Do Soulslike Games Actually 'Save' You?

Good morning folks! Welcome to the first official MeowMed Newsletter. Here I discuss some interesting topics in health and wellness, as well as some topics in pop culture that I find interesting. And today, I have decided to fuse a trendy topic in gaming—the upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for Elden Ring—with some important considerations for mental health.

Even if you’re not into gaming, you cannot deny its growth in recent years. While last year film had grown its total box office success to $33.9 billion, this still massively paled in comparison to the $57.2 billion gamers spent on what was considered a “nerdy hobby” when I was growing up. It seems that a similar phenomenon has occurred with the comic book and anime industries—where was all this enthusiasm when I had to suppress it in middle school?

But I digress. What good could gaming…no, a specific genre of gaming, serve for mental health? I have noticed that there have been videos on YouTube talking about how Soulslike games ‘saved’ them. In what sense? Getting out of a rut, joblessness, depression, suicidality. But how could a video game even manage to accomplish that? Well, I have several speculations.

Soulslike games are HARD.

FromSoftware, the pioneer of the Souls genre, is notorious for including very difficult bosses and enemies throughout its gameplay. The players must resort to carefully strategizing weapons, builds, and overall skill to overcome tremendous odds. When text such as “ENEMY FELLED” finally pans across the screen, the dopamine rush must be tremendous compared to say, clocking out of your 9 to 5 job.

They show instead of tell.

In most media (video games included), the plot, characters, setting is presented literally and almost in its entirety. Contrarily, Soulslikes employ a different approach—only subtly revealing details through items and quests. By dissecting the lore ourselves, the audience does not need to feel dumbed down. Another aspect of Soulslikes that make you feel like YOU matter.

You are not alone in your struggle.

There is a whole community of players willing to aid others in their journey to link the flame, become Elden Lord, or achieve whatever goal the game demands of you. While some think that the Soulslike fandom can be toxic, my interactions thus far have been otherwise. In my opinion, this sense of community should certainly contribute to enhanced well-being.

There is high accessibility (at least in the case of Elden Ring).

Jumping off from the last point—amongst all the FromSoftware games, Elden Ring has the most variety in builds involving weapons, armors, and summons. Since there is no difficulty setting, your experience is (technically) the same as any other Tarnished’s. In other words, whether you’re an absolute newb at gaming or a Soulslike veteran, your achievements will be identical regardless of what strategies you employ. While no difficulty setting may seem brutal, this element of accessibility is what FromSoftware needs to skyrocket its next era of games.

Pain, suffering, and even sacrifice may be necessary to achieve your goals.

I would say that this is the most important drive-home point. With the tragedy of the non-playable characters one may interact with, the dark nature of the setting and plot, and the seemingly insurmountable hurdles along the way, it may seem somewhat dejecting to play such a video game. However, it may be that there is a completely opposite effect. Such elements may actually provide the soothing realism that someone who is suffering in reality may need. This is why many people get into Berserk, a Japanese manga that Soulslike games have borrowed many elements from. But that is perhaps a topic for another day.

Personally, I got a bit too sucked into the game when I first gave it a shot back in 2020. While I have listed some potential benefits to pursuing Elden Ring or even any video game, it is important to note that Internet Gaming Disorder is within the DSM-5. In my experience, using app/website blockers like Cold Turkey or Self Control can help limit consumption to a more desired amount so you can find a healthy balance between gaming and other activities in your life.

It’ll be exciting to see what FromSoftware has cooked up for us in their latest DLC this week.

What other topics would you like to see covered? Feel free to reply to this email with any ideas!

DISCLAIMER: The MeowMed Newsletter is not meant to be substituted for professional, personalized medical advice or care. If you have an emergency, please dial 911 or see your primary care provider. Your health and mental health are important. We highly recommend seeing a mental health provider if you feel like the issues we discuss need personalized exploration.