Games that motivate me to get up and be better

Sometimes we all need a kick in the pants to get our butt off, get things done, and get better. That inspiring call to action is found in all kinds of places, including video games. If you’re looking for fun ways to encourage yourself as you start to write your New Years resolutions, here are some games that inspired me to be better in one way or another.

Yakuza: like a dragon

Ichiban Kasuga knows how to make Lemon Heads lemonade. The guy spends 18 years in prison and, upon his release, has to deal with the reality of being abandoned and homeless (a subject the game addresses very well). However, instead of wasting time depressed, Ichiban eagerly begins to rebuild his life from scratch, collecting cans for cash and applying for jobs with inspiring persistence. What I like best is that he takes whatever job is available and doesn’t let pride get in his way. For a guy who was once proudly associated with an organized murder gang, Ichiban has a big head on his shoulders and his positive attitude is infectious.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Earlier this year, I started my days with Animal Crossing: New Horizons instead of checking my phone. Not only did it put me in a good mood from the start, it also got my creativity and productivity flowing. By the time I finished weeding and fixing my house, I was mentally ready to tackle my real-life to-do list. For any farmer, I imagine doing this has similar appeal to doing housework at dawn, except it’s a lot less sweaty. Animal Crossing: New Horizons reminds me that marking tasks is its own reward.

Shadow of the colossus

Shadow of the Colossus feels like the video game equivalent of the motivational posters that once dominated office break rooms. Nice picture, great declarative word; you know the ones. Nothing inspires the feeling of “I can conquer anything” like climbing living titans as a person comparatively the size of an ant and taking them down. As long as you ignore the melancholy of killing majestic creatures without provocation, sure. Shadow of the Colossus makes me feel powerful in a way that only video games can. If I can take down a flying snake thing, I can handle a long afternoon run.

Light blue

Madeline’s climb to Celeste Mountain tests not only my physical strength (it’s a difficult game) but also my mental determination. The dangerous journey forces the character to literally confront his inner demons in the way many of us wish we could. Celeste teaches valuable lessons on how to face and accept the darkness within all of us; By the time I reached the top, I couldn’t help but feel like I had overcome some of my own problems as well. Celeste serves as a powerful motivator to face my anxieties head-on.

Death stranded

When you take out the weird ink monsters, goofy dialogue, and goofy narrative, Death Stranding is really all about a delivery guy, and that’s when the game is at its best. There is something about the process of accepting jobs, stacking packages the right way, plotting routes, and driving miles that keeps my productivity flowing. Like real mountaineering, I feel a genuine sense of accomplishment in successfully reaching a secluded trainer thanks to my wit and ingenuity. Falling down sucks (especially with BB screaming in my ear), but the game is about dusting off and getting back up no matter the difficulties. Keep going.

Ring Fit Adventure

Fitness software should always inspire action, but Ring Fit Adventure does an exceptionally good job of keeping me off my butt. Not only is this a really fun game to play, but it also does an excellent job of keeping me on track. Timed alarms ping players when it’s time for a new practice. Encouraging messages and helpful tips go a long way to keeping my enthusiasm going. Also, the game saves me from being stubborn by offering to raise / lower the difficulty in case I get stuck or can’t handle training.

That’s all from me, but let me know in the comments which games motivate you to be better and why.