Each May you will see different organisations, groups and individuals taking the opportunity to raise awareness about mental health. It is a subject that is now associated with much more research, understanding and knowledge, helping people identify related issues and get help.
Thankfully, the stigma surrounding mental health issues is being broken down every year as popular media also address different aspects of the issue. Mainstream movies and TV shows are now increasingly portraying mental health, and gaming is no different. In the gaming space, this is often in the indie or download space, but there have been some great success stories that show the importance of the subject and the eagerness of gamers to delve into titles that display creativity and emotional intelligence on the side Shooty shoot bang bang mechanics and spectacle.
The Switch has a number of games that address different aspects of mental health such as: B. Questions of identity, self-confidence, social skills, processing and dealing with trauma and more. This list selects some exceptional games on Nintendo’s system that fall into this category; Certainly part of our team can understand that these games are not only great to play, but also offer emotional and powerful experiences.
Publisher: Matt makes games / Developer: Matt makes games
Celeste is an exemplary fusion of style, mechanics, character and storytelling. A devilishly brilliant action-platformer with enough skill to delight genre purists and the speedrunning community, while offering a gameplay element breakdown to adapt and appeal to all audiences. While the game is mechanically great, albeit familiar, the art style and narrative are truly special, displaying both visual and emotional range and depth that will resonate and inspire. Celeste is the absolute pinnacle of personal exploration and discovery on Nintendo Switch.
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Publisher: Devolver Digital / Developer: Nomada Studio
We’re very careful when we use that word, but Gris is a masterpiece. Its stunning visual style and heartbreaking score combine to create one of the most emotional interactive works of art you will ever play. It might be too short for some, its puzzles on the simple side, and the lack of real challenge might not be to everyone’s liking, but this is a game that focuses more on fragility than skills and as long as you’re willing, go with it , it is one that will stay with you for a very long time.
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive / Developer: Simogo
Sayonara Wild Hearts is quite a unique experience as it takes its concept of being a video game pop album literally. Although it will take time to get gold medals on all levels, an “Album” mode can ensure that you complete it in under an hour on repeated plays, with music and gameplay combining in a unique journey. The journey is also special as our protagonist confronts and conquers his past through creative, emotional play and storytelling. Essential music-driven gaming, make sure you plug in some headphones too.
Publisher: Finji / Developer: Infinite case
Less a game and more of an interactive story with light platforming and exploration to tie it all together. night in the forest is one of the most rewarding experiences you can play on Nintendo Switch. An oddity better played on its own than we describe, it’s an indie title that’s sure to make an impression with its enchanting soundtrack, disarming story, and instantly identifiable character arcs. Strange and wonderful at the same time.
Publisher: mode games / Developer: Sketchbook Games
In Lost Words: Beyond the Page You play as a young girl exploring her imagination, using words and creativity in very literal ways to shape the world around her. There’s also some wiggle room to dictate the story, but the overall narrative is a major strength beyond the beautiful visuals and gentle platforming puzzle. It’s an enjoyable gaming experience suitable for less experienced players, but it is in our young protagonist’s journey – and the loss she must overcome – that the real weight of this experience lies.
Publisher: Ninja Theory / Developer: Ninja Theory
Having Ninja Theory Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice on Switch in such good shape is a blessing not to be missed. The game itself is a sensory psychological experience that we wholeheartedly recommend, but the fact that it’s been so fully translated into Switch is the real surprise here. It doesn’t feel like a downgrade at all – it stands proudly alongside the other “miracle” ports on the system and arguably outperforms them in some ways. It’s a game with exceptional use of sound, some undoubtedly dark and challenging stories, and emotional moments that will stay with you for a long time.
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive / Developer: Mountains
Florence is an evocation of the beauty, sadness and hope that comes from every human connection we make in our lives, be it with art, nature or another person. It’s a succinct and incredibly successful exploration of moments that you’ll recognize from your own life, and the way it mirrors thoughts and feelings through small gameplay mechanics makes it one of the most immersive experiences we’ve had on Switch or any other platform.
Publisher: Thunder lotus games / Developer: Thunder lotus games
A really enjoyable game wrong way driver balances low-key platforming, gentle exploration, and forgiving resource management with a beautifully rendered world with a cast full of charming, likable, and memorable characters. It’s a pleasure to navigate with an immersive, endearing atmosphere and a range of playstyles that work brilliantly and never feel like padding. It’s a long game, but its cast and touching premise will keep many hooked to the end.
Publisher: XD network / Developer: Freebird Games
To the moon is a powerful interactive story. It’s a short game, but it manages to confront its players head-on with uncomfortable situations and emotions that we all deal with at some point in our lives. Insanity, death, heartbreak, tragedy… it’s all in here and treated honestly in a brilliant narrative build that allows us to see a life deconstructed layer by layer, revealing the very human flaws and inevitable disruptions of fate, the how shape our life ultimately develops. All within four to five hours.
Publisher: Modest games / Developer: witch ray
unpacking manages to do several things very well at the same time. It’s a touching story told through interaction, offering the creative scope of a great dollhouse game and cleverly applying established game design ideas from vastly different genres. Its only real flaw – although not all will see it that way – is repetition, which is a necessary by-product of getting its message across. Efforts have been made to make the controls on Switch satisfying, and the visual and sound design is delightful throughout, making unboxing, like any sane person’s cutlery, absolutely first class.
Publisher: BRIDLE / Developer: BRIDLE
Disco Elysium’s narrative and dialogue, which is wonderfully compelling on its own, received a massive boost thanks to the excellent voice acting introduced for the final cut. The gameplay offers a variety of branching paths for you to explore, and while the slow, methodical approach may put some people off, this is still one of the best-told stories any means from the last few years. With an incredible writing style that gets to the heart of human nature, Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is a triumph and stands as one of the best RPGs available for Switch.
These are some of our recommended games that address or reference aspects of mental health; Make sure to share your thoughts and suggestions for the list in the comments below – we can add to this selection if we’ve missed anything in particular.
https://www.nintendolife.com/features/11-switch-games-to-play-during-mental-health-awareness-month 11 Switch games to play during Mental Health Awareness Month