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Bit of a strange topic, and not as drastic as the title would imply.
I am talking about games that deal with significantly heavy subject matter or are presented in such a way that they are quite tough or emotionally challenging experiences to engage with.
To give a blunt example: when Disco Elysium first came out, I was heavily depressed and in a job surrounded by people who did not respect my opinion even when in a position of it being my job to provide these opinions. I really enjoyed Disco Elysium when I first played it then, but it somewhat 'hit a bit too real' with its depictions of depression and its rippling social affect. It became a bit too much of a mirror of my own experiences than it was me engaging with a fun fantastical literary video game, so I stopped playing it. I returned several years later when in a better state and finished it to completion.
For a more nebulous example: Pathologic 2. As with most people who engage with this game (I assume), I have watched more video essays on the game and its topics than I have actually played the game for myself at this point. I have about 30 hours recorded in steam, but due to a variety of ingame stressors, and it in general being such an unrelentingly heavy and stressful gaming experience, the last time I played it and had something terrible happen as a result of my actions, I essentially noped out of the game and haven't returned to it since. I really love and appreciate it as a piece of art, and I would like to return to finish it to completion, but the thought of booting it up already prompts a mild anxiety response. Perhaps I will be in a space to play and appreciate it sometime soon.
Here is an explanation of the specific circumstance that lead up to me stopping playing Pathologic 2:
Please feel free to share any similar experiences you may have had where you have engaged with and enjoyed a game, but had to put it down or return to it at a later date due to how it has made you feel.
I am talking about games that deal with significantly heavy subject matter or are presented in such a way that they are quite tough or emotionally challenging experiences to engage with.
To give a blunt example: when Disco Elysium first came out, I was heavily depressed and in a job surrounded by people who did not respect my opinion even when in a position of it being my job to provide these opinions. I really enjoyed Disco Elysium when I first played it then, but it somewhat 'hit a bit too real' with its depictions of depression and its rippling social affect. It became a bit too much of a mirror of my own experiences than it was me engaging with a fun fantastical literary video game, so I stopped playing it. I returned several years later when in a better state and finished it to completion.
For a more nebulous example: Pathologic 2. As with most people who engage with this game (I assume), I have watched more video essays on the game and its topics than I have actually played the game for myself at this point. I have about 30 hours recorded in steam, but due to a variety of ingame stressors, and it in general being such an unrelentingly heavy and stressful gaming experience, the last time I played it and had something terrible happen as a result of my actions, I essentially noped out of the game and haven't returned to it since. I really love and appreciate it as a piece of art, and I would like to return to finish it to completion, but the thought of booting it up already prompts a mild anxiety response. Perhaps I will be in a space to play and appreciate it sometime soon.
Here is an explanation of the specific circumstance that lead up to me stopping playing Pathologic 2:
Please feel free to share any similar experiences you may have had where you have engaged with and enjoyed a game, but had to put it down or return to it at a later date due to how it has made you feel.
waiting to be emotionally prepared but I never am.
