I like video games. I mostly play 4x titles like civ (but I don't play civ). I control my kids screen time pretty rigorously but I let her play games. I really like to play board games but it seems like my friends and I are very busy with families and work now a days so we don't get to play all that often. We do try and table top role play every other week but it often gets called off. I get hit by heavy depression one to a few times a year. There is no getting out of it, just have to do the time. I find that I can sink into a complicated 4x game and lose myself in the tactics and little story I write about the game. It's a great way to keep myself from just sitting around and feeling hopeless. Now I also oppose the kinds of violent and unethical behavior many games promote.
I'd bet that crime rates are lower because people are home playing video games instead of doing violent and unethical things in real life.