Despite what we’ve seen over the years in the media, and unfortunately still do, video games can help with ourmental health- we’ve even got the studies to prove that. Whether it’s a cozy and comforting sim title likeStardew Valleyand House Flipper or an adventure-ridden saga likeGod of Warand Spider-Man 2, gaming provides an outlet for relaxation and mental well-being. It’s something players have been shouting from the hilltops for years.
Helldivers 2is a prime example of that for one player who praised the game’s community for its fun and team-driven player base, saying that it “changed the place gaming has in my life for the better” after suffering from burnout and stress from other battle royales.
Helldivers 2’s New Update Secretly Added A New Mission Type
Yesterday’s update made no reference to a new mission type in the patch notes, but we’re not complaining.
Helldivers 2 Is Helping Players Have Fun Again
As with everything in life, even if the positive outcomes outweigh the negatives, it’s not the quantity of gaming but the quality that counts. In a recent sub-Reddit post,Chiquemund_Freudspoke about their mental health struggles while playing the battle royale gameCall of Duty: Warzone. Due to the predatory aspects of games like this, Chiquemund found themselves in a constant state of being “addicted to the rush of winning” and “the grind of it all” that they were unaware of what was happening to their well-being.
Speaking to me about this, they said, “Before I knew it, I was playing every night, but it stopped being fun. It became work.” Not only was Chiquemund sinking hours into the game with “No real achievements”, but they also found themselves easily angered, moody and anxious, which not only put a strain on their mental health but also their relationship. “Very early on she already tried to get me to play something else, because she saw what it was doing to me, but the denial I was in with Warzone is something I never experienced.”
Finally realizing that a different approach to how they played games was desperately needed, Chiquemund picked up Helldivers 2 after seeing it advertised so much on social media. “Playing this game, with its amazing community, has changed the place gaming has in my life for the better.”. Continuing, “It was exactly what I was looking for. I’d come downstairs in a better mood because I was having fun with friends. Which is how it should be, I guess. I just kinda forgot about that.”
Not only was Chiquemund enjoying Helldivers 2’s cooperative drive among its players, which includes rejoicing in team triumphs, sharing ammo, and the many “nice job” fist bumps, but their relationship improved drastically too. “My girlfriend even noticed. Yesterday, out of the blue she said: I’m glad you found Helldivers. I really like hearing you have fun instead of cussing and complaining all night and coming downstairs all riled up.”
Many of the comments in the Reddit thread echoed Chiquemund’s statement about the Helldivers community and its gameplay. “Helldivers helped me quit Warzone, which I have played since March 2020. It was only after I stopped playing that I realized how much of a negative toll it was having on my mental health.” saidthepipesarecall. At the same time, userOdd-Consequencereplied, “I stopped playing any PvP games and have just been chilling with friends playing coop games. $40 for Helldivers was the best gaming purchase I made in the past 2 years.”
This also goes to show that taking anything to an excess, and that includes gaming, can be detrimental to one’s mental health, but finding a positive and fulfilling outlet for relaxation as well as stress relief, can have major cognitive benefits. Being able to engage player minds in social interactions and immersive experiences in a rewarding way in games helps to not only cultivate a sense of belonging but also a worthwhile bridge to enhancing our mental well-being, and that seems to be exactly what’s happening in Helldivers 2 for players around the world.
Helldivers 2’s New BR-14 Adjudicator Rifle Is Getting Absolutely Roasted By Players
Is this Helldivers 2’s worst weapon yet?
