The 9 Best Games as Emotional Safety Tools

It is a scary time in the world right now, with new tragedies and traumas presented each day. Regardless of your political affiliations or beliefs, it is incredibly important to take care of both one another and our own mental health. Sadly, the internet is not always the space where that safety can be found. Invisible voices will shout hate or hide traumatic images in innocuous posts, and it can be impossible to avoid seeing things you don’t want to see.

Fortunately, studies have shown that there are ways to protect yourself even after witnessing traumatic images or events. I am a successful patient of a therapeutic practice called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or “EMDR.” EMDR works by using rapid eye movement to kickstart the parts of your brain that create lasting memory. This allows a patient and counselor to implant new thoughts and emotions into a lasting memory.

For me, EMDR has allowed me to remove traumatic feelings toward past events: I call up events that trigger my PTSD, implant new beliefs on top of it, and remove some of the traumatic stress response to the memories. It doesn’t make the memories more pleasant, of course. But it does reduce the physical and emotional response.

Sudden Event Processing, Explained

You may be asking yourself, Okay, great, EMDR can help with past events, but what about something that just happened. Research shows that rapid eye movement in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event can also help reduce the formation of traumatic memories. Studies from 2017 show that rapid eye movement within six hours of a car crash can reduce the traumatic memories of the event and help patients process stress. This is true for traumatic images as well: 20 minutes of rapid eye movement after witnessing a traumatic event or image can short-circuit the formation of long-term memory.

And the easiest way to do rapid eye movement without a clinical practitioner? Playing Tetris. 

The Tetris Effect

“Tetris Effect” isn’t just the name of the best Tetris game available; it’s also a medical term for when someone has spent so long staring or focusing on one task, they begin to see elements of that task in other parts of their life. Focusing as hard as players do playing Tetris changes their brain chemistry such that they are more prone to seeing Tetriminos in other places. Neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to change its pathways in both short and long ways, is triggered by focus. Add in the rapid-eye movement required to play Tetris and, tada, you have a safe and effective way to slip into an EMDR-adjacent state.

9 Psychologically Safe Games for Your Emotional Toolbox

So, now that we’ve covered the science, I want to provide some other games that can be used as safety tools in the same way. Let’s face it: Not everyone loves Tetris. It’s stressful and fast and intimidating. Luckily, there are plenty of other games that can be used for the same purposes.

Holedown

Holedown is a simple puzzle game about drilling into cores by shooting balls. Players are tasked to clear various stages, earning upgrades as they go. It’s simple, endless, and a great way to unwind while also keeping your mind focused. I play Holedown after therapy for at least five minutes. It helps calm and settle my mind, and allows me to focus on the rest of my day. 

Platforms: PC (via Steam), Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android

Sayonara Wild Hearts

One can lose themself in the wonders of Sayonara Wild Hearts for hours. The flow and speed of each stage requires intense focus to get things “right,” sucking players in. Plus, energetic music has also been shown to help process trauma, and Sayonara Wild Hearts’ soundtrack rules!

Platforms: PC (via Steam), Mac, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS

Suika Game

Suika Game is like Tetris’ hippy cousin. Whereas Tetris can be high-energy and stressful, Suika Game is serene and peaceful. But make no mistake: The falling fruits can still help the brain slip into a flow state and help create a sense of peace in the player.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch (via eShop)

Puyo Puyo Series

First introduced in the United States as Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine and Kirby’s Avalanche (seriously), the Puyo Puyo series is very similar to Tetris in both gameplay and style. Instead of manipulating falling blocks to create lines, players attempt to create lines of four matching colors out of falling blobs. It’s the same flow as Tetris, just a little different (and a little cuter). I recommend Puyo Puyo Tetris 2.

Platforms: PC (via Steam), PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Grindstone

Created by Capybara Games, Grindstone is a puzzle game about slaying monsters in long combo chains. Players try to line up same-colored monsters to run through in beautiful, glorious messes. It’s fun, challenging, and addicting! 

Platforms: PC (via Steam), Nintendo Switch, iOS (via Apple Arcade)

Arkanoid (aka Brick Breaker or Breakout)

It’s Arkanoid. The balls bounce, the blocks break, and the score goes up. Also, the hours slip away. My recommendation is Arkanoid: Eternal Battle, released in 2022. But really, you can’t go wrong with anything in the genre, including browser versions!

Platforms: PC (via Steam), Nintendo Switch

Lumines

With kickass soundtracks and addicting gameplay, the Lumines series brings players in via bright environments and keeps them via the layers and layers of depth. I cannot tell you the hours I have lost to Lumines, and the comfort it has brought me. It’s great for draining my brain of the world around me and helping to calm me during stressful moments. Personally, I am looking forward to the upcoming Lumines: Arise, out November 11. It is the exact sort of drift away I need right now.

Platforms: PC (via Steam), PlayStation 5

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater

The recent release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 reminded me of how good skating games can be at achieving a state of peace. Tricks require focus, and the constant shifting of the skater against the background allows for rapid eye movement to take over. Whenever I play Tony Hawk, I zone out to the point that I barely notice the sounds or conversations around me. If you’re looking for something more action-orientated that can achieve that same flow state, Tony Hawk is a great option.

Platforms: PC (via Steam), PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 1 & 2

Tetris

I’d be remiss not to mention the inspiration for this article itself. In particular, 2018’s Tetris Effect is still my go-to game for relaxing in this messed-up time. The visuals are mesmerizing, the music hypnotic. But most importantly, Tetris Effect allows players to customize how difficult they want their game to be. For me, I play the Endless Zen mode: a continuous loop of lines that allows my brain to detach. 

Platforms: PC (via Steam), PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

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There are hundreds of other options out there that players can take advantage of. Games can bring comfort beyond getting lost in fictional worlds; they can also bring genuine help to folks in these current times. In the end, take care of yourself in whatever ways you can.

What games do you turn to as safety tools? Let us know in the comments!