Everybody has one thing that provides them consolation, for one purpose or one other. Some folks discover it in a selected guide or film, others in a selected place or particular person; it could possibly be something. I think about lots of you’ve got a set of consolation video games, as do I. Why is it that these video games give us this sense of consolation—typically a mix of heat, love, nostalgia, and security—and what else will we acquire from it?
For some, it may simply be that gaming offers a psychological house away from lived actuality, a spot with out the pressures of life and work the place we will simply be elsewhere for some time, someplace carefree. The world has been an more and more hectic and darkish place to be over the past decade or so, and I do know I search solace in gaming commonly.
Maybe the worlds featured within the video games we play for consolation are extra idealistic, and variations of a world we want ours could possibly be. It might be that you just reside in a spot the place you can’t be your self for concern of prejudice, or not being accepted by these closest to you—the worlds in video games will help by offering a short lived escape, maybe one during which society celebrates being your self.
Others might search their consolation in gaming for the alternative purpose—they need an area the place their minds are examined, given challenges to resolve, and to hunt a way of feat. In case your day-to-day leaves your thoughts needing to flex, then gaming can present a sense much like that which others get from going to the fitness center. Personally, this one may be very uncommon for me as my common work makes use of my mind sufficient, so I often flip to video games as an escape, however each causes for comfort-seeking are legitimate.
It doesn’t at all times should be about puzzles within the conventional sense both, as I do know many individuals who play video games like Darkish Souls and discover consolation within the satisfaction of finishing one thing tough.
The third purpose I feel folks go to video games for consolation is to feed their creativeness and be part of experiences that there isn’t a option to reside in our actual lives. After I first acquired a PlayStation, my thoughts was blown broad open to the probabilities of fantasy and sci-fi storytelling, and the facility that gave my creativeness was off the charts.
I could be considerably of a daydreamer and I’m positive different artistic imaginations should additionally acquire a lot from immersing themselves in different worlds, environments, stunning artwork design, intriguing characters, and emotive music. Just like my earlier level about video games permitting folks to flex their puzzle-solving thoughts, right here that flex is with the artistic thoughts, the place the probabilities could possibly be countless.
My fourth and closing purpose we’d search consolation in gaming is to assist us course of points which have an effect on our psychological well being, or to assist us get by unhealthy intervals. More and more, recreation builders are open to exploring psychological well being complexities of their video games. It’s truly not too tough now to discover a recreation that, sooner or later, explores a topic regarding psychological well being that anybody may determine and empathise with. That have of being seen, of getting the idea that you just’re the one particular person feeling the way you’re feeling being challenged, is so essential for making progress when working in your psychological well being—and video games can play a key half in that.
I’d wish to elaborate on a couple of methods during which I’ve sought consolation in video games, what the video games are, and why I flip to them commonly for that emotional protected house or for a psychological reset. I hope these ideas resonate with you and encourage you to consider what video games provide you with consolation, but in addition to think about turning to them in occasions whenever you want for an emotional enhance, reassurance, or a reminder that life could be good.
Turning Again Time
The primary bunch of video games are comforting for me as a result of they take me again to a selected a part of my childhood. These are the PS1-era Ultimate Fantasy titles, particularly VII, VIII, and IX; and the primary two generations of Pokémon—Crimson/Blue and Gold/Silver.
These video games make up a few of the first online game experiences of my life. I acquired a PS1 in my early teenagers and a Recreation Boy Coloration across the similar time. My recollections of taking part in these particular video games are of being comfy in my bed room, immersed of their worlds, and usually dwelling fairly a carefree life. I vividly keep in mind mendacity on my mattress, with the radio on, spending hours staring on the tiny display taking part in Pokémon, to the purpose the place even now, if I hear a few of the songs that had been on the radio again then, I affiliate them with taking part in Pokémon.
Ultimate Fantasy VII, VIII, and IX just about turned an obsession. I used to be so impressed by the worlds, characters, and tales in these video games; they captivated me and fuelled a lot of my creativity and creativeness again then—I’d by no means skilled something like them earlier than. That childlike surprise remains to be one thing I really feel, although to a lesser diploma, once I play them now.
Consolation video games you performed when in your adolescence are about extra than simply nostalgia, although that does play its half. They’re additionally about reminding your self of a time when life was simpler, grownup tasks weren’t a factor, the world appeared like a calmer and extra secure place to reside in, and also you had been being taken care of. Taking part in these video games as an grownup, with many tasks, becoming them in round your job and dwelling in a world a lot much less secure and protected is type of like a heat hug. It actually makes me really feel good.
Connection to these Closest
This second set of consolation video games comes connected to emotions not not like the primary, however moderately than specializing in a selected place and time, are linked to folks. Alongside my solo-game adventures when rising up, I’ve recollections of the enjoyable I had taking part in video games co-operatively with associates or members of my household. With these video games, as an alternative of being reminded of a extra carefree time of my life, I’m reminded of the love and laughter I had with these round me, and this generally is a balm whenever you’re feeling low or lonely.
Earlier than I had a PS1, we had a small choice of video games on our family PC, two of which had been Tomb Raider 2 and 3. Forewarning: a few of the video games on this part are usually not RPGs! I keep in mind it was me who was the proponent in us getting these two Tomb Raider video games—Lara Croft was like a worldwide famous person again then, and I used to be totally on board. I’d picked up a walkthrough information journal for Tomb Raider 3 from an area store, and we printed a information from the web for Tomb Raider 2.
My Mum and I then sat on the PC collectively and regularly labored our means by each video games, taking it in turns to change between being the participant and the guider. My Mum was finest at killing stuff, and I took the lead with difficult jumps and platforming. We made an ideal workforce and joined forces once more within the mid 2000’s to finish Silent Hill 2 and 3, each of which nonetheless deliver again fond recollections, regardless of being such disturbing video games.
Outdoors of this connection to gaming I’ve with my Mum, I additionally spent hours upon hours taking part in numerous Dynasty Warriors video games with my youthful sister, principally yelling at her as a result of she wasn’t taking note of the map and machinations of the battle. I loved Legend of Mana and Puchi Carat co-op with a few associates I’m nonetheless very lucky to have in my life right now, and TimeSplitters 2 with an previous group of faculty associates—this one specifically introduced us many hilarious hours in one another’s firm.
I typically hear that within the trendy world we’re dealing with a loneliness epidemic. Folks spend far an excessive amount of time working, typically for a wage that hardly lets them reside exterior of labor, not to mention socialise with different folks. Consolation video games that may take you again to occasions spent stuffed with pleasure, with family members round you; laughing, combating, puzzle fixing, and questing can alleviate this sense. While this may not be the reply to the large downside with right now’s society, it actually helps a bit of.
Processing Grief
Shifting on to some heavier matters now, and likewise ones which were extra lately current in my life. Grief is totally different for everybody; folks expertise and course of it in some ways, some more healthy than others! For me, grief is one thing I’ve solely needed to begin coping with over the past 5 years, however throughout this time have misplaced a handful of individuals in fairly shut succession—my adopted Dad being the newest, simply over a yr in the past.
After I was a youngster, I noticed a replica of Suikoden II in a recreation store and was immediately drawn in by the fantastically illustrated cowl artwork. I knew barely something concerning the recreation or its popularity (did it even have one at that time?), however I wished to play it so badly. That Christmas, my Dad purchased a replica of it for me. I used to be elated, but had no concept of the unbelievable journey I used to be about to embark on taking part in by the story for the primary time.
Suikoden II stays one among my all-time favorite tales in video video games, and on the time my thoughts was blown again and again by the plot twists, political manoeuvring, and extra mature story than I’d beforehand been accustomed to. I didn’t truly play Suikoden II with my Dad in any respect, however as a result of he gifted it to me and I had such a good time with it, I at all times held that small affiliation.
Quick ahead to my 30s, the HD Remaster of Suikoden I & II is introduced, and regardless of it seeming for some time that it might have been quietly cancelled, it lastly launched early in 2025, simply a few months after my Dad died. His dying was sudden. There have been no indicators that it was coming and it got here after a interval of him being estranged from a lot of the household, for causes I received’t go into. However regardless of that, I considered him typically, and listening to about his dying from my Mum was a shock that caused many ideas, what-ifs, and doubts that I battled with for a while.
As I performed by the HD remaster of Suikoden II, my Dad was very current on my thoughts. I typically thought again to once I performed it for the primary time and my preliminary experiences with the sport. As I drew near finishing it, I locked within the truth I’d be getting the True Ending this time spherical, one thing I didn’t obtain final time (rattling squirrels).
It additionally serendipitously occurred that I noticed this ending on the day that, on the different finish of the nation, my aunt and cousins had been scattering my Dad’s ashes on the prime of a cliff, in one among his favorite strolling spots, sending him again to nature. Earlier than pushing forward to that closing boss struggle, I turned off my PS5, went right down to the seaside, and spent quiet time remembering him, feeling like going house and ending the True Ending of Suikoden II was in his reminiscence.
Demise is such a tough factor to course of at the perfect of occasions, and much more so when it comes with circumstances that add complexities to the connection you had with the particular person. Folks deal with grief in ways in which work finest for them, for higher or worse, however typically it’s one thing we reside with to some extent for our complete lives. I really feel comfortable that I’ve been in a position to create a hyperlink between my Dad and a recreation I like a lot, understanding that at any time when I play Suikoden II sooner or later, I’ll really feel like he’s just a bit bit nearer to me.
Psychological Well being & Self-Discovery
Alongside grief, video video games discover different psychological well being points way more generally now than 20-30 years in the past, notably with the onset and recognition of indie video games. Additionally tackled are the causes of poor psychological well being, with video games exploring matters like sexuality, racism, prejudice, and acceptance. I’m no stranger to psychological well being challenges, having skilled bouts of hysteria all through my life and melancholy over the previous couple of years. Alongside that, rising up in a world the place LGBTQ+ folks had been hardly ever seen in common media, particularly video video games, and by no means in a optimistic gentle, means self-acceptance could be tough. Not seeing your self represented out on the planet makes you query your self and your validity.
I like that video video games are getting braver with exploring these sorts of matters. Not at all times tremendous successfully or precisely, however a minimum of the intention is there and the change is a optimistic one. Seeing your self mirrored in tradition is so important, whether or not you’re figuring out with a homosexual character and the troubles they’re going by which may mirror your personal; seeing how a personality in a online game is dealing with loss, reminding you that you just’re not alone in that have; or watching as somebody navigate melancholy, seeing how it’s addressed, what assist they’ve and questioning if comparable strategies would possibly aid you.
I’ve performed many video games through the years which have contained components of the above, even in methods so simple as having same-sex romance choices and, extra lately, explicitly non-binary characters. Persona, Hellblade, Gris, Life is Unusual, Disco Elysium, and Firewatch are only a few examples of video games or sequence that prominently grapple with psychological health-related themes and will give consolation, assist, or moments of reflection to these affected. There’s an entire vary of video games now that you could flip to for optimistic illustration, together with for LGBTQ+ and POC people. Guaranteeing topics like these are talked about overtly and never hidden away is so essential for serving to us be extra authentically ourselves and to not solely reside, however to thrive.
Escaping Trendy Life with….Trendy Life?
I wished to finish this function with a extra trendy, lighthearted recreation. Not all consolation video games that remind you of a selected time and place should be centered on childhood. Usher in Persona 5! The most recent entry within the Persona sequence was the primary one I’d truly performed, imagine it or not.
Don’t ask me how somebody who has been an enormous RPG fan their complete life managed to skip Persona 1-4, however I did. P5 additionally launched at a time once I made a giant step in my grownup life—transferring in with a associate for the primary time. We moved into our place in the beginning of spring and Persona 5 launched within the UK that April.
I’ve such fond recollections of that point interval—settling in to our new house, the climate altering from chilly to heat, exploring the brand new a part of city we had been dwelling in, and spending plenty of time taking part in Persona 5. I used to be additionally basking within the feeling of satisfaction whenever you really feel your life taking a optimistic step ahead. In some methods, P5 is the proper match for the state of affairs I used to be in, often mirroring my precise life—you’re in a brand new surroundings, how do you spend your time? Do you see a pal? Do you exit for meals? Do you hang around at house and examine, or do you go to work?
It’s all about participating with the locations round you and revelling in a few of the trivia of each day life, but in addition taking consolation from that and the simplicity it provides. While you’re not diving into large dungeons anyway! I additionally developed such a love for this solid that by the top of the sport I felt a part of the group and that I’d been on this wild experience with them.
Generally we have to escape trendy life as a result of it’s tough and our minds want house to breathe and be elsewhere for some time. Different occasions, trendy life could be stuffed with pleasure, discovering happiness in smaller issues but in addition feeling linked to a much bigger world and neighborhood. Possibly we want reminding of this often? Or perhaps, when life is already good, we simply need extra of it, and that’s what I get from Persona 5. Saving the world when you’re at it’s simply an added bonus.
