Mental health as a topic in video games

[AccidentalDenz]

I've said for a while that the fact that video games have become a mainstream entertainment medium similar to the way movies have been for decades is overall a good thing, despite what it's doing to the companies at the top of the pile. Gaming is following in the footsteps of movies in that investors with no real interest in the medium are gaining influence at and even taking over the larger companies so those companies are looking to make large sums of money for as little effort as possible - Hollywood does it with endless sequels and heavily sanitised films (how many modern action movies are aiming for the 12A rating when they'd be so much better as a 15 or even an 18?!) and you're seeing that with games getting sequels and those sequels being dumbed down and the genre changed in order to sell more copies of those games.

On the other hand, the level of interest in gaming means that smaller companies can do something unique with their games knowing that the market for what they're trying to do is likely out there. I've had poor mental health on and off for most of my life, and it's been interesting to see a greater number of games dealing with different aspects of mental health emerge in recent years. A little earlier this evening, I watched a video highlighting a few examples of games that explore mental health, and I'd played almost all of the games mentioned. I thought it was an interesting video, so figured I'd share it here for anybody who might be interested in games that deal with mental health.

There's a copy of Gris going in the game giveaway thread!

 

[SpyderTracks]

I've said for a while that the fact that video games have become a mainstream entertainment medium similar to the way movies have been for decades is overall a good thing, despite what it's doing to the companies at the top of the pile. Gaming is following in the footsteps of movies in that investors with no real interest in the medium are gaining influence at and even taking over the larger companies so those companies are looking to make large sums of money for as little effort as possible - Hollywood does it with endless sequels and heavily sanitised films (how many modern action movies are aiming for the 12A rating when they'd be so much better as a 15 or even an 18?!) and you're seeing that with games getting sequels and those sequels being dumbed down and the genre changed in order to sell more copies of those games.

On the other hand, the level of interest in gaming means that smaller companies can do something unique with their games knowing that the market for what they're trying to do is likely out there. I've had poor mental health on and off for most of my life, and it's been interesting to see a greater number of games dealing with different aspects of mental health emerge in recent years. A little earlier this evening, I watched a video highlighting a few examples of games that explore mental health, and I'd played almost all of the games mentioned. I thought it was an interesting video, so figured I'd share it here for anybody who might be interested in games that deal with mental health.

There's a copy of Gris going in the game giveaway thread!

Hellblade was done so well with their approach to pyschosis, and it's not something they just randomly attempted, they put SIGNIFICANT research and interviewed loads of people with varying degrees of the condition to gain as much of a picture of it as they could.

The way it was made a part of the game, you can tell, they weren't doing it for popularity or sales, there was real understanding and interest in portraying it as accurately as possible. And, quite frankly, they achieved it in a way not done before.

How Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice changed lives with its thoughtful portrayal of mental illness

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice was a groundbreaking portrayal of mental illness, and its impact is still being measured by the people who created it.

venturebeat.com

 

[AccidentalDenz]

Hellblade was done so well with their approach to pyschosis, and it's not something they just randomly attempted, they put SIGNIFICANT research and interviewed loads of people with varying degrees of the condition to gain as much of a picture of it as they could.

The way it was made a part of the game, you can tell, they weren't doing it for popularity or sales, there was real understanding and interest in portraying it as accurately as possible. And, quite frankly, they achieved it in a way not done before.

How Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice changed lives with its thoughtful portrayal of mental illness

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice was a groundbreaking portrayal of mental illness, and its impact is still being measured by the people who created it.

venturebeat.com

I have no experience of psychosis, but the grief and loss parts of Hellblade's storyline hit hard and that was something else that was done really well. All of the games mentioned in the above video that I've played are well worth a look.

 

[Deleted member 41971]

I have thought about this subject and considering the trying times we all live in, there could be an effort for game devs to design a positive game that harnesses people's experiences and replicates that into a video game that explores for example mental health, solitude and isolation and the effects on employment and families. Be cool to inhabit say a single and online game with other people that reflects experiences etc.

 

[Tron1982]

There's a copy of Gris going in the game giveaway thread!

A colleague of my sister (an animator) worked on it.
I saw the artwork, it's look wonderfull.


Edit : Child of light is one of my favourite game.
(but i had a ubisoft dev in my master, and he was really a sour person about it ...)

 

[AccidentalDenz]

A colleague of my sister (an animator) worked on it.
I saw the artwork, it's look wonderfull.


Edit : Child of light is one of my favourite game.
(but i had a ubisoft dev in my master, and he was really a sour person about it ...)

It is a beautiful game. It starts off a lot of dark colours but becomes more and more colourful the more you play through it.

 

[Tron1982]

oh !
I think i'll enjoy it

It's interesting that i'm doing my phd on a neurology ward and i like game about this kind of problem ...
(Senua (well, it's hard to play this one, but damn, it's fascinating), Limbo, CoL, Life is strange ...)

Look like there is a patern here

 

[AccidentalDenz]

I have thought about this subject and considering the trying times we all live in, there could be an effort for game devs to design a positive game that harnesses people's experiences and replicates that into a video game that explores for example mental health, solitude and isolation and the effects on employment and families. Be cool to inhabit say a single and online game with other people that reflects experiences etc.

Spiritfarer deals with death and loss and the effect that has on families and friends of those who've passed, so has a part of what you were suggesting. I found it a helpful play when the second lockdown was hitting my mental health hard.

Spiritfarer®: Farewell Edition on Steam

Spiritfarer® is a cozy management game about dying. As ferrymaster to the deceased, build a boat to explore the world, care for your spirit friends, and release them into the afterlife. The Spiritfarer Farewell Edition includes the heartwarming base game and three major content updates.

store.steampowered.com

 

[Deleted member 41971]

Spiritfarer deals with death and loss and the effect that has on families and friends of those who've passed, so has a part of what you were suggesting. I found it a helpful play when the second lockdown was hitting my mental health hard.

Spiritfarer®: Farewell Edition on Steam

Spiritfarer® is a cozy management game about dying. As ferrymaster to the deceased, build a boat to explore the world, care for your spirit friends, and release them into the afterlife. The Spiritfarer Farewell Edition includes the heartwarming base game and three major content updates.

store.steampowered.com

thanks, not heard of that title