Being a video game completionist → a better academic?
While I cannot claim which direction the causality goes, completing a video game 100% and publishing an academic paper share striking parallels. Both require resilience (gamers: challenging levels, researchers: overcoming rejections), patience (gamers: unlocking achievements, researchers: rewriting and revising), attention to detail (gamers: complex mechanics, researchers: precise writing), and the ability to learn from setbacks (gamers: adapting strategies after failure, researchers: incorporate feedback).
Below is a list of games I have completed to absolute perfection on Nintendo Switch. You will notice a pattern of game titles that scream nostalgia. My gaming name is DoctorIw, a name I chose when becoming a doctor was still a distant dream.
Pokémon games

Pokémon Scarlet Paldea Pokédex

Pokémon Scarlet Kitakami Pokédex

Pokémon Scarlet Blueberry Pokédex

Pokémon Arceus Pokédex

Pokémon Shield Galar Pokédex

Pokémon Shield Tundra Pokédex

Pokémon Shield Armor Pokédex

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond Sinnoh Pokédex

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond National Pokédex

Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu Pokédex
Platform Games

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped

Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back

Crash Bandicoot

Spyro Reignited Trilogy

Super Mario World
Action-Adventure Games

Asterix & Obelix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir

Asterix & Obelix XXL 2: The Crystal Menhir

Asterix & Obelix XXL