The reason playing desktop games is so good at reducing stress is because they turn your mental focus away from whatever it is that's stressing you out. Games are also a wonderful way to pass the time with friends and family. Add technology to these basic ideas and the options for playing games are more diverse and accessible than ever before.
There are desktop games for virtually every taste. Some are made specifically to be played on the computer, such as Tower Defense, Online Paintball and Desktop Destroyer. These action packed games are all fun ways to help you get through an otherwise stressful day at work, or at home.
Perhaps you don't like to relieve stress by taking out your frustrations in game, but prefer to engage in mental pursuits to calm yourself down. The good news is that there are no shortage of those types of games either. Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, solitaire, word games and many other mental games can also be found online. The real key is to reducing stress is to change what you are thinking about, and games demand more of your attention, giving you a chance to forget about things for a while.
While exercise isn't really a game, it is something you can do while you are sitting at your desk. This is also a good way to relieve stress. You need to make yourself take a break from things from time to time. Whether your desktop games involve venting your anger, challenging your mind, or moving around a bit; it's important to do something to get your stress under control.
Desktop games are a wonderful way to help relax and take your mind off of things. You don't have to go anywhere special, or dress into different clothes before you start to play. Letting stress build up can take a major toll on your health, and is responsible for any number of various medical problems. Playing games is fun, and it can also help to keep you healthy. Now if that isn't a good reason to play more often, then I don't know what is.