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Let's discuss: Uplifting Games

The format of these posts is simple: let’s discuss a specific game or series!

I'm in quite a bad place mentally at the moment, so I wasn't really feeling like making a post. But then I thought, I could combine this in the form of a special discussion topic:

Let's discuss your favorite Uplifting Games. What helps you when your feeling down or stressed out. What game series has comforted you in harder times. Are there certain genres that work better for you in these times? Feel free to share anything that comes up and react to other comments. Let's get the conversation going!

If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).

Previous entries: Final Fantasy, Visual Novels, Hollow Knight, Nintendo DS, Monster Hunter, Persona, Monkey Island, 8 Bit Era, Animal Crossing, Age of Empires, Super Mario, Deus Ex, Stardew Valley, The Sims, Half-Life, Earthbound / Mother, Mass Effect, Metroid, Journey, Resident Evil, Polybius, Tetris, Telltale Games, Kirby, LEGO Games, DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire ::: spoiler spoiler


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61 comments
  • Stardew Valley is a good fit.

    You tend to your farm, help people, maintain relationships with people by gifting them and changing their lives.

    Unfortunately, i play the game like a maniac. Running around from morning 6 AM till 10 PM.

    • I have the utmost respect for ConcernedApe’s Stardew Valley, I’m happy it’s a success and I’ve played it plenty. I have to say though, there’s something in the game that leads some of us straight into a minmaxing management race-against-the-clock frenzy. I think I could play it casually, but I’d need an unwavering discipline… and that’s the problem.

      • Yeah. I pretty much have to play it with mods that double/triple the daytime length, or I just feel perpetual anxiety over not being able to get anything done in a day.

    • Gris - A beautiful platform puzzle game. A very emotional game, but one that makes you feel like you're rebuilding something in yourself. Gorgeous art, amazing dynamic soundtrack.
    • Meadow - I don't know how to describe this game. You log onto a server, pick a woodland animal as an avatar, and then you explore the world and meet other players. Your only means of communication is noises and emojis. It's so simple, yet so fantastic.
    • Bokida - Heartfelt Reunion - A minimalist art puzzle game. I haven't played it in a while, but I remember it being super immersive. I just had to finish it, to see how all of the pieces of the story fit together.

    Also, I hope you feel better soon.

    • Freshly Frosted - Puzzle game. Seriously, I don't remember the last time I felt so encouraged by the narrator. If you're in a bad mental state, I do recommend this one.
    • Lost in Play - Two siblings go on an adventure through a fanciful wonderland of their imagination...or is it?
    • Spiritfarer - A chill management game where you're Charon ferrying souls to the Everdoor. This one deals with death and saying goodbye to loved ones, but it does so in a very thoughtful and sensitive way. It definitely changed my paradigm.
    • A Hat in Time - Cute 3D action platformer. Silly fun.
    • Little Inferno - Despite its simplicity and obvious satire of consumerism/Capitalism, this has a very cozy feel and fun characters.
    • Tinykin - Adorable collect-a-thon platform puzzler with no enemies, only obstacles.
    • Gorogoa - Puzzle game with an interesting story that unfolds with each puzzle.
    • Doronko Wanko - You're a cute doggo making a house as messy as possible.
    • Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People - Fun, silly point and click. I also recommend the show.
    • Little Inferno can be beaten in ~3 hours and… let me check… yes, it’s on mobile! It’s by the people that made World of Goo, don’t sleep on it

      Hat in Time is a great modern 3D platformer, movement was fun and I liked the variety of characters across the levels. The Murder on the Owl Express quest was my favorite!

  • Frog Detective!

    It’s a lighthearted detective series, more of a walking sim with humorous characters than anything. The magnifying glass doesn’t even do anything! The dev did a fun talk about comedy in games if you’re into that

    Here’s a shot I got from the last game (corruption at cowboy county)

  • Actually playing games during dire emotional states throws fuel unto my dissociation/depersonalization/derealization problems; but just mindfully sitting in my favorite place in the Temple of the Moon on a private vanilla WoW server works great for me. The sounds, music, colors, lighting effects, and water create a very zen space that helps me observe my thoughts and feelings without getting so tangled up in them. That kind of presence helps me better understand what is really going on and how it all happened.

    If things are merely bad then maybe I'll play some original Sims 1 or Rimworld on the coziest of settings. So long as there's no nest of trash around then it's probably okay. Eufloria in relaxed mode is a lovely RTS game that hasn't ever caused me any problems.

    Hopefully you find your way through this soon!

  • ooblets is one of my favorite in this genre. it's got a great soundtrack, the humor is spot-on, and it's got an anti-capitalist message.

    • Love Ooblets! The dance battles are a fun little replacement for regular creature collecting fights, and they also scratch that deckbuilder itch.

  • I found Iconoclasts to be pretty uplifting to play. The ending is marvellously satisfying.

    The Shantae games are good.

    Disney Illusion Island fits in here too.

61 comments