Five games to heal a broken heart this Valentine's Day 💝💘💔

Whilst couples celebrate Valentine's Day, a games expert has revealed five titles offering an alternative for those nursing broken or lonely hearts.

Nick Rodriguez, Dean of Games and Creative Technology at MetStudios, believes certain games do more than distract from emotional pain, providing a structure for processing difficult feelings.

 

Research from the Oxford Internet Institute published in April 2025 identified 13 distinct ways video games can influence players' mental health, both positively and negatively. 

 

A separate UK study published in August 2025 found video games offered psychological benefits during times of stress by providing agency, social connectedness and a sense of progression.

 

Here are the top picks:

Crimson Capes PC Gameplay (10 Minute Taster) | A Pixel Art Souls-Like Action RPG ⚔️💀🪦 @poorlocke @CrimsonCapes @realkoyima 🌸

Rich steps into a world of high adventure where steel clashes, monsters prowl, and witches lurk in the shadows. Crimson Capes invites you to master fluid 2D pixel‑art swordplay, track down powerful foes, and carve your legend across a land steeped in Sword and Sorcery.

Join the Guild of the Crimson Capes, take on daring contracts, and explore a hand‑crafted fantasy realm filled with danger, mystery, and old magic. Hunt monsters, challenge witches, and rise through the ranks as you uncover the secrets that shape this world.

Sharpen your blade. Embrace the adventure. The Crimson Capes await.

Pie In The Sky PC Gameplay "An Aussie Magpie On A Mission" 🐦‍⬛ @MonsterShopAU #IndieGame #GameDev

Rich decides to take to the skies as Australia’s most notorious menace: the magpie.

Dive‑bomb the unsuspecting, snatch unattended snacks, and unleash pure feathered mayhem in this chaotic action‑arcade adventure. Pie in the Sky brings old‑school PS2‑era vibes with fast, silly, satisfying gameplay built for maximum havoc. Expect swooping. Expect screaming humans. Expect snacks. It’s glorious. If you enjoy retro‑styled indies, chaotic physics fun, or just want to role‑play as a winged terror, this one’s for you.