Dealing with or overcoming grief and loss is never easy. Whilst it can be easy to escape into different coping mechanisms, holding onto pain never gets any better. Gaming can even become an unhealthy coping strategy to deal with pain, whether someone is aware of it or not.
However, with so many games available on the market, some revolve around grief and loss that also emphasize healing from those sources of pain. As much as games can be for entertainment purposes, they can also be profound and enlightening, allowing players to experience catharsis (even if it’s momentary). These games might not be for everyone, but for the right audience going through tough ordeals, these titles might make a positive difference. Spoilers will be kept to a minimum.
6 What Remains Of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finch, on the surface, may initially appear as a walking simulator that spices various gaming sections up, but gamers will soon discover that’s not the case. The premise follows Edith returning to her family home in a small rural town, nothing out of the ordinary apart from the fact that the house looks like a DIY tower and all of Edith’s family members are dead, believed to be victims of a supernatural family curse.
Players will uncover the mystery behind the house and the family curse by navigating through the various rooms of the respective family members. The game portrays grief and loss in various profound ways that are equally bizarre as they are tragic. More importantly, the game shows how various family members deal with their pain, with some running away from its gaping maw and others glorifying the tragedies that have taken place. Despite its short run, the game masterfully delivers an experience that players will remember for a very long time.
5 Gris
Gris is a 2D platformer that follows a young woman dealing with her grief. The game takes place in the woman’s subconscious as players navigate through various stages of grief and the girl’s fractured mind. The game is free of danger and involves light puzzles, as well as simple platforming sequences as players take in the evocative landscape.
The game is beautifully animated and scored whilst remaining entirely abstract. Players also note that Gris isn’t exactly trying to be an actual representation of grief but rather an emotional journey to be experienced. The game contains no text and instead relies on simple reminders that are universal, fitting as pain is universal regardless of language.
4 Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons follows the journey of two brothers: Naia and Naiee, who must traverse a fantasy world to look for a cure for their ailing father. The game starts with the younger brother, Naiee overlooking his own mother’s grave, setting the tone right off the bat. The game features a top-down third-person view where the player controls both brothers simultaneously.
A simple tale done well, Brothers can feel more like a fantasy adventure than a story that truly deals with grief and loss. That said, the game does delve into that aspect a lot more as players progress through it. Despite it being released almost a decade ago, the game’s gameplay and visuals still hold up very well.
3 Sayonara Wild Hearts
An odd entry on this list, Sayonara Wild Hearts is a music-based action arcade game that pops with color and lures players in with its dream-pop music. At times, the game feels like a music album disguised as a game, as each level is a song track. The story follows a young woman who has ‘lost’ herself and is stuck in her reality when she is summoned by the divine cosmic arcana to restore balance to the universe.
The game feels fresh at each level, featuring long arcade sequences and some quick time events. Interestingly, the game is also a homage to classic video games and people who just love video games in general as it is littered with heartwarming Easter eggs. At its heart, Sayonara Wild Hearts isn’t trying to be a thought-provoking game, but its hope-filled soundtrack about ‘getting your groove back’ speaks volumes.
2 Spiritfarer
Spiritfarer is a light platforming and base-building game about a spirit guide (named Stella) who must aid other spirits move on to the next realm. Each spirit encountered takes on the form of an animal that has its own quests and unique activity. The game has players ferry around and explore various islands scattered around the map.
The game is gorgeous to behold and features a heartwarming soundtrack that is reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films. Players can go about their pace and not be afraid of dangers or violent NPCs. However, despite its upbeat demeanor, the game is inherently about death and letting go. Having to say goodbye to the spirits is always moving and somber, even if they weren’t anyone’s favorite.
1 The Last Of Us Franchise
This last game needs no introduction. The Last of Us games have delivered some of the most incredible and moving experiences in gaming, with a primary focus being on Ellie and Joel’s relationship. Set in a post-apocalyptic and brutal world, the game inevitably centers around the themes of grief and loss. Joel, having lost his daughter, goes to extreme lengths to ensure that he does not experience that loss again, an act that has repercussions in the next installment.
The 2nd game follows the breadcrumbs of grief and loss through Abby’s perspective as well as Ellie’s with a very ‘sins of the father’ approach. Though the second game did divide fans, both games are excellent narrative experiences that highlight the extent grief and loss can have on a person and the extreme lengths they will go.