I often turn on a game when I’m struggling with depression, as being able to get out of my head and focus on a game always helps me think less about how shitty I’m feeling. Even if it’s brief relief that just lasts as long as I’m playing the game, it’s better than no relief at all, but sometimes playing a game can help me for hours after I’ve turned it off or a day or more. Being depressed is one of the most lonely things in the world and for me, sometimes the sense of accomplishment I get from completing a mission, leveling up or improving a relationship with a NPC can be enough to get me out of such an alienated, lonely place.
With that in mind, I thought it might help myself and possibly somebody else, to build a list of games that I can always rely on to get me out of my own messy head when I need a break. And so, here it is:
- Dragon Age series (Bioware games allow me to feel connection with characters when I can’t find it elsewhere)
- Mass Effect series
- LEGO games (Provide distraction without any heavy moral dilemmas or choices)
- Portal 2 (It’s just funny)
- GTA Online
- Destiny (both Destiny and GTA Online offer interaction with other players)
- Forza games (or any racing game, really)
- Fable Trilogy (Playing as a nice character always lifts my mood)
- Octodad
- I Am Bread (This and Octodad are just dumb fun, which is nice sometimes)
- Zoo Tycoon (Because baby animals)