In 2016, Katherine Isbister published her book entitled “How Games Moves Us”. The author, who is also a computer games researcher, says that her friends and colleagues consider video games as drivers of dulling a person’s emotions. Because of the popular belief in the ability of this entertainment type to generate violence in the real world, Isbister understands those around her, but she has the other opinion. The idea is outlined in her book lies in the fact that video games are capable of fostering empathy and other positive qualities in a person who usually spends some time playing.
Game developers are often aimed to make gamers laugh, cry, or show empathy for other characters and players in the digital world with the created product.
So, if you want to cheer up and escape from the routine worries for some time, the games below can accompany you to do this.
1. Kind Words.
Superficially, developed by Ziba Scott game seems pretty strange. All the players’ activity is designed to ensure that they write and receive encouraging letters from a comfortable room, which is permeated with the soothing sounds of «lo fi chill beats».
Its author often spends time on YouTube radio, listening to relaxing lofi-hip-hop music combined with repeatable animation. This calm electronic music is accompanied by a live chat, which has become a place for acquaintances and love declarations.
Kind Words is a continuation of the atmospheric radio, which allows users to write about their upsets or experiences and receive anonymous supportive letters in response. Actually, at first glimpse, it seems like this is a one-time activity as due to the task simplicity there is a risk of losing the player’s interest. But this usually doesn’t happen, which is entirely the messaging merit. Katherine Isbister compares this type of communication to a parental note left on a food bag for a child. This is a tiny but soulful attempt to help and care.
2. Going Under
Dan Cook, who makes a game design, considers it is difficult to “permeate” them with humor, as the concept of humor itself has little to do with the video game industry. Comedy is the result of unpredictable disruptions to an expected event, while the predictable is the foundation games rely on.
The video game levels are often needed to be replayed, so even the brightest humorous scenario put into it will fail its mission, because from the second attempt players will expect what should’ve been unexpected.
But the words of a comedy and punk culture researcher can become a counterargument to this statement. Crista Bonelo points out that comedy elements can be appropriate in video games, in case of its basis is the player’s nostalgia for previous games.
Going Under has succeeded in transforming the common setting of an action-adventure game into a world of crumbling startups. Instead of searching for treasures of the mystical collapsed city, players should comb through the remains of bankrupt companies and deprive buildings of assets. Perhaps the comic point consists in the fact that the characters are forced to do it for free, as they are just trainees.
3. Fortnite
The very idea of entertainment was first interpreted by the Dutch historian and cultural theorist, Johan Huizinga, who believed that the pleasure of playing couldn’t have a logical background. He didn’t mean that this phenomenon is irrational or inappropriate but just wanted to get to the true meaning and establish its importance among other human emotions.
There is no better time to talk about Fortnite. Although the game is an ordinary shooter, it differs from other games from this area with its cartoonish graphics, which is present both in the game course and in its design. Game characters can throw snowballs from behind the makeshift forts wearing llama costumes. It should be noted that the game currently has attracted more than 250 million players.
4. Euro Truck Simulator
Whether you just want to chill out, kill time, or get rid of the outside world for a while, Euro Truck Simulator can help you to achieve any of these goals. You can call it almost meaningless because its main task is a long-term truck driving in the continental Europe simulator. While it doesn’t have any specific goals, the game is a great time killer because some hard-to-learn driving and control elements help keep the player in for a few hours.
