Depression Quest
Review

Depression Quest (2013) is a narrative game about dealing with depression. You play the story of a someone suffering from depression and their attempts to deal with their condition. With emotive still images and atmospheric music that responds to your mood, you read about various situations and make choices about how to respond.

Play involves helping your character through daily life, encounters at work and relationship with their girlfriend. As you progress you are offered various treatments for depression. Over time you face choices that alter the story. Unusually, choices are often crossed out and unavailable, depending on your mental state in the game. Often the logical right answer in not be available just when you need it.

As you play you can track your state of mine through a series of statements about your character that indicate their level of depression, whether or not they are in therapy, and whether or not they are currently on medication.

The game aims to create greater understanding about depression. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline receives part of the proceeds.

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Depression Quest 19 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 19 months ago.