PLAYING MIND GAMES...

GAMES dealing with issues around anxiety and depression have become increasingly prevalent in the last decade, almost becoming a genre in their own right.

- By PAUL DRURY

I was impressed with last year’s Quantum Witch, which used the 8-bit adventure format to deal with some challenging topics, and now The Perfect Pencil mixes Metroidvania gameplay with mental health awareness.

As protagonist John, you are given little choice but to leave the safety of your bed and face your fears in the real world... or more accurately, the surreal world, outside your comfortable isolation. The many odd characters you meet, some part-human, part-animal or part-furniture, are clearly struggling with their own personal demons and at times you can help them or at least look deeply into their souls with your cine-projector head.