Gaming

Sorry to hear that, there's been times where I've avoided certain bits of media for similar reasons, and that feeling of "should I invest myself in this?" while trying to keep yourself safe. I hope things improve for you.

I don't want to say anything about Until Then really as I think the experience would be hampered knowing anything about it, but it'll still be there for you in the future. There are heavier moments throughout the story however, I cried at both the beauty and the sadness at multiple points in the game.

Some comparable games that have some similar themes or vibes

• Night in the Woods - Has themes around mental health issues especially focusing on dissociation
• What Remains of Edith Finch - Covers topics around death of loved ones including issues you're likely concerned about
• Life is Strange - Mental health and death along with suicidal discussion and events
• Firewatch

I think a lot of these kinda stories revolve around the sadder parts of life to elicit emotion that drives us towards connecting with characters in the same way that seeing hardship and struggle makes you care about your fellow human. To me it feels that through these experiences we're able to see our humanity in a rawer form, perhaps its because there's a cost to ourselves due to our emotional investment. There's no need to take on that cost unless you have the emotional space to do so though, but that cost is often what's made it so great. I didn't play any games for just over 2 weeks after I finished Until Then, I just started playing the piano, went on walks/bike rides/runs, and decided to get more involved at a local board game cafe. But really, no need to force yourself into that, focus on yourself, do the things you need to do to improve your situation internally or externally, it'll be there for you then.

If you want some story-esque games that feel much less soul-consuming, here's a few of my favourites:

• Stray - it made me have wobbly emotions, but it doesn't have quite the same "sting" as the games above
• Cloudpunk
• Metro Exodus - Bit of an oddball here, probably a few eyebrows raised, but I think it's one of the only games I've seen actual intimacy (and not sexual intimacy), however that's few and far between, the pew pew is great

And a couple of cozy games that are a bit adjacent to these

• Frog Detective - Quite how these haven't won GOTY every year I don't know... I loved them
• A Short Hike
• Donut County
• Maybe Sludge Life but that's certainly on the more abstract end of things

Edit: Also sorry for the monologue haha, didn't mean for that to get so long, just started rambling