8 Video Games that Reflect the Theme of Mental Health
- Jul 26, 2024
- 10 min read
Updated: Apr 28
Mental health has never been more openly discussed in recent years, and for good reason. With growing awareness, social media conversations and an evolved generation that’s more willing to talk about emotional well-being, the topic itself has slowly become far less taboo than it once was.
In a broader sense, mental health isn't just about mental illness. It also refers to how we think, feel, and deal with everyday life. Research shows that our emotional, social and psychological well-being shapes how we cope with stress, connect with others, and find meaning in what we do.
So, where do video games fit into this picture?
Video games and mental health have become increasingly intertwined. Through storytelling, atmosphere, and interactivity, games are exploring emotional experiences in ways that feel deeply personal and, in some ways, more immersive than any other medium.
Unlike earlier titles such as Tetris, Mario or Pac-Man, today’s video games have evolved into far more complex experiences. Many now focus on rich narratives, emotional storytelling, and themes that can include mental and emotional well-being, making them a new kind of storytelling vehicle.
What makes games unique is that they’re not just something we watch passively, but something we actively take part in. By placing players inside fictional worlds, situations and challenges, video games can create experiences that stay with them long after they’ve stopped playing.
TL; DR
Video games help expand mental health awareness through interactive storytelling that reaches and resonates with wider audiences.
Expanding mental health awareness across diverse media is essential—not everyone reads, watches, or plays the same way.
Game developers need to strike a delicate balance when designing games that approach the broad and complex topic of mental health, ensuring it is handled with care and intention.
By weaving mental health themes into interactive storytelling, games contribute to a wider conversation in a medium that is both accessible and deeply resonant.
Table of Contents
How Video Games Can Support Mental Wellbeing
Before we dive into the list of games, it’s worth understanding why games and emotional well-being go together so naturally.
Stress relief through flow states. Games that demand focus, such as puzzles, strategy, or rhythm genres, can pull players into a state of flow where they forget their realities temporarily. This gives their mind true rest from the weight of their daily stresses.
Safe emotional expression. Character-driven stories give players permission to feel the emotions that come with the character experiences in a safe space. It helps them process emotions they may struggle to feel or name in real life.
Building resilience through repeated failure. Games can teach players to try, fail, and persist. It is a cycle that mirrors challenges in life where if we fail, it’s not game over; we get to try again and come back stronger. Over time, this builds a stronger mind.
Narrative choices that encourage reflection. Games that ask players to make morally complex decisions nudge them toward self-awareness. It prompts them to reflect on their own values and emotional responses as they would in real-life situations.
Comfort through immersive worlds. Escapism in real life often gets a bad rep because people tend to associate it with the avoidance of problems. However, there’s an important distinction. Immersive worlds can offer a form of healthy escapism, giving players a space to breathe, reset, and return with a clearer mind, much like getting lost in a book or movie.
8 Game Titles That Explore Themes of Mental Health
The following games explore mental health themes in varied forms — through adventure, horror, and even puzzle gameplay. What they show is that emotional storytelling isn't limited to one genre; it shows up across all of them, often in the most unexpected places.
1. The Beginner’s Guide – When the Need to Be Understood Becomes Its Own Prison
Initial release date: October 1, 2015
Genre: Walking Simulator, Adventure, Indie
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Mac operating systems
Developer: Everything Unlimited Ltd.
The Beginner's Guide is a first-person walking simulator in which game developer Davey Wreden (the creator of The Stanley Parable) guides players through a series of games made by a mysterious creator named Coda. From Coda’s earliest work to his final piece, each game hints at where Coda was emotionally and what he may have been carrying.
It explores themes around creative burnout, loneliness, and the desire for validation. Feelings that are rarely spoken about openly but are quite recognisable once players experience them.
The narrative turns the lens on the narrator himself, revealing how projection, obsession, and the need to be understood can quietly distort the way we see the people around us. It paints a picture of how emotionally dependent we can become on others without even realising it.
Players have almost no agency in this game. You walk, you listen, and you observe. This passivity is intentional. The game wants players to feel like spectators, because that's exactly the point it's making.
Also read: How Art Can Impact Your Mental Health
2. Fran Bow – A Child’s Mind at War with the World Around Her
Initial release date: August 17, 2015
Genre: Adventure, Psychological Horror, Puzzle
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Android, PlayStation 4, macOS, Windows
Developer: Killmonday Games
Fran Bow is a point-and-click psychological horror adventure game following Fran, a young girl placed in an asylum after witnessing a traumatic event. Players navigate a disturbing alternate reality alongside Fran, piecing together what happened while trying to help her find her way home.
The themes explored here are childhood trauma and the coping mechanisms the mind builds around pain it isn’t ready to face.
The game tells the story of a child dealing with memory loss and hallucinations and it does so with a visual style that is equally beautiful and haunting. What makes Fran Bow quite striking is its quiet reminder that emotional struggles don't have an age limit.
3. The Binding of Isaac – Surviving a Childhood that Never Felt Safe
Initial release date: September 28, 2011
Genre: Roguelite, Action-Adventure, Shooter
Platforms: Linux, Microsoft Windows, Mac operating systems
Developer: Edmund McMillen, Florian Himsl
This famed roguelike dungeon crawler follows Isaac, a young boy who escapes into the basement to flee his religiously fanatical mother, fighting through increasingly nightmarish monsters and environments along the way.
The game touches on themes of abuse, guilt, shame and religious trauma. It uses dark biblical imagery to explore the psychological weight that manipulation and fear can leave on a child.
The nightmare world Isaac investigates isn’t just a game setting; it’s a window into his internal world where every monster and environment feels like a manifestation of something he has already lived through.
The roguelike structure reinforces this theme. The repeated cycle of trying, failing, and trying again mirrors the exhausting persistence of a child living through ongoing trauma with no way out.
4. Silent Hill 2 – When Guilt Builds the Monsters Around You
Initial release date: September 24, 2001
Genre: Survival Horror, Puzzle, Third-Person Shooter, Adventure
Platforms: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, Xbox
Developers: Konami, Team Silent, Creature Labs, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan
Silent Hill 2 is the second instalment of the largely influential video game series. It’s a survival horror game in which James Sunderland travels to the fog-shrouded town of Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his deceased wife, only to confront the horrors that are far more personal than they first appear.
This game touches on themes of grief, guilt, and self-punishment. Every monster James encounters is a manifestation of his own fears and guilt. They are the pieces of his own psyche, and the town itself is his mind.
The slow pacing, limited visibility, and disorienting environments force players to feel lost and unsafe, much like James’s disassociated psychological state from the inside out.
5. Spiritfarer - Not All Goodbyes Are Cruel
Initial release date: August 18, 2020
Genre: Indie Management Sim, Story Rich, Emotional
(Modern) Platforms: Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS
Developer: Thunder Lotus Games
Spiritfarer is a cosy management game where players play as Stella, a young woman who takes on the role of ferrymaster for the dead. She sails between islands, builds homes for spirits, and helps them find peace before they move on.
The game explores themes of grief, loss, and the process of letting go. It shows that sometimes, the process can be met with warmth and quiet tenderness rather than heaviness.
Spiritfarer stands out in how it reframes grief as an act of care. Each spirit you accompany has its own personality, backstory, and emotional baggage. Learning to understand them before saying goodbye mirrors the very real experience of losing someone gradually. It never tells you how to feel. It simply lets you sit with it.
6. Vampire Therapist – Learning to Heal Others While Confronting Your Own Wounds
Initial release date: 18 July 2024
Genre: Visual Novel, Dark Comedy, Alternate History
Platforms: Steam PC
Developer: Little Bat Games
Vampire Therapist is a darkly comedic therapy simulator visual novel where players play as a centuries-old cowboy vampire who decides to learn cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help mortal patients work through their everyday emotional struggles.
The themes explored here are self-acceptance, guilt, self-loathing, and what it means to carry the weight of a very long past.
This game sneaks real therapeutic ideas into a completely absurd setting. By wrapping genuine concepts around vampire humour, the game makes the idea of working through our thoughts feel a lot less intimidating. It’s rather educational, where players are essentially learning how to recognise unhelpful thinking patterns and how to respond to them in an engaging way.
7. That Dragon, Cancer – What it Means to Love Someone You Cannot Save
Initial release date: 12 January 2016
Genre: Story-Rich, Walking Simulator, Narration
Platforms: Steam PC
Developer: Numinous Games
That Dragon, Cancer is an autobiographical game created by Ryan Green and his wife Amy, documenting their experience raising their son Joel, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer at twelve months old. Despite having no facial expressions or conventional gameplay, it’s one of the most emotionally affecting games on this list.
The themes explored here are grief, parental love, faith, and the kind of loss that begins before someone is even gone.
The world Joel’s parents built is filled with quiet symbolism of both cancer and mental peril, such as black trees, vast oceans, and spaces that feel too large and too still. Much like The Beginner’s Guide, players tap, listen, and observe passively. The restraint mirrors the powerlessness of a parent who can love fully but cannot fix what’s happening to their child.
8. Night in the Woods – It’s Okay Not to be Okay
Initial release date: 21 February 2017
Genre: Story Rich, Adventure, Choices Matter
Platforms: Steam PC
Developer: Infinite Fall
Night in the Woods is a narrative adventure game where players play as Mae Borowski, a college dropout who returns to her small hometown and struggles to reconnect with her past, her friends, and herself.
Themes surrounding this game include disconnection, aimlessness, and the quiet unease of early adulthood. That feeling of falling behind in a world that seems to have moved on without you.
Mae’s internal monologue is honest. She isn’t a hero finding her path, but a young adult who feels out of place, and the game portrays that with compassion rather than judgement.
Each day, players choose which friend to spend time with, and the choices they make shape the relationships of each character in the game. It’s a design that mirrors how connection works, not through grand gestures, but through showing up consistently, where small moments of joy and connection make those breakthroughs feel earned.
Why Talking About Mental Health is Important
While mental health discussions are more common today than ever before, stigma still exists, particularly among generations who were raised to push through pain in silence. Disorders are a concern that affects many, and despite their universal nature, support can be rather challenging.
Fortunately, mental health awareness has grown in recent years, driven by those who are bringing it into the spotlight through discussions, media, or entertainment. It’s slowly helping to change how we talk about and relate to mental health. What was once considered taboo is gradually finding its place in every dialogue.
This is where storytelling plays an important role. When we see our inner experiences reflected in the content we consume, it does something simple but powerful. It tells us what we’re feeling has a name and that we are not alone.
We at TESSR understand the importance of mental health. It’s important that all creatives, whether you’re an animator, graphic designer or writer, give time to yourself and rest. Your well-being matters just as much as the work you produce.
None of the games in the list should act as a substitute for professionalism, but we hope they offer a moment of reflection. If you are struggling in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional or someone you trust.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can video games help with stress?
Yes, video games can help with stress by giving the mind a temporary shift in focus from everyday pressures. When stress builds up, it’s easy to get stuck in repetitive thought loops, and video games can act as an interruption to that cycle. Moreover, they can provide a sense of control through clear goals and structured systems, unlike real life, where not everything can be controlled, and uncertainty can increase stress.
What types of games are best for mental well-being?
Cosy genres are a go-to for video games for mental well-being, as they are often low-stakes gameplay that relaxes players. These cosy games are Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing and Bejewelled, to name a few.
Are there other fun ways to de-stress?
Doing creative exercises like writing prompts, doodling, or even picking up a new hobby can help de-stress your mind and body. It engages your creative mind and lets you explore without the constraints of work.
Author Bio
The TESSR Editorial Team is a collective of creatives and project management practitioners who enjoy sharing real-life experience on project management, creative workflows, and well-being in the creative industries. The team wants to help creative leaders, project managers, and individuals in animation, design, and creative studios understand the benefits of project management. So, creatives can all create with more freedom and, together, build a more sustainable creative culture.
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