How Souls Games Save You

Until 2 months ago, I was a stranger to souls games. As an outsider looking in, I understood two things… they are extremely difficult and they change you as a person. Time after time I saw people say that Miyazaki’s work, in one way or another, has saved them. Depression, anxiety, and the like are something that we all often deal with, but how could such a brutally unrelenting series remedy the mental health of so many? Today on Psych of Play, we dive into the psychology of how exactly this happens. Twitter ▶ Twitch ▶ Support Daryl Talks Games on Patreon! ▶▶ Bonus content, early access, YOUR name at the end of videos, and more all for $1/month! ▶Games Shown Dark Souls (2011) - FromSoftware Dark Souls II (2014) - FromSoftware Dark Souls III (2016) - FromSoftware Bloodborne (2015) - FromSoftware Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019) - FromSoftware Elden Ring (2022) -FromSoftware Demon’s Souls (2020) - FromSoftware Inscryption (2021) - Daniel Mullins Games Hollow Knight (2017) - Team Cherry Metroid Dread (2021) - Mercury Steam NieR:Automata (2017) - PlatinumGames The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) - Nintendo Ghost of Tsushima (2020) - Sucker Punch Productions Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020) - Square Enix Pokemon Legends: Arceus (2022) - Game Freak Before Your Eyes (2021) - Skybound Games Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019) - Intelligent Systems Journey (2012) - That Game Company Life Is Strange: True Colors (2021) - Deck Nine Gris (2018) - Nomada Studio Before Your Eyes (2021) - GoodbyeWorld Games Celeste (2018) - Maddy Makes Games Haven (2021) - The Game Bakers Super Smash Bros: Melee (2001) - HAL Laboratory Guilty Gear Strive (2021) - Arc System Works Deltarune Chapter 2 (2021) - Toby Fox Metroid Dread (2021) - Mercury Steam Super Mario Odyssey (2017) - Nintendo Super Smash Bros: Ultimate (2018) - Nintendo Astral Chain (2019) - Platinum Games Monster Hunter Rise (2021) - Capcom Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (2020) - Omega Force BioShock (2007) - 2K Games Octopath Traveler (2018) - Square Enix Persona 5 (2016) - Atlus, P Studio Kingdom Hearts 2 (2005) - Square Enix Hades (2020) - Supergiant Games Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017) - Nintendo Resident Evil 4 (2005) - Capcom Max Payne 3 (2012) - Rockstar Cyber Shadow (2020) - Aarne Hunziker Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019) - Respawn Entertainment Detroit Become Human (2018) - David Cage The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011) - Nintendo Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (2021) - Eidos-Montréal Genshin Impact (2020) - miHoYo ▶Media/Clips/Considerations: NakeyJakey - “Dark Souls Saved Me” - Writing on Games - “Dark Souls Helped Me Cope With Suicidal Depression”- Joe x0f - “Sekiro Saved my Life” - Maestro - “Dark Souls Changed My Life” - ItsPara “How Dark Souls 2 saved my life” - ItsPara “Dark Souls and Mental Health” - Mez - “How Bloodborne Helped With My Depression” - Chris Morris - “Dark Souls Helps My Mental Health But I Don’t Know Why” - Other footage used: ▶Music Sources: Legend of Mana OST - World of Mana Tenno - Imaginary () Sekiro OST - Emma the Physician Unravel OST - First Steps Rising Thunder OST - Dauntless Theme Demon Souls OST - Character Creation (Souls of Mist) Rising Thunder OST - Chel Theme Dark Souls OST - Gwyn, Lord of Cinder Tenno - Imaginary () Daydreamer - Dark souls 2: Longing // lofi remake () ▶Research Articles Cited #PsychofPlay