
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we'll be running several features focused on how video games of all types have helped us through periods when we were struggling with our mental health.
Today, Richard shares how racing games helped restore him during a difficult period...
I tense up whenever I take a corner in F-Zero, clenching my jaw as I whip around a hairpin turn, just barely missing the wall and glancing another pilot. My fingers claw the Super Nintendo pad’s buttons almost like I’m steering Captain Falcon’s machine for real, careening down the streets of Port Town at 400 km/h. The only thing on my mind is crossing that finish line before the computer can. It’s all I have room to think about.
Between races, there’s a lot of gunk in my brain. Cascading anxiety about the swift and sudden breakup of a six-year relationship; shame at my failure to find steady work after being laid off from my first full-time job; embarrassment at having to move back in with family when job opportunities dried up in the pandemic; anguish at the grisly details of a true crime story I had spent months reporting on for an investigative journalism podcast.
But when the pilots hit the grid for the next race, machines whirring in anticipation, every other thought is silenced. I steel myself for another round of futuristic motorsports, and my worries melt away as the track blurs beneath my little Blue Falcon.
Even when I’m sick, I play video games. And during this period of depression, which dragged me down in the early months of 2022, racing games were all I could play. I sunk dozens of hours into the Switch’s meager racing offerings, from the original F-Zero on Nintendo Switch Online’s SNES app, to GRID Autosport, SEGA AGES Virtua Racing, and Rush Rally Origins. I chased time trials in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe—surpassing both the 150cc and 200cc staff records—to get those gold tires. I did it all because it seemed like these digital racetracks were the only places where I wouldn’t be reminded of a failed relationship or the vivid police report of a very real rape and murder.
My improvement could be measured in seconds, in ever-rising placings each grand prix.
I don’t even like cars that much. I don’t watch professional racing, nor did I regularly play many racing games before this brief obsession. But my mainstays weren’t doing it for me. Cozy games reminded me of my ex. Puzzle games left too much room for idle thinking. And the action games I wanted to play—No More Heroes 3, Elden Ring, even Dead Cells—were too violent for me. I couldn’t handle the sound or image of blood splatter, even with the blood and gore settings turned down in the games that offered it.
Racing games seemed like a safe haven because I knew so little about them, and yet they ran deep in the history of video games. I could learn something—always a good way to distract myself—but I could also sink my teeth into a relatively non-violent genre that would provide all the challenge of the tough-as-nails action games I love.
So, F-Zero seemed like a good place to start. I had played F-Zero X casually on the Wii Virtual Console way back when, and dabbled in F-Zero GX on the GameCube. But I had never really taken the time to figure out the original game.
The debut entry of the series is a surprisingly deep racer, as anyone who’s spent serious time in the battle royale adaptation F-Zero 99 knows. The tracks are intricate, with long straightaways that beckon you to slam the accelerator and burn precious boost power, mixed with maddening turns, mines, and magnets that demand careful employment of the brakes and slide buttons.
when the pilots hit the grid for the next race, machines whirring in anticipation, every other thought is silenced
The more I tore around Mute City, Death Wind, and Fire Field, the more I realized that racing games, like speedrunning, are games of numbers, trial-and-error, and tiny, split-second decisions. They’re both about optimization—perfecting those racing lines—and the pure thrill of going really, really fast. When I’m nailing every turn and inching past rivals as I shave milliseconds off each lap, I enter a kind of fragile flow state where I know anything can go wrong at any moment.
For me, at that point in my life, there was value in games that felt dangerous, games where I could fail catastrophically. In the simulation-style racer GRID, with the appropriate options enabled, cars get serious wear and tear that can cause vehicles to lean one way or another the entire race; get bumped off the track in F-Zero and machines simply explode. But mitigating these setbacks, learning from mistakes and rising above them to do better next time, helped me build back some self-confidence when it felt like everything had gone wrong. My improvement could be measured in seconds, in ever-rising placings each grand prix.
When my depression became too much to bear alone, my psychiatric nurse recommended I admit myself into partial hospitalization, a carefully regimented outpatient mental health program.
I learned a tremendous amount about myself there, and even walked out with a fresh diagnosis that helped me switch to medications and behavioral therapies that changed my life for the better.

But I still consider racing games to be a critical part of my recovery. Not only were they fun—which is pretty important—they reinforced the messages imparted to me by the health professionals at the hospital. Change is incremental, and I need to acknowledge and even celebrate small victories each day, especially when something as simple as getting out of bed can feel impossible. And, crucially, mental health is holistic: the health of the mind is closely tied to the wellness of the body. Sleep, exercise, and diet all affect how my brain works, whether I like it or not.
Even if I take a turn too hard in Virtua Racing and burn seconds off the shrinking timer, there’s always the next turn, the next race, the next day. And when I ace that turn next time, and the time after that, I won’t take it for granted. I learned to do that, and even moments that fleeting are worth cheering for.
Comments 42
I’m glad that these games helped and are continuing to get you through the difficult times in life. Don’t give up because better times are always ahead.
For me, World of Warcraft was something that held me together in what was the darkest time of my life, back in the Wrath of the Lich King era.
"Switch’s meager racing offerings"
There are so many racing games on Switch! Some really excellent ones you don't mention at all include Horizon Chase Turbo (1 and 2) and the launch title of Fast RMX.
This was a lovely read. Its interesting how different genres of video games create a different feel within everybody, a different internal meaning to a menial task. In the same way you found racing and many people use cosy games, plenty will find refuge in rising to the top of games like Street Fighter or Smash Bros or find themselves immersed in narrative tales that resonate with them like Life Is Strange. For me, the ever whimsical and over the top worlds of games like Professor Layton or Katamari Damacy let me forget about real life logic and sink into eccentricity, and it feels nice. Things dont need to make sense in games like that. Thank you for writing this article, video games are a wonderful thing.
I agree, I can appreciate a chill and slower paced game, but racing games are super fun. It always feels so rewarding when you win! F zero in particular is great, fantastic music and innovative track design
I knownthe feeling mate. As a teacher and father of two and husband, and student, and this, and that, I have many responsabilities that often trigger my anxiety.
Zelda and Rocket League do the same for me. I am either taking my sweet time exploring a bit of Hyrule, or trying to get one more victory. And that helps.
One thing at a time, mate. We'll get thwre and we'll be okay.
I found sports games worked for me. The live service nature of something like FIFA provided a steady influx of content that I could schedule and create a routine for myself.
Yeah unfortunately in my similar situation, racing games only remind me of my ex, and the version of herself that's now lost to mental health. There are many games I don't know when or if I'll play again.
Really sinking my teeth into adventure games was a decent escape. Stuff like Strange Horticulture, Grim Fandango, and LA Noire.
Yeah there's something oddly therapeutic about turning dozens of laps in a race car. It's so metronomic.
I actually went through a partial program myself, and it honestly saved my life. It was in January of 2016 when I was hospitalized after the 3rd nearly fatal, non-accidental overdose in as many years. I was released but only on the condition that I went immediately into partial. After I was done, I was sober and have been ever since. I would also credit videogames as helping me a great deal during this time, especially the Xenoblade series, of all things. I also feel you on cozy games that have become depressing as a result of them being very associated with someone who is no longer a part of your life in the same way as they used to be (Animal Crossing NH, I'm looking at you!)
Glad we're both doing better now. Great write up
: D
Nice article. So great that games can help people heal. It was Puzzle Quest and Tetris that helped me in the past.
SRPGs and traditional turn based JRPGs (both my favorite gaming genres) have helped me during a lot of mental health crisis moments. Something cathartic about knowing I'm in control, can take as much or as little time as I want, and I'm pretty successful at it unlike ya know, life! Haha. Plus, I genuinely enjoy them. I like using my brain for strategy and I'd rather use said brain for something stimulating rather than wallow in the misery in my head.
"Switch’s meager racing offerings"
Are you for real? At least do a little research into this area before spouting such untruths, especially given your interest in the genre. There's an avalanche of good racing games on Switch
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fuelled
Sonic Team Racing
GRID Autosport
Cruis'n Blast
NFS: Hot Pursuit
Burnout Paradise Remastered
F-Zero 99
Horizon Chase Turbo
Wreckfest
Hot Wheels Unleashed
Trials Rising
Lonely Mountains: Downhill
FAST RMX
WRC 10
Gear. Club Unlimited 2
Sega Ages Virtua Racing
Art of Rally
Hot Shot Racing
LEGO 2K Drive
V-Rally 4
SEGA Ages Outrun
Moto GP 20
Star Wars: Episode 1 Racer
Burnout Paradise City
Circuit Superstars
Asphalt 9: Legends
...and more
Removed - offensive remarks; user is banned
This is a great read, thank you for sharing. I have a number of games that I can’t go back to because they transport me back to an unhappy time in my life. But this has made me think perhaps I should go back and complete them for some sort of closure.
Dissing Dead Cells is not cool, man.
@dodgeskill100 It helps people to talk openly about it. Sorry for the inconvenience.
If I want to escape just a little, then it’s simply this:
Super Mario Kart on the SNES, Flower Cup, Ghost Valley 2, Koopa.
Its been this way since the 90s, what a racer..!
Thanks for the read.
.not sure i have a to go genre in case of sickness … i do get a lot of comfort tinkering with consoles if i feel cheesy… and sensible soccer.
There is always sensible soccer
This was a fantastic read. Thank you for being so vulnerable and sharing your story.
As a Dad and husband in this scary day and age, and at times dealing with lifelong crippling anxiety, (especially after losing my Dad, grandma, someone who was like a brother, and 2 friends in a matter of months), I know as much as I can where you are coming from. Mental health struggles are so important to share; not only for yourself, but for others to know they are not alone.
My go to's are also racing games, but sometimes open world games as well. There is something about immersing myself in a fantasy world and taking things at a leisurely pace that has helped quite a bit.
Thank you again for sharing. A lot of people may not realize it, but it is a very brave and heroic thing to do.
@Folkloner Don’t forget Cars 3!
Removed - inappropriate
When I have a bad mood, I will play DDR games or ACNH or Go Vacation.
@johnvboy The guy lost his significant other that had been in his life for a huge portion of it, it sounds like without much if any closure, was without income or the ability to take care of himself, was enduring the embarrassment of having to move in with his parents, and was dealing with the grisly details of a horrifying rape and murder case. All in the midst of what many people consider the worst period of their lives in the form of the Covid years. And you call this "simply having a bad day".
About this time four years ago, I had lost a job where I thought I was going to be for a long time, and had to cancel plans to buy a house and stay in my apartment. I was having a lot of drama in the situationship I was in, had to take an underpaying job for something I really didn't want to do for a while, and was banking all of my emotional chips on getting another job that I knew would shatter me if I didn't get it, but screw being rational. The only things that got me through that period were my dog, Kali Uchis' "After the Storm" and Tears of the Kingdom.
Maybe one day when ***** hits the fan for you and your life is in shambles, you'll understand. Maybe yours already had and you're just not built to understand what others are going through.
@WheresWaveRace
Yeah, same for me. Sure, Fire Emblem Three Houses helped me get through some very dark period of my life, but I can't play it anymore. I tried, but it will just bring all the memories back.
Same, but literal driving puts me squarely in the mentally disturbed bracket. I have such a hard time dealing with the other idiots on the road and have to keep reminding myself that if you wake up and think everyone you meet is an *****, you just might the *****. If I won the lottery the very first thing I'd do is hire someone to drive me everywhere I go. And before someone says bus, I'm not in a place where that's a viable option, and I don't do well with crowds.
Removed - flaming/arguing
Great article, and better articulates some vague thoughts I've had about non-cosy games being the most helpful for some people during very difficult times. Nothing against "intentionally" cozy games on the whole- I mean Animal Crossing NH is probably considered a cozy game by the majority of players and I know that definitely helped me with navigating spring 2020 when Covid really emerged worldwide. I think just on the whole, it's kind of a different strokes for different folks kind of thing.
The three games that helped the most in three different severely difficult periods of my life were Super Metroid, Twilight Princess HD and Celeste for a variety of reasons, in different contexts; I would not consider any of those three as cozy games in the vein of Animal Crossing or some newer "intentionally" cozy indies that have released in recent times. Regarding Celeste, even though it has a prominent mental health theme in the plot of the game and deals with anxiety, tbh it actually was not that part that helped me out really, but rather the audiovisual element+atmosphere of the game and the simple yet brilliant gameplay itself.
I'm also glad that the writer of this article touched on the need for seeking out professional help and that video games can often be an excellent complementary aid in navigating severely difficult circumstances, but not a replacement for actual professional help by qualified mental health professionals (therapists, counselors, psychiatrists, etc.). I also appreciate the author's openness in talking specifically about partial and intensive programs, because that can absolutely be a very vulnerable topic, but those levels of care can truly help a lot of people that need it.
Removed - inappropriate
Hope you're doing okay, sir.
@calbeau We're not seeing a rise in mental health problems, we're seeing a rise in awareness of those problems. We're trying to move past the "Suck it up" era of mental health and really look at what mental health means. It's a good thing.
Removed - flaming/arguing
While can't say much even if a good read. As I just jump between games no matter how I feel.
I don't deny the racing offerings as I mean I could say more about games on GameCube or N64 then I can on Switch. Switch is coming back where Wii U didn't have many (it had racing games but if you wanted a Project Cars 1 Wii U port it didn't happen). Wii and DS had a bit more of that. Switch has games of all types of racing but I mean if you want particular progression, particular racing games sometimes they aren't there. I mean on Wii U sure Fast Racing Neo (RMX on Switch) is great but I mean if I wanted a more Wreckfest or something it isn't there. Is on Switch. Grid Autosport is but also a bunch of others are coming to Switch yes. But otherwise if I wasn't into kart racers which I tolerate them or some old school racers then nah. It differs.
Sometimes I feel that way with a racing game or an animal game. Sometimes just playing a different character or the different expectations of the moveset, physics, less story focus and more gameplay focus, the themes/setting, the level design, less human drama among other things just makes those games worthwhile.
Same with any more chill games, compared to a puzzle, strategy, board game or a city builder to push the brain then more combat focused games or some requiring particular other skill or movement.
Thank you for sharing this, it was lovely to read. I can understand how the thrill of racing can take your mind off things and with that safe thrill of danger. Well done for coming so far with your recovery ❤️❤️
I can't express what's happening with me at the moment but I think I'd be completely out of it if not for Ace Attorney. I'm smitten with the series (and Edgeworth haha) and it's giving me a reason to smile and laugh everyday. It's the little things that can count.
Can’t say I relate to most of this as I’m not into racing and I’ve never fought true depression, but it was a fascinating read all the same. You described your mental processes clearly and I’m glad you are on the upswing now.
It’s a good platformer, 2D or 3D, that helps get me through a tough time
For me, it's JRPG's and puzzle games. Never been truly depressed, but struggle with generalized anxiety.
But remember, when feeling depressed, get professional help! Its the best thing you can do.
Removed - flaming/arguing
There are tons of racing games not on Switch, because of the lack of analog triggers, needed for proper nuanced accelerating and braking. On Switch, driving a car is like alternating between slamming the pedal to the floor and then slamming the breaks. Back and forth.
Some of them are on Switch, but every review says "best on other platforms...because...analog triggers".
If I were to have a "Switch 2" wishlist, it would be for:
1.) Backwards compatibility
2.) More power
3.) Analog triggers
Dark Souls fixed my depression!...briefly
What a fantastic article. Most everybody will suffer mental health problems at some stage in their life even if it’s for a short while and using racers as a coping mechanism sounds like it worked a treat.
If I’m playing to keep my mind off things, it’s the harder the better for me. I loved getting my hands sweaty with Ys VIII on hard mode.
And Breath of the Wild was just so good that it made me want to be alive when I needed convincing.
Would be nice to at least be told what was inappropriate with my removed comment, at least to know what offended the people here.
I don't mind my comments being removed if appropriate, but would at least like to know why it was deemed inappropriate. I can back up what I said with facts if needed.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...