In light of the recent rise in mental health difficulties, it is more vital than ever for the media to adequately address the topic. False information and bad stereotypes regarding mental illness are still frequent in the media even though mental health concerns are now more widely recognized in society.
Despite this, several recent video games have included excellent depictions of mental health and well-being. Compassion and empathy are used instead of exploiting the subject matter. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most popular mental health-related games, including:
Depression Quest
Florence
Night In the Woods
Gris
Depression Quest
Depression Quest, a 2013 text adventure game made in Twine by American video game creator Zo Quinn, lets players take control of a character dealing with depression. Free and praised by the New Yorker and others, the game depicts sadness accurately. To illustrate how depression may restrict a person’s abilities, the game allows the user to choose which activities the character should perform next. However, some of the possibilities cannot be picked. This game wasn’t meant to amuse or amuse the player, but to teach the player about sadness and how to cope with it.
Slots
Slot machines, which are among the most popular casino games, may be beneficial to your mental well-being. Slot games induce a sensation of euphoria, which has been shown to have positive impacts on mental health.
Online gaming may provide a pleasant break from the pressures of everyday life. Getting into a flow state when playing slot games is a great way to relax after a long day at work.
The benefits of playing slots and other forms of gambling extend to the brain as well. A longer attention span, problem-solving skills, logic, memory, and perception are all required in slot strategy games. Playing slots at online casinos that accept mastercard, in contrast to many other casino games, provides a low entrance barrier and so appeals to a wide range of players. Slot game players don’t have to think about winning techniques when they play casually; they can just have fun. Slot game players may now enjoy the thrill of the casino from the comfort of their own home thanks to developments in technology and an ever-growing number of individuals playing online.
Google Play and the Apple App Store both provide a plethora of slot machine games to choose from. Informed gamers may make better decisions about where and when to play slots because of the wide range of options.
Having a sense of control over your game performance is critical to the mental well-being of gamers. It’s easy for consumers to switch online casinos if they aren’t happy with their present options since there are so many to choose from. They can find an online casino usa legal where they may take advantage of free spin promos for a variety of slot games when they join a casino for the first time. Players can choose the casino with the best odds to get the most money if they win. Many online slot games enable players to place small bets to minimize their losses.
Responsible gaming is encouraged by casino apps. There are methods to establish your restrictions while playing slots, so players should only deposit money they can afford.
Florence
A 25-year-old lady, Florence Yeoh, meets a cellist, Krish, in Florence, a smartphone game that was published in 2018 and then transferred to other platforms. Florence has to choose a new path in life when the two have a dispute and split up after they had been together for a long time.
This game is about the fight to move on from a life that is repetitive and dull and the loss that goes along with it. To tell the tale without words, the game uses brief minigame puzzles that allow players to engage with the characters without any words. When Florence finally overcomes her initial apprehension about painting, she transforms into the accomplished artist she had always envisioned herself to be.
Spiritfarer
Spirtfarer is a 2020 management sim in which the player plays Stella, an aspiring Spiritfarer, who sets out on her journey over the ocean in search of souls, grants their ultimate desires, and takes them through the afterlife’s doorway known as the Everdoor. While rediscovering memories of her previous existence, Stella and her cat Daffodil encounter and become friends with many ghosts.
Death and the associated sorrow and grief are at the heart of this touching indie game, which emphasizes the need of letting go and moving on.
Neverending Nightmares
Thomas, a guy who suffers from nightmares, is the protagonist of Neverending Nightmares, which was released in 2014 as a survival horror video game. One of the game’s main designers has melancholy and OCD, which influenced the game’s design, as reported by Polygon.
After each death or mental trauma, Thomas wakes up in a new dream, another reality that he has already experienced. One of three distinct endings is possible based on the player’s decisions. The game’s gloomy aesthetic and evocative visuals represent the emotions and thoughts that are common to OCD and clinical depression.
Night In The Woods
When Mae, a young lady with a love for animals, chooses to return to her tiny village after dropping out of university, the narrative of Night in the Woods begins. On a trip to her parent’s house, she learns that one of her best friends, Casey, has inexplicably vanished along with several other people in the area.
Even Mae herself has a secret to tell the player, as the player learns the secrets of other individuals. Mae dropped out of college due to depression and depersonalization-derealization, which she had been dealing with since she was a child.
Gris
The story of Gris, a young lady dealing with the loss of a significant other, is told via a puzzle-platformer released in 2018. Gris’s voice is damaged as a result of her depression and despair, and she must go on a quest to reclaim her singing voice. The gorgeous watercolor art style of this independent game is well-known.
As a metaphor for her mental condition, Gris is unable to move in a colorless environment. As she travels around the vast globe, she gradually regains her skills, allowing her to see more and more of the world. Gris’ hardships are symbolized by the aggressive bird-like animals she meets on her journeys, which are threatening to devour her whole.
Conclusion
As time goes by mental health issues become more evident to society. Because of that, the demand for video games that include the mentioned topic increased in a very short time. Above-given games are some of the most popular ones in the industry, that are worth trying and furnish players with a unique experience.
