Rainy Day (PC)

Source: Screen Capture

Rainy Day is a text based game created by Thaisa. This game is very near and dear to my heart, as it depicts an existence plagued by anxiety and/or depression and the never-ending cycle of trying to get out. Trying to be productive. Trying to be meaningful. Trying to BE. It is not a long game, but it gets its own blog post cause it’s special and because I said so.

This game is all about choices. It’s easy to just pick the choices that you think are right. “She/He needs to go to work, so just get up and go to work already.” But the point is try to try to put yourself on another person’s shoes. It’s not a matter of “can” I get up, its fighting the voice that says, “SHOULD I even get up? What is the POINT? What will CHANGE if I get up today?” In the case of anxiety, it’s a lot of “WHAT IF... (insert terrible scenario here).”

This game will loop you through the same sequences of dialogue until you muster your way out and get out of the house to go to work. You have rent to pay. You must be an adult about this. How will you react when everything seems to go wrong? Will you be able to salvage what is left and move on? Or will you retreat and return home where you feel safe and secure…?

The art of the game is simple, often just small sketches, but I felt that the design really fit the game very well. The emptiness of the rest of the page with just that one small illustration matches the feelings of depression, I think. There is also a lot of blue, which is often associated with that down in the dumps, feeling "blue" of depression. The aesthetic is just well done.

I have struggled with depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember, and this game is so very real to me. You can try to call in sick to work, and you wonder why you are sick of people and you get this screen:

Source: Screen Capture

This entire screen is my life. My life of anxiety. It takes me forever to even call and make a doctors appointment. I know it needs done, I know that delaying is ridiculous but the feelings can be so overwhelming. I enjoy games that are given more meaning. Being able to relate to a game makes it so much more of an experience.

In any case, that is why this game gets a special blog post, and it so important to me. You can certainly try the game for yourself. It is free and can be played right from your internet browser by clicking *here* to go to the Itch.io page.

Happy Gaming, Friends!

Bell

Losing Control (PC)

"An occasional foray into negative emotions makes feeling normal that much sweeter." --Brandon Mull

Source: Itch.io Page

Losing Control is a game created by Lisa Janssens with programming help from Stef Colruyt. Losing Control is a game about the importance of negative feelings, and coming to terms with them. You play as a young lady, wrapped in winter gear, braving a snow storm. As you traverse through the storm, you will come upon small areas that almost appear as shrines. Examining these areas will provide some dialogue regarding a particular emotion and how it negatively can impact a person.

When I first started playing, I felt like we were almost going through the Kubler-Ross model for grieving. However, it soon struck me more as a piece on depression, or even many mental illnesses in general. It could apply to a myriad of conditions and circumstances. In the game you follow a circular path, similar to a cycle, and you trudge your way past each of the emotional landmarks a total of 3 times as your character comes to terms with her emotions and finally accepts them.

Source: Screen Capture from Game

I related to this game on a personal level. The feelings and emotions described are real feelings that many people experience through their lives, and it my case quite frequently when my depression flares up again. By walking a circular path, you’re going through the cycle of identifying your emotions, thinking of what those emotions mean to you, and finally accepting your emotions and using them in a positive way.

I like the graphics and imagery of the game. The void and emptiness of the snow backdrop adds to the feeling of the game, and the storm shows the struggle that the character is making to get through her feelings.

Source: Screen Capture from Game

Overall, I feel the game achieves its goal—to express the creator’s feelings and to help others who may be feeling the same. As I said before, in my struggles with depression, I recognize the cycle all too well. It’s a cycle that those who suffer with chronic depression know all too well. The game is thoughtfully written and lovingly crafted into a wonderful display.

I highly recommend playing the game for yourself, especially if you have experienced depression or other mental illnesses that involve your emotions. The game is free to download and play, and you can do so from the Itch.io page *here*.

Happy Gaming, Friends!

Bell