Ever since the turn of the new decade, the world has been growing darker with each passing minute, and it's taken its toll on countless people. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt and take lives all around the globe, and many more people are finding themselves without work, trapped inside, and missing out on countless once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. While gaming is a passion that many individuals share, it's dropped considerably on the priorities list of the world. However, during such troubling times, it's integral to maintain one's mental health, and there are plenty of video games that are perfect for relaxing and connecting with loved ones safely and remotely.
It's no secret that Animal Crossing: New Horizons' massive success is partially due to its release at the beginning of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. Animal Crossing is an intentionally slow-paced game that's less about skillful maneuvers and more about creativity. Everyone has access to a plethora of decorative items and tools to make their islands look and feel however they want, and many players have found it can be a soothing and rewarding experience to watch their islands grow into something unique and adorable. Animal Crossing: New Horizons also allows its players to visit their friends' islands, so the game is a great way to connect with others and share creativity with the world.
Fall Guys' recent release was just as explosive as Animal Crossing, but mostly because it launched for free for PS+ members and offers people a fun way to play with each other online. It's extremely colorful and simple to understand, and that's exactly what makes it such a great experience with friends. It's an affordable and safe way to play with loved ones in a safe environment. Fall Guys also gets free updates so there will always be a reason to come back and see what's new. While there are other games that fill a similar role, like Fortnite and Warzone, these games are less inclusive and overall more stressful than the simple platforming battle royale functions found in Fall Guys.
Great Single-Player Games For Mental Health
Multiplayer games are great for connecting with others, but sometimes a single-player game with a focused narrative can be perfect for escaping to a new place for a while. While there are many phenomenal franchises out there like The Last of Us, Final Fantasy, Red Dead Redemption, Fire Emblem, and Dark Souls, Earthbound is the perfect story-centric game to play though right now because of its precisely executed metaphors for the problems of modern life.
Earthbound allows the player to observe the tragedies of the adult world through the perspective of an innocent child who progressively loses that innocence as the story unfolds. However, Earthbound juxtaposes these dark themes with its adorable art style and consistently comedic writing that has charmed countless players. Earthbound's story is such a touching and emotional experience because it uses its themes to make a statement about how it's possible to get through even the darkest times with the love and support of friends and family.
A great single-player alternative to story-centric games are puzzle games. Games like Tetris, Dr. Mario, and even mobile games like Candy Crush are great in a single-player environment because they are mentally taxing enough to grasp a player's full attention and focus while still providing them with the aforementioned sense of escapism. Regardless of preference, it's suddenly much more important to focus on self-care and self-love. These games may not be soothing or calming to everyone, but to those who are struggling to cope with the tragic nature of this pandemic and all the isolation that comes with it, please try playing any of these games, or do whatever else is necessary to find relief during these brutal times.