hours is the kind of stuff that keeps gamers going and gaming despite the world around them. And as most of us hardcore players already know, it sometimes comes with a cost: when that game is finally done.Image via NintendoWatching the credits roll on a game is a bittersweet thing, but a new study by SWPS University in Poland has confirmed that "post-game depression," or P-GD, is real, described as "a feeling of emptiness after completing an exceptionally immersive and emotionally charged game." I've felt this feeling many times before, so having some science backing it feels validating."P-GD is a specific type of grief after loss, reminiscent of parting with a loved one or the end of an important life stage," psychologist Kamil Janowicz, author of the study, said. "Our research shows that for many gamers, the virtual world becomes such a significant source of emotions that returning to everyday life requires time and appropriate psychological tools. These results may help us better understand gamer experiences, and they could be useful in the game design process."Fans of lengthy RPGs where you become more and more invested in characters could feel the sadness even more, according to the study. And this checks out with one of my worst and most recent bouts with P-GD, after I finished Final Fantasy VII Rebirth after around 90 hours of play time."Our research shows that gamers playing role-playing games (RPGs) are most susceptible to post-game depression," the study said. "It is in these games that players have the greatest influence on character development through their decisions, and build the strongest bonds with their characters. And the more engaging the game world and the closer the relationship with the character, the more difficult it is to return to reality once the game is over."Dr. Janowicz noted some concern about gamers, saying the study's results "raise a number of questions about the ethical aspects of game development, and taking into account the potential impact of gameplay on player well-being in this process."Screenshot by DestructoidP-GD happened for me again with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach last year, and again this year once I finally rolled credits on Resident Evil Requiem. As fans of the medium, we wish these games, or at least the first time experiencing them, could last forever. Playing them for an extended period of time and always having that time to look forward to in life is part of what makes them so special. And when they end, the feeling of joy that comes with the games sometimes ends too.What's your worst P-GD episode? Or do you not believe in it? Let us know in the comments.The post New study confirms what most gamers already knew: ‘Post-game depression’ is a real thing appeared first on Destructoid.