What game(s) helped you through a difficult time in your life?

Submitted by SolidVirginal t3_1241644 in gaming

I'm a trauma therapist for adults. Video games were critical to me during parts of my own trauma journey (shoutout to Undertale, OFF by Mortis Ghosr, and TES Skyrim & Oblivion, wouldn't be here today without them). I'm finding that many of my clients have similarly found and are finding healing and solace in certain games. I'm also realizing that there's a metric shitload of games out there that I know nothing about and might be useful to recommend to the people I care for.

I'm in the process of compiling a personal list of video games that helped people get through particularly sensitive or traumatic parts of their lives. I've asked around to colleagues and friends, but I want to cast as wide of a net as possible!

No restriction on platform, age of the game, indie vs. AAA, etc.

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CanWeAllJustCalmDown t1_jdxm13g wrote

Stardew Valley for when I’ve just needed to escape to my happy place to experience some peace. Spiritfarer for actually addressing and processing some trauma/loss. Beautiful and fun game that really stayed with me, and damn if it didn’t get heavy at times.

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here_iam_or_ami t1_jdxcyfi wrote

I was dealing with feelings of loss, depression, identity change and a few other mental bed fellows when I decided to play The Ghost of Tsushima. It was absolutely amazeballs and had so many nuggets that really helped in my time of sadness and reflection

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throoawyyy t1_jdxamv9 wrote

Xenogears- it’s my favorite game of all time and almost like a security blanket because of how familiar it’s become over the last 25 years.

the last of us- allowed my cry for the first time in years creating catharsis.

most of the bethesda games cause they made me feel like someone was listening even if it was random NPCs and dialog was limited

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PrestigiousAd7195 t1_jdxfegi wrote

Played Hollow Knight at probably the darkest point in my life. Provided that little bit of escapism I desperately needed.

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DahlinItToWeenIt t1_jdxh8o5 wrote

Far Cry 3 was the escapism I needed when I was dealing with some depression. Getting to save my friends and the locals on an island helped me get through some stuff

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Fosco_Toadfoot t1_jdxb53t wrote

A girlfriend and I broke up about 20 years ago. My best friend introduced me to something called "Halo". I figured I'd give it a shot.

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Vykuna999 t1_jdxbkrl wrote

All of them, but Super Mario (any!) for taking my focus somewhere positive, Final Fantasy (5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12) for looking at the bigger picture, Breath of the Wild for escapism and relaxation (played it throughout the early months of COVID), and Fallout 3 & 4 for humor and tension relief.

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DemonDevilDog t1_jdxdc6d wrote

Fable 2. Got me through some dark times.

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Peacekraft578 t1_jdxfh1g wrote

For me it was the start of World of Warcraft. Playing that and reading the lore/ immersing myself in the fantasy was what saved me. Having a social guild and making friends helped so much. Without it i would have finished my suicide plans.

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whitenovember- t1_jdxfqk3 wrote

Persona 5. Helped me with my depression when it came out and made everything a little bit better.

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power_metal_76 t1_jdxet0y wrote

Fallout 76. You can totally immerse yourself in the world and live a separate reality while you play. Plus the community is incredible. Helped me through feelings of loss and abandonment. Still play 2.5 years later, quite frequently.

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MrMaedhros t1_jdxhrtd wrote

Forza Horizon 3 had me through a complex time, so relaxing. Jeanne D'Arc of PSP helped me in a really bottom time. But I would advice to use carefully, to avoid addiction problems.

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Boustrophaedon t1_jdxhtp4 wrote

Two come to mind: Gone Home (I had feelings.) and Stationeers (pure escapism and a geek-out. And you get to build a safe place).

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No_Influence_1376 t1_jdyhwxo wrote

I was very depressed a decade ago, at my lowest in terms of direction in life and accomplishments.

I played Tearaway on the PS Vita and was in tears by the end of the game. Felt like I reframed how I viewed my life after finishing that game, even forgiving myself, for a lack of a better description.

Fun game, not stressful at all, beautiful to look at and has a great message throughout.

Recently, Hades was great for stress relief. Quick, 30-45 minute sessions that really let me escape what I was doing for a moment and just focus on playing the game. Kind of rekindled my interest in videogames.

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BlazingLazers69 t1_jdyps5n wrote

Hollow Knight. I felt every sad, tired note in Dirtmouth. The world FELT so real--gloomy and at times wondrous.

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Still-Piece-8981 t1_jdyw37g wrote

When I was having major anxiety issues around the beginning of the pandemic (isolation + law school is a bad recipe), Zelda: Breath of the Wild took my mind off of the anxiety and gave me short periods of time where I could be at peace. Definitely helped me get through it until I could get on anti-depressants.

Also, Red Dead Redemption 2 helped me the same way during law school before the pandemic.

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Fylimar2342 t1_jdzaagz wrote

Baldurs Gate 1 & 2 - they were like a security blanket for me.

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Yabanjin t1_jdzlwvx wrote

I just did a playthrough, they are still so great!

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thruaway1971 t1_je00ta7 wrote

NES Legend of Zelda, 1988 or so? My mom had cancer and was really sick most of the time. I would play LoZ , live in that world for a while and escape the scary thoughts.

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Kraaion t1_jdxihzp wrote

I’ve been going through very dark part of my life, where I thought I lost the cause and meaning. At this time new expansion for final fantasy 14 was released - Endwalker. The story somehow resonated with me. I’ve never thought I’d say it, but it kinda helped me to see things from different perspective.

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MiyuChama t1_jdxj7fo wrote

While they don't exactly fall under the umbrella of games, I find the most solace in visual novels. I'm a person who heals best when experiencing strong emotions and nothing can achieve that quite like a good VN. I love the fictional friendships you form within them and while I'm aware they are not real, they still can make me really happy. Paired with a good backstory, nothing can comfort me as much, aside from my close real life friends.

Depending on the person, there's different types of VNs to choose from. Moeges are the typical feel good VNs, there usually is hardly any drama and they just focus on the interpersonal relationships. Most of them are a kind of advanced dating sim though, so I'm sure they are not for everyone.
Then there are Nakige, which I love very much but might be bad for most people with unstable emotions. Also called "tear jerkers", they contain quite a bit of drama and melancholy. They usually end on a happy note though.
Utsuges are like Nakiges, but even harder on the soul. They don't usually end on a happy note.
Personally, I also love horror VNs, but I guess I'm kinda a special case in that regard. I can go into them and enjoy them, even when I'm at my lowest, but I highly advise against them if you're not a hundred percent sure that the person can handle them. I've witnessed quite a few people getting drawn deeper into their holes.

As you can see, VNs tend to be quite emotional, one way or another. For me, that's exactly what I need. Maybe some of your clients can benefit from that as well. One thing might be worth mentioning though: Oftentimes, the relationships in a VN start off very rocky. If a client has some kind of trauma that might be triggered by this, I would advise against VNs.

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HachikoNekoGamer t1_jdxjps9 wrote

RPG's

Even though this trope has been abused in RPG's from hell to back, I do still enjoy stories of heroes going through difficult times then persevering and managing to come out on top or make things work at the end.

Edit: that or games like Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons

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Queef_Walrus t1_jdxw7ma wrote

Okami HD on the PS3 and BotW on the Wii U

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Prestigious-Abies-20 t1_jdy1g29 wrote

Is the Wii U version less depressing?

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Queef_Walrus t1_jdyuclt wrote

Less depressing than the Switch version? I never played the Switch version, but playing on the Wii U kept me hopeful while my relationship was reaching its end. Running around Hyrule, finding new and interesting things each time I sat down to play kept me going through some hard times. I didn’t find the game depressing, it became familiar and peaceful at times and at anytime I could battle and overcome something bigger than myself.

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SnooblesIRL t1_jdxx2as wrote

Final fantasy X has always been a great game to play for mental health, it does a lot with loss and coming to terms with things you can't influence, being powerless in situations with even some childhood trauma to boot !

I find it very cathartic experiencing tidus inner journey and people's interactions with him while trying to understand their own trauma

Edit: 9 too, man what a roller coaster ! A existentialist masterpiece

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EDF-Pride t1_jdxywe4 wrote

Let's see... FF7, Xenogears, Omega Boost, and TRAG Mission of Mercy in my early middle school years.

Then the Xenosaga trilogy, and the Way of the Samurai series later on.

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[deleted] t1_jdy6ph2 wrote

My mother passed away from cancer a few years ago. Apart from dealing with her loss, what was left of my family was tearing itself apart. For whatever reason, I started playing Bloodborne. The game was a few years old at that point. I wasn't really a fan of the Souls genre, but I just started playing it anyway. It was frustrating. But my own real life frustrations pushed me forward and I ended up getting lost in it, and the dark environment, and the persistent challenge somehow became my therapy.

It kept me occupied for a while until I beat it. I never really did the whole multiple playthrough thing, but it did help during a dark time.

By the time I was finished with Bloodborne, a fair bit of time had passed. I'd gotten married. I'd bought a house. And then problems with my work began. My partner also had problems at work and then they lost their job, and our household became a place of depression and anxiety. So once again I turned to video games for comfort. This time I started playing Monster Hunter World. I'd never played the series prior. Heck, I didn't even like MHW when I first started. But thanks to my own frustrations I just kept pushing, and pushing, until the game "clicked" and I became... slightly obsessed with it... Until finally it became a therapeutic device when helped me get by everyday.

Things are thankfully a lot better with my work and home life now. I still keep playing the Monster Hunter series to this day. I suppose it still helps me on a emotional level. Although I really just play it because it's fun!

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GregaciousTien t1_jdyd81o wrote

Beyond Two Souls. I played that game at the lowest point of my life, after some severe medical issues. There were points in that game that spoke to my soul so deeply, it legitimately helped my recovery, and my permanent mental health.

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Rumit_OP t1_jdynjp7 wrote

Dark Souls 1 created a difficult time in my life(Its bosses) beating the final boss helped my overcome my short temper problem

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MH3ndr1ks t1_jdzfth0 wrote

Last year I was in a dark place and felt like playing something easy, silly and fun. So I bought the new Saints Row at full price and had a blast with it.

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Yabanjin t1_jdzlo1g wrote

Monster Hunter World. I was diagnosed with cancer and was freaking out. I needed something to keep me distracted. It’s such a great game that you can constantly improve T so it did a great job of keeping my mind off of things. I’m still here, as you can tell 😂

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Still-Pattern-6384 t1_jdzyg19 wrote

Animal Crossing cured my depression and I'm not even being ironic.

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someanimeguy1234 t1_jdzzczw wrote

Persona 5 got me through the month immediately following my divorce.

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Duggees_Alright t1_je0dm3g wrote

Red Dead Redemption 2. I’ve always dealt with some pretty persistent demons, struggled to know myself for who I really am. This has led to some pretty self-destructive behaviours.

Before I became a father for the first time, I picked up red dead redemption 2 for the second time, I didn’t appreciate it the first time around.

Seeing Arthur Morgan find his place in the world, watching everything he ever knew and loved fall down around and watch him scramble to piece together his own conscience… I could just really relate.

When things happen to Arthur and he begins to atone, he begins to change, despite admitting in THAT scene that, “I guess, I’m afraid”, just broke down years of mental barriers.

It taught me that no matter how broken you may be, no matter what you’ve done, you can still give to those that deserve it. You’re still worth something.

Even now typing this, I can feel cathartic tears welling remembering the journey. I can’t explain to people how much that game changed me for the better without them thinking I’m mad, or silly.

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wedgiedeliverer t1_je0fxh1 wrote

Persona 5 was really useful when I got fired from a job and was super depressed. Really taught me how important it was to keep up with my day to day responsibilities, staying active and connected to people when I really didn't want to.

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breadexpert69 t1_je36z5q wrote

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Released mid pandemic. I was living in a country where the restrictions where strict but the deaths were high. Got terrible depression during that time as im sure many others did too. I would literally just lie down on my bed all day and look at the ceiling.

When Animal Crossing released at least I had something to do every morning I woke up. And started playing it with friends.

I dont play it anymore, and I dont think its some sort of top tier game. But I cant deny it helped me when I needed it.

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farendsofcontrast t1_je8qftk wrote

Video games and the gym helped me get through some rough patches. To my surprise it was Pokemon games.

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