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Feeling Out of Control? Build a World You Can Manage
#387: In this episode, Josué, Link, and Marc explore why they keep returning to sandbox and survival-style games like The Sims, Terraria, and Minecraft—especially during times of stress, burnout, or major life changes. What starts as a joking callout about control quickly becomes a thoughtful conversation about agency, structure, creativity, and comfort. The hosts reflect on how building persistent worlds, setting self-directed goals, and engaging with familiar systems can meet psychological needs that real life often fails to satisfy. Drawing on personal experiences with job loss, burnout, and instability, they unpack how these games offer a sense of control, consistency, and safety—without the same stakes, costs, or unpredictability of the real world.
Characters / Media Mentioned
- The Sims (The Sims 4)
- Terraria
- Minecraft
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Fallout 4
- Animal Crossing
- Breath of the Wild
- Mini Shoot Adventures
- Oxygen Not Included
- Don’t Starve
- Project Zomboid
- World of Warcraft
- Metroid (Samus Aran)
- My Hero Academia
- Gundam
- Reality Is Broken (Jane McGonigal)
Themes / Topics Discussed
- Control and Agency
- Burnout
- Job Loss and Instability
- Coping Through Games
- Sandbox and Survival Games
- Creativity and World-Building
- Structure vs. Freedom
- Familiarity and Comfort
- Persistence and Ownership
- Accessibility and Game Design
- New Game Plus Mentality
Relatable Experiences Discussed
- Feeling Out of Control in Life
- Losing a Job
- Burnout From Work or School
- Wanting Busy Work Without Pressure
- Escaping Into Familiar Media
- Returning to Comfort Games
- Avoiding Starting From Scratch
- Needing Structure Without Obligation
- Finding Stability in Digital Spaces
Want to continue the conversation? Join the GT community and tell us about the games you return to when life feels overwhelming.
Connect with the Geek Therapy Network:
- Website: https://geektherapy.org
- Community Forums: https://forum.geektherapy.org
- Social Media: @GeekTherapy
What games do you return to when you’re feeling overwhelmed or out of control?
Do you gravitate toward building, exploration, or structured objectives—and why?
What needs do games meet for you that real life sometimes doesn’t?
View all episodes
By Geek Therapy Network#387: In this episode, Josué, Link, and Marc explore why they keep returning to sandbox and survival-style games like The Sims, Terraria, and Minecraft—especially during times of stress, burnout, or major life changes. What starts as a joking callout about control quickly becomes a thoughtful conversation about agency, structure, creativity, and comfort. The hosts reflect on how building persistent worlds, setting self-directed goals, and engaging with familiar systems can meet psychological needs that real life often fails to satisfy. Drawing on personal experiences with job loss, burnout, and instability, they unpack how these games offer a sense of control, consistency, and safety—without the same stakes, costs, or unpredictability of the real world.
Characters / Media Mentioned
- The Sims (The Sims 4)
- Terraria
- Minecraft
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Fallout 4
- Animal Crossing
- Breath of the Wild
- Mini Shoot Adventures
- Oxygen Not Included
- Don’t Starve
- Project Zomboid
- World of Warcraft
- Metroid (Samus Aran)
- My Hero Academia
- Gundam
- Reality Is Broken (Jane McGonigal)
Themes / Topics Discussed
- Control and Agency
- Burnout
- Job Loss and Instability
- Coping Through Games
- Sandbox and Survival Games
- Creativity and World-Building
- Structure vs. Freedom
- Familiarity and Comfort
- Persistence and Ownership
- Accessibility and Game Design
- New Game Plus Mentality
Relatable Experiences Discussed
- Feeling Out of Control in Life
- Losing a Job
- Burnout From Work or School
- Wanting Busy Work Without Pressure
- Escaping Into Familiar Media
- Returning to Comfort Games
- Avoiding Starting From Scratch
- Needing Structure Without Obligation
- Finding Stability in Digital Spaces
Want to continue the conversation? Join the GT community and tell us about the games you return to when life feels overwhelming.
Connect with the Geek Therapy Network:
- Website: https://geektherapy.org
- Community Forums: https://forum.geektherapy.org
- Social Media: @GeekTherapy
What games do you return to when you’re feeling overwhelmed or out of control?
Do you gravitate toward building, exploration, or structured objectives—and why?
What needs do games meet for you that real life sometimes doesn’t?