When you’re feeling down, but you’re still able to play, try some of these games to help clear your head.
I don’t talk about this too often, but I suffer from depression and anxiety, both of which can be debilitating on their own. One of the worst things that happens when I’m sinking into an episode is I lose all appreciation for the things I love most, like video games. When I’m feeling low, it can be difficult to sit down, focus, and play a game — any game. The same happens to me with writing, and my ultimate passion is writing.
Depression makes even the easy things difficult
When you lack confidence and self-esteem, and you’re feeling just the lowest of lows, it’s really difficult to focus on even some of the easy things. That’s why people who suffer from these issues often have trouble doing what many would consider to be simple.
The trick is to get up and move. Get up and live, as best as you can, which is easier said than done. Something I’ve taken to doing when I’m struggling is I force myself to do some of those things I think I can’t. I encourage myself to function.
While doing this, I’ve noticed that some games are much better and well-suited to this mission.
8 excellent games to help clear your head and regain focus
Dark Souls series and Souls-likes
For some, this is going to be a terrible suggestion and I get that. It’s tough to play something frustrating when you’re already struggling mentally. But for me, the Souls-like games and Dark Souls series really helped me overcome my hurdles. It’s that aspect of trying, failing, and being reborn anew. While we can’t respawn in regular life, we certainly experience failures, struggles, and mistakes that we have to overcome.
I’ve been playing through the new Lords of the Fallen recently, which is helping me through my current struggles. But other games worth noting include Sekiro, Dark Souls 1-3, Bloodborne, Nioh 1-2, and a few others.
If you decide to give these types of games a shot, I recommend slowing down, taking your time, and letting your emotions flow through you while you play, without controlling you. The more comfortable you get with those frustrating aspects the better off you’ll be. Sometimes, that adversity is what helps us succeed. Besides, those fleeting moments where you finally beat a difficult enemy or boss offer sheer joy and excitement, something that’s hard to come by when you’re struggling.
Stardew Valley
What’s crazy about Stardew Valley is that it’s still being updated with new content to this day. That means there are a seemingly endless amount of things to do in the game. It’s relaxing, nothing really rushes you to complete a task, and you can go about your business farming, building, or exploring. The low-key and laid-back environment really helps clear your head when it’s awash with negativity.
Plus, it’s like reading a really good fiction book. Stardew Valley takes you away, allowing you to escape to a fantastical place that’s fun, quirky, and rewarding. Here, it’s less about the excitement or dopamine hits and more about stretching your legs and having the freedom to do, well, whatever it is you want to do.
Dave the Diver
Similar to Stardew Valley, Dave the Diver is a relatively low-key and laid-back game about fishing, cooking, managing a restaurant, and exploring. A parallel to mental struggles shows up in the game from time to time when Dave and other characters second-guess themselves. While the story for each character is not super in-depth, it does provide enough growth to make you feel like you’re doing something positive while you play. Sometimes, those little wins are what it’s all about — and can really help dig you out of those deep holes.
Not to mention, the world is beautiful. Exploring the blue hole, seeing all the underwater wildlife, and solving some of the mysterious quests and events that you encounter can fill your brain with more than all those dark, negative thoughts. If a game can whisk you away to another place, even for a brief period, that’s something to praise.
Forza Horizon 4
I’m really not a big driving game fan. I don’t play them often and when I do it’s usually for brief stints. That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it. But something else I’ve discovered, especially with the Forza series, is that it offers an endless slew of goals, achievements, and milestones. You basically roam the countryside completing races, events, and tasks, and although the game bombards you with so much to do, it never feels out of reach. There’s always a new milestone to achieve or a race to beat, with some pretty interesting and unique events popping up here and there, too.
If nothing else, you can boot up the game, drive, and enjoy a peaceful or high-octane ride — whichever you prefer. There’s something peaceful about going for a virtual drive to clear your head. Unfortunately, I believe Forza Horizon 4 has been removed from Steam, but the newer games are still available.
An old classic
From Vandal Hearts to Metal Gear Solid and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, heck to even the Fallout series or older Baldur’s Gate games, nostalgia can be a serious brain booster. The important thing to note here is that you’re choosing a game that’s special to you and that you had a strong relationship with at one time. The only thing I might suggest avoiding is an MMO. Personally, those don’t provide enough experiential points while playing to meet the requirements of a depression-buster. That being said, you may find I’m wrong and your own experiences differ.
While playing, whatever the game is, try to fall back into that original state of mind you had many years ago. As long as we’re not talking about traumatic experiences, you’ll find a happier disposition in yourself, the more you play and the more you live in those moments.
The Persona Series
My top recommendations here are either Persona 5 Royal, or Persona 4 Golden, but honestly, the entire Persona series is a great experience. A lot of the dark themes in the games are about overcoming difficult obstacles, precisely what you’re doing mentally when you’re down. The games themselves aren’t too difficult, but they do provide enough challenge to stimulate your brain. Plus, there’s lots to do in each game and the social aspects of working with friends and companions can really warm things up when you’re feeling cold and alone.
Doom and Doom Eternal
I don’t know about you, but I love me some badass tunes and when I’m feeling super low, sometimes I’ll just put on the loudest, hardest metal tracks and let out the anger and pain. Comparable to that experience is blasting some zombies and demons into chunks to loud, high-octane music. Enter the new Doom games. They are perfect for this and there’s no denying they’re a ton of fun.
Auto-Battlers like Vampire Survivors
These are great everywhere, but if you happen to have a Steam Deck, even better. Some auto-battlers I would recommend include Vampire Survivors, Halls of Torment, Scarlet Tower, and Nomad Survival. They’re action roguelikes or bullet-hell games where your character auto-fires. You roam around a map, leveling up as you collect XP and defeat enemies and get to pick exclusive perks for each playthrough. As you play, you’ll also unlock a ton of new characters, maps, gear, and beyond. It’s fun, it’s rewarding, and seeing the progress with each run really helps keep your brain on an even keel, at least for me it does.
Take a break, even from these games to help clear your head
This might seem counterintuitive on a list of the best games for clearing your head, but sometimes, you just need to take a break for a while. Go indulge in one of your other passions or hobbies or maybe try to find one? It’s okay to step away from something you’re not enjoying and come back later.
The fear of missing out definitely makes it seem like you’ll be missing out on a lot but that’s simply not true. Even if you’re there playing new releases, you can’t play everything all at once. I’m sure you have a long backlog just like me which is filled with games you have yet to experience.
Either way, it might be time to step away until you feel a little better about playing games. It happens to the best of us.
What about you? Are there any games I mentioned that help you when you’re in a funk? Sound off below.
