It is. Its also maybe not the best game to play when you're struggling. I played it when I lost a close family member and I became a wreck for weeks It helped me process the loss, but it drew all of my emotions out in the process

darkest dungeon?

Blasphemous (only the first one), This War of Mine, Valiant Hearts, Papers Please, Pathologic

the hunter call of the wild is my go to for depression gaming. very peaceful generally, walking around tracking animals. if you follow the story you often times end up cleaning up a reserve from trash and left behind tents etc. the hunting is ethical in the story too. gotta keep populations low because yada yada. its gorgeous aswell, very slow. really a good one. and every now and then you'll encounter a mythical animal and track it for 4 real world hours tryna get it for your trophy case.

Outer Wilds. Best game ever made. Stick with it.

Subnautica works for me on days like these. It's atmosphere, the clever design of how to explore more of the story and the constant danger. I also really like the ending, but I won't say more about that, cause spoilers.

STALKER, it's story may not wreck you but the monolith will. If you want to be kicked in the dick play the anomaly mod, pretty sure it's free and doesn't require the games.

Peripeteia- Dark cyberpunk imsim. Obviously inspired by GitS and deus ex. I’d consider it pretty dark and pessimistic but lots of fun to play around in and explore the different ways you have to solve a problem.

For both rich atmosphere and unique game mechanics, you could do a lot worse than [Return of the Obra Dinn](https://youtu.be/ILolesm8kFY). If you're unfamiliar, the presentation evokes early PC (or Mac, more specifically) black and white "1 bit" games, but real time 3d. This already is very distinctive, but the gameplay also sets it apart. You are an insurance investigator with a magic pocket watch which allows you to travel back to the moment in time that someone expired, if you find their corpse. From these brief flashes (and by cross-referencing the ship manifest) you piece together what happened to all the crew and passengers on the ships ill-fated voyage, before it's baffling reemergence years after the fact.

Have fun, I think it really is one of the best games of the last decade.

You have so many great recommendations so i am gonna add more. Gulf Club Nostalgia/Wasteland: when depression hits hard why not hit it harder with a tale of nostalgia for a world we have not yet lost. Simple golf game but the radio station is... A lot. To the Moon: the whole series is just what if all we could give those dying the happiness of a lie implanted in their memories and what can we provide for those still living who dont get it so easy? Among the Sleep: just a 2 year old kid and your mom has gone missing and the world is so scary in the dark.

Darkwood.

Hollow Knight (more so than Silksong tbh) Night in the Woods

You might like ori

Have you played journey? It's great in my opinion the music and visuals bringe up every time I play it the end he sequence has made me cry in a few occasions.

These are basically ancient, but if you want to feel like crap. - The walking dead, from telltale - spec ops the line - this war of mine - papers please

Hollow Knight (more so than Silksong tbh) Night in the Woods

Dear Esther and Kentucky route zero for the music and atmosphere, elden ring for the atmosphere and challenge.

I've been morbidly attracted to Cat Lady for a very, very long time now, but what I've heard about it makes me feel like it'd be too much in times of crisis. That feels more like a "I'm feeling ok, let's hurt myself a bit" kinda' game to me. Oxenfree looks really cool, looks like it'd make for a comfy bed game! Thank you!

This sounds like a nice "Deck in bed" game, thanks!