I was a video game sceptic, but now I'm a fan

After spending most of her life bouncing off video games, Jessica Furseth finally discovers the joy and practical benefits of play

'Luke, how do I get this power moon? Luke!" I'm playing Super Mario Odyssey while my partner, Luke, is trying to work. "You'll figure it out," he says patiently. Luke has been playing video games since he was a child, but this is my first ever game, and he's thrilled that I'm invested in Mario's quest to save Princess Peach.

Considering it's a $100bn (70bn) industry, gaming is a surprisingly "love it, or just don't get it" kind of activity. I've tried video games a few times over the years, as people seemed to be having so much fun with them. But I never got into it. I kept dying, so I gave up. Last year, though, my curiosity was piqued again as I watched Luke play the newest Mario game with his children. One slow Sunday, I picked up the Nintendo Switch. No one was more surprised than me when I kept coming back to the game, and eventually beat Bowser.