"This mindset has been very helpful for me"
Video games have long been criticised for their impact on mental health. But new research is turning that narrative on its head, especially when it comes to the trickiest games.
Titles once dismissed as punishing and bleak are now being recognised as unexpected tools for emotional resilience.
Dark Souls, a notoriously tough action role-playing game by Japanese developer FromSoftware, is at the centre of these findings.
A new study from Finland shows how the game’s intense difficulty and dark themes may be doing more than just testing patience, they’re helping players deal with real-world problems.
By pushing players to confront failure and try again, these games may be shaping how people approach adversity in their everyday lives.
For some, it’s not about the fantasy world or even winning, it’s about learning how to endure.
How Dark Souls builds Mental Strength
Researchers at Aalto University in Finland studied how players interacted with Dark Souls and what they said about their experiences online.
The study, conducted by three academics, found that the game’s notorious difficulty forced players to adapt, persevere, and stay resilient, even in the face of repeated failure.
The researchers discovered that the sense of accomplishment gained from surviving these challenges often spilt into players’ real lives.
As Jaakko Väkevä, one of the report’s authors, said: “They would start applying what the game had taught them to tackle their personal challenges.
“Cooperation in the game inspired them to ask for help in the real world.”
According to the study, the bleak world of Dark Souls became a safe space for open conversations around depression.
While the game itself is emotionally demanding, the shared experience of struggle fostered surprisingly positive interactions.
The community that has formed around the game, particularly online, offers support and solidarity that researchers say can benefit mental health.
Community, Catharsis, and Coping Mechanisms
The online communities built around Dark Souls were also found to play a vital role in players’ well-being.
Many used forums to talk candidly about their mental health, drawing comparisons between the game’s hardships and their personal lives.
On Reddit, one player wrote: “You don’t need to win each fight, but what matters is that you persist and keep going despite getting defeated, always striving to improve.
“This mindset has been very helpful for me in dealing with my own problems and not getting overwhelmed by them.”
Another gamer described how they turn to the game during emotional lows:
“Whenever I’m feeling melancholic, or when I’m struggling with a difficult period of my life.
“Dark Souls gives me this feeling that if I’m able to beat this, I’m able to beat other things as well.”
Väkevä said that finding hope in something so dark isn’t as surprising as it sounds.
He said: “I don’t think it’s particularly unusual, if you think of art and entertainment media more generally: for instance, what it is that draws people towards watching some emotionally challenging movie.
“After all, tragedy is an age-old genre of drama that is associated with this idea of catharsis, that is, a purification of negative emotions by way of expressing or experiencing them.”
The Growing Impact of Video Games
The findings from Aalto University are part of a wider shift in how researchers view the impact of gaming on mental health.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, video games became lifelines for millions, offering social connection and routine at a time of uncertainty.
Animal Crossing, released by Nintendo during the first lockdown in 2020, became a virtual gathering place.
From graduation ceremonies to birthday parties, real-life events were recreated in the game’s cheerful world.
Oxford University researchers later found a link between the amount of time spent playing Animal Crossing and improved mental well-being.
They wrote: “Contrary to many fears that excessive play time will lead to addiction and poor mental health, we found a small positive relation between game play and affective wellbeing.
“Players who objectively played more in the past two weeks also reported to experience higher well-being.”
Other titles like The Legend of Zelda have also been studied.
Researchers at Imperial College London suggested that open-world games “could be used as therapeutic tools for stress and anxiety management, offering a cost-effective and accessible method to improve mental health”.
They added that this form of escapism could be especially valuable compared to other types of digital media.
“The finding that open-world games may enhance people’s well-being through enhanced escapism and relaxation is not trivial,” they said, noting the growing concerns that platforms like social media contribute to adolescent anxiety and depression.
What’s Next for Video Games & Mental Health?
While the early signs are positive, researchers agree that this is only the beginning.
Dr Tamas Foldes from Oxford University said more detailed studies are still needed.
“Many studies, including systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials, have shown that video games can positively affect conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD and ADHD.
“However, the field could greatly benefit from improvements.”
Dr Foldes emphasised the importance of working directly with young people and mental health professionals to design games that support wellbeing.
He added: “Different types of games likely benefit different people but we currently lack sufficient understanding of exactly how these differences manifest.”
This growing body of research is challenging outdated views of video games as harmful or escapist distractions.
From punishing action titles to calming open-world experiences, games are showing potential as tools for emotional growth, resilience, and community building.
As mental health challenges continue to rise, especially among young people, these findings suggest that the right kind of gameplay could offer unexpected pathways to healing.
The industry may still have work to do in understanding how different games affect different players, but the message is clear: video games can play a meaningful role in supporting mental health.
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