Summary
- Video games explore fragile minds with broken characters dealing with psychological trauma.
- "Call of Cthulhu," "Spec Ops: The Line," and others delve deep into madness and horror.
- Games like "Amnesia: Rebirth" and "The Last of Us 2" depict characters battling darkness and trauma.
Due to their interactive nature, video games have the ability to immerse players in fantastical stories more than any other art form. Games tell incredible stories that bring players directly into the setting, from action-packed quests, nightmarish journeys, to light-hearted adventures.
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As the industry has grown, developers have pushed narrative in games even further, with many titles exploring the psychological state of their characters' minds. From mental illness or deep trauma, to cosmic terrors causing madness, these titles feature characters who are psychologically broken. Through their gameplay, storytelling, and world-building, these games explore the fragility of the human mind and the broken realities people face.
8 Call of Cthulhu
An Investigator is Pushed to Breaking Point
Call of Cthulhu
- Released
- October 30, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Cyanide Studio
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
HP Lovecraft’s enduring literary legacy can be seen in numerous horror games, often revolving around madness and unknowable cosmic terrors. Call of Cthulhu is one of the best of these, and is an immersive RPG survival horror game that blends a strong narrative with stealth and investigation gameplay.
While not a direct adaptation, Call of Cthulhu expertly brings Lovecraft’s world to life in a memorable horror experience that fans of the genre will love. In the game, players control private investigator Edward Pierce as he looks into the strange circumstances around the Hawkins family. Plagued with strange nightmares and suffering trauma from his past, Pierce self-medicates with alcohol and sleeping pills. Throughout the game, Pierce’s already fragile mind is pushed to its limits as he uncovers the truth lurking behind the small island community.
7 Spec Ops: The Line
A Soldier Struggles with the Horrors of War
Spec Ops: The Line
- Released
- June 26, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
This underrated third-person shooter is the seventh release in the Spec-Ops series. In the game, players control Captain Martin Walker, who leads his squad of Delta Force operatives on a recon mission in Dubai. Unlike most shooters set in a warzone, Spec Ops: The Line confronts the harsh realities of war on its characters.
Throughout the game, Captain Walker’s mind slowly crumbles as he experiences hallucinations and stress as the horrors of war take their toll on him. Highly inspired by the classic novel Heart of Darkness and film adaptation Apocalypse Now (1979), Spec Ops: The Line is a must-play experience for fans of military-centered games. While the game failed commercially on release, it remains a cult favorite for many.
6 Amnesia: Rebirth
Escape the Encroaching Darkness
Amnesia: Rebirth
- Released
- October 20, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Frictional Games
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The long-awaited sequel to the survival horror classic, Amnesia: Dark Descent, Amnesia: Rebirth is an atmospheric dark fantasy journey into fear and trauma. In the game, players control Tasi, who, after crash landing in the desert with no memory, must uncover the truth about her missing friends and her sudden pregnancy.
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Like the first game, darkness is a major threat in the game, with Tasi experiencing extreme fear and hallucinations if left in the dark too long. As the game progresses, her physical changes mirror her breaking psyche as she witnesses numerous horrors and monsters.
5 The Last of Us 2
Continuing the Tragic Story of Traumatized Survivors
The Last of Us Part 2
- Released
- June 19, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Like the original, The Last of Us 2 is a powerful story of characters surviving the end of the world after a mutating fungus infects the population, turning people into violent monsters. However, this is only the surface, as the game delves deep into the damaging effects of grief and violence.
The Last of Us 2 deals with the ramifications of the first game, with players controlling Ellie after a tragic event changes her life. In the game, Ellie is consumed with anger and guilt, which sends her on a self-destructive mission of revenge that blinds her to everything else. While The Last of Us 2 would be a more divisive game than the original, its excellent gameplay, emotional storytelling, and realistic and deeply broken characters make it just as compelling as the first.
4 BioShock
One of the Greatest Twists in Gaming
BioShock
- Released
- August 21, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Irrational Games
- Genre(s)
- FPS
One of the greatest story-driven FPS games ever made, the original BioShock is a masterclass of action, story, and design. The game revolves around the player descending into the underwater city of Rapture, which has become a ruin of its former self. While many of the city's inhabitants have fallen into violent madness, the protagonist, Jack, is presented as a silent, unstoppable hero.
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As the story progresses, through a shocking twist, players soon learn the central character’s broken mind is not what it seems. BioShock explores ideas of truth, identity, and reality and is largely considered one of the best video games of all time.
3 Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
A Warrior's Battle Against Her Curse
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
- Released
- August 16, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Ninja Theory
- Platform(s)
- PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
In this dark fantasy adventure game, players control Senua, a disturbed young Pict Warrior, on a mission to rescue her lover from the goddess Hela. Inspired by Norse and Celtic mythology, the central protagonist believes she is cursed and struggles to fight these enemies, seemingly in her head. The game uses these otherworldly forces, known as the Darkness, to represent Senua’s psychosis.
Senua often has dark visions and hears voices speaking to her throughout the game, known as Furies. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a darkly compelling exploration of mental illness and blends puzzle-solving, psychological horror, and action. On release, the game was critically acclaimed and praised for its themes and storytelling.
2 Darkest Dungeon
The Darker Side of Adventuring
Darkest Dungeon
- Released
- January 19, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
This challenging Roguelike RPG follows the exploits of a constantly changing party of adventurers as they explore various ruins, dungeons, and caves. Using turn-based combat, players encounter various threats and traps that can easily hurt or kill the characters.
However, unlike other RPGs, Darkest Dungeon is about survival over victory and revolves around the trauma that comes with violence and stress. Each character can be afflicted with various psychological problems, which can include becoming Paranoid, Abusive, Masochistic, or irrational. These states bring negative effects to the party and sometimes result in death.
1 Disco Elysium
A Broken Detective Teetering on the Edge
Disco Elysium
- Released
- October 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Developer(s)
- ZA/UM
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Stadia
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
This unique isometric RPG, with its dark humor, oil-painted art style, and philosophical and political themes, is widely considered one of the best video games ever made. In Disco Elysium, players control an alcoholic detective suffering from amnesia as he investigates a gruesome murder with his partner, Detective Kim Kitsuragi, who often acts as the character's moral compass.
The game features no real combat mechanics, with all actions resolved through dialogue and skill checks. The central character is extremely broken and suffers from numerous psychological problems. The game's narrator is the detective’s subconscious and is presented as a separate character, further revealing the protagonist's broken psyche.
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