Games for Suicidals?
- Thread starter Lovelocke
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Plants vs. Zombies.
It's happy and sunny, but with extremely dark undertones.
Counter Strike Source is fun if you want to run botmatches.
I can have 32 bots at once, and it's fun to just have them rush each other and have huge battles.
It's unintentionally epic.
It's happy and sunny, but with extremely dark undertones.
Counter Strike Source is fun if you want to run botmatches.
I can have 32 bots at once, and it's fun to just have them rush each other and have huge battles.
It's unintentionally epic.
Well, erm... *cough*
Not many games really help there... >_>
Duty Calls was pretty hilarious, though. Painkiller is pretty fun, too... killing dudes usually helps a little...
Not many games really help there... >_>
Duty Calls was pretty hilarious, though. Painkiller is pretty fun, too... killing dudes usually helps a little...
Depends profoundly on the person. For some people, it's a silly notion that games could help at all.
Other people will want to experience darker things that coincide with their mood and let them perhaps think about emotions they feel in a different way. Braid comes immediately to mind in this case. And really, every person should be required to play Braid anyway.
But maybe they just want to feel some joy and happiness, in which case games like Animal Crossing or The Sims are nice.
Maybe they want a game where they can sit back, relax, and focus more on the story and such than on the difficulty - to take the pressure out of gaming. A lot of RPGs fit that nicely and older point-and-clicks like Grim Fandango are phenomenal for these purposes.
Perhaps they want to marvel at random surprises, comfortably explore an endless world, and build vast monuments as large as their imagination. Minecraft would be ideal there (highly recommend Peaceful mode for a more tranquil and sublime experience).
Or perhaps they just need to vent some frustration. Plenty of FPS and beat-em-up games to choose from there.
The thing I'd be most likely to aim for though is niche games. Being part of the "in-the-know" crowd with respect to cult, niche, and indie games can really bring a lot of joy to a person's life, just as any feeling of inclusion in an exclusive group. Games like Braid and Minecraft are nice options as are historical goodies like Grim Fandango (though if you go that route, be aware that there's one very brief point in Grim Fandango that requires a bit of software to artificially decelerate your processor).
Other people will want to experience darker things that coincide with their mood and let them perhaps think about emotions they feel in a different way. Braid comes immediately to mind in this case. And really, every person should be required to play Braid anyway.
But maybe they just want to feel some joy and happiness, in which case games like Animal Crossing or The Sims are nice.
Maybe they want a game where they can sit back, relax, and focus more on the story and such than on the difficulty - to take the pressure out of gaming. A lot of RPGs fit that nicely and older point-and-clicks like Grim Fandango are phenomenal for these purposes.
Perhaps they want to marvel at random surprises, comfortably explore an endless world, and build vast monuments as large as their imagination. Minecraft would be ideal there (highly recommend Peaceful mode for a more tranquil and sublime experience).
Or perhaps they just need to vent some frustration. Plenty of FPS and beat-em-up games to choose from there.
The thing I'd be most likely to aim for though is niche games. Being part of the "in-the-know" crowd with respect to cult, niche, and indie games can really bring a lot of joy to a person's life, just as any feeling of inclusion in an exclusive group. Games like Braid and Minecraft are nice options as are historical goodies like Grim Fandango (though if you go that route, be aware that there's one very brief point in Grim Fandango that requires a bit of software to artificially decelerate your processor).
I actually agree with a lot of people suggesting darker games. When really feeling depressed (than my usual depression), I tend to listen to more somber and mellow music or watch a bittersweet sad movie. Seeing super happy people or things tends to make me feel even worse.
I also recommend playing favorites from your childhood especially ones you haven't played in ages(Ecco the Dolphin, Amazing Penguin, Blaster Master are mine) or ones that are challenging but rewarding (Super Meat Boy, Super Kaizo World) to distract the mind, or hack and slash level grind games to just let your mind not think about anything (Diablo 2, Sacred 2, Borderlands).
I also recommend playing favorites from your childhood especially ones you haven't played in ages(Ecco the Dolphin, Amazing Penguin, Blaster Master are mine) or ones that are challenging but rewarding (Super Meat Boy, Super Kaizo World) to distract the mind, or hack and slash level grind games to just let your mind not think about anything (Diablo 2, Sacred 2, Borderlands).
I'd make them play viva pinata ( not party animals, the demo made me want to kill myself) Its just this game is so cheerful.
Would it be terrible to suggest Five Minutes to Kill (Yourself)? It usually picks me right up. The miniature injuries let you temporarily concentrate on something else and the game is short enough to play in a lunch break. Or you could try any adult swim game, really. They're all pretty distracting.
Actually there was a game built around theme of battling depression and suicidal thoughts, it's quite notable amongst the "Games are art" crowd and it can be played for free right here:
http://www.ludomancy.com/games/today.php
it's called "Today I die", check it out.
http://www.ludomancy.com/games/today.php
it's called "Today I die", check it out.
From my own experience, I'd say anything you can really immerse yourself in. Take your mind off whatever's bothering you for awhile and just escape into whatever game fits this description for you.
Animal Crossing is an empty wasteland populated by human stand-ins that are hollow and emotionless. There is no point, you struggle against your ever-increasing debt and try in vain to impress snooty home judgement committees. Fun if you're in a good mood, but to a depressive? A nightmare.
I'd suggest Ico for anyone with these problems. It's mostly a one-player game, which is better than a game with a co-op mode when you have no friends to play with. It has basic combat to take the edge off, some great puzzle solving to distract one's mind with, and the whole game is beautifully empty and expansive even in the castle's walls. It's sad at some parts, but mostly and ultimately happy. It makes me want to go out and explore, feel the sun on my face and get some exercise. I wish I had a copy...
Of course, exercise or working out, not video games, would be the best thing. Not only for the endorphin release, but because I discovered it's harder to hate yourself when your muscles feel pleasantly sore as an indicator that you worked hard and will be rewarded for it.
I'd suggest Ico for anyone with these problems. It's mostly a one-player game, which is better than a game with a co-op mode when you have no friends to play with. It has basic combat to take the edge off, some great puzzle solving to distract one's mind with, and the whole game is beautifully empty and expansive even in the castle's walls. It's sad at some parts, but mostly and ultimately happy. It makes me want to go out and explore, feel the sun on my face and get some exercise. I wish I had a copy...
Of course, exercise or working out, not video games, would be the best thing. Not only for the endorphin release, but because I discovered it's harder to hate yourself when your muscles feel pleasantly sore as an indicator that you worked hard and will be rewarded for it.
Red Faction Guerrilla
Garry's Mod
DooM (preferably ultimate)
Those three games should get you happy. RFG for the FUCK YEAH I CAN BREAK STUFF value, Garry's Mod for the FUCK YEAH I CAN FUCK AROUND value, and DooM for the FUCK YEAH I CAN FUCK FUCK FUCK CACODEMON value.
Do it.
Garry's Mod
DooM (preferably ultimate)
Those three games should get you happy. RFG for the FUCK YEAH I CAN BREAK STUFF value, Garry's Mod for the FUCK YEAH I CAN FUCK AROUND value, and DooM for the FUCK YEAH I CAN FUCK FUCK FUCK CACODEMON value.
Do it.