Escapism is something we all crave. From listening to your favourite genre of music, reading a story in a quiet nook of the library, or rewatching the Bee Movie in the silence of the night because art deserves to be respected in solidarity–all are ways to escape from the stress of life.
For a long while, video games have been a personal escape of mine, as has been the case for many, many people. Living vicariously through a character as they save their city from fear / play the sport you love / wage a one-man war upon an invading empire / ride on a horse across the open West whilst seeking personal redemption (delete where applicable) is a special type of escape. For those hours or days you spend sitting at home, you almost forget that you are there, burning your corneas staring at a screen. Instead, you are transported to another realm where your sole purpose is to complete your mission in this rich world, following a narrative that strings you along with larger-than-life characters that gradually endear or impose themselves upon you. And before you know it, the storytelling and graphics immerse yourself into a life of adventure that you wistfully wish you could live in your reality.
If you were to ask me (as I’ve asked myself in this article) “What game offers me that special kick of escapism?”, I’d ponder for a bit, rethink my answer for a while more, and maybe decide that the most satisfying answer I have right now is The Sims.
Image Source: How Every Sims Game Fits on the Timeline
If you aren’t familiar, The Sims is a game-of-life simulator that grants the player two distinct play styles that complement each other. Firstly, there is the “Live Mode”, where you create a Sim or family to control and drop them into the world. From there, you decide how they live their life: find a partner or be a swinging single; climb up the promotion ladder or live life as is; get rich through hard work, hook(-up) or crook. Live your Sim life conservatively, or cheat your way to the top with the brand of daring determination
Then there is “Build Mode”. As the name suggests, build whatever you can think of. Houses, art galleries, bars, gyms, parks. Again, endless possibilities. Put that architecture major to use now and pepper your world with an assortment of buildings based on different styles that range from classic British Tudor cottages, modern minimalist mansions, the Queen Anne houses of New Orleans, a relaxing beach hut, or a simple brick house sturdy enough to deter a wolf from huffing and puffing and blowing your house down.
With all that being said, I suppose it’s no surprise why The Sims offers me that pause from reality. Like many players, stepping into the sneakers of a Sim representing myself in this virtual world is an exceptionally unique catharsis. To exude that exclusively rare Main Character Energy whilst residing an idyllic life in serene suburbia, gainfully employed as a celebrity chef with maximum cooking skill capable of cooking a dish that brings the dead back to life (Gordon Ramsay weeps) is usually a storyline written late at night when the imagination juices are overflowing. For a moment, that ideal life of your fantasies (or one of them), where everything is perfect and in control, is virtually a reality.
As it stands, The Sims is a game of life where I can run away and actively control if I need that respite from real life stress; it is a control wrestled from reality and practised in a simulation for a few hours. That ingredient of escapism—through whatever medium we prefer—is a core aspect of living. Take a breather from reality; let the mind imagine another life where things are different.
Chasing a temporary escape is healthy. With all the rigours we face every day, I think we deserve it.