3 Video Games That Can Be Therapeutic
Images belong to Nomada Studios and Devolver Digital
Which of us hasn’t raced along the various tracks of Mario Kart as kids or held a sword to a fantastical creature as Link in The Legend of Zelda? Some of us may have left video games behind along with the memories of our childhood, while others still return to their consoles on a regular basis, allowing themselves to experience new worlds, new characters and new stories.
And amidst those stories there come ones so powerful, they change your life in some profound way.
Below I will share a few of the games that did that for me. Whether you are a fellow video gamer like me, or just someone considering getting back to holding a joystick, these are sure to provide an experience that is not just memorable but therapeutic too.
1. Gris
Images belong to Nomada Studios and Devolver Digital
Gris is a game about grief.
You start as a character who loses their voice and find themselves in a land devoid of color. Barely able to walk at the beginning, overcome with grief, step by step and level by level, you see the character begin to move forward through the stages of grief.
As you do that, one by one, colors are restored to the world. And what used to be a monochromatic environment starts sparkling with vibrant hues once again. You learn new skills that are also powerful metaphors, while returning to the same structure you start at - a nod to the grieving process that gets better but never truly leaves you.
Gris is a stunning game with an even more stunning soundtrack. It’s a quick play through - 3-4 hours total - and by the end you will be a little different than when you started.
I highly recommend this for folks who are going through deep sadness, grief and loss. This game can visually depict some of the things that are so hard to communicate when we are in places of despair.
2. Spiritfarer
Images belong to Thunder Lotus Games
In Spiritfarer you are the guide that helps spirits come to terms with their lives and move onto the next stage. You pilot a boat that travels across otherworldly seas, where you stumble upon islands that are homes to spirits that you are meant to meet.
Spiritfarer is a wonderful game that combines aspects of adventuring, tending to crops and building new structures, all while getting to know a cast of unique characters each with their own story.
The therapeutic process in this game and its core message is learning how to say goodbye.
This game would be a lovely way to tap into feelings of loss, grief and sadness while combining it with the powerful force that are present alongside them - friendship, care, community and love.
3. Ori and the Blind Forest
Images belong to Moon Studios
Ori and the Blind Forest is a game about love, family and hope.
It follows the main hero - an orphan creature named Ori - as they journey through a beautiful, magic-filled forest that is experiencing death and decay. To find the cure for the forest and its inhabitants, Ori will go through trials and challenges, finding courage and friendship along the way.
With exquisite artwork and a soundtrack that will make you cry, following Ori’s story is an experience you are unlikely to forget. Many of us will find ourselves not only in the character itself but also in the challenges they go through to find what is truly meaningful for them. It’s also a beautiful narrative of how the most powerful evil can frequently be pain and despair disguised.
Ori would be a great game for those looking to spend a more solid chunk of time playing and getting immersed in the experience. I would recommend this for folks who are looking to sit with feelings associated with family and what that may mean for them.
Give these games a try when you have a chance. You can turn it into even more of a therapeutic experience by processing what feelings, thoughts and emotions came up for you as a result of playing the game.
You can journal, meditate, paint, draw, color, sculpt something from PlayDoh or find another way to channel the experience and what meaning you are making out of it.