It’s mind-boggling to stop and consider how far storytelling in video games has evolved. Years ago, the most basic plot amounted to a city or princess needing saving. Now, look around, and you’ll see how much everything’s changed. Plots, gameplay and characters are more complex–and more unhinged.
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That’s not necessarily a bad thing, however. Sometimes, a little craziness is good. For many players, especially those with an interest in the world of psychology, games that dare to delve into issues of the human mind are just part of the fun and challenge. Especially when it’s presented cleverly and artistically, and there are many to be found, as these brilliant games will show.
Many of these games deal with serious content regarding depression, trauma, and mental illness.
10Sea of Solitude
Treading Treacherous Waters
Sea Of Solitude
Alone in a flooded city, Kay must navigate dangerous waters as the emotional troubles of her past manifest into giant red-eyed monsters. Each section and monster focuses on a specific point in Kay’s life, and it’s up to the player to delve into the root of her problems to progress and deal with the creatures standing in their way.
The overall game is fairly simple to pick up and play as you swim, climb or steer your way across an ever-changing world. ThoughSea of Solitude’swriting can be a bit on the nose at times, and the gameplay a touch too easy, its presentation, use of lighting and colors and its environmental design more than make up for its shortcomings.
9Firewatch
Retreating From Your Problems
The year is 1989. Your name is Henry, a married man who’s taken a job as a fire lookout in the wilderness of Wyoming. Far from your troubled life and society, your only lifeline is another lookout named Delilah.Firewatchmight seem like a simple walking simulator on the surface, but underneath, it’s an experience that deals with themes of isolation, loss, and paranoia.
From the beginning, you get a taste of Henry’s life and understand that the job is more than just an excuse for some outside exercise. Roaming the open land, his only source of communication is via a walkie-talkie to his supervisor, Delilah. As for what kind of relationship, that’s up to the player’s choices. The game nails the feeling of loneliness with an outstanding setting, strong writing and even has a building mystery as you and Delilah soon realize someone in the forest is watching you.
8Her Story
Interviews With a Murder Suspect
Don’t be turned away by the FMV-style gameplay. What seems like a forgotten Sega CD game is, in actuality, a disturbing look into the criminal mind. Her Story follows a nonlinear narrative as the player views clipped interviews with Hannah Smith regarding the whereabouts of her missing husband.
The whole game takes place on an old computer monitor, and it falls onto the player to piece together the interviews to understand Hannah’s story. What starts as simple interviews, however, unravels into an unsettling tale as you delve into Hannah’s life and psyche. As for what’s the truth and what’s the lie, that’s for the player to deduce as each tape takes you deeper into the rabbit hole of secrets, contradictions, and murder.
7Spec Ops: The Line
“Do You Feel Like a Hero Yet?”
Spec Ops: The Line
Spec Ops: The Line is what happens when a Call of Duty protagonist gets sent to Silent Hill. Spec Ops: The Line is a one-of-a-kind game. What looks like a forgotten military shooter turns into ahorrorstory that has the guts to show what war does to a soldier mentally, not just physically. Set in Dubai, what was supposed to be a rescue mission turns into an utter nightmare.
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This is one of the few games that dares to capture the effects and horrors of war crimes. From beginning to end, you see the impact the journey has on the protagonist as he changes from a professional soldier into a disturbed killer. It isn’t just the characters that go mad–even the game itself starts to lose it, to the point where even the loading screens are judging you. Don’t go in expecting a happy ending.
6Persona 5 Royal
Changing Hearts
Persona 5 Royal
If you’re familiar with thePersonaseries, you’re familiar with how the games incorporate Jungian Psychology into its world with the use of the unconscious mind, Personas, and Shadows. Sure, it’s doubtful the real Carl Jung envisioned the parts with super-powered teens battling gods, but that’s just part of theJRPGfun.
InPersona 5 Royal, you and your team of Persona-users have united to reform society by entering the unconscious worlds of criminals to steal their hearts. The game has long been praised for its gameplay, characters, and story, but the other thing that makes Persona 5 so amazing is how each criminal’s location, or Palace as they’re called, is represented. From a perverted coach to a corrupt politician, every Palace embodies the domain of their unconsciousness, and the game does a stellar job of making each feel unique, creative, and stand out.
5Disco Elysium
Understanding The Criminal Mind
Disco Elysium
This is more than a simple detectiveRPG–it’s an experience. InDisco Elysium, you’re Detective Harry DuBois, a once-decorated officer, now hungover and suffering from amnesia. Tasked with solving a murder, you’re thrown into an ugly world using only your skills and deductions. Choices matter in this story-rich game.
Everything about Disco Elysium is dripping with personality. Not just the characters, but even the skill tree. The talents you build will impact both your character and even the narrative as it shapes the unraveling plot. It’s all about thought and behavior as you attempt to solve the mystery, but just remember, as you’re attempting to get into the heads of criminals and suspects, it’ll feel like the game is trying to get into YOUR head too.
Expressing Grief Through Art
Though it’s a short game,Grisis an unforgettable work of art–and that’s not just a metaphor. Every image from Gris looks like something you’d see hanging in an art museum. Pair that with a soundtrack that’ll tug on your heartstrings, and you have one of the best indie platformers sinceJourney.
You play as Gris, a young woman suffering from grief after losing someone dear to her. Using her abilities, you’ll follow her dream-like journey across a changing and colorful world. The story isn’t fed to players, so it’s up to you to piece it together as you experience and feel the emotion packed into each level. And if you want another example of the game’s genius presentation, each level is broken into five stages, each representing the stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance.
3Night in the Woods
More Human Than It Looks
Night In The Woods
Don’t let the cutesy art design fool you. For a game with a zoomorphic style, Night in the Woods gets real. There’s a reason it’s often hailed as one of theall-time best indie titles. You follow the story of Mae, a young feline and college dropout who’s moved back to a hometown that’s changed. Her friends, her home, everything is different. Meanwhile, something strange is going on when a severed arm turns up.
It’s hard to fully describe this game without going into spoiler territory. Night in the Woods focuses more on the narrative and characters than gameplay. You make decisions and hang out with whomever you find most interesting, leading to incredible interactions, and dialogue that feels genuine and heavy for a game about talking animals. However, Night in the Woods has a sense of humor, featuring tons of charming and funny scenarios to elevate the more serious moments.
2Silent Hill 2
Manifested Horror
Silent Hill 2
TheSilent Hillseries is the embodiment of psychological horror. Every release has delved into the minds of its characters as they encounter locations and creatures ripped from their painful past. Though it wasn’t the first,Silent Hill 2is considered the best for its layers of depth and storytelling, making it one of themost disturbing video games ever made. There’s a reason why fans to this day continue to have full-on discussions about this unforgettable sequel’s complexity.
Coming to the town of Silent Hill, James Sunderland is searching for his wife. As he goes deeper into the foggy settlement, he’ll be forced to face the tragic truth of his past as they manifest into abominable monsters. However, James isn’t the only tortured soul who’s been called to Silent Hill. Other characters with their own troubled history have come, and the baggage they carry will affect his story too.
1The Psychonauts Series
They’ll Blow Your Mind & Break Your Heart
Psychonauts
Call it breaking the rules, but thePsychonautsseries represents the best of psychology in gaming without having to rely on horror. All three games follow the adventures of Raz Aquato, a young Psychonaut-in-training with gifted abilities. In his journey to become the best secret agent, he’ll be facing brain-snatchers and narcissistic villains.
Besides the fun variety of psychic-based powers you get to play around with, what makes the Psychonaut games so amazing is theirmind-blowing levels. Each occurs within a unique character’s mind, and every mental world is crafted around that specific character’s backstory. Some of the most memorable levels have dealt with themes involving identity disorder, inner demons, PTSD, Milkman Conspiracies and other mental health issues. Despite the heavy content, the series manages to present them in a mature, charming and creative manner. Impressive for games that are rated T for Teen.
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