The impact of the last two years, the lack of resources and the shrineot make mental health – especially young people – one of the most important issues today. Here are eight games known for their approach…
Take This is dedicated to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues and increasing support in the gaming community. So in 2017, officials decided to create a biennial award to recognize video games that demonstrate exemplary mental health, healing, and hope.
The vintage of the year
For 2022, the organization just released the list of three judges’ finalists, titles that “present mental health issues and issues with compassion and without stigma,” as well as the public’s picks.
The first thing that strikes us about Chicory: A Colorful Tale is the music, composed by Lena Raine (to whom we owe that of Celeste, which we’re about to tell you about, and… Minecraft). Then we will be attached to all the characters of this world in which the player embodies a dog that, with a brush in hand, must return its colors to the province of Picnic, which has become black and white. Each character encountered has their own personality, including emotions – yes, even the negative ones, to better understand them. And the more you paint, the further the story progresses. It’s sweet and tender.
“Cosy World”, literally “Cosy World”, takes you to an island. There you will become a Scout Ghost, your goal is to comfort the other Scout Ghosts so that they find peace. With a drawing graphic, the title is decidedly kid-friendly, and since the action takes place in real-time, new content is offered every day and players are encouraged to play for about an hour a day. And through all of this “Cosy World” there is undoubtedly a message of hope that dominates.
Inevitably, the excellent Life is Strange: True Colors makes the list. Aimed at teenagers and adults, the game features Alex Chen, a young woman whose brother has died. Equipped with a particularly strong empathy, she will therefore use this supernatural power to solve the death of her brother. Among the many topical issues addressed are foster care, childhood trauma, and how we perceive the emotions of others.
A surprise teenage game, Spiritfarer tells the story of Stella, a soul shuttle who befriends the deceased aboard the ferry she transports before taking them to their destination. A whole aspect of the Canadian title is reserved for management – you can fish, harvest minerals, cultivate crops, craft items – alongside the purely emotional content that teaches all viewers to say goodbye.
Highly entertaining and colorful, Psychonauts 2 was recognized for its adequate portrayal of mental health. Rather, the disorders are presented artistically from the point of view of those affected. In fact, Raz, a 10-year-old child, must unravel the mystery of the double agents that are rampant among psychonauts. To do this, he penetrates the suspects’ minds and learns everything about their problems, fears and memories.
The past few years…
2020 Winner Celeste is a Canadian game originally developed during a Games Jam. Here players are in control of little Madeline as she tries to climb a mountain full of obstacles that are presented level by level. But beware, the obstacles are the work of Badeline, her fearful alter ego. This year, the amazing “Sea of Solitude” portrayed a young woman with a difficult childhood who, as an adult, finds it so difficult to deal with her anger, despair and discomfort that she turns into a monster.
The very first winner of 2017? It was the excellent “Stardew Valley”. A farming simulation game whose title transports you to the farm of your recently deceased grandfather. They take over the family business and establish contact with the residents of the neighboring village. Relaxing and lively, Stardew Valley is considered by some reviewers to be one of the best video games of all time.
The link book
“Chicory: A colorful story”: https://chicorygame.com/ for Windows and PlayStation
“Cozy World”: https://cozygrovegame.com/ for Windows, Xbox, Switch and PlayStation
Life is Strange: True Colors: https://lifeisstrange.square-enix-games.com/en-us/ for multiple platforms
Spiritfarer: https://thunderlotusgames.com/spiritfarer for Windows, Xbox, PlayStation and Twitch
“Psychonauts 2”: https://www.doublefine.com/games/psychonauts-2 for Xbox
“Celeste”: https://www.celestegame.com/ for multiple platforms
Sea of Solitude: https://www.ea.com/games/sea-of-solitude for Windows, PlayStation and Xbox
“Stardew Valley”: https://www.stardewvalley.net/ for multiple platforms