The development of the first video games in history were limited by their own technology. Titles like Pong, Space Invaders or Asteroids lacked the plot depth and the power of reflection of titles with which we play today, with examples such as ‘The Last of Us 2’. This video game developed by Naughty Dog tells a story of revenge and redemption from two diametrically opposed points of view; or Death Stranding, a proposal by the genius of the sector Hideo Kojima and that is closer to the cinema of his friend Nicholas Winding Refn than to a video game to use.
Take note: these video games will make you reflect
Prejudices have exerted a tremendous burden on video games, calling them superficial and hyper-violent. But there is an incredible variety of titles for all ages, tastes and themes. There are even those that address the thorny issue of mental health. These are some of the most notorious.
Also read Albert García, Marc Brugat
Celeste
Our young protagonist is not called Celeste, but Madeline. Celeste is the mountain she must climb, despite being just a little girl. Created by Maddy Thorson and Noel Barry, Celeste falls within the pixel art platform games. In it, the creators have wanted to capture themes such as anxiety and depression: throughout the trip, Madeline will find versions of herself that will make it difficult for her.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
An extremely unique video game, with incredible sound design, developed together with neuroscientists, mental health specialists and other professionals. A woman named Senua must fight against her own psychosis, while she goes in search of the soul of her dead lover. A video game that aims to provoke empathy in patients with psychosis and schizophrenia.
Gris
A Spanish title recognized worldwide, thanks above all to its superb artistic section, more typical of pictorial art than of the usual video game. In Gris we will accompany a woman who has literally and figuratively lost her own voice. A simply exquisite platform and puzzle game.
That Dragon, Cancer
A very hard game to finish, and not because it’s difficult, but because of its theme: mourning a family member who died of cancer. Joel’s parents, a two-year-old boy who died due to this terrible disease, decided to design a video game that would help them in the process of recovering their normal life. ‘That Dragon, Cancer’ is that video game.
Also read WRITING
Spiritfarer
Another video game designed to deal with grief. ‘Spiritfarer’, developed by Thunder Lotus Games, tells the story of two characters who must collect lost souls along the Styx lagoon to make their trip to paradise beautiful and comfortable. The nostalgia and sadness for the absence of loved ones will truffle a set of stories that, without a doubt, will make our hearts shrink.
