Comfort Games are Necessary | RPGFan

Everyone has one thing that provides them consolation, for one purpose or one other. Some folks discover it in a particular e-book or film, others in a selected place or individual; it could possibly be something. I think about lots of you will have a group 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 achieve from it? 

For some, it might 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 recurrently.

Perhaps 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 could also be that you just stay in a spot the place you can’t be your self for worry of prejudice, or not being accepted by these closest to you—the worlds in video games can assist by offering a short lived escape, maybe one by which society celebrates being your self. 

Others could 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 accomplishment. If 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 gymnasium. Personally, this one may be very uncommon for me as my common work makes use of my mind sufficient, so I normally flip to video games as an escape, however each causes for comfort-seeking are legitimate.

It doesn’t at all times need to be about puzzles within the conventional sense both, as I do know many individuals who play video games like Dark 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 solution to stay in our actual lives. When I first acquired a PlayStation, my thoughts was blown extensive open to the chances 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 achieve a lot from immersing themselves in different worlds, environments, lovely artwork design, intriguing characters, and emotive music. Similar to 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 chances could possibly be countless. 

My fourth and last 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 means of unhealthy durations. Increasingly, sport builders are open to exploring psychological well being complexities of their video games. It’s truly not too tough now to discover a sport that, in some unspecified time in the future, explores a topic referring to psychological well being that anybody might determine and empathise with. That expertise of being seen, of getting the assumption that you just’re the one individual feeling the way you’re feeling being challenged, is so vital for making progress when working in your psychological well being—and video games can play a key half in that. 

I’d prefer to elaborate on just a few methods by which I’ve sought consolation in video games, what the video games are, and why I flip to them recurrently for that emotional secure 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 contemplate turning to them in occasions once you want for an emotional increase, reassurance, or a reminder that life could be good. 

Turning Back Time

The first bunch of video games are comforting for me as a result of they take me again to a particular a part of my childhood. These are the PS1-era Final Fantasy titles, specifically VII, VIII, and IX; and the primary two generations of Pokémon—Red/Blue and Gold/Silver. 

These video games make up a number of the first online game experiences of my life. I acquired a PS1 in my early teenagers and a Game Boy Color across the similar time. My recollections of taking part in these particular video games are of being snug in my bed room, immersed of their worlds, and customarily residing fairly a carefree life. I vividly bear 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 number of the songs that had been on the radio again then, I affiliate them with taking part in Pokémon.

Final Fantasy VII, VIII, and IX just about grew to become 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 marvel remains to be one thing I really feel, although to a lesser diploma, after I play them now. 

Comfort video games you performed when in your early life 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 duties weren’t a factor, the world appeared like a calmer and extra steady place to stay in, and also you had been being taken care of. Playing these video games as an grownup, with many duties, becoming them in round your job and residing in a world a lot much less steady and secure is type of like a heat hug. It definitely makes me really feel good. 

Connection to these Closest

This second set of consolation video games comes hooked up to emotions not not like the primary, however slightly 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 mates 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 once you’re feeling low or lonely. 

Before I had a PS1, we had a small number of video games on our family PC, two of which had been Tomb Raider 2 and 3. Forewarning: a number of the video games on this part are usually not RPGs! I bear in mind it was me who was the proponent in us getting these two Tomb Raider video games—Lara Croft was like a worldwide celebrity again then, and I used to be absolutely on board. I’d picked up a walkthrough information journal for Tomb Raider 3 from a neighborhood store, and we printed a information from the web for Tomb Raider 2.

My Mum and I then sat on the PC collectively and progressively labored our means by means of each video games, taking it in turns to modify between being the participant and the guider. My Mum was greatest at killing stuff, and I took the lead with sophisticated jumps and platforming. We made a fantastic crew and joined forces once more within the mid 2000’s to finish Silent Hill 2 and 3, each of which nonetheless convey again fond recollections, regardless of being such disturbing video games. 

Outside of this connection to gaming I’ve with my Mum, I additionally spent hours upon hours taking part in varied Dynasty Warriors video games with my youthful sister, largely yelling at her as a result of she wasn’t being attentive to the map and machinations of the battle. I loved Legend of Mana and Puchi Carat co-op with a few mates I’m nonetheless very lucky to have in my life immediately, and TimeSplitters 2 with an previous group of faculty mates—this one specifically introduced us many hilarious hours in one another’s firm. 

I typically hear that within the fashionable world we’re going through a loneliness epidemic. People spend far an excessive amount of time working, typically for a wage that hardly lets them stay outdoors of labor, not to mention socialise with different folks. Comfort 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. Whilst this may not be the reply to the massive downside with immediately’s society, it definitely helps somewhat.

Processing Grief

Moving on to some heavier subjects now, and in addition ones which have been extra lately current in my life. Grief is completely 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 12 months in the past.

When I used to be a youngster, I noticed a duplicate of Suikoden II in a sport store and was immediately drawn in by the superbly illustrated cowl artwork. I knew barely something in regards to the sport 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 duplicate of it for me. I used to be elated, but had no concept of the unimaginable journey I used to be about to embark on taking part in by means of the story for the primary time.

Suikoden II stays one in every of 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. 

Fast 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 loss of life was sudden. There had been no indicators that it was coming and it got here after a interval of him being estranged from many of the household, for causes I gained’t go into. But regardless of that, I considered him typically, and listening to about his loss of life 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 means of the HD remaster of Suikoden II, my Dad was very current on my thoughts. I typically thought again to after I performed it for the primary time and my preliminary experiences with the sport. As I drew near finishing it, I locked within the reality 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 in every of his favorite strolling spots, sending him again to nature. Before pushing forward to that last boss struggle, I turned off my PS5, went right down to the seashore, and spent quiet time remembering him, feeling like going residence and ending the True Ending of Suikoden II was in his reminiscence.

Death is such a tough factor to course of at the very best of occasions, and much more so when it comes with circumstances that add complexities to the connection you had with the individual. People deal with grief in ways in which work greatest for them, for higher or worse, however typically it’s one thing we stay with to some extent for our entire lives. I really feel completely satisfied that I’ve been in a position to create a hyperlink between my Dad and a sport I like a lot, figuring out that every time I play Suikoden II sooner or later, I’ll really feel like he’s just a bit bit nearer to me. 

Mental Health & Self-Discovery

Alongside grief, video video games discover different psychological well being points far more generally now than 20-30 years in the past, significantly with the onset and recognition of indie video games. Also tackled are the causes of poor psychological well being, with video games exploring subjects 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 despair over the previous few years. Alongside that, rising up in a world the place LGBTQ+ folks had been hardly ever seen in standard media, particularly video video games, and by no means in a optimistic mild, means self-acceptance could be tough. Not seeing your self represented out on this planet makes you query your self and your validity. 

I like that video video games are getting braver with exploring these sorts of subjects. 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 means of that may mirror your individual; 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 despair, seeing how it’s addressed, what help they’ve and questioning if comparable strategies may allow you to. 

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 Strange, Disco Elysium, and Firewatch are only a few examples of video games or collection that prominently grapple with psychological health-related themes and will give consolation, help, or moments of reflection to these affected. There’s an entire vary of video games now that you would be able to flip to for optimistic illustration, together with for LGBTQ+ and POC of us. Ensuring topics like these are talked about overtly and never hidden away is so vital for serving to us be extra authentically ourselves and to not solely stay, however to thrive. 

Escaping Modern Life with….Modern Life?

I wished to finish this characteristic with a extra fashionable, lighthearted sport. Not all consolation video games that remind you of a selected time and place should be centered on childhood. Bring in Persona 5! The newest entry within the Persona collection 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 entire life managed to skip Persona 1-4, however I did. P5 additionally launched at a time after I made a giant step in my grownup life—shifting in with a accomplice 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 residence, the climate altering from chilly to heat, exploring the brand new a part of city we had been residing in, and spending plenty of time taking part in Persona 5. I used to be additionally basking within the feeling of satisfaction once you really feel your life taking a optimistic step ahead. In some methods, P5 is the right 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 buddy? Do you exit for meals? Do you hang around at residence and research, or do you go to work?

It’s all about participating with the locations round you and revelling in a number of the trivia of day by day life, but in addition taking consolation from that and the simplicity it provides. When you’re not diving into large dungeons anyway! I additionally developed such a love for this forged that by the top of the sport I felt a part of the group and that I’d been on this wild journey with them. 

Sometimes we have to escape fashionable life as a result of it’s tough and our minds want house to breathe and be elsewhere for some time. Other occasions, fashionable life could be stuffed with pleasure, discovering happiness in smaller issues but in addition feeling linked to a much bigger world and neighborhood. Maybe 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.