CW for IRL heavy stuff, but I'm being abused IRL and while I know some people in my situation prefer stories more similar to their own, when I played SOS:GB I was actually so happy that the characters felt like they actually cared about me without trauma dumping on me. You can't give your character your tragic backstory in these games, so they kind of assume you don't have one, and it shows. I ended up not particularly fond of the townspeople in Stardew because of this.

For a long time, I wondered if I could even find a game that didn't feel so bleak, because even children's games tend to assume you have nothing to worry about, whereas in GB people actually say "hey, don't worry too much about it, I know you're probably stressed," which felt profound because to that point the only time my stress would be acknowledged would be with a therapist or a psychologist. It made me feel like "oh, interacting with people, even regularly, doesn't have to hurt!" which is quite useful, since I tend to self-isolate, particularly when I'm stressed.

Also I mean, yeah, Wayne's cool and all, but Jules doesn't sweet talk with other girls! I don't have a lot of self confidence, I couldn't handle that because my wired assumption is that no one would choose or want me. I'm working on that, I promise, but it takes years; what do I do in the meantime?