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Combatting loneliness is not always easy to do. In all tough times, people can often feel lonely. This could be down to worrying about current events happening around the globe. Sometimes we just need somebody to connect with and share our worries with. Everyone needs somebody to chat to sometimes and just have their thoughts acknowledged. I often worry myself, which does affect many aspects of my like sleep and my ability to concentrate.
When considering the current pandemic, a lot of us have been stuck at home. It has forced many people indoors and others to be separated from important people in our lives. For some this has led to many feel of lonely, especially in cases where we feel like there is not anyone we trust to communicate with.
Often when support is needed, there are services available to utilise, especially due to long waiting lists, lack of resources and underfunding of many services across the UK. We’re going to talk about a very unique game today, which aims to combat loneliness through its simplistic, yet effective gameplay.
Video Game and Technology
Technology has been one great way to stay connected. We have all been using technology to stay connected with our partners, friends, family, and colleagues. This has been great for people who could do with speaking to others they trust online.
Video games have often been shown to bring people together too with many communities like World of Warcraft and similar coming together to support one another. This showed the potential gaming had in bringing people together in tough times. Beyond just the community, games provide escapism from our daily lives and forget some of our worries.
Kind Words
Kind words are a game about combatting loneliness. It offers a simplistic solution through interactivity. This enables people around the world to share their struggles and thoughts we each other, in an anonymous manner. Kind Words was also developed by POPCANNIBAL an indie video game developer.
While this offers the perfect place to share troubling thoughts, it does encourage users not to give away personal information. This game is a bit like contacting your agony aunt for some advice but instead with others across the internet.
Ways of Sharing Worries
In addition to sharing your thoughts, it lets you respond to letters in a similar matter. These are usually known as requests and allow you to respond anonymously from both sides. This helps you in supporting others in the game and helps facilitate the core purpose of sharing worries.
Although, if sending or responding to requests is not for you, you can send kind things out to people. These are sent like paper planes and can be clicked on by you when flying by the room your character sits in. While many contain heart-warming messages, you often get chain paper planes which encourage you to pass on a message.
Another defining feature is the game’s lo-fi chill beats soundtrack. These songs give you a relaxing vibe while you write away. The soundtrack does become repetitive quickly but if you can find a Spotify list this one here you are equally set up for a chilled-out writing session.
Customisation
The game does offer some customisation with the use of sticker books. This gives you as the player ways to customise your rooms when sending and receiving letters. My first thoughts on this game were around the lack of customisation, especially with the limited number of stickers to collect when I first started playing. I am excited to see what other sticker books POPCANNIBAL will release in the future.
In addition, it would be great to see ways to customise your letters alongside the stickers i.e., via optional message styles and templates. However, this might come with the risk of making the game too complicated for the players. As I have finished the first book so far
How Kind Words Has Helped Me
Kind Words have been very useful in helping me share my worries with others. I do not always feel comfortable sharing some worries with others. Kind Words has honestly been eye-opening for me due to how it enabled me to share my worries in this wild time. I hope that going forward, I can continue interacting with Kind Words to share and help others while at it. The game is also by far the most relaxing gaming experience I have ever had.
From playing the game for a short time, I was able to write down my current worries and issues at the time. The responses received, really highlighted the positivity and supportive nature of this game’s community. As for the soundtrack of this game, the lo-fi tunes made the whole experience that little bit more relaxing (thank you, POPCANNIBAL!).
When you combine all the game features too, we get a great environment to get some advice or to have our voices/problems heard by others. The game itself helps us have that sense of community and support we all need sometimes. I think the bonus of it being anonymous ensures we all feel safe speaking about our problems too.
In Summary
Today we have learned about the potential games Kind Words have at helping stop loneliness. The post has also highlighted the importance technology has in our lives when it comes to staying connected without loved ones.
If you want to know more about the game, please check out the Kind Words developer website to find out more. Alternatively, you can find the game on steam here where you can purchase and install the game.
Did you play this game at all in the past or any similar games at all? Please consider getting in contact either via the comments below or through info@dynamicdouble.co.uk.
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