3 Video Games That Will Make You Feel Things (Vol. I)
Hello, Gather & Grow community!
Here’s a small list of video games with emotional/mental health-related elements that I still think about, even years after playing. My good ol’ Steam library is full of games just like these, so stay-tuned for more!
Note about content warnings: For each game, I’ve provided a link to its page on doesthedogdie.com where you can find an extensive list of content warnings. These games feature pretty heavy topics so please be careful if you’re interested in playing.
Life Is Strange (2015)
I first played Life is Strange about eight years ago, and I still haven’t quite recovered. And judging from its continuously passionate fanbase I am not the only one still impacted by the game’s nuanced characters, unique premise, emotional storylines, and heart-wrenching endings. Speaking of endings, the ones presented by LiS left shockwaves throughout its fandom and may have sparked one of many existential crises on my part.
You play as Max Caulfield, a teenage girl who has recently returned to her hometown (a gorgeous but conflicted seaside community located in the Pacific Northwest) to attend a prestigious private high school. Max is a passionate and talented photographer but struggles with confidence issues and imposter syndrome exacerbated by her new school’s bullying problem. However, things begin to change when Max impulsively prevents a horrible crime, discovers a new superpower, and reunites with her rebellious childhood best friend all on the same day. From there, Max (and the player) finds herself embroiled in a town mystery while navigating complicated relationships and difficult choices.
Mental health-related themes: grief/loss, forgiveness, sacrifice, self-esteem, depression, sexual assault recovery, and sexual/romantic identity exploration.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AURVxvIZrmU&ab_channel=GameSpot
Platforms: PC, Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Mobile
Content Warnings: https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/15161
Oxenfree (2016)
Oxenfree features stunning artwork and a spooky atmosphere that will appeal to visual novel fans and horror enthusiasts alike. In addition to minimalist but effective spookiness, Oxenfree is also an emotional coming-of-age story about letting go and moving on. There is one particular scene that brought me to tears and I find that this game continues to inspire my own self-reflection.
The game’s playable character is Alex, a teenage girl traveling with a group of friends (and her new stepbrother) to an ominous island steeped in supernatural urban legend. After arriving on the island, Alex and her friends unwittingly unleash a powerful force during a paranormal investigation and find that they must solve the island’s mystery in order to save themselves and reality itself. While doing her best to survive and make it off the island, Alex must also contend with the trauma of guilt and loss resulting from her older brother’s recent death and magnified by her rocky relationship with her new stepbrother. To top it all off, Alex is also in the midst of deciding what she wants to do with the rest of her life.
Mental health-related themes: grief/loss, life transitions, guilt, sacrifice, forgiveness, and family blending
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAhrOoNR4ng&ab_channel=NightSchoolStudio
Platforms: PC, Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Mobile
Content Warnings: https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/18349
What Remains of Edith Finch (2017)
How do I begin to describe What Remains of Edith Finch, a game so innovative and beautifully made that it’s hard to put into words how impactful it can be on its players. I love this game. I’m a sucker for immersive narrative-driven walking simulators when I feel like I need some space from the real world, and WRoEF delivers. The main objective of this game is to explore, feel, and lose yourself in the game’s magic.
What Remains of Edith Finch follows seventeen year old Edith as she documents her family’s tragic history while exploring the abandoned Finch family home. As Edith (and the player) moves through the house, she discovers that each room or area of the house is a memorial to a family member that has met an early, tragic end. While exploring these areas of the house, the player is pulled into a surreal depiction of a family member’s death featuring stunning visuals and a striking sense of playfulness. Essentially, WRoEF is a collection of stories, each one revealing the unique eccentricities of the Finch family. As a narrative therapist obsessed with stories, this game feeds my soul.
Mental health-related themes: death, grief/loss of parents and children, family trauma, generational trauma, and isolation
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_y3cLSClBM&ab_channel=GameSpotTrailers
Platforms: PC, Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Content Warnings: https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/15941
