Games About Empathy: Delving Deep into the World of Compassionate

Journey

This original exploration game lacks a narrative layer. Players embody a character whose task is to reach a mountain on the horizon. The story and the world unfold during a long journey through the desert.

Image credit: thatgamecompany

Why is this one of the games about empathy? Slowly uncovering the world, players learn about the fate of an ancient, extinct civilization connected to our character. The beautiful aesthetics and outstanding music allow players to immerse themselves in the atmosphere and establish a bond with the protagonist.

Moreover, the game randomly pairs players with others, with whom communication is limited to short audiovisual signals. Collaborating with someone you know nothing about requires a player to exhibit empathy, understanding, and gentleness.

Journey

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Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

An adventure-skill game with a setting and lore inspired by ancient Nordic tales and legends. Players control two boys, brothers – tasked with obtaining a cure for their ailing father. To achieve this, they must embark on a long and perilous journey.

Image credit: Starbreeze Studios AB

Apart from beautiful graphics and an intriguing storyline, the game features interesting mechanics. Players control two characters simultaneously (on consoles, one half of the controller is responsible for one character), and most actions require strict cooperation and coordination. Often, one of the boys must rescue the other from peril.

Due to the background story and the uneven distribution of strength and skills between the characters, the game evokes empathy and understanding in players. Players strongly identify and become attached to the kids who set out alone “to the end of the world” to save their father.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

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Papers, Please

An original logic game that satirizes the communist political system. Players take on the role of an immigration officer in the fictional country of Arstotzka. The country has been at war for several years, leading to strict entry rules. The player’s task is to control everyone entering Arstotzka.

Image credit: 3909

This title may seem simple, but is decidedly not. Travelers attempting to enter the country can be very convincing while hiding malicious intentions; others may seem suspicious at first glance but only wish to spend some time in their homeland. Players must demonstrate not only excellent document analysis skills but also exceptional perceptiveness, empathy, and understanding.

Papers, Please

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Gone Home

An intriguing artistic game that focuses on exploration, a sense of horror, and unraveling mysteries.

Image credit: Fullbright

Players take on the role of 21-year-old Katy, who returns home after a year of absence. However, she finds no one in the building, and the state of the house (half-eaten pizza, turned on TV etc.) suggests that her parents and sister may have left in a hurry. The player’s task is to discover what happened.

Our protagonist is left alone in a large, empty house. A storm rages outside, it’s night – all of this creates a sense of dread and empathy for our character. The desire to help the girl is overwhelming.

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This War of Mine

A war-themed game inspired by real stories of people who survived the war. It focuses on the theme of survival, as players take on the roles of a group of civilians who must endure in a besieged city until help arrives.

Image credit: 11 bit studios

This title is very emotional and full of moral choices. The creators made every effort to continually evoke a sense of fear and dread. Players can empathize well with the situations of people experiencing the horrors of war, especially since the game is based on real stories. It is very moving and arouses plenty of emotions, fostering empathy.

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To the Moon

An interesting, artistic adventure game where players assume the roles of two scientists. They work for a company that offers dying people the chance to transfer into their memories and “guide life anew” to fulfill their deepest wishes. This time, the patient is an old man who has always dreamed of flying to the Moon.

Image credit: Freebird Games

During the gameplay, players progressively move back in the memories of the dying elderly man, attempting to find a breakthrough moment that would allow the realization of his dream. During this task, increasingly touching secrets from his life are discovered.

The game offers an interesting graphic style and a beautifully constructed world that invokes nostalgic memories in players. Additionally, it addresses the themes of death, unfulfilled dreams, and past mysteries, eliciting a plethora of emotions.

To the Moon

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The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series

An episodically released game based on Robert Kirkman’s comics. It focuses on the fates of several characters whose main goal is to survive in a world overrun by zombies. This title relies on point-and-click mechanics.

Image credit: Skybound Games

The game is full of difficult moral choices, decision-making, and requires players to think quickly and critically. The decisions made by players impact the fate of a protagonist and often the life or death of other characters. Similar to the original comics, the game stirs up a lot of emotions, touching on themes of death, friendship, and survival in an unfriendly world.

The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series

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