Dark Souls have been my refuge. Being diagnosed with mild tourettes and being really introverted and lonely I found real and tangible solace in my experience with that game. The deep concentration and just.. patience required to beat bosses ironically reduced my stress overal and thus reduced my tics.. It also, somewhat ironically, made me feel less alone. the anonymous/random angle of the multiplayer made me less anxious and the eerie and lonely nature of Lordran really afforded me time to reflect on my life.. And.. yeah.. Even if English was my native tongue, no words can express how much of an impact that game has had on me emotionally.
I noticed that most of those (I've encountered) who apologize for their "bad English" or English not being their native language tend to be very good at it.
+TheIzay There is actually a pro Smite (MOBA) player who has Tourette's (I don't know how strong is his though). He streams basically every day and even plays on competitive level. Check out for his channel, his name is Incon.
My teenage years were very rough. It was a time when my depression, OCD and social anxiety started to worsen, and what made my struggle even more difficult was my unawareness of my condition and my ignorance of what anxiety and depression really are. I was bullied a lot in school, and I found it hard to concentrate on my studies and socialize with others (including my own friends). I dismissed what I was experiencing as just shyness and stress. My "sadgames" were Sonic The Hedgehog. Sonic games were more than just a distraction or escape. They also represented freedom and peace, which made playing these games feel euphoric for me. It's as if I was subconsciously longing for freedom, but I wasn't aware of what exactly I wanted to be free from. In a way, playing Sonic games helped me realize there's something wrong with me. It wasn't until college when I finally learned what depression, OCD and social anxiety are, and mustered enough courage to tell my parents about them and seek help. Up to now, I still wish I'm as calm, cool-headed, gleeful, and fast as Sonic, as I'm still struggling to fight my mental illness and keep up with others and life in general. I'm turning 25 this year, I haven't got a full-time job yet, and I'm still very dependent on my parents. This has been a great series so far. I've watched all episodes, and I'm looking forward to see more.
I've just been diagnosed with depression, this series could really do me well. Problem I'm having at the moment though is getting the motivation to even play a game.
+MrScottyTay Force yourself. Only way, really. One babystep at a time. Play something different. I recommend LONG games. Invest, like truly invest in a series of games and dig into everything. Lore, story, master mechanics. Helps for me, at any rate. It gives me a sense of wanderlust, which in turn gives me hope for the future because.. hey.. I AM!! excited about SOMETHING.
+MrScottyTay Try playing something you are really familiar with, play something that you can just zone out and focus on without too much effort. Something nice and safe.
+MrScottyTay You could try a completely new type of game. For example, I've never been a fan of hard-as-balls shooters until PAYDAY 2 released, and now I'm hooked.
I know how you feel, and right now all I can tell you is: You need to feel alive. When I'm feeling like you, my refuge are the true horror games. Give Layers of Fear or Outlast a try. Hope it's help you as it's helped me.
One thing that always intrigues me is how replaying old games can trigger memories in you. Memories, or sometimes emotions. Phases in life. Songs that were popular when you played the game. When I play see/play Warcraft 2 again, I can picture myself sitting in the living room, being 12 years old, with my little brother looking over my shoulder waiting for his turn. I can almost feel how I felt back then. It's a strange sensation of both positive and negative nostalgia. So that would be my idea for a video. :) Good luck, I enjoyed this one, although it was a bit short!
Wow. How did it take me so long to find this? This is the exact epiphany I'm coming to now in my mental health journey (anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts). Such a good video - it deserves many more likes and views.
An amazing video to a subject that is still not talked and discussed enough about. I have personally suffered from depression most of my life at 26 years old i have had spells of depression that cripple me, a feeling of overwhelming hopelessness and pointlessness in day to day activity followed by bouts of anger and sadness that no matter what, never seem to subside. It was only 3 weeks ago I lost my mother to liver failure ... i being the person I am chose to work threw it bottle it up and carry on. I am a successful plumber for a small local company. I enjoy my job and love the work i do and yet today I am at home because I finally broke down at work today and now at 4pm i am here watching this after laying on the sofa for 6 hours crippled by depression yet again till in my work clothes. Watching this video has made me smile a bit and while I want to shut the world off it is good to see something like this posted and to read others stories of their time with depression and mental health knowing you are not alone. People may joke and jest at this comment .. this is the nature of the internet but really I feel for those who suffer like me and can understand how hard it can be simply to perform the daily tasks under mental health. After watching this I feel a bit better and i think I will go and play some video games if only to relax for a while and forget how bad things could be. Thank you Johnny. Thank you so much for this series.
Just now discovered this series by making a few turns around the Oxtra channels and already I love it! You better believe I will be binge-watching all of it later, when I have more time, but for this video alone: thank you for the amazing insight! I had never realized I did this, either, but I think I do. Spyro 2 and Journey are probably my most common sadgames, because I find them comforting. Spyro 2 was my first video game experience, so it's nostalgic, while Journey always gives me a sense of hope. This is a fascinating little revelation and I'm looking forward to watching the rest of the series^^
My escapism was the Uncharted series. I was introduced to it when I was 12. I was having a hard time in school with dyslexia and subtle bullying. That game was my saviour and I’ll never ever forget it. It’s influenced me so much I might end up having a cool new career out of it. Every time I was in class I’d be staring out to sea daydreaming about my future and what it might hold. These are not just games…….these…..are masterpieces ❤️☺️
I've been going through frequent bouts of uncontrolled depression during my highschool life [and still slightly do], but even though I felt like I was in this low point of no return I kept on keeping on for probably the dumbest reason, Fallout. Not saying Fallout is a dumb reason to keep on keeping on , but I just kept on thinking of how my next adventure in the wasteland would be and how much fun i could have with character customization in the sense of action. I really felt the freedom the wasteland gave you and thats what kinda gave me my reason to get up everyday, the idea that you aren't placed into this set mold and told to do only this, but you're also allowed to to whatever it is you want to do as long as you put the time and effort. thanks euro gamer and this was a awesome vid.
I am really happy this exists. Please keep doing more of them. This could so easily be the subject of an interesting PHD that could help lots of people.
It's Fallout 4 for me. If I'm struggling with stress, anxiety or feeling low is just a game that allows me to escape into a different world and be a different person. In that world I'm important and powerful but it's also very peaceful and can be funny as well. I'm in the last bit of DLC now but I'm in no hurry to finish it. Maybe I'm intentionally avoiding finishing it because I need to know it's always there when I need it
Amen to this. I only realised how far my gaming hours had increased and that I was using them as a distraction from my thoughts once I'd started a talking therapy session. Can't say I can think of a particular Sadgame but I certainly avoid loud, busy and highly skilled games if I'm stressed or tired, but I'll insist on playing something anyway. Never thought of that as an indicator/warning of stress though, good advice!
for a long while for me, portal was my sadgame. the puzzles helped me calm down when i was manic and helped me laugh and realize things were temporary and fixable when i was depressed. nowadays i'm gravitating more towards overwatch and breath of the wild but this video made me realize i actually /had/ a sadgame. tysm, johnny!
This reminds me of that escape from mount stupid Danny did back at GameSpot, that episode and your first show at Eurogamer on depression has really helped me understand what my recently diagnosed brother with depression has been going through. He claims that it for prep for Fallout 4 but he's now made 5 characters in New Vegas and 3 in Skyrim each one vastly different and role playing them, his NV melee character sided with Caesar, his brawler Orc doesn't join any groups like the thieves or brother hood and stays out of the main conflict. He'll play it for 8+hrs a day one day and the next he'll be chatty and spend most of the day out with his friends or girlfriend. I can't get inside his head but compared to this time last year he's a hundred times better since he went back to play these games. Not to suggest that the games are 'making him better', even he'll admit that the meds are the main thing and learning to talk to someone about it ,even if it is my dad, have been the real keys.
Funny as it may sound, the GTA series has always been a source of escapism and relaxation for me. Ever since GTA II I've been addicted to doing the taxi driving side-missions and when I'm looking to "sadgame" they're usually my first port of call. GTA V is the best in the series yet, IMO. Both as a whole and for a source of low effort escapism. It's an absolute joy just driving aimlessly around the map, but the taxi driving gives me a small sense of purpose (if I'm early on in the story then I'm earning money towards car upgrades usually) yet it's slow paced enough that I can run on "auto-pilot mode" just listening to the soundtrack while I relax and try to process and overcome whatever's troubling me. Golfing and tennis in GTA V function much in the same way for me. Ironically enough in a huge, crime infested sandbox I'm far more interested in working a legal job and playing recreational sports.
I've suffered from long term anxiety and panic attacks, and the only games that help me alleviate my panic attacks are fighting games. Street Fighter, Killer Instinct et al, stop my mind from focusing on the panic, thus disrupting the vicious cycle of thinking too much and perpetuating the cycle. For example - in the middle of a panic attack I develop a symptom, i.e. difficulty in breathing. As a consequence I start worrying about that so it creates more anxiety. That, in turn, exacerbates my condition and causes more symptoms et cetera. Fighting games don't give me time to think about anxiety. I have to constantly adapt to my opponent and perform some move or other. Fighting games really help me during a panic attack. They're my anodyne.
Thanks for this video, please continue with these. Shenmue on the dreamcast is my sadgame, there is something about just walking around a small town, talking to people that know me. People going about their daily lives, going to lunch, work and home.. It's a sad and lonely game really, but for some reason it makes me feel better.
Kind of glad I've found this series. Makes a lot of sense as I've done exactly this type of thing for years but never realised. From harvest moon on the gamecube to final fantasy and the arkham games, I've done this since before I was diagnosed
Thanks for this original series, I'd expect nothing less from your efforts! It's a substantial way of examining the psychology of games, and could actually be of benefit to both researchers and those suffering from mental health issues.
I usually love narrative games with long and quality story, but when Im down I just cant play them, I cant enjoy them. Thats why my Sadgames are usually the GTA series. When I feel anxious I just drive around and when Im stressed or angry I kill/explode everything. Im afraid I have been playing only GTA V lately :(
For me, it's EarthBound. For one, it very much has the same sense of a lighthearted personal adventure featuring a main character you could project yourself on that drew me to Pokemon as a child. The game does have infamous darker elements to it, but ending and Fourside aside, they're mostly filtered through a lens of kitschy americana and corny but effective humor. For example, you may take down a cult in the process of rescuing your to-be-teammate from danger, but that part of the game is filled with just as much humor as the rest of it. I guess it almost feels like I'm dealing with the darker elements of life in a safe, friendly manner. Most of the NPCs in the game tend to deal with struggles of all intensities the same way I do - by brushing them off through a sense of humor that's sometimes too self aware. The game, despite being linear in nature, actively encourages players to explore its world through finding and talking to these NPCs in all sorts of contexts. It's really validating, and you never feel too alone. Of course, as you literally descend into Deep Darkness, the game does eventually hike up the drama at the very end. The point of Ness's jouney becomes apparent, and in the end the heroes literally have to undergo surgery to put their souls into robots so that they can go very far back in time and defeat a powerful alien, who turns out to be a mess of his former self and blatantly at the mercy of your childhood friend. He's ascended from the neighborhood bully into an all out villain, and he only gets worse in the 3rd game in the series. You could definitely describe it as my "sadgame".
Wonderful video from Chiodini. Thank you for putting this series together for those who can't articulate why video games are important to them. I'm looking forward to the rest of Low Batteries.
being in the NHS mental health services for three years now video games are a refuge though as you say often serve as an excuse or a way to avoid facing up to our problems. I've noticed this about myself but I recognise that video games are still an important part if my life and though I may try to move away from them in coming months I'll never completely rid them from my life. I'm also studying to become a psychiatric nurse and this video makes me wonder if an in depth study of video games/other media's impact on mental health on a therapeutic level should have an in depth study. Oh and sad game? anything with tons of side stuff to do. Collectables etc, theres a reason I've 100%d so many Assassins Creeds XD I find anything "mindless" enough to take my mind if things but not demand too much focus is perfect for when I'm down. Thanks for the great video.
Good series idea is good, looking forward to more. Also hoping EuroGamer will have more series like this- analytical discussions about games, game design and their social impact.
My "Sad Games" are really just sandboxes that gets me focussed on something other than emotions (unless that emotion is joy and bubbly-ness). I like Minecraft and Roblox. PUBG. Anything Mario. Most of these take me back to when I was younger, during a happier time, I guess. Although Minecraft and Roblox feel a bit more empty now since I've been playing them for years, I do enjoy them if I have new, exciting goal like making an adventure map or trying a new game. PUBG takes an immense amount of focus and playing randoms is a real fun way to get some interaction going (I can't feel empty when I'm serious, but calm, and talking with others). Mario is just enjoyable, interactive, and easy. It's a good, and fun way to do stuff (as long as I haven't played through the entire game yet (unless I REALLY loved it like Super Mario Galaxy))
I have gaming addiction and the failure to preform the way I feel I “should” in games makes me incredibly angry, depressed and suicidal. It makes me feel useless and is very hard to pull myself out of.
It took me awhile to realise I was a escapist. I had a lot of friends, liked to travel and I went outside for like 2/3 of the day and my preconception of an escapist was a recluse who is obsessed with anime and/or video games, it was only after a friend of mine joked about how I had 3 part time jobs, 6 after school and weekend clubs and I went hiking and sailing 2 days a week I began to think something may be wrong. The truth is I haven't had the best domestic life and my parents would constantly fight and later on barely come home in order to avoid each other, I was constantly alone, so I took refuge in other people, if I was constantly surrounded by people I would never be alone again, so I began purposely avoiding going home to avoid being alone.
Great video, and a great series idea too, games are invaluable to alot of peple wt mental health issues Skyrim was my distraction/avoidance for abt 2 years! i have 3 or 4 games on the go at once, a shootybang for actiony distraction, an rpg for immersion and/or puzzler/platformer/strategy games for when i can only play in shorter bursts! I've had major depressive illness, dysthymia, social and/or general anxiety since i was a little kid, and after a total breakdown a couple of years back i was (finally!) diagnosed with aspergers syndrome/autism spectrum disorder. After a decade of "self-medicating" (mainly weed and cheap vodka"), i'm now relearning how to be a grownup, am on alot of meds and i see a bunch of doctors and support workers, but i still reckon i'd be dead now if i hadn't discovered videogames. Only started playing 4 years ago but it has become a big part of my new life, and my therapy. Thank you. X
This resonates with me so much! i am so glad i have come to this series now. i have only just come to recognise that when i am particularly into a game its probably due to work stress or anxiety and gaming is my safety net. current sadgame = breath of the wild : )))) i also feel this series is more important now than ever!!
Spelunky is one of my favorite and most played games of all time. The thumbnail couldn't be more accurate. 1600 deaths later and I still haven't beaten hell and I'm thankful to have such a great distraction from my insecurities.
My most recent sad game was dark souls 3. I've had a shitty last few months and there was a week a few weeks ago where I honestly wasn't sure I'd survive. I've just graduated college and have been on the job hunt. I had just gotten rejected from a job that I really wanted and unfortunately costed me another job that I rejected for it. On top of that I had gotten in a car accident and was stranded by myself at my dad's house for a few days because I didn't have a car or money to go anywhere. All my friends had moved away and my ex gf had also recently left me for a co-worker. I pretty much felt worthless, and didn't really feel like even getting up in the morning. I had even started wishing the car accident had killed me. One morning I decided to pop in dark souls 3 and realized I had beaten the game but not the DLC. I decided to play through the DLC and wow it was incredible. I couldn't believe how just a few hours of distraction could make me feel even just a little better. Since then it's still been difficult but I am improving. I am trying to look at life in a different way by taking everything one day at a time and by exploring new opportunities. Thank you Dark Souls for being my medication when I needed it most.
May I suggest a video in this series about video game 'happy places'? IE just somewhere nice to go and chill out, similar to the happy places that are often mentioned in relaxation CD's etc. A couple that spring to mind are the whole of Proteus and the Haven Forest section in Jak 2.
Guilty Gear XRD is mine right now, fighting games in general fit the ''Sadgame'' mold in my life and it's because fighters are a sure fire way to fill my brain, I mean, fighting games give me enough to think about(with their high-speed action, endless mechanics, systems etc...) that I can honestly completely forget about the real world. I actually have depression and anxiety issues as well, unfortunately. Honestly, I think that fighting games have done more good for me than the countless visits to the doctors I have made. Doctors are freaking useless man. Fighting games genuinely help.
I can understand the sad game concept, which is my first time hearing about it, although perhaps not a coined term yet, but it seems to have some ground. The reason of it because me personally my sad game is “Minecraft”, although I seem to be going towards Warframe and League, but haven’t played for the same reasons you were exploring regarding the dissonance between personal performance in game and out of game. Which is why I prefer Minecraft due to the unlimited exploration and peaceful builds, as opposed to the high performance angst of the later two I mentioned. But be warned, while games may have benefits for people to cope with regular doses of stress, escapism can be a chokehold on people with actual and severe diagnosis of depression or anxiety, in which games should not be the cureall option. As a matter of fact, said persons should seek professional treatment than anything. Aside from that, on a philosophical level I find that escapism can be like the reverse version of Plato’s Cave analogy-this analogy of what was considered reality was actually not real, but as shadows of the real forms of reality. So the reverse can be said for escapism being that one knows the true reality, but wishes to escape from it for a lesser form of reality-in this case the shadow projections or the literal the projections seen on the interactive screens.
Wonderful segment, I find that if I ever need to zone out and play a "sadgame" chances are it'll be just the training mode in smash bros or just wandering around in windwaker. Just something familiar and comfortable that I can zone out and play.
till this day, my sadgames are rpg games like Pokemon and puzzle adventure games like Zelda and sometimes i even love to play Luxor (bubbleshooter) and just try to beat my score and i would feel a bit better and it makes me escape reality a bit. Spore also helped me allot, same with Oblivion. a time ago i also played rct3 but i lost all of my CS's and just stopped playing it. my nostalgia can also be helpfull, like Rayman 2 the great escape. all these games help me to cope with my depression but even more; get me out of reality that sucks. i also loved the uncharted series as it has such a good storyline that you are fully immersed in the story and has allot of fun puzzles. my favorite of the series beeing Among Thieves(2nd game of the series). but guess what; i still feel depressed. it never goes away, just when i play i feel somewhat better but its just for when also have panic attacks and pokemon series helps me to feel better. also zelda games for that.
Tbh as someone who's married to someone with clinical depression and video game addiction, the games make it worse. It makes him unable to do anything else besides game. It's a cruch that's doing more harm than good, an escape from something hes gotta go through.. but that's just me.
I've been on a low for a long ass time now. I tend to go back to games I played as a kid, Tomb Raider (Originals) was that main game and I tend to go back to that. Also maybe a simple Lego game or the Sims usually work for me.
Great topic! I like shooters and going full psycho spree killer in GTA V for straight up stress relief :p I think if you really want to keep the conscious occupied, if you are dealing with more serious issues, then engrossing puzzle games are probably best, like Tetris.
I guess the souls borne games mostly at least Til recently. Now it often switches between stardew valley and monster hunter. I think it's because of how calming stardew is for me. I know I am blue when I start focusing more on only my farm and the mines and not really try to talk to the villagers for more than a couple of in game days.
Great idea for a series I'd like to know about multiplayer and/or online experiences; games for those who struggle with contact and loneliness. I know my sadgames tend to be a refuge away from the noise of real life but I'm suspect for plenty of others they provide a bridge out of the silent funk of real life and into engagement with others on the players own terms rather than what they might fear that society expects of them. (3rd attempt, I hope that made sense)
Good video. I've come to terms with some of these same habits myself and am not letting myself play games when I'm not feeling well. It's unhealthy and it ultimately ruins the game for me anyway.
BF4 has become my go to game. I get stuck in the ever evolving battles on multiplayer and it stops me from mulling over problems for a while. I tend to go for the large ticket servers.
Might be surprising to get a comment 6 yrs later. XD But. This week post-Technoblade's death...I've downloaded games back onto my phone...after months without them and months not "wasting" time on them. Your video is still true & relevant! I'm grieving! Time for handheld idle strategy games! >_> (Maybe, once I'm convinced a pig oinking past won't make me cry, even Minecraft. :/)
What do you think about the "90 days gaming detox program" ? It supposed to help people to stop playing in order to fight their gaming addictions and avoidance tendency.
Is it really a good idea to avoid our suffer by playing video games ? I'm a bit lost because I was doing that for a long time. Playing Zelda BOTW to escape the reality.. But I've reading a lot of "stopgaming" subreddit posts, and some video of "HealtyGamer" and "GameQuitter" youtube channel at a point that it make me doubt about the efficiency of the "avoidance".. Because when we avoid, the situation stay the same.. So what should we do if we deal with depression and don't want to escape anymore ?
In my case i usually get depressed whilst playing games if I'm not working on something in the background i.e Uni coursework. My sad game in a sense is the game I end up making. the feelings or state i'm in usually end up being themed into the game. this was what I made in response to my depressed state at the time. some streamers played it and laughed, I don't get what made it funny other than the option bird flipping and absurd lose endings - gamejolt.com/games/pick-stamp/88715
That website with the article has issues. It asked me to turn off my adblocker, and i did, but it just kept asking me to and blocking the article. Their instructions on how to do so aren't accurate for the current release, so I can only guess that's why their software doesn't acknowledge it. After several tries I gave up. Too bad; it sounded pretty interesting.
What if that temporary relief and coping mechanism wasn't needed? What if we knew how to cope with our troubles instantly if we accepted how we felt about certain situations? This is completely contra to a world that would have us even ignore our feelings or believe that they don't even exist but what if? And what if there was a momentum of distracting ourselves away from the power we do have to address our issues? Just like you can't stop a car at a stop sign 100 meters away if driving super fast until the last 10meters then breaking what if just stopping to register what we feel, whatever it is we feel and asking - whats underneath? brought a greater understanding of why we are in the space we find ourselves in? Small children are forever learning, if they fall down, get hurt, cry then express that hurt they come around much quicker and carry on. But what if there was a pressure we have placed on ourselves and the world places on us to 'get through it' or to 'know what to do' and just 'get over it' ourselves. This doesn't work and I know I have felt more depressed when I try to do it solo. What if our issues were not bad luck or us being the victim of life but something to learn from?
- I agree with what say about it being no different to sports, sex, drugs etc. It's all the same and video gaming is no different. But what I am asking is if we seek a momentary relief from whats around us, and understandably if you are in such a country with airstrikes then that is a situation no one would want to be in and is certainly stressful. But if we live in little moments trying to get from one moment to the next and when we come out of the relief moment and the world around us is still stressful then where is the space to change our situations? I know one person cannot stop a whole war around them, that needs to be a group effort to address. But from experience if we deal with the daily, smaller stress triggers rather than avoiding them the larger situations become more manageable or certainly we are able to handle them differently without the smaller constant stresses occurring. Stuff like the basics of the stress of not going to the bathroom when we feel to, that creates a stress in the body that adds a layer onto our pile of stress we may carry around with us.
FTL is the WORSE sadgame if you're playing on hard. Way to much RNG bullshit where you will find yourself wasting your time every 9 out of 10 games at best
Dark Souls have been my refuge. Being diagnosed with mild tourettes and being really introverted and lonely I found real and tangible solace in my experience with that game. The deep concentration and just.. patience required to beat bosses ironically reduced my stress overal and thus reduced my tics.. It also, somewhat ironically, made me feel less alone. the anonymous/random angle of the multiplayer made me less anxious and the eerie and lonely nature of Lordran really afforded me time to reflect on my life.. And.. yeah.. Even if English was my native tongue, no words can express how much of an impact that game has had on me emotionally.
+TheIzay If it isn't your first language, your English is still very good!
Liam Hagan Cheers. Raiding in WoW with brits has some perks after all :P
I noticed that most of those (I've encountered) who apologize for their "bad English" or English not being their native language tend to be very good at it.
+TheIzay There is actually a pro Smite (MOBA) player who has Tourette's (I don't know how strong is his though). He streams basically every day and even plays on competitive level. Check out for his channel, his name is Incon.
TheIzay same
My teenage years were very rough. It was a time when my depression, OCD and social anxiety started to worsen, and what made my struggle even more difficult was my unawareness of my condition and my ignorance of what anxiety and depression really are. I was bullied a lot in school, and I found it hard to concentrate on my studies and socialize with others (including my own friends). I dismissed what I was experiencing as just shyness and stress.
My "sadgames" were Sonic The Hedgehog. Sonic games were more than just a distraction or escape. They also represented freedom and peace, which made playing these games feel euphoric for me. It's as if I was subconsciously longing for freedom, but I wasn't aware of what exactly I wanted to be free from. In a way, playing Sonic games helped me realize there's something wrong with me.
It wasn't until college when I finally learned what depression, OCD and social anxiety are, and mustered enough courage to tell my parents about them and seek help.
Up to now, I still wish I'm as calm, cool-headed, gleeful, and fast as Sonic, as I'm still struggling to fight my mental illness and keep up with others and life in general. I'm turning 25 this year, I haven't got a full-time job yet, and I'm still very dependent on my parents.
This has been a great series so far. I've watched all episodes, and I'm looking forward to see more.
I've just been diagnosed with depression, this series could really do me well. Problem I'm having at the moment though is getting the motivation to even play a game.
+MrScottyTay Force yourself. Only way, really. One babystep at a time. Play something different. I recommend LONG games. Invest, like truly invest in a series of games and dig into everything. Lore, story, master mechanics. Helps for me, at any rate. It gives me a sense of wanderlust, which in turn gives me hope for the future because.. hey.. I AM!! excited about SOMETHING.
+MrScottyTay Try playing something you are really familiar with, play something that you can just zone out and focus on without too much effort. Something nice and safe.
+MrScottyTay You could try a completely new type of game. For example, I've never been a fan of hard-as-balls shooters until PAYDAY 2 released, and now I'm hooked.
I know how you feel, and right now all I can tell you is: You need to feel alive. When I'm feeling like you, my refuge are the true horror games. Give Layers of Fear or Outlast a try. Hope it's help you as it's helped me.
One thing that always intrigues me is how replaying old games can trigger memories in you. Memories, or sometimes emotions. Phases in life. Songs that were popular when you played the game.
When I play see/play Warcraft 2 again, I can picture myself sitting in the living room, being 12 years old, with my little brother looking over my shoulder waiting for his turn. I can almost feel how I felt back then. It's a strange sensation of both positive and negative nostalgia.
So that would be my idea for a video. :) Good luck, I enjoyed this one, although it was a bit short!
Wow. How did it take me so long to find this? This is the exact epiphany I'm coming to now in my mental health journey (anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts). Such a good video - it deserves many more likes and views.
An amazing video to a subject that is still not talked and discussed enough about. I have personally suffered from depression most of my life at 26 years old i have had spells of depression that cripple me, a feeling of overwhelming hopelessness and pointlessness in day to day activity followed by bouts of anger and sadness that no matter what, never seem to subside. It was only 3 weeks ago I lost my mother to liver failure ... i being the person I am chose to work threw it bottle it up and carry on. I am a successful plumber for a small local company. I enjoy my job and love the work i do and yet today I am at home because I finally broke down at work today and now at 4pm i am here watching this after laying on the sofa for 6 hours crippled by depression yet again till in my work clothes.
Watching this video has made me smile a bit and while I want to shut the world off it is good to see something like this posted and to read others stories of their time with depression and mental health knowing you are not alone.
People may joke and jest at this comment .. this is the nature of the internet but really I feel for those who suffer like me and can understand how hard it can be simply to perform the daily tasks under mental health. After watching this I feel a bit better and i think I will go and play some video games if only to relax for a while and forget how bad things could be.
Thank you Johnny. Thank you so much for this series.
Your comment deserves more likes. I hope your doing better these days man .
Great segment you have here. Love the psychology behind the things we do, the games we play etc. Cant wait for more :)
Just now discovered this series by making a few turns around the Oxtra channels and already I love it! You better believe I will be binge-watching all of it later, when I have more time, but for this video alone: thank you for the amazing insight! I had never realized I did this, either, but I think I do. Spyro 2 and Journey are probably my most common sadgames, because I find them comforting. Spyro 2 was my first video game experience, so it's nostalgic, while Journey always gives me a sense of hope. This is a fascinating little revelation and I'm looking forward to watching the rest of the series^^
My escapism was the Uncharted series. I was introduced to it when I was 12. I was having a hard time in school with dyslexia and subtle bullying. That game was my saviour and I’ll never ever forget it. It’s influenced me so much I might end up having a cool new career out of it. Every time I was in class I’d be staring out to sea daydreaming about my future and what it might hold. These are not just games…….these…..are masterpieces ❤️☺️
I've been going through frequent bouts of uncontrolled depression during my highschool life [and still slightly do], but even though I felt like I was in this low point of no return I kept on keeping on for probably the dumbest reason, Fallout. Not saying Fallout is a dumb reason to keep on keeping on , but I just kept on thinking of how my next adventure in the wasteland would be and how much fun i could have with character customization in the sense of action. I really felt the freedom the wasteland gave you and thats what kinda gave me my reason to get up everyday, the idea that you aren't placed into this set mold and told to do only this, but you're also allowed to to whatever it is you want to do as long as you put the time and effort. thanks euro gamer and this was a awesome vid.
This is one of the best videos I've watched on UA-cam.
I am really happy this exists. Please keep doing more of them. This could so easily be the subject of an interesting PHD that could help lots of people.
It's Fallout 4 for me. If I'm struggling with stress, anxiety or feeling low is just a game that allows me to escape into a different world and be a different person. In that world I'm important and powerful but it's also very peaceful and can be funny as well. I'm in the last bit of DLC now but I'm in no hurry to finish it. Maybe I'm intentionally avoiding finishing it because I need to know it's always there when I need it
Amen to this. I only realised how far my gaming hours had increased and that I was using them as a distraction from my thoughts once I'd started a talking therapy session. Can't say I can think of a particular Sadgame but I certainly avoid loud, busy and highly skilled games if I'm stressed or tired, but I'll insist on playing something anyway. Never thought of that as an indicator/warning of stress though, good advice!
Brilliant video. Thank you for this.
for a long while for me, portal was my sadgame. the puzzles helped me calm down when i was manic and helped me laugh and realize things were temporary and fixable when i was depressed. nowadays i'm gravitating more towards overwatch and breath of the wild but this video made me realize i actually /had/ a sadgame. tysm, johnny!
This reminds me of that escape from mount stupid Danny did back at GameSpot, that episode and your first show at Eurogamer on depression has really helped me understand what my recently diagnosed brother with depression has been going through. He claims that it for prep for Fallout 4 but he's now made 5 characters in New Vegas and 3 in Skyrim each one vastly different and role playing them, his NV melee character sided with Caesar, his brawler Orc doesn't join any groups like the thieves or brother hood and stays out of the main conflict. He'll play it for 8+hrs a day one day and the next he'll be chatty and spend most of the day out with his friends or girlfriend. I can't get inside his head but compared to this time last year he's a hundred times better since he went back to play these games. Not to suggest that the games are 'making him better', even he'll admit that the meds are the main thing and learning to talk to someone about it ,even if it is my dad, have been the real keys.
Funny as it may sound, the GTA series has always been a source of escapism and relaxation for me. Ever since GTA II I've been addicted to doing the taxi driving side-missions and when I'm looking to "sadgame" they're usually my first port of call. GTA V is the best in the series yet, IMO. Both as a whole and for a source of low effort escapism. It's an absolute joy just driving aimlessly around the map, but the taxi driving gives me a small sense of purpose (if I'm early on in the story then I'm earning money towards car upgrades usually) yet it's slow paced enough that I can run on "auto-pilot mode" just listening to the soundtrack while I relax and try to process and overcome whatever's troubling me. Golfing and tennis in GTA V function much in the same way for me. Ironically enough in a huge, crime infested sandbox I'm far more interested in working a legal job and playing recreational sports.
I've suffered from long term anxiety and panic attacks, and the only games that help me alleviate my panic attacks are fighting games. Street Fighter, Killer Instinct et al, stop my mind from focusing on the panic, thus disrupting the vicious cycle of thinking too much and perpetuating the cycle.
For example - in the middle of a panic attack I develop a symptom, i.e. difficulty in breathing. As a consequence I start worrying about that so it creates more anxiety. That, in turn, exacerbates my condition and causes more symptoms et cetera. Fighting games don't give me time to think about anxiety. I have to constantly adapt to my opponent and perform some move or other.
Fighting games really help me during a panic attack. They're my anodyne.
Thanks for this video, please continue with these.
Shenmue on the dreamcast is my sadgame, there is something about just walking around a small town, talking to people that know me. People going about their daily lives, going to lunch, work and home.. It's a sad and lonely game really, but for some reason it makes me feel better.
Kind of glad I've found this series. Makes a lot of sense as I've done exactly this type of thing for years but never realised. From harvest moon on the gamecube to final fantasy and the arkham games, I've done this since before I was diagnosed
Thanks for this original series, I'd expect nothing less from your efforts! It's a substantial way of examining the psychology of games, and could actually be of benefit to both researchers and those suffering from mental health issues.
I usually love narrative games with long and quality story, but when Im down I just cant play them, I cant enjoy them. Thats why my Sadgames are usually the GTA series. When I feel anxious I just drive around and when Im stressed or angry I kill/explode everything. Im afraid I have been playing only GTA V lately :(
Hope things get better for you bro. Hang in there.
For me, it's EarthBound. For one, it very much has the same sense of a lighthearted personal adventure featuring a main character you could project yourself on that drew me to Pokemon as a child. The game does have infamous darker elements to it, but ending and Fourside aside, they're mostly filtered through a lens of kitschy americana and corny but effective humor. For example, you may take down a cult in the process of rescuing your to-be-teammate from danger, but that part of the game is filled with just as much humor as the rest of it.
I guess it almost feels like I'm dealing with the darker elements of life in a safe, friendly manner. Most of the NPCs in the game tend to deal with struggles of all intensities the same way I do - by brushing them off through a sense of humor that's sometimes too self aware. The game, despite being linear in nature, actively encourages players to explore its world through finding and talking to these NPCs in all sorts of contexts. It's really validating, and you never feel too alone.
Of course, as you literally descend into Deep Darkness, the game does eventually hike up the drama at the very end. The point of Ness's jouney becomes apparent, and in the end the heroes literally have to undergo surgery to put their souls into robots so that they can go very far back in time and defeat a powerful alien, who turns out to be a mess of his former self and blatantly at the mercy of your childhood friend. He's ascended from the neighborhood bully into an all out villain, and he only gets worse in the 3rd game in the series.
You could definitely describe it as my "sadgame".
When it was originally released in 1998, Grim Fandango was a welcome escape for 15-year old me.
Wonderful video from Chiodini. Thank you for putting this series together for those who can't articulate why video games are important to them. I'm looking forward to the rest of Low Batteries.
being in the NHS mental health services for three years now video games are a refuge though as you say often serve as an excuse or a way to avoid facing up to our problems.
I've noticed this about myself but I recognise that video games are still an important part if my life and though I may try to move away from them in coming months I'll never completely rid them from my life.
I'm also studying to become a psychiatric nurse and this video makes me wonder if an in depth study of video games/other media's impact on mental health on a therapeutic level should have an in depth study.
Oh and sad game? anything with tons of side stuff to do. Collectables etc, theres a reason I've 100%d so many Assassins Creeds XD
I find anything "mindless" enough to take my mind if things but not demand too much focus is perfect for when I'm down.
Thanks for the great video.
Good series idea is good, looking forward to more. Also hoping EuroGamer will have more series like this- analytical discussions about games, game design and their social impact.
My "Sad Games" are really just sandboxes that gets me focussed on something other than emotions (unless that emotion is joy and bubbly-ness). I like Minecraft and Roblox. PUBG. Anything Mario.
Most of these take me back to when I was younger, during a happier time, I guess.
Although Minecraft and Roblox feel a bit more empty now since I've been playing them for years, I do enjoy them if I have new, exciting goal like making an adventure map or trying a new game.
PUBG takes an immense amount of focus and playing randoms is a real fun way to get some interaction going (I can't feel empty when I'm serious, but calm, and talking with others).
Mario is just enjoyable, interactive, and easy. It's a good, and fun way to do stuff (as long as I haven't played through the entire game yet (unless I REALLY loved it like Super Mario Galaxy))
This sounds like a brilliant idea for a series. I hope to see a lot more of it.
I have gaming addiction and the failure to preform the way I feel I “should” in games makes me incredibly angry, depressed and suicidal. It makes me feel useless and is very hard to pull myself out of.
Very interesting video! Thanks for your work Johnny.
Interesting first video, going to watch the rest now. Thank you.
Nice work Johnny, looking forward to more.
It took me awhile to realise I was a escapist.
I had a lot of friends, liked to travel and I went outside for like 2/3 of the day and my preconception of an escapist was a recluse who is obsessed with anime and/or video games, it was only after a friend of mine joked about how I had 3 part time jobs, 6 after school and weekend clubs and I went hiking and sailing 2 days a week I began to think something may be wrong. The truth is I haven't had the best domestic life and my parents would constantly fight and later on barely come home in order to avoid each other, I was constantly alone, so I took refuge in other people, if I was constantly surrounded by people I would never be alone again, so I began purposely avoiding going home to avoid being alone.
Lyris The- Pseudo Intellectual that's actually closely relatable.
Great video, and a great series idea too, games are invaluable to alot of peple wt mental health issues
Skyrim was my distraction/avoidance for abt 2 years! i have 3 or 4 games on the go at once, a shootybang for actiony distraction, an rpg for immersion and/or puzzler/platformer/strategy games for when i can only play in shorter bursts! I've had major depressive illness, dysthymia, social and/or general anxiety since i was a little kid, and after a total breakdown a couple of years back i was (finally!) diagnosed with aspergers syndrome/autism spectrum disorder. After a decade of "self-medicating" (mainly weed and cheap vodka"), i'm now relearning how to be a grownup, am on alot of meds and i see a bunch of doctors and support workers, but i still reckon i'd be dead now if i hadn't discovered videogames. Only started playing 4 years ago but it has become a big part of my new life, and my therapy.
Thank you.
X
This resonates with me so much! i am so glad i have come to this series now. i have only just come to recognise that when i am particularly into a game its probably due to work stress or anxiety and gaming is my safety net. current sadgame = breath of the wild : )))) i also feel this series is more important now than ever!!
Spelunky is one of my favorite and most played games of all time. The thumbnail couldn't be more accurate. 1600 deaths later and I still haven't beaten hell and I'm thankful to have such a great distraction from my insecurities.
My most recent sad game was dark souls 3. I've had a shitty last few months and there was a week a few weeks ago where I honestly wasn't sure I'd survive. I've just graduated college and have been on the job hunt. I had just gotten rejected from a job that I really wanted and unfortunately costed me another job that I rejected for it. On top of that I had gotten in a car accident and was stranded by myself at my dad's house for a few days because I didn't have a car or money to go anywhere. All my friends had moved away and my ex gf had also recently left me for a co-worker.
I pretty much felt worthless, and didn't really feel like even getting up in the morning. I had even started wishing the car accident had killed me.
One morning I decided to pop in dark souls 3 and realized I had beaten the game but not the DLC. I decided to play through the DLC and wow it was incredible. I couldn't believe how just a few hours of distraction could make me feel even just a little better.
Since then it's still been difficult but I am improving. I am trying to look at life in a different way by taking everything one day at a time and by exploring new opportunities.
Thank you Dark Souls for being my medication when I needed it most.
May I suggest a video in this series about video game 'happy places'? IE just somewhere nice to go and chill out, similar to the happy places that are often mentioned in relaxation CD's etc. A couple that spring to mind are the whole of Proteus and the Haven Forest section in Jak 2.
Guilty Gear XRD is mine right now, fighting games in general fit the ''Sadgame'' mold in my life and it's because fighters are a sure fire way to fill my brain, I mean, fighting games give me enough to think about(with their high-speed action, endless mechanics, systems etc...) that I can honestly completely forget about the real world. I actually have depression and anxiety issues as well, unfortunately. Honestly, I think that fighting games have done more good for me than the countless visits to the doctors I have made. Doctors are freaking useless man.
Fighting games genuinely help.
I can understand the sad game concept, which is my first time hearing about it, although perhaps not a coined term yet, but it seems to have some ground.
The reason of it because me personally my sad game is “Minecraft”, although I seem to be going towards Warframe and League, but haven’t played for the same reasons you were exploring regarding the dissonance between personal performance in game and out of game. Which is why I prefer Minecraft due to the unlimited exploration and peaceful builds, as opposed to the high performance angst of the later two I mentioned.
But be warned, while games may have benefits for people to cope with regular doses of stress, escapism can be a chokehold on people with actual and severe diagnosis of depression or anxiety, in which games should not be the cureall option. As a matter of fact, said persons should seek professional treatment than anything.
Aside from that, on a philosophical level I find that escapism can be like the reverse version of Plato’s Cave analogy-this analogy of what was considered reality was actually not real, but as shadows of the real forms of reality. So the reverse can be said for escapism being that one knows the true reality, but wishes to escape from it for a lesser form of reality-in this case the shadow projections or the literal the projections seen on the interactive screens.
Very thoughtful stuff Johnny. Well done.
Thanks I was hoping for some inspiration for my essay about escapism through technology thanks alot you saved my grades 😁
That was great. Cheers Johnny.
The original Halo has been my go-to game for nearly 15 years. Thanks Master Chief.
Wonderful segment, I find that if I ever need to zone out and play a "sadgame" chances are it'll be just the training mode in smash bros or just wandering around in windwaker. Just something familiar and comfortable that I can zone out and play.
till this day, my sadgames are rpg games like Pokemon and puzzle adventure games like Zelda and sometimes i even love to play Luxor (bubbleshooter) and just try to beat my score and i would feel a bit better and it makes me escape reality a bit. Spore also helped me allot, same with Oblivion.
a time ago i also played rct3 but i lost all of my CS's and just stopped playing it. my nostalgia can also be helpfull, like Rayman 2 the great escape. all these games help me to cope with my depression but even more; get me out of reality that sucks. i also loved the uncharted series as it has such a good storyline that you are fully immersed in the story and has allot of fun puzzles. my favorite of the series beeing Among Thieves(2nd game of the series).
but guess what; i still feel depressed. it never goes away, just when i play i feel somewhat better but its just for when
also have panic attacks and pokemon series helps me to feel better. also zelda games for that.
Tbh as someone who's married to someone with clinical depression and video game addiction, the games make it worse. It makes him unable to do anything else besides game. It's a cruch that's doing more harm than good, an escape from something hes gotta go through.. but that's just me.
I play life is strange when im a bit down, its nice to know if something goes wrong, just press lt and its a ok again :)
I've been on a low for a long ass time now. I tend to go back to games I played as a kid, Tomb Raider (Originals) was that main game and I tend to go back to that. Also maybe a simple Lego game or the Sims usually work for me.
I don't usually comment on things, but I just had to say that this is a fucking great idea, Johnny.
Really interesting article!
Thank you for doing this.
Great topic! I like shooters and going full psycho spree killer in GTA V for straight up stress relief :p
I think if you really want to keep the conscious occupied, if you are dealing with more serious issues, then engrossing puzzle games are probably best, like Tetris.
We just found these thanks to a comment in a video Aoife made today. Big thanks for this.
I guess the souls borne games mostly at least Til recently. Now it often switches between stardew valley and monster hunter. I think it's because of how calming stardew is for me. I know I am blue when I start focusing more on only my farm and the mines and not really try to talk to the villagers for more than a couple of in game days.
bloodborne for me.a beautiful interpretation of sadness, isolation and loneliness that is strangely comforting
I played world of warcraft for over 16000 hours while having agoraphobia for about 5 years. 15 years of rehab later and im okish
Great idea for a series
I'd like to know about multiplayer and/or online experiences; games for those who struggle with contact and loneliness. I know my sadgames tend to be a refuge away from the noise of real life but I'm suspect for plenty of others they provide a bridge out of the silent funk of real life and into engagement with others on the players own terms rather than what they might fear that society expects of them.
(3rd attempt, I hope that made sense)
Hotline Miami helps me cope with very stressful times.
Good stuff man
Good video. I've come to terms with some of these same habits myself and am not letting myself play games when I'm not feeling well. It's unhealthy and it ultimately ruins the game for me anyway.
BF4 has become my go to game. I get stuck in the ever evolving battles on multiplayer and it stops me from mulling over problems for a while. I tend to go for the large ticket servers.
Really good video, thank you. I'm a bit worried I'm using gaming as a crutch rather than face up to stuff myself though.
The legend of Zelda and Life is strange helped me with my bipolar depression
The background music is giving me anxiety.
Currently for me it's Guild Wars 2 or The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth!
I really like this music.
Might be surprising to get a comment 6 yrs later. XD But. This week post-Technoblade's death...I've downloaded games back onto my phone...after months without them and months not "wasting" time on them. Your video is still true & relevant! I'm grieving! Time for handheld idle strategy games! >_> (Maybe, once I'm convinced a pig oinking past won't make me cry, even Minecraft. :/)
Great video, I look forward to future entries. I was curious about the music you used in the background, I would love to know what it is called.
What do you think about the "90 days gaming detox program" ? It supposed to help people to stop playing in order to fight their gaming addictions and avoidance tendency.
Great video
Is it really a good idea to avoid our suffer by playing video games ? I'm a bit lost because I was doing that for a long time. Playing Zelda BOTW to escape the reality..
But I've reading a lot of "stopgaming" subreddit posts, and some video of "HealtyGamer" and "GameQuitter" youtube channel at a point that it make me doubt about the efficiency of the "avoidance".. Because when we avoid, the situation stay the same.. So what should we do if we deal with depression and don't want to escape anymore ?
In my case i usually get depressed whilst playing games if I'm not working on something in the background i.e Uni coursework. My sad game in a sense is the game I end up making. the feelings or state i'm in usually end up being themed into the game. this was what I made in response to my depressed state at the time. some streamers played it and laughed, I don't get what made it funny other than the option bird flipping and absurd lose endings -
gamejolt.com/games/pick-stamp/88715
Dark souls. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
Metroid Prime games help me
That website with the article has issues. It asked me to turn off my adblocker, and i did, but it just kept asking me to and blocking the article. Their instructions on how to do so aren't accurate for the current release, so I can only guess that's why their software doesn't acknowledge it. After several tries I gave up. Too bad; it sounded pretty interesting.
My sad game is pokemon, it always has been I guess
What was that platformer game in the video with the woman with long hair and a crown / tiara.? Looks cool
What if that temporary relief and coping mechanism wasn't needed? What if we knew how to cope with our troubles instantly if we accepted how we felt about certain situations? This is completely contra to a world that would have us even ignore our feelings or believe that they don't even exist but what if? And what if there was a momentum of distracting ourselves away from the power we do have to address our issues? Just like you can't stop a car at a stop sign 100 meters away if driving super fast until the last 10meters then breaking what if just stopping to register what we feel, whatever it is we feel and asking - whats underneath? brought a greater understanding of why we are in the space we find ourselves in? Small children are forever learning, if they fall down, get hurt, cry then express that hurt they come around much quicker and carry on. But what if there was a pressure we have placed on ourselves and the world places on us to 'get through it' or to 'know what to do' and just 'get over it' ourselves. This doesn't work and I know I have felt more depressed when I try to do it solo. What if our issues were not bad luck or us being the victim of life but something to learn from?
- I agree with what say about it being no different to sports, sex, drugs etc. It's all the same and video gaming is no different. But what I am asking is if we seek a momentary relief from whats around us, and understandably if you are in such a country with airstrikes then that is a situation no one would want to be in and is certainly stressful. But if we live in little moments trying to get from one moment to the next and when we come out of the relief moment and the world around us is still stressful then where is the space to change our situations? I know one person cannot stop a whole war around them, that needs to be a group effort to address. But from experience if we deal with the daily, smaller stress triggers rather than avoiding them the larger situations become more manageable or certainly we are able to handle them differently without the smaller constant stresses occurring. Stuff like the basics of the stress of not going to the bathroom when we feel to, that creates a stress in the body that adds a layer onto our pile of stress we may carry around with us.
What is the opening music here?
Animal Crossing is my sadgame
ahh.... Metal Gear Solid
my coping mechanism for my, my life is so boring moments
The sims is my sad game ;-;
FTL is the WORSE sadgame if you're playing on hard. Way to much RNG bullshit where you will find yourself wasting your time every 9 out of 10 games at best
Yume Nikki.
Try smack its more helpful.