In essence, what game do you play when you are feeling down, under the weather, or depressed, and what does it do for you?
Mine would be Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. It is one of the first games I have beaten as a kid, and is probably the game I have completed the most amount of times. Everytime I play it, it brings me back to important or comfortable times in my life. It’s also one of those games that I just wish I could live in, and everytime I return to this game is liking visiting an old home, or visiting old friends, which I guess is fitting and somewhat comforting given the nature of the game. I grew up with the DX version, but I’ll play the original and the Switch remake as well for a slightly different experience. They all have their own way of making the experience feel different or fresh, like the different glitches between the original and the GBC versions, the attention to detail put into the remake, and the feeling of playing the OG version in a Super Gameboy if I’m feeling really old school. It’s one of those games where no matter which version I play, it will always take me to a place of comfort.
Megaman Legends and all associated games. There’s a powerful nostalgia that is a fusion of classic Playstation polygon graphics, modest voice acting, story (even for something as simple as spotting a piece of trash and kicking it into a kiosk where someone’s working, something not easy to accomplish with the controls of the day), and more. I fell in love with Bach’s Air as it played in the background of the local museum. The Misadventures of Tron Bonne warned me very early about the real dangers of capitalism long before I was ready to be an adult.
Legends 1 and 2 had a subtle and simple morality system, the signature bright blue armor slowly and gently darkening in color the more bad acts you performed, and with people reacting accordingly.
There’s a beauty in the nostalgia, but also a sadness if you pay attention to the story with an adult’s eyes.
Spoiler Warning
You can figure out where in the grand timeline of Megaman games this series plays, and you can deduce the harsh fate that awaits the human populace from earlier entries as well as glean some hope that somehow, against all odds humanity manages to survive in one form or another.
Spoiler End
For such a simple tale in the surface, it can be surprisingly complex and fulfilling. I wouldn’t hail it as the best entry of all time, but having picked up the first game again a couple of years back and having played it to completion I was shocked how it held up.
Great question! Didn’t even have to think about it. It’s got to be Hardspace: Shipbreaker. It’s the game I go to whenever I’m down and just need to sink into something familiar and simple. I can just be an anonymous roughneck nobody, floating in orbit far above a ruined earth, taking old decommisioned spaceships apart for salvage. The Mackerel Exolab with the large Solar Sails is my favourite ship. It’s just really peaceful but with the slight risk of sudden death to keep me on my toes hehe
For an endless/fuck around game it would be sims 2. For something you can replay over and over I’d go for silent hill 2
(Heavily modded) Rimworld. it’s like stardew valley, but with consequences and non-scripted relationships that aren’t based around throwing items at people’s faces.
Slay the Spire right now. Just mindless enough that I don’t have to think too hard, but also engaging enough that I don’t think about being sick.
Otherwise I’d go with Link to the Past.
Darkest Dungeon
It’s depressing when I feel fine, but when I’m feeling terrible, it’s comforting.
"Yes, game. The world is a terrifying broken place full of pain and anguish. You understand me. We are friends. ❤️ "
Super Metroid. Fantastic design and great soundtrack. The game just makes me happy.
Forza horizon 5. It’s easy to just drive around for ages without thinking too much, but just enough to stop you thinking about other things
World of Warcraft, civilization or football manager for me.