Where great game design is being used to open up a conversation about mental health, self care, good habits, social networks and what to do when we don’t feel OK. I’d like to see more games, like Celeste, asking players what they are running from, and providing them with the tools to face it.Ĭeleste. A way of providing goals, structure and momentum in a comparatively safe environment, where nothing can hurt the real you, and if you die, you go back to the last save point. Some use videogames as a form of escapism. This game celebrates that to succeed, we must fail. It’s not the destination, it’s the journey that we remember.
But Madeline has chosen this challenge because she wants to prove to herself that she can do it, and so will you. You will fail hundreds of times before you make it to the top of the mountain. Theo, a friend Madeline makes on the mountain, demonstrates how to be with someone who’s having a difficult time. It draws attention to the negative self-talk we impose, and gently highlights the harmful comments well-meaning loved-ones can make. I’m only a few hours in, but I already know this game is a great tool to teach self-care. The pixellated sprites evoke nostalgia, and the anime used in dialogue are expressive and relatable. The MIDI soundtrack is eerily beautiful, and like the game, has emotional breadth, capable of evoking the loneliness of a snowy mountain and the intensity of a panic attack. These battles ring painfully true, perhaps because of the lived experiences of game designer, Matt, and composer, Lena. Madeline’s dark side steps out of a mirror and hounds her when its least helpful. The only obstacles you have to overcome are the environment and yourself. This is a game in which there are no baddies. A great metaphor for the daily struggle many face with their mental health. A platform game in which the hero, Madeline, seeks to climb a mountain. The first video game I’ve played which places mental health at the heart of the narrative.
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