History VideoGame / DepressionQuest

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Invoked. As with actual depression, you start thinking people are out to get you. For example, a coworker who's trying to sell his kitten becomes an irritating little greedy scammer, and your mother seems downright abusive from her constant nagging.

* DrivenToSuicide: {{Discussed|Trope}}. In the intro before the game starts, a warning is given that people considering Suicide should not play this game. There is even a link leading to a suicide hotline in the first paragraph of the intro.

* RealityEnsues: To reflect the reality of how depression affects the decisions one makes in life, certain decisions will be crossed out and unavailable to you as the game goes on.

* VideoGameCaringPotential: Pretty much the entire point. The only way to "win" the game--to make your character keep his job, get his mother to stop harassing him, and stop his girlfriend from leaving him-- is to help him recover from his depression.

** CuteKitten: Adopting the cat is one of the things that can help you with your depression.

** GoodParents: As does your dad. He knows you're going through ''something'', and tries to get your mother to lay off of you.

** [[WriteWhatYouKnow The developer of the game struggled with depression themselves during their teen years.]]

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Invoked. As with actual depression, you start thinking people are out to get you. For example, a coworker who's trying to sell his kitten becomes a irritating little greedy scammer, and your mother seems downright abusive from her constant nagging.

* TheLoinsSleepTonight: In one instance, your girlfriend Alex tries to seduce you. If you are taking the antidepressants, than you will be unable to perform.

* DarkAndtroubledPast: Averted. The character states early on that they had a normal life, and that this depression is not the result of a traumatic experience.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]]. In the intro before the game starts, a warning is given that people considering Suicide should not play this game. There is even a link leading to a suicide hotline in the first paragraph of the intro.
** If the protagonists depression gets too severe, than the box describing his/her mental condition will describe the character as wanting to die but ironically not having the energy to act on this. Despite this, you never get the option of suicide.

* PleaseDontLeaveMe: If your girlfriend Alex decides to break up with you, this is one thing you can say. If your depression is too severe, it may be one of the only two options. [[spoiler: It doesn't work]].

** [[WriteWhatYouKnow The developer of the game struggled with depression themselves during their teen years]].

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Invoked. As with actual depression, you start thinking people are out to get you. For example, a coworker who's trying to sell his kitten becomes a irritating little greedy scammer, and your mother seems downright abusive from her constant nagging.

* [[BreakHisHeartToSaveHim Break Her Heart To Save Her]]: If your depression gets too severe, your girlfriend tells you she doesn't think she can be with you anymore. One of the options is to break up with her under the assumption that she'll be better off without you.

The game has garnered more than a bit of controversy and polarizing reactions. Quinn themselves is a polarizing figure among gamers due to certain events, so '''please''' keep all information regarding Zoe Quinn's history off this page and use Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment.

* ChooseYourOwnAdventure: The way you progress through the game is through a series of choices, having been built on a game engine that primarily focuses on CYOA. However, some endings are more preferable than others.

The game has garnered more than a bit of controversy and polarizing reactions. Quinn herself is a polarizing figure among gamers due to certain events, so '''please''' keep all information regarding Zoe Quinn's history off this page and use Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment.

** [[WriteWhatYouKnow The developer of the game struggled with depression herself during her teen years]].

The game has garnered more than a bit of controversy and polarizing reactions. Quinn herself is a polarizing figure among gamers due to certain events, so '''please''' keep all information regarding Zoe Quinn's history off this page and use RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement.

* VideoGameCaringPotential: Pretty much the entire point. You take control of the life of an anonymous, innocent man suffering from depression, and guide him on the path to mental wellness.

* EarnYourHappyEnding: This is the best possible outcome. You're taking medication, you've gone to therapy, you've made things up with your girlfriend, and in general things are looking up for the first time.

* BittersweetEnding: The best ending - you're on medication, you're seeing a therapist, your girlfriend moved in with you and is actively helping you to get better, your mother's off your back, and you feel like you're climbing out of your depression - but there's always the risk you can relapse, and it will never fully go away.

** CoolCat: The kitty can help you with your depression.

* ChooseYourOwnAdventure: The way you progress through the game is through a series of choices, having been built on a game engine that primarily focuses on CYOA.

* [[EarnYourHappyEnding Earn Your Bittersweet Ending]]: If you are too distant, your girlfriend will tell you she can't see you anymore. However, if your depression is no worse than moderate, it is possible to select the one option which successfully prevents her from breaking up with you (talk honestly about your depression and about what you can do to get help).

* MultipleEndings: The game has different endings that are determined by how depressed you are at the end of it.

* AFriendInNeed: You, of all people, have the ability to be this for your online friend, Attic. He's normally rather chipper (or as chipper as can be via chat messages), but one night, he'll admit he's feeling down and ask for advice, and if you respond to him, he will tell you he got cheated on. You talk with him, and feel better as a result of helping someone.
** Your friend Amanda asks if you are okay; one option is to notice your hands are shaking. This will cause you to have a meltdown; Amanda listens to you as you explain your problems and promises to email you the number to a therapist.
** Later on, Attic tells you that you sound depressed and offers to find a therapist for you. Whether you agree to go to one, are already seeing one, or refuse to see one, Attic will tell you that there is nothing wrong with being depressed.

* FeaturelessProtagonist: The only thing that's certain is that A) you've got a presumably middle-class family with a brother, B) you hold down a nondescript entry-level job, and C) you've got a girlfriend. Even the protagonist's sex is left unstated.

** CoolDad: As does your dad. He knows you're going through ''something'', and tries to get your mother to lay off of you.

!!!Tropes used in Depression Quest:
* FiveFiveFive: Averted. Amanda gives you the phone number for a great therapist: 647-723-5274. In real life, that phone number goes to [[http://www.therapytoronto.ca/contact_us.phtml The Toronto Therapy Network]], a directory of therapists in the Greater Toronto area. The therapist you see, Dr. Susan Melville, is fictional however.