Every May you see different organizations, groups and individuals seize the opportunity to raise awareness about mental health. It is a topic that now has much more research, understanding and knowledge, while helping people to recognize related problems and get help.
The stigma surrounding mental health issues is thankfully diminishing every year with popular media also covering various aspects of the topic. 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 demonstrating the importance of the subject, and the eagerness of gamers to engage with titles that demonstrate creativity and emotional intelligence as well. giving of shooty-shooty-bang-bang mechanics and spectacle.
The Switch has a number of games that address different aspects of mental health, such as identity issues, self-confidence, social skills, processing and processing trauma, and more. This list picks out some exceptional games on the Nintendo system that fall into this category; some of our team can certainly agree that these games are not only great to play, but also emotional and powerful experiences.
Publisher: Matt makes games † Developer: Matt makes games
Celeste is an exemplary amalgamation of style, mechanics, character and storytelling. A devilishly brilliant action platformer with enough skills to excite genre purists and the speedrunning community, while also providing a breakdown of gameplay elements to adapt and fit for all audiences. While the game is mechanically great, if known, the art style and story are truly special, with both a visual and emotional range and depth that will resonate and inspire. Celeste is the pinnacle of personal exploration and discovery on Nintendo Switch.
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Publisher: Digital returns † Developer: Nomada Studio
We are very careful when we use this word, but Gris is a masterpiece. The stunning visual style and heartbreaking score combine to create one of the most emotional pieces of interactive art you’ll ever play. It might be too short for some, the puzzles might be on the simple side and the lack of real challenge might not be to everyone’s taste, but this is a game that focuses more on vulnerability than ability and as long as you’re willing to come along for the ride, it is one that will stay with you for a very long time indeed.
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive † Developer: Simogo
Sayonara Wild Hearts is quite a unique experience, as it takes the concept of a video game pop album literally. While it takes time to get gold medals at all levels, in an ‘Album’ mode you can complete it in less than an hour by playing repeatedly, combining the music and gameplay for a unique journey. The journey is also special, as our protagonist confronts and overcomes their past through creative, emotional play and storytelling. Essential music-driven gaming, make sure to throw in some headphones too.
Publisher: Finjic † Developer: Infinite Autumn
Less of a game, and more of an interactive story with some light platforming and exploration to bring it all together, Night in the forest is one of the most rewarding experiences you can play on Nintendo Switch. A curiosity better played for yourself than described by us, it’s an indie title that is sure to impress with its enchanting soundtrack, disarming story and instantly recognizable character arcs. Strange and wonderful in equal measure.
Publisher: Games Mode † 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 you. There’s also some room to define the story, but the overall story is a huge force beyond the beautiful visuals and the soft puzzling on the platform. It’s an enjoyable gaming experience that’s also suitable for less experienced players, but it’s in our young protagonist’s journey – and the loss she has to face – that the true weight of this experience must be found.
Publisher: Ninja theory † Developer: Ninja theory
Ninja Theories have Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice on Switch in such beautiful form is a blessing not to be missed. The game itself is a psychological sensory experience that we highly recommend, but the fact that it’s been translated to Switch in such a complete way is the real surprise here. It doesn’t feel like a downgrade at all – it stands proudly next to the other ‘miracle’ ports on the system and may well outdo them in some ways. It’s a game with extraordinary 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: To put away
Florence is an evocation of the beauty, sadness and hope that come from every human connection we make in our lives, be it with art, nature or another person. It’s a concise and incredibly successful exploration of moments you’ll recognize from your own life, and the way it reflects thoughts and feelings through minor gameplay mechanics makes it one of the most gripping experiences we’ve enjoyed on Switch. or any other platform.
Publisher: Thunder Lotus games † Developer: Thunder Lotus games
Really nice game spirit sailor balances undemanding platforming, gentle exploration, and forgiving resource management with a beautifully realized world featuring a cast full of charming, lovable, memorable characters. It’s a pleasure to move in with an evocative, engaging atmosphere and a sequence of gameplay styles that flow superbly and never feel like filling. It’s a long game, but the cast and moving premise will keep many going until the very end.
Publisher: XD Network † Developer: Freebird games
To the moon is a powerful interactive story. It is a short game, but it manages to directly confront its players with uncomfortable situations and emotions that we will all struggle with at some point in our lives. Mental illness, death, heartbreak, tragedy… it’s all there, and treated fairly within a brilliant narrative set-up that allows us to see a lifetime of deconstruction, layer by layer, revealing the very human flaws and inevitable Interruptions of fate that determine how our lives ultimately come out. All in a matter of four or five hours.
Publisher: humble games † Developer: witch ray
unpacking manages to do several things very well at the same time. It’s a moving story told through interaction, it offers the creative latitude of a great dollhouse game, and it deftly applies established game design ideas from completely different genres. Its only real flaw – though not everyone will see it that way – is repetition, which is a necessary by-product of getting its message across. An effort has been made to make the controls on Switch satisfying, and the visual and sound design is delightful throughout, making Unpack, like any sane person’s cutlery, absolutely top-shelf.
Publisher: SA / UM † Developer: SA / UM
The story and dialogue of Disco Elysium, wonderfully engaging in its own right, was given a huge boost thanks to the excellent voice acting introduced for the Final Cut. The gameplay offers a myriad of branching paths for you to explore, and while the slow, methodical approach might put a few people off, it’s nonetheless one of the best-told stories in the game. each medium in recent years. With incredible writing that tackles the core of human nature, Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is a triumph and stands as one of the best RPGs available on Switch.
These are some of our featured games that address or reference aspects of mental health; be sure to share your thoughts and suggestions for the list in the comments below – we can very well supplement this selection if we’ve missed something special.