What Happened - Gaming as a Tool for Exploring Mental Illness

As interactive experiences, games are uniquely positioned for use as tools for building empathy. Genius Slackers, the Polish studio behind the upcoming horror title, What Happened, looks to leverage this aspect of videogames in exploring mental illness through the eyes of Stiles, a high school student suffering from anxiety and depression. While launching on PC in July 2020, What Happened will also be coming to consoles "at a later date". Check out the announcement trailer above.

Designed as a reflection of a "world in which cruelty often dominates at the expense of empathy", What Happened will see players guiding Stiles through his mental torment (characterised by puzzles, nightmarish demons and horrific environments). Throughout the game, players will be given the chance to decide Stiles' ultimate fate by showing him (or withholding) empathy. Whether What Happened ends in hope or tragedy is up to the player and their choices.

Given the subject matter, it should come as no surprise that the Genius Slackers team harbours a real passion for its game. In development since 2017, the studio has set out to champion the "power of unity, empathy and a damn good story" with What Happened. 

It releases July 2020 for PC, with console releases planned for a later date.