Gamers have long claimed real-world benefits to their hobby. Now, a study from New York University Shanghai published in the journal Psychological Science appears to back up their claim.

First, researchers established a link between gaming and driving skills, challenging groups of experienced gamers to keep a simulated car inside the lines of a simulated road for 95-seconds during simulated crosswinds. The researchers then compared their results against non-gamers. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the gamers had a significant advantage.

Next, the research team set about determining the level of gaming experience that resulted in an a perceptible benefit to drivers. A group of non-gamers was assigned to play either Mario Kart or Roller Coaster Tycoon III for 10 one-hour sessions, pitting a fast-paced "action game" against a strategy-based one. Just halfway through the study, the Mario Karters had a clear advantage over the Coaster Tycoons.

The study's lead author, Li Li, sums up the experiment:

“Our research shows that playing easily accessible action video games for as little as 5 hours can be a cost-effective tool to help people improve essential visuomotor-control skills used for driving,”

This is perhaps not a surprise. Racers have been using Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport for years to hone their track knowledge and timing. And clearly even non-simulator games like Mario Kart have some benefit connecting your hands to your eyes. More remarkable, really, is that first-person shooter (FPS) games are even more effective at improving behind-the-wheel skills than a game where you're controlling a car, no matter how cartoonish.