I played seven empathy-based digital narrative games. Each one made me feel something different, they all helped me see the world from different perspectives I had and hadn’t experienced myself. Some games were emotionally heavy, others were more social, but each one of them taught me something meaningful about real-life struggles and empathy.

1. Spent

This was the first game i played, and it immediately pulled me in. The goal was to survive a month on a very low income, and it showed me how quickly money disappeared. Every decision mattered and this is what keeps me engaged in this type of games, from paying rent, buying food, going to the doctor  and most of the time, i had to choose between equally bad options. I felt frustrated, anxious, and guilty when i made a wrong choice. It made me realize that poverty isn’t about being careless but is more about being trapped. I finished the month once with very little money left, and it made me acknowledge the daily struggles of people experiencing it.

2. BBC Syrian Refugees

This game changed the way I look at refugees. I played as a syrian female and escaping war with my family, and every decision felt terrifying. Whether I stayed or moved, there was always danger. The first time I played, I got scammed at the beginning by someone who promised to help us cross safely, and it made me realize how desperate people in that situation can be it is like you want to trust others, but sometimes you just can’t. The second time, I ended up stranded and separated from my family. It made me realize that refugees often don’t have a good or smart choice, they’re just trying to survive. Before playing, I didn’t really think about the details of what they go through this game it made me feel like i am in a refugee’s shoe.

3. Fake It to Make It

This one was completely different. I played as someone spreading fake news online to make money. It was actually really impressing and felt realistic to share news and profit out of it, it was also really fun at first but it was too long that it made me realize how easy it was to manipulate people with false stories, just for attention or profit. It reminded me of how influencers or some news outlets in real life sometimes exaggerate or lie for engagement and money.

4. Sleep-Deprived Mom Game

This was one of the most emotional games for me because it showed how draining motherhood can be when there is constantly something going on every few seconds something needed attention the little girl cant sleep, or wanting to drink something before bed, work to finish and not enough time for myself or to do what i love or be there for my friends when they need me. Not even enough time to sleep for continuous nights I felt frustrated and overwhelmed just by playing it. It made me think about how much mothers carry every day and how little rest they get. It also made me more empathetic toward my own mom and the work she does all the time without me appreciating it enough, and without her having enough time for her own. it also made me a bit scared because i am a sleep deprived person and i definitely do not want to reach a breakpoint or fail my kid, friends, or my work.

If I could improve the game i would make it bit longer or more interactive.

5. Losing a Parent

This was the most personal game for me. It’s about dealing with the loss of a parent specifically a father from the beginning to the very end. it shared the sudden hospital visits and the shock and sadness before anything happening yet, and i related to it deeply because I lost my dad exactly a year ago in a very similar but quicker series of events. While playing, I felt both sadness and comfort. I understood the girl’s sadness and fear of being pitied or seen or treated differently because of her loss it really resonated with me. The game also made me reflect on my own way of coping how I most of the time try to move on quickly or avoid talking about it to seem normal. i also think that the game is a perfect example of how grief  really is and how it takes time and that it’s okay to talk about the people we’ve lost and honor their memory while still continuing with life.

It obviously does not fade quickly and does not fade completely. There were moments in the game where I felt like I was doing fine, and then something small would trigger some emotions again which felt very real to how grieving a parent actually is. It also comforted me because it showed that it’s okay to feel a mix of emotions like sadness, guilt, nostalgia, and him not being there in the milestones of his daughter’s life like graduating or getting married and having children.

The game made me realize that healing isn’t about forgetting the person you lost, but about learning to live with this loss in a healthier manner. I really liked how the game made space for emotional reflection instead of just winning or losing. It made me think more about how I’ve changed since losing my dad and how I can keep his memory alive in a positive way while slowly healing and accepting the loss.

6. Peer Destruction 

This game focused on putting yourself in another person’s shoes. It was short but meaningful honestly. i chose to be an underweight girl to see how it feels, because it’s a common perception that people only struggle with wanting to lose weight, not to gain it. i liked how it showed the hardships an underweight girl could go through the body shaming, the comments, and how people often dismiss her struggles just because she’s “thin.” I loved how the main idea of the game was to show that body image issues affect people of all sizes, and that no one should be judged or labeled based on their appearance. It made me more aware of how i talk about body and weight, and reminded me that everyone deserves kindness and understanding no matter how they look.

7.The Empathy Toy

We played this one in class, and I didn’t expect it to be so eye-opening. It was about understanding what it’s like to live with a disability. In our group we had two people who were blindfolded, one of them also had their hands tied, and another person who was only hand-tied. They had to communicate to build matching block structures without seeing or touching each other’s work. I was one of the observers and at some point of the game i was only allowed to guide them verbally but not physically interfere. It was really interesting but also frustrating at times, especially when communication got confusing. The experience showed me how much patience and trust, and clear communication are needed when someone has a limitation and how empathy isn’t just about feeling sorry for others but about genuinely understanding and helping them.

To sum up

playing all these empathy-based games was a a great experience to me. Each one helped me see life from different perspectives and understand emotions i hadn’t personally gone through. I learned that empathy isn’t just about feeling sorry for someone it’s about trying to understand their experience even if if it is just for a few minutes. These games showed me how to can make people more compassionate and aware of real-life struggles.