On the occasion of Mental Health Day, we asked you what you play when you are not in balance with yourself. These are your recommendations.
On October 10, it is World Mental Health Day. This day is meant to place increased emphasis on mental health. Last week we asked you which games you play when you are not feeling mentally well and received numerous responses.
If you are suffering from depression or contemplating suicide or know someone who is, nothing is more important than talking about it. If you do not want to confide in people close to you, you can reach out anonymously, 24/7 and free of charge to, among others, the German Telephone Counseling Service at 0800/111 0 111, via chat at the Online Counseling Service, or contact the Help Phone “Mutruf” at 04191/27 4928 0.
From hundreds of recommendations, we have put together a list of games that can help players from our communities. You might discover a tip or two here to strengthen your mental health:
Open-World and Role-Playing Games
Getting lost in worlds and stories is a good way for many of you to stop the endless merry-go-round of thoughts and mentally catch your breath.
The following games have been recommended by you:
To The Moon
Genre: Role-Playing Game | Developer: Freebird Games | Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS | Release Date: November 1, 2011
What is it about? Two doctors travel back in time to give a dying patient the opportunity to relive and change their life. Even if this all happens only in their head.
Thyrandor summarizes it in a few words on GameStar:
To the Moon. When it gets really gloomy inside me, the game shows me what is important in life.
Skyrim
Genre: Role-Playing Game | Developer: Bethesda | Platform: PC, PlayStation 3, 4, 5 | Xbox 360, One, Series X/S, Nintendo Switch | Release Date: November 11, 2011
What is it about? As Dragonborn, you are chosen to kill the World-Eater Alduin and save Skyrim from his wrath. Along the way, you encounter guilds, secret societies, ancient ruins, and plenty of dragons.
The Bethesda role-playing game has been mentioned by many of you. Shemyaza summarizes it quite well on GameStar:
My “feel-good game” is Skyrim, which is why I play it every year at Christmas in December, because it simply creates a pleasantly cozy winter-Christmas atmosphere for me.
Soulslike
Sometimes, even tough video game work can be the perfect mental relaxation. Some of you find mental peace when your brain has to work hard and you bite your teeth into tough bosses.
GamePro user Schödel summarizes it perfectly:
It has been a long time since I felt really bad. But I remember that towards the end of my apprenticeship, I had a really bad heartache. But really intense. I often played games like Dark Souls or Monster Hunter then. Games where I have to be mentally involved.
Dark Souls
Genre: Role-Playing Game | Developer: FromSoftware | Platform: PS3, Xbox 360 | Release Date: September 22, 2011
What is it about? The kingdom of Lordran is haunted by the undead. You awaken as one of the living dead and explore the cruel and unforgiving world to learn more about the curse that hangs over the kingdom.
Of course, no Soulslike recommendations without the genre’s founder. Schrotty told us about it on X (formerly Twitter):
Hollow Knight
Genre: Metroidvania | Developer: Team Cherry | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch | Release Date: February 24, 2017
What is it about? Travel to a ruined kingdom called Hallownest and explore what happened there and why the former inhabitants have fallen into madness.
A colleague Aldred says on GamePro:
The game that I can really always put on is Hollow Knight. The melancholy that drips from almost every pore of the game world, the characters, and the soundtrack feels strangely comforting to me.
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