6 Video Game Titles for People Who Feel Lost in Life

Playing video games for extended periods of time may not sound too productive. And for the most part it isn't. But professional psychiatrists have noticed that playing video games has been helpful in easing cases in stress, depression, and anxiety. While other's have confirmed that excessive exposure to video games may worsen symptoms of mental health problems. So anyone who has a confirmed or suspected case of mental health problems should seek the guidance of a licensed mental health professional before picking up a game controller. But there are some titles I recommend to people who feel stuck or lost in life with seemingly no real direction to go. Because some games, depending on their play design or overall story plot, may prove helpful in thinking about where you are now and where you want to go. Just remember not to spend too much time playing game in the process. But some games do have some life lessons. Whether the game developers intended it or not. If they did, it was mainly to give the storyline of the games a more realistic feel. Either way, it could prove to be helpful life advice for gamers.

6. Red Dead Redemption 2

Did you ever play any of the Rockstar Games titles like Grand Theft Auto? Well, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a lot like that. But the overall theme of the game is the American Wild West. The era is the late 1800's and the Untied States is experiencing a turn of the century. And if you enjoy watching westerns, you'll love being part of one with a game controller. You play as an outlaw named Arthur Morgan. And you explore the old west though stunningly realistic gameplay. If at some point you dreamed of being a cowboy, you'd get to do some cowboy things. Like horseback riding, hunting, fishing, eat and drink at the saloon, get into a fist fight, and even shoot other outlaws. Of course being an outlaw himself, Arthur would have to wear a mask while robbing a train or a bank. But that's part of the actual story line. While in between the main story and small side missions. One of the game's most important feature is the Honor Bar. Just like with other open world video game titles in recent years. How Red Dead Redemption 2 can go depends on the choices you make. Especially when you get to the end of the main story itself. But don't expect any spoilers on that. Where you are on the Honor Bar depends on what you do. Because there are consequences for the choices you make. Whether they are good or bad, big or minor. For example... If you do good things for other people like return a horse you borrowed or help an innocent bystander. Your place on the Honor Bar will increase. But if your caught committing a crime like assault, vandalism, or robbing someone at gunpoint. You'll not only lower your place on the Honor Bar. But you'll also end up putting a bounty on your head. So the more crimes you commit, the higher the price. Think of Red Dead Redemption 2 as an exercise for making life choices. In real life you need to know when to say yes or no. Because if you want to move on in your life in someway. You'll need to know the right time and place to say yes or no.

5. Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls franchise is a popular trend in open world RPG's. Especially a classic title like Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. Originally released on November 11, 2011. You can create your own character and discover that you're something called a Dragonborn. A special type of warrior that has the power to slay dragons and pre-destined to save the world. But since Skyrim is a game, there is no rush. You can take your time and build up your power as a Dragonborn at your own pace. While exploring the vast open world. Your free to be what you want to be in the game. And there's no pressure to be any one thing. You can be a fully armed and armored warrior in the field of combat. Be a selfless hero to the general public. Or go around casting spells as a mage. But if you prefer to be sneaky. That's fine too. And there are 2 guilds that involve working in the shadows. You can join the Thieves Guild and start making plenty of gold. But if you'd rather go all cloak and dagger, sign up for the Dark Brotherhood. You can decide who you are and who you want to be. Because the element of choice is the one of the few real freedom's that anyone has. The only real person who can decide your fate is "you!"

4. Tomb Raider (2013)

For a long time, the Tomb raider franchise has captured every video game player's adventurous spark. As the gun toting female adventurer Lara Croft travels across the globe seeking lost treasures and battles against power hungry villains. However, in 2013, the Square Enix game company rebooted the series and reinvented Lara Croft as a character with a new origin story. A young inexperienced Lara goes on a voyage in search of a lost Japanese kingdom hidden, on a forgotten island, within the Dragon's Triangle. But ended up shipwrecked and forced to fight for her very life. While facing deadly odds and constantly hunted by wolves, bloodthirsty scavengers, and demonic samurai warriors. Lara has to endure extreme hardship and danger with every step forward. With her back against the wall, Lara's only hope of surviving and escaping the hellish nightmare is to keep moving forward. Even though most people don't experience life or death situations too often. Everyday life can be just as hard or much harder than that sometimes. Especially for people who feel left behind or lost in their own lives. Like a healthy adult dependent still living with his or her parents. Or someone who is stuck in the same dead end job. Whatever the struggle is, or something that makes you feel hopelessly trapped. The only real way out of it is to move forward in anyway you can. But the path forward often ranges from rarely easy to never. Because expecting a straightforward path at every single turn is highly unrealistic half the time. And you'll face plenty of odds along the way. Whether it's a change in career, building relationships, or living a life that you want. There are really only 2 options for that. You can either stay where you are and wait for a change to happen. Or you can take a chance and make the change happen on your own terms. Because taking charge of your own life is an adventure in it's own way. You might not sail the seas, climb snow capped mountains, explore dense jungles, or discover forgotten ruins like Lara Croft. But you'd have better odds at finding a better life for yourself.

3. Judgement

At some point or another, everybody makes mistakes. And the overall story plot of this game kinda starts off like that. A Japanese lawyer, Takayuki Yagami, resigns from his career out of guilt when a client he helped in a court case committed murder. And became a private detective that accepts investigation requests. Sometimes unexpected things that have some drastic life changing effects. Yagami quit his career as a lawyer because he felt responsible for an innocent person's death. He could have just disappeared into a dark corner somewhere and spend the rest of his life feeling sorry for himself. But instead he chose to put what he learned in law school to use as a private investigator. Plus the game, Judgement, also gives players a firm understanding of what modern private investigators do while on the job. Tailing suspects, going undercover, examining crime scenes, etc... Plus the need for self defense from time to time. Whatever mistakes you make in life, whether they're big or small. Don't let them define how your life goes. Take some time to learn from them. And give yourself a chance to become a better person.

2. Kingdom Hearts (series)

This is something for Disney fans. The Kingdom Hearts franchise is a whole melting pot of Square Enix's Final Fantasy game franchise and highly known Disney titles like Aladdin, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, etc... The overall story starts off with a teenage boy, Sora, forcibly taken from his home and separated from his friends. Lost and alone in another world, he ends up fighting against dark creatures known as the Heartless. Armed with a magical key-shaped sword called the Keyblade. Soon afterward, he meets and fights alongside 2 of the most beloved Disney characters: Donald Duck and Goofy. The 3 of them travel together from one different world to another. Battling against the Heartless as they go. With each new world, they make new friends and allies along their journey. Wherever life takes you, or doesn't take you, there will be times when you'll feel lost and alone. Sometimes it'll feel like your just moving around blindly in the dark. Even if you have no clear path to follow. As long as you have family and friends to look to for support. You are never truly lost.

1. God of War (2018)

The God of War video game franchise which started in 2005 gained new life when a new title was released in 2018. A whole new adventure for Kratos, the last Spartan and Greek god. But in the world of Norse mythology. As he adapts to his new life in unfamiliar lands, unexpected threats from new enemies, and his second chance at fatherhood. Alongside his new son, Atreus. They both embark on a deeply personal quest. During their journey, Kratos and Atreus run into various obstacles and enemies at almost every turn. For fans who've played the other God of War games understand that Kratos has spent many years trying to leave his old life behind in the past. Along with a constant struggle to control the rage that has defined his life for a long time. And is clearly trying to make sure that his son, Atreus, doesn't repeat his mistakes. But Kratos eventually realizes that he can never outrun his past. He soon learns to accept what he was in the past. Who he is now in the present. And keep moving forward in his life, regardless of what the future will throw at him and Atreus. Now's a good time to ask yourself what are you struggling with now? And what happened that caused you to get stuck or lost in life? Or do you simply want a fresh start on a different life? One option is the most obvious. You can move to another place that's very far away like Kratos did. Where no one knows who you are, who you were in the past, or what you did. But sometimes the fresh start your looking for isn't in a far-off location. It could be within your reach or right under your nose. To truly start over in your life, you have to decide who you want to be.

It often goes without saying that life itself is often hard and messy. Sometimes to a point when it feels like it's hopelessly unbearable. When things get hard, it might be easier to just shut yourself off and play video games all day. But turning your back to reality itself won't change anything for the better. Whether we like it or not, real life has no save points or cheat codes. So put away the game controller and leave the console off. That side-mission or boss battle can wait another day. Try doing something else that doesn't involve video games for a bit. Do an art project or cook a meal while at home. Or get out of the house for a change of scenery. Go see a movie. Take a walk in the park. Hang out with a friend or two. Workout in a gym. While things may seem simple in a video game. And real life can feel needlessly complex and difficult. But real life does have something that you can't find in any video game. Real life offers opportunities that'll help you move forward. And there are plenty of ways to move forward in life. Such as learning a new skill set for a new career. Making new friends and reconnecting with old friends. Pursuing some personal goals. Or even seeking out a romantic relationship. And all you need to do is simply put down the game controller for a bit. And in the event you invite a friend over, old or new. Be ready to have an extra game controller on hand. Along with at least one or two co-op player type games. Why? It doesn't matter if your a kid or an adult. Because any type of game feels much more enjoyable when you have someone to play with.