The Effects of Stress
People from different walks of life are bound to experience stress, in one way or another. Whether your stressors are temporary or ever-present, it’ll take a toll on your mind and body if you simply let it fester—but how so?
While stress is a natural response, too much of it for too long can spiral into issues like anxiety, depression, insomnia and/or headaches, a weakened immune system and heart disease—which only scratches the surface. Ultimately, chronic stress can negatively impact bodily systems, which may include musculoskeletal, nervous, respiratory, endocrine, cardiovascular, digestive, immune and reproductive systems.
There are many ways to manage stress, and ultimately, what works best depends on you. Approaches to stress relief include meditation, spending time with loved ones, exercise or engaging in hobbies—like gaming.
How Playing Videogames Can be Stress Relieving
Reaching for your controller or launching up Steam is something many look forward to, after a long day. But why? Gaming can result in the release of the feel-good chemical, dopamine; it also can be meditative, alternatively known as the creation of a flow state. Alternatively, gaming can be a vessel for creativity and art—the age-old method to destress.
And most glaringly obvious, it brings joy to players. When you win a round, complete a level or conclude a request, the rewards you gain in a game can feel fulfilling. But there’s a little more to it. Videogames can relieve stress for reasons unique to its genre:
1. Puzzle Games: Superliminal
Initial release date: November 12, 2019
Genre: Puzzle Video Game, Walking simulator, Adventure
Platforms: macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Android, iOS
Developer: Pillow Castle Games
Puzzle games create a sense of accomplishment, release dopamine and refine focus—but how does the latter help reduce stress? To put it simply, when your brain is dead set on trying to figure out a solution to something, it is distracted from the negative external forces one may face.
Superliminal is a great puzzle game if this genre is up your alley. Instead of traditional puzzles where players would have to match up colours or shapes, Superliminal plays with optical illusions, forced perspectives and physics. Its premise surrounds a main character, who is partaking in a dream study. But the dream loops, and players are stuck in a seemingly endless cycle. The goal of the game is to wake up.
This surreal game is played in first person, with a unique mechanic central to gameplay. Essentially, to solve otherwise impossible puzzles, players must change the sizes of objects they pick up. If you hold an object far away—making it look smaller due to perspective—it shrinks. The game scales items to sizes that players have last viewed them as.
2. Cosy Games: Frog Detective
Initial release date: November 22, 2018
Genre: Adventure, Comedy
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
Developer: Worm Club, Thomas Bowker, Grace Bruxner
Cosy games are a broad genre in the industry. It could be a farming game, a management simulator or a city builder, but ultimately, these video games are designed to be relaxing—they have low stakes, cute graphics and little to no violence. It’s perfect for a person who wants to immerse themselves in a world outside reality, who might not have the skills or the PC specs to play a more elaborate video game.
In Frog Detective, players play as an endearing andromorphic frog. It’s set on a small island, with light-hearted characters and cheerful visuals—and despite the name of the game, there isn’t much mystery-solving to be done. Do simple tasks, explore the map and speak to quirky residents. You cannot die or lose—while you do have an overarching goal, the main takeaway from this game is to engross in the lively world of Frog Detective.
In the first game, the Frog Detective gets a call from their superior about the appearance of an apparition on an island. So, the Detective sets out with their trusty magnifying glass to the haunted island. Your objective is to find the ghost, if there really is one, by meeting several people and collecting trinkets.
3. Horror Games: The Haunting Ground
Initial release date: April 21, 2005
Genre: Survival horror, Puzzle Video Game, Action-adventure game
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2
Developer: Capcom
Playing a horror game when you’re stressed may sound counterintuitive—but it works for a few reasons. Most notably, you aren’t in any real danger when you’re playing a game, so despite the horrifying positions you are situated in, you are still in control. Your body and mind knows this—the nervous system releases feel-good hormones when it recognises that we are in actuality, safe and sound.
There are many great horror games—Rule of Rose, Resident Evil, and Darkseed. But The Haunting Ground is an overlooked game, that is a near-perfect stalker horror. It involves well-fleshed-out antagonists, a complex player character named Fiona, and Hewie—a White Shepherd that is highly integral to both gameplay and endings. Run, hide and evade from the enemies that Fiona cannot attack—that Hewie can. However, note that the damage done is only temporary.
As you explore the castle that The Haunting Ground is set in, stalker enemies can appear randomly. Fiona has limited stamina and can fall into panic attacks, in which the screen and music will be affected, making it harder to escape from enemy attacks. But that’s not the only way the game instils tension into you. Stakes rise if you hide in the same spot too many times—enemies will learn and find you more easily. As with other games in this list, The Haunting Ground has miles more to the game than what is summarised, like how your canine companion has to be trained, the puzzles to be solved and alchemy. So, to find out more—pick this game up on your desired platforms.
4. RPG Games: Baroque (original Saturn ver.)
Initial release date: May 21, 1998
Genre: Roguelite, Adventure game, Japanese role-playing game
Platforms: Sega Saturn
Developer: Sting Entertainment
Movies, music, books and games have one main thing in common—they’re all a form of escapism. However, more specifically, role-playing games (RPG) force its players to completely assume the role of a character in a fictional universe. It detaches you from your temporal worries and places you in a world where your stressors do not exist.
Baroque is a roguelite RPG dungeon crawler. Roguelites specifically are only partially like Rogue, still staying within the bounds of the main three qualities of the original game: Randomly generated levels and permanent death. However, it may diverge in areas like meta-progression or a lack of turn-based combat. Baroque is set in a post-apocalyptic world, where the main action takes place in the Neuro Tower. You can find unique weapons, items and... worms—which, unless you store them in a designated orb, you will lose if you die. And just like any other great roguelite, the more you play the more you learn—enemy attack patterns and all.
When you first enter the game, you play as a character who is part of an organisation. Its collective goal is to eliminate the deity that resides at the bottom of the tower. The world is riddled with mutants called Grotesques, which you will find in abundance during your descent of the Neuro Tower. It’s a complex videogame, with a plot just as layered—so any further explanation will spoil the rest of Baroque. If anything piques your interest, it’s highly recommended that you check this game out for yourself.
5. Comedy Games: Earthbound
Initial release date: August 27, 1994
Genre: Japanese role-playing game, Adventure game
Platforms: Super NES, Game Boy Advance
Developer: HAL Laboratory, Ape, Inc.
Laughter can be the best medicine. It’s been researched extensively, proving to improve mood, stimulate organs, improve circulation and more specifically, reduce stress hormones. Levels of cortisol fall when you laugh!
Earthbound is an offbeat JRPG. It’s a classic in the genre, praised for its art direction and writing—it’s subversive and humorous, while dealing with themes of nihilism and inner disturbances. This game takes off when a meteor lands by one of the four main characters, Ness. You learn that you must collect eight melodies, from sanctuaries around the world, to harness enough power to defeat the universal cosmic destroyer, Giygas.
Part of the Mother series, its humour lies in its absurd world and absurd situations, in which characters are nonchalant to. The video game breaks the fourth wall and doesn’t take itself too seriously—yet it doesn’t go overboard, making the humour in the game feel relaxed and unforced. Gameplay-wise, Earthbound doesn’t stray too far from traditional 2D Japanese role-playing games—combat is turn-based, exp is awarded after battles and you can put points into player stats. This cult classic is perfect for someone who seeks a good laugh, alongside solid gameplay and story.
Conclusion
Each of these video games has its own charms and quirks, so pick one—or all—to unwind after a hard day. But remember, this is just one way to de-stress. Games indeed are stress relieving to many, but if it doesn’t completely work for you, don’t stop looking for what works for you.
Author Bio
From Malaysia, Leia Emeera is a writer at TESSR, and a published author. She has been putting pen to paper ever since she learned how to, and has an anthology to her name, titled 'Ten'. Leia loves music, games and her beloved labrador retriever, George. She aims to further her studies in English Literature and Creative Writing the moment her gap year ends. 'Till then, you will find her sitting behind a desk, writing with TESSR.
Connect with her on LinkedIn: Leia Emeera
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