5 games about social anxiety

THE social anxietyalso known as social phobia, is a disorder characterized by an intense fear of being judged or criticized in social situations, going far beyond common shyness. People who suffer from this disorder may experience physical symptoms such as palpitations, tremors, excessive sweating, muscle tension, dry mouth and even nausea when faced with situations in which they feel exposed. Moments such as presenting a project at school or participating in a meeting can trigger these reactions, making social interactions a constant challenge.

This heightened fear of being the center of attention can drastically limit an individual’s social, professional, and academic life, creating a cycle of avoidance and suffering. That’s why we decided to explore five games that address the issue of social anxiety, offering a way to understand and deal with the disorder through interactive and immersive narratives. These games bring to light the experience of those who live with social anxiety, helping to increase empathy and understanding of the topic.

1 – SAD RPG: A Social Anxiety Role Playing Game

A list like this couldn't be without a game specifically designed for this theme. Sad RPG: A Social Anxiety Role Playing Game is an indie project developed precisely to show how social anxiety affects the individual's life, including the protagonist's fears and insecurities in social situations. The idea here is to make a realistic representation of the condition, seeking to raise people's awareness and promote empathy towards those who have the disorder.

2 – Actual Sunlight

3 – Night In the Woods

Also a game that explores the theme of mental health a lot, here there are also several characters who appear to suffer from social anxiety. The protagonist Mae Borowski She often struggles to connect with others, facing feelings of inadequacy and discomfort, even when it comes to meeting friends from her hometown. It's as if she feels a lot of pressure to meet social expectations.

4 – Persona 5

The most commercial on the list, this RPG from SEGA and Atlus addresses several themes related to the psychology of the characters, and of course, social anxiety was not left out. The character Futaba Sakura is portrayed as an extremely introverted and socially isolated person, who tries to overcome her own fears to interact with other people.

5 – Fractured Minds

Fractured Minds is a puzzle adventure game developed specifically to raise awareness of mental health challenges. In this game, social anxiety is not directly addressed, but players experience different anxiety-related scenarios, such as fear, discomfort, and isolation.