Dealing with loneliness can be a terrifying prospect for most people since it can take many forms. It's often overwhelming if a person feels that they are alone and facing insurmountable odds or predicaments. In games, loneliness is also a subject that has been tackled countless times, and its many aspects have been presented in various titles as faithfully as possible.
Given that games are used as an escapist mechanism for some people, titles that deal with such a heavy subject matter and treat it with respect are hard to come by. Luckily, there are several games that accurately depict loneliness and provide players with an outlet to express their emotions.
9 Unravel
Unravel is an adventure game where players control Yarny, a sentient piece of yarn as it explores various levels to uncover and reconnect memories of a long-lost family. While progressing through Unravel's story, players will be treated to amazing visuals and fun gameplay mechanics.
Even though Yarny is alone, players can sense his desire to see through what’s next as he uncovers more of the family’s memories. Having a purpose makes him soldier on and do whatever it takes to tie in as many memories as he can.
8 Limbo
Limbo is a puzzle-platforming game from indie developer Playdead, wherein players take the role of a young boy as he traverses a gloomy, grayscale landscape looking for his sister. The world of Limbo is a dreary one that is full of dangers; players have to move quickly and think on their feet to avoid the clutches of the myriad of things lurking in the shadows.
In some cases, loneliness for some people might feel like they are trudging through a dark place full of shadows. This game takes those themes and incorporates the goal of searching for a missing relative amid the darkness to give players purpose to move forward despite the unsettling environment.
7 Omori
Based on the webcomic of the same name, Omori is an RPG about a boy named Sunny who has an alter ego named Omori. Players take control of Sunny and Omori, respectively, in their two realms: the real world and the imaginary world called Headspace.
Omori's gameplay revolves around Sunny and Omori’s emotions, with the combat mechanics having a rock-paper-scissors relationship: Happy beats Angry, Angry beats Sad, and Sad beats Happy. These emotions have more intense versions and similar bouts of loneliness. Recognizing and confronting them helps Sunny and Omori overcome challenging situations.
6 Gris
Gris is a gorgeous platforming game that tackles the loneliness attributed to the loss of a parent or loved one. Players control Gris as she wakes up in a dreamscape that she needs to traverse to collect lights that look like stars.
Exploring the landscape and solving puzzles grant Gris more lights and mementos that she will need to unlock a path that leads toward the heavens. The levels and themes of Gris interpret the stages of grief one has to go through when dealing with loss, making for an all-round lonely experience.
5 Firewatch
Firewatch is a first-person adventure game that sees players take the role of Henry as he takes a job as a fire lookout in a national park. As the game progresses, Henry is whisked into a mysterious plot that revolves around events within the lookout spot he is designated to and its immediate surroundings.
Firewatch's feeling of isolation is ramped up since Henry is often by himself, patrolling the area for clues and making sure no wildfires are starting. His only companion is his supervisor, Delilah, who speaks with him on a walkie-talkie and serves as his guide. Firewatch also tackles themes of responsibility. As a fire lookout, Henry has a job to ensure the safety of the park. This can be linked to figuring out how to address one’s lonesome state, being accountable, and doing something to get out of the metaphorical rut.
4 Celeste
Loneliness is related to depression and anxiety, and Celeste creates a wonderful narrative about overcoming such emotions and gaining agency over them. As a platforming game, players are tasked to scale Celeste Mountain using Madeline, the protagonist. Madeline can jump, dash, and cling to cliffs and walls as they cross the various perilous areas placed on the path leading to the summit.
Celeste’s gameplay is filled with trial and error; players will have to exercise patience and proper timing to traverse the exceedingly challenging platforming areas. The journey and Celeste Mountain are seen as metaphors for what Madeline is going through and how they need to confront and overcome such challenges with their own strength and drive.
3 Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture
As the title of the game suggests, Everybody's Gone to the Rapture deals with a scenario where the player is left alone in a village that was supposed to have people in it. As a first-person adventure game, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture has players investigate the village for clues and figure out what happened to the missing residents.
The idea of waking up in a town all by one’s self is a jarring premise to undertake. Players can feel a sense of loss and may ask why their character did not get whisked off like the others. The theme of isolation is placed front and center in this title, and players will likely come to share in this emotion while they progress the story.
2 Journey
Journey is a minimalist game that has players control a person who’s silent and donning a red robe. They are in a desert when a path leading toward the mountain appears. It is the player's goal to follow the path and reach its end.
Other players can also join each other’s game, but they cannot communicate. Though the ability to play with friends somewhat detracts from the themes of loneliness Journey is attempting to convey, the lack of communication options will certainly leave players feeling alone.
1 What Remains of Edith Finch
Developed by Giant Sparrow and published by Annapurna Games, What Remains of Edith Finch is a gripping story about the last living member of the Finch Family, Edith, as she recalls the fate of her family while exploring their ancestral home.
Each room or item Edith interacts with sees her being whisked away through her relatives’ tragic stories. As Edith experiences such an ordeal, players are also immersed and implored to empathize with her as she comes to grips with her family’s unfortunate situation. What Remains of Edith Finch offers one of the most lonely experiences in gaming, and players curious enough to play it will likely share in Edith's feelings of isolation.