Games, Mental Health and The Digital Realms We Escape To

First and foremost, I want to say that this piece talks about mental health, particularly the likes of depression and anxiety, in-depth. Albeit much of it attempts to talk about these topics in a positive light alongside gaming, but please take caution if you feel these topics may upset you - this is not how this piece is intended. 

Some times you just have to escape into art.

Content warning out of the way, I want to bring to light (further than it already has been), how video games and our mental health are entwined in many ways and even go hand in hand. For myself, and many other friends, our passion for video games has been there since our childhood. For a portion of us, our passion for video games continues to thrive because of how it can often be quite the necessary escape for when our mental health takes a dip.  For multiple reasons, the digital realm provides us with an escape from some of the very real anguish we regularly face. I can’t speak for everyone, and for some of us game journalists, getting away from games may be the best thing for us when our mental health begins to suffer. However, for a lot of people - whether our career is within or outside of the games industry - games and their worlds offer us a refuge from the likes of depression, anxiety, and other turmoil. 

Below, I actually recommend some games (or genres of games) for different mental blockages we face. But first, I want to speak about how important these worlds are. Some people are granted their escape from their racing thoughts by movies and literature, or by more physical real-life activities like going for walks and seeing friends and family. Yet, for myself and others, fictional worlds provided to us by games are what acts as the perfect escape when real-life troubles and turmoil all become a little too much to face or think about. 

Let’s take a holiday together, even if we can’t go outside right now.

Speaking from my own personal experience, I’ve been lifted from some of my darkest depths by experiences within video games. Not to mention some of the amazing friends I’ve made in these games that have also lifted me up during hard times. Up until I began facing my issues with severe anxiety head-on, it was spending hours in Animal Crossing or The Sims that often helped me to forget my real-life pain for a while. While obviously, these games are no replacement for therapy, they were what I needed. They provided comforting and cosy simulators of other lives, helped slow down my racing thoughts and to think about taking care of someone else, somewhere else for a little while. 

Eeeeeh, maybe let’s hang out some other time Jack.

It is worth remembering when you are looking for a distraction that your favourite game may not be the best game for you to play at that time. While I’m a horror fan through and through, these were games I learned to avoid when at my worst. On the brink of a panic attack, the last thing I needed was a chainsaw fight in Resident Evil 7, and I think that’s rather understandable. 

At one of the lowest points in my life, which funnily enough, wasn’t that long ago, I replayed The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim again. As with most RPG’s, I took a different route to that of previous playthroughs and sank over 40 hours (in the span of two weeks) into becoming a master of magic. It was only when I put Skyrim down again that it finally dawned upon me exactly how much video games meant to me. I don’t want to say that Skyrim “saved my life” or anything because it didn’t; therapy and facing my problems head-on with the right support is what helped me. But, when my anxiety was at its worst, Skyrim provided me with an escape and ultimately, it comforted me. It reminded me of a more peaceful time in my life when things were less messy and it gave me somewhere else to be rather than my own head.

Having recently broken into the games industry, I have had much more of a chance to discuss this idea with many other passionate gamers. During this time, I realised that I am not alone in finding solace in my console or PC - especially when the pandemic had been rampant across the UK. Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Disco Elysium, Death Stranding, and Pokémon GO - just to name a handful - are all games that I have spoken to my friends about and read my peers writing on. All providing them with some sort of effective escape from whatever has been troubling them too. It saddens me to obviously hear that any of these amazing people have suffered, but suffering is often unavoidable. On the other hand, it also brings me great elation to see the various video games spanning across so many genres that have helped me and others to truly escape from reality for a while, and even put our own issues into perspective sometimes too.

Again, video games are not a replacement for real-world support, but they do provide a much-needed distraction sometimes.

Games really aren’t a replacement for therapy.

With that being said, I wanted this particular piece of writing to be more than just establishing how games are an effective medium of self-care sometimes. I wanted to also reach out to those of you reading this and to recommend a few different styles and genres of games for when real-life becomes too much. I wanted this piece to be a reminder that as much as society may tell you that all screen time is inherently bad, video games are often immersive artworks and the levels of escapism that they can offer to those of us is immeasurable, and you should never feel guilty for that. 

Low Effort Games

Sometimes, we want to escape into a game but we truly are drained mentally, and this is where I recommend games that require a lower investment of your time or effort.

Editor’s note: replaying SMG before Christmas last year when I had a mental health dip was just really nice.

I’ve personally found that the best games for this tend to be the likes of Mario ones. Competing in a couple of races on Mario Kart or trying to complete a few missed levels on Super Mario 64 or Super Mario Galaxy always acts as a short, low-effort treat. If Mario isn’t your thing, games made up of distinct separate levels and puzzles tend to be best for this purpose. For example, Ratchet and Clank, Overcooked, and the Sonic series.

Alongside this, why not consider picking up a new game from an independent developer? You can find something that’s short and appeals to your personal interests in a game, and maybe the magic of playing something new will capture you for a while!

High Effort Games

On the other hand, sometimes we need a more immersive and demanding distraction from whatever it is we may be facing, and this is where I recommend games that demand more time or effort from the player. These games tend to be a real grind, but you can dip in and out of them as you please.

I literally cannot think about anything else just looking at this.

My personal favourite to perhaps pick up when I need something that demands all of my attention is probably the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV. However, I respect that this game isn’t to everyone’s taste! With that being said, I also recommend games such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons; this one can be deemed low-effort too, depending on if you’re choosing to terraform a grand new city or just pick some weeds. Other recommendations include, but aren’t limited to, are Stardew Valley, Genshin Impact, Monster Hunter World, Zelda: Breath of the Wild and more.

Revisiting and Replaying Games

When everything is too much, picking up a new game can be even more daunting, it is just another thing to add to your evermore strained juggling act. This is where I would recommend returning to an old game instead. It can be replaying through an older RPG that you’re familiar with; just as I did with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Or it can be revisiting an old save on a game and picking up from where you left off.

How many times have we done this dance, Mr. Chomp?

Sometimes, I return to my old save of Super Mario 64 and just go around collecting the handful of stars I missed when I was younger. However, if you are reading this there’s likely something in your Steam library or console catalogue that you are yet to complete, so why not go back and try again - start from scratch and see if it holds you better this time? Or even if the game is completed, why not try and pick up achievements you missed, or go ahead and actively find some Easter Eggs you may have never noticed during the previous playtime? This type of game is personal to you, so I won’t drop any recommendations here besides the fact that I personally love to revisit Borderlands 2 a lot when I’m not replaying Super Mario 64 or Skyrim.

Sometimes You Just Need A Break

If games are your thing, as they are mine, it can sometimes be hard to recognise - or accept - that you may actually just need a break from virtual worlds entirely, as well as the real world. 

Friends are neat!

Games are a great way to escape, but it is okay to admit to yourself that they won’t always be the best escape for you. Games are an inherently intense medium, which demands some degree of focus and sometimes we just can’t give them that, and that is perfectly alright. Having time away from games is important too, and it is entirely okay. Remember that one form of escapism may not always be the best form of escapism for you, and you shouldn’t feel further downtrodden if you’re unable to pick up your controller or sit by your PC and game. It’s also important to remember that video games aren’t an effective replacement for the likes of therapy, medication and facing your problems directly.

Ultimately, this piece is a reminder. We need to be kinder to ourselves and remember to look after ourselves more when we experience these dips in mental health. These moments are not permanent and everlasting. Whatever your situation or trouble, remind yourself - or even ask a friend to remind you - that it will be okay. Practice self-care outside, and if gaming is part of that, then that is awesome and if not, don’t worry, do anything else or maybe just do nothing for a bit!

Remember to eat your three meals a day, drink plenty of water and rest. Go cuddle that plush you own... no matter how young or old you are. Go rewatch that TV show for the 18th time or even just sit in the shower and have a good cry. Whatever you need to do that makes you feel remotely more human again, do that. Looking after yourself is important, and even if you feel you may be alone, reaching out to those around you is important too. And if you aren’t ready to reach out to a friend right now, then maybe just latch onto another world. I love video games for offering me the reminder that I’m not alone and reminding me to not be a slave to my anxiety, but honestly, we often really do just need to speak to those around us too and work out why we are feeling the way we are.

So, when video games aren’t doing it for you, don’t hesitate to simply rest or to ring that friend or family member you know will put a smile on your face. Finally, please always remember that you are not alone in your anguish. If games don’t provide you with that escape when you need it, I promise that taking the time to reset and look after yourself to the best of your ability will bring you that relief soon.