History VideoGame / DepressionQuest

Depression Quest is an InteractiveFiction AdventureGame developed by Zoe Quinn. It was playable for free on [[http://www.depressionquest.com/ its own website,]] but was released on [[http://store.steampowered.com/app/270170/ Steam]] on August 11, 2014 for free.

* 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.

* 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 reveals that he's been cheated on. He'll 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.

** Many things about the surroundings (you owning a computer, for example, or spending a lot of time watching Netflix) indicates you live in a developed nation.

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

* [[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.

* [[EarnYourHappyEnding EarnYourBittersweetEnding]]: 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).

* NotDistractedbytheSexy: In one instance, your girlfriend Alex tries to seduce you. If your depression is too severe, you will not be able to feel anything.

* TearsofFear: When your friend asks how you are doing, one of the options is to notice that your hands are shaking. If you select this, you will start sobbing uncontrollably and telling your friend all your problems. She will then email you a therapist's number.
* TruthinTelevision: Unfortunately, depression is a very real problem in the world today. That is why the game refers to itself as "An interactive (non)Fiction about living with depression".

* [[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. : 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.

* * [[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. : 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.

* EpiphanyTherapy: At one point, you accidentally wake up your girlfriend as you're sharing a bed. Given enough treatment, you brush your paranoia that your girlfriend won't understand and push you away, letting it all out and admitting you've been feeling horrible and depressed. Your girlfriend completely understands, hugs and kisses you, and pledges to help you feel better. This really helps with your depression.

* HeroicBSOD: If you don't go to therapy or take medication, than there will be days when you can not even muster the strength to get out of bed.

* NotDistractedbytheSexy: In one instance, your girlfriend Alex tries to seduce you. If your depression is too severe, you will be able to feel anything.

** Many things about the surroundings (you owning a computer, for example) indicates you live in a developed nation.

* BreakHisHeartToSaveHim: 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.

* TheLoinsSleepTonight: In one instance, your girlfriend Alex tries to seduce you. If you are taking the antidepressants, than you will be unable to preform.
* ManicPixieDreamGirl: The narration makes it clear you find the therapist overly bright and annoying, though this is due to your depression. You also see your girlfriend as this, pushing you into social situations you don't want.

* NoMedicationForMe: About three weeks into a medication regimen if you decided to take them, you note you're feeling much better. You mull over the idea that you might be turning into a pill-popper, remember that anti-depression medicine come with lots of side-effects, and can decide to stop taking your pills. [[spoiler:This is not a good idea.]] If you finally work up the courage to go see a therapist, you can choose to forgo medication and just see the therapist.

* [[BreakHisHearttoSaveHim BreakHerHearttoSaveHer]]: 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.

* 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 reveals that he's been cheated on. He'll 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.

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

* AFriendinNeed: You, of all people, have the ability to be this for your online friend Attic, who is, himself, feeling depressed. He'll 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 okey; 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.

* FeaturelessProtagonist: The only thing that's certain is that A) the protagonist is male (or lesbian), B) you've got a family with a brother, C) you hold down a nondescript entry-level job, and D) you've got a girlfriend.

* NoMedicationForMe: About three weeks into a medication regimen if you decided to take them, you note you're feeling much better - and recalling the various side-effects of anti-depressants, or if you don't want to feel like a pill-popper, you can choose to stop taking your pills. [[spoiler:This is not a good idea.]] If you finally work up the courage to go see a therapist, you can choose to forgo medication and just see the therapist.

* SensoryAbuse: The soundtrack consists of an ominous DroneOfDread, which some depressed people hear.

* TearsofFear: When your friend asks how you are doing, one of the options is to notice that your hands are shaking. If you select this, you will start sobbing uncontrollably and telling your friend all your problems. She will then email you a therapists number.
* TruthinTelevision: Unfortunatly, depression is a very real problem in the world today. That is why the game refers to itself as "An interactive (non)Fiction about living with depression".

* NotDistrictedbytheSexy: In one instance, your girlfriend Alex tries to seduce you. If your depression is too severe, you will be able to feel anything.

* AFriendinNeed: You, of all people, have the ability to be this for your online friend Attic. He'll 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.

* InspirationalInsult: Your mother is in the camp that believes complaining and nagging about your listlessness is going to spurn you into action. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

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

** 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.

* BittersweetEnding: The best ending - you're on medication, you're seeing a therapist, your girlfriend 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, or it'll come back.

* TruthinTelevision: Unfortunatly, depression is a very real problem in the world today. That is why the game refers to itself as "An interactive (non)Fiction about living with depression.