5 games that approach depression with sensitivity

Depression is a very serious matter and, unfortunately, there are sectors of society that still underestimate the damage caused by this disease. Broadly speaking, it has nothing to do with our feelings, but with a deregulation of brain neurotransmittersand therefore medical intervention is necessary. It goes far beyond “being sad” and needs to be treated like any other mental health condition. Unfortunately, this lack of understanding can delay diagnosis and treatment, further worsening the situation of those suffering from the disease.

Since art always reflects reality, it is only natural that video games also address issues such as depression in their narratives and characters. These games often bring to light deep emotional aspects, allowing players to experience and better understand this condition. With this in mind, we decided to list 5 games that deal with the subject of depression in a sensitive and engaging way, helping to raise awareness and provide a new perspective on this silent struggle.

1 – Oxenfree

This is a graphic adventure game developed by Night School Studio that shows the maturation of the protagonists, who are leaving adolescence and entering adulthood. It even won awards for “Best Story” in 2016, and has horror elements that touch the player’s feelings. The story explores themes such as trauma and grief, relationships, inner fears, and a bit of social anxiety. It’s worth checking out.

2 – Gray

3 – The Cat Lady

With a heavy story, but portraying the reality of many people, in The Cat Lady we follow the life of Susan Ashworth, a 40-year-old woman who struggles with depression and social isolation. Due to countless traumatic experiences and a feeling of hopelessness, Ashworth even considers giving up on life, but throughout the plot she increasingly values ​​self-knowledge. It explores the complexity of our feelings, which are often fickle, contradictory and not even we understand them.

4 – The Red Strings Club

The Red Strings presents a different narrative from the others on this list, as it shows a dystopian and futuristic world in which people's emotions can be manipulated and controlled. This ends up raising questions about the authenticity of the characters' emotions and also about personal freedom, and how much technology can make us, humans, become more and more like robots. It ends up presenting a moral dilemma for the player to reflect on whether manipulating our feelings is the best thing to do.

5 – Sayonara Wild Hearts

This game has an anime-style visual style and is described as a “musical action game” in which the protagonist is going through a moment of emotional transformation. With an unconventional narrative, throughout the game we face challenges and obstacles that symbolize internal struggles, proposing overcoming and healing.