**Author’s Note: This article was written strictly for conversational and entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. If you need help, please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider on this topic**
I recently received tough news that a lifelong friend and mentor of mine has metastatic cancer. The prognosis is poor, and I’m still trying to shake the shock off. My mind reels back to the recent string of losses I’ve experienced: from a close family friend to my own grandparents. Everyone has their own means to process loss and to grieve. As someone who plays video games, I’ve learnt to find solace in certain games to help me get through the tough times. Do you have a certain game or games you play to help you cope with grief and loss?
The wonderful thing about modern gaming is the existence of a variety of genres and experiences. From the old-school arcade types that boost your dopamine levels to modern narrative-driven adventure games that make you sit back and think about your life choices, I’ve found this medium can be such a helpful tool as we navigate the human experience.
When thinking about loss of life, I naturally think of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. Many theorized the deceased characters represent the five stages of grief: denial, bargaining, anger, depression, and acceptance (and we don’t not necessarily experience these in the same order). Link is a unique vehicle to showcase these experiences through the lens of others, and by helping the NPCs, it can almost feel cathartic. Personally, I stay away from Majora’s Mask because I get anxious over that three-day timer, but as I’ve mentioned in many of my articles and podcasts, no every game is for everyone. However, if you’re interested in this topic, there is a chapter that dissects this further in Dr. Bean’s The Psychology of Zelda. I talk about my thoughts on this book as a whole on a blog post at Another Zelda Podcast.
Another wonderful game that takes you through the stages of grief is Gris. If you are looking for a shorter more abstract experience, Gris is an excellent game to pass the time by and heal (We did a Talk the Walk podcast episode on the game).
Sometimes, one wants to venture more closely to these deep, but painful, emotions, and will gravitate toward a larger-than-life adventure game that packs a punch such as The Last of Us, Ghost of Tsushima, and God of War (2018) and Ragnarök. Whether it’s loss of a child or your friends, grief and loss affects us all. Perhaps the fantastical elements of a zombie apocalypse or mythology help put a level of “distance” to safety experience and sort out these confusing, deep emotions.
On the other hand, perhaps something utterly fantastical would be your preferred choice–something to take your mind off of that heavy presence, since sometimes playing a game that “hits too close to home” can be triggering. I’m currently playing Death Stranding 2, and the game design puts me in such a flow state, that it helps calm me down so I can process things at a later time when I have the mental strength to do so.
If you haven’t guessed by now, there are so many video games you can choose from to help you get out of whatever internal struggles you may have. And it all depends on your personality, your current state and needs, and your tolerance level. Whether it’s a cathartic experience or total distraction, we can leverage gaming as a useful tool. There are even gaming-related organizations that aim to support the players, such as Guardians Mental Health.
As for me, I will continue to engage in my Death Stranding 2 flow state by slowly and deliberately delivering packages (without falling down a cliff and damaging all my goods).
What video games got you through tough times of loss or grief? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
The Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast About Video Games
The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship podcast of Boss Rush Media and The Boss Rush Network. Each week, hosts Corey Dirrig, LeRon Dawkins, Stephanie Klimov, and Pat Klein, as well as their friends, fellow content creators, developers, and industry veterans come together to discuss their week in gaming, including what they’ve been playing, a randomly chosen rotating weekly segment, the Boss Rush Banter of the week, answer community write-ins, and more. New episodes are released every Thursday. Members of The Boss Rush Network’s Patreon will receive the exclusive Pre-Show at any tier along with other perks.
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