My name is Graham Walker. I am a professional psychotherapist and lover of all things video game. GameFeel is the podcast that explores what gaming and therapy can teach us about playing better and living better.

The concept of what makes something scary will always be subjective, however knowledge from the therapy room does shine a light on what elements of a situation generally trigger fear for us. By applying these ideas to video games it can give us insights into what, at their core, are the primary triggers of fear.

Finally, the season takes a step back to see what we have learned throughout the season as a whole as well as what this can teach us about managing fear for ourselves both in life and videogames.

Video Games discussed:

‘Silent Hill’ (1999), developed by Konami (Team Silent)

‘Silent Hill 2’ (2001), developed by Konami (Team Silent)

Music Credits:

‘Misremembered’ and ‘Hamstrung’ by Cicada Sirens (from‘Signalis’, Developed by ‘rose-engine’)

Avaialble at: SIGNALIS (ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) | Cicada Sirens & 1000 Eyes | SIGNALIS

‘MNHR’, ‘Kolibri’ and ‘3000 Cycles (I Missed You)’ by 1000Eyes, Tom Schley (from ‘Signalis’, Developed by ‘rose-engine’)

Avaialble at: SIGNALIS (ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) | Cicada Sirens & 1000 Eyes | SIGNALIS

‘Warm Light (Graves)’ by 1000 Eyes (from ‘Signalis’,Developed by ‘rose-engine’)

Available at: SIGNALIS: MEMORIES (Side B) | 1000 Eyes

‘Bone Bottom’ and ‘Greymoor’ by Christopher Larkin (from‘Hollow Knight: Silksong, Developed by Team Cherry)

Available at: Hollow Knight: Silksong (Original Soundtrack) | Christopher Larkin

‘Suncatchers’ by Amos Roddy (from Citizen Sleeper 2:Starward Vector, Developed by Jump Over the Age)

Available at: Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Original Soundtrack) | Amos Roddy

‘The Weight of Rain’ by Lifeformed x Janice Kwan (from‘Tunic’ by Isometricorp Games)

Available at: TUNIC (Original Game Soundtrack) | Lifeformed × Janice Kwan | Lifeformed

‘Timber Hearth’ and ‘Campfire Song’ by Andrew Prahlow (from ‘Outer Wilds’, Developed by Mobius Games)

Available at: Spotify

My name is Graham Walker. I am a professional psychotherapist and lover of all things video game. GameFeel is the podcast that explores what gaming and therapy can teach us about playing better and living better.

Phobias are an awful condition to live with. Sometimes videogames can be the trigger for our phobias, making it hard to play games we may otherwise love. But, could these same games also hold the cure for such phobias? Join me in this episode of GameFeel to explore what phobias are, how they develop and what role- if any- video games can play in their treatment.

Video Games discussed:

‘Bloodborne’ (2015), developed by FromSoftware, Inc.

Music Credits:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Ode an die Freude/Ode to Joy 1

Beethoven: Ode to Joy | #beethoven #classicalmusic #choir

‘Checking In’ by Lena Raine (from ‘Celeste’, Developed byMaddy Makes Games and Extremely OK Games, Ltd.)

Available at: Celeste Original Soundtrack | Lena Raine

‘Train Ride’ by Cicada Sirens (from ‘Signalis’, Developed by‘rose-engine’

Avaialble at: SIGNALIS (ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) | Cicada Sirens & 1000 Eyes | SIGNALIS

‘Your Confession is Complete’ and ‘Decisive Combat’ byStuart Chatwood (from ‘Darkest Dungeon 2’, developed by Red Hook Studios)

Available at: Darkest Dungeon II (Original Video Game Soundtrack) | Stuart Chatwood

Haunted Hilltop by Ockeroid (from ‘Crow Country’, developed by SFB Games)

Available at: Crow Country (Original Soundtrack) | Ockeroid

‘Forest Interlude’ by David Wise (from ‘Donkey Kong Country2’, Developed by Rare)

‘The Weight of Rain’ by Lifeformed x Janice Kwan (from‘Tunic’ by Isometricorp Games)

Available at: TUNIC (Original Game Soundtrack) | Lifeformed × Janice Kwan | Lifeformed

My name is Graham Walker. I am a professional psychotherapist and lover of all things video game. GameFeel is the podcast that explores what gaming and therapy can teach us about playing better and living better.

How we pay attention and engage with the world around us seems like such a simple idea that we intuitively understand from childhood. But what if I was to tell you that this isn’t the case?

Mindfulness is a method of paying attention that can have a radical effect on how we can live and game. In this episode of GameFeel we explore what mindfulness is and how it can be applied in life and gaming to help us feel better and engage better.

Video Games discussed:

‘Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure’ (2024), developed by Furniture & Mattress

Ghost of Yotei, developed by Sucker Punch; releasing October 2nd 2025 on PS5

‘Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker’ (2014), developed by Nintendo EAD Tokyo

‘Watch Dogs’ (also 2014- totally coincidentally!), developed by Ubisoft Montréal

Music Credits:

‘Smooth Sailing’, ‘Taking it Breezy’, and ‘The Start of Something’ by Tomás Batista (from ‘Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure’, Developed by Furniture & Mattress)

Available at: https://tomasbatista.bandcamp.com/

https://tomasbatista.bandcamp.com/album/arranger-a-role-puzzling-adventure-original-videogame-soundtrack

‘Exhale’ and ‘Checking In’ by Lena Raine (from ‘Celeste’, Developed by Maddy Makes Games and Extremely OK Games, Ltd.)

Available at: Celeste Original Soundtrack | Lena Raine

‘Last Dream of Home’ and ’22 Minutes’ by Andrew Prahlow (from ‘Outer Wilds’, Developed by Mobius Games)

Available at: Spotify

‘Fungal Wastes’ by Christopher Larkin (from ‘Hollow Knight’, Developed by Team Cherry)

Available at: Hollow Knight (Original Soundtrack) | Christopher Larkin

NOTE: Apologies for the audio quality in places. I will try and rectify this week, if I can. :'-(

My name is Graham Walker. I am a professional psychotherapist and lover of all things video game. GameFeel is the podcast that explores what gaming and therapy can teach us about playing better and living better.

In this third episode of series one of Game Feel, we ask can video games trigger PTSD?

The seemingly obvious answer you might give is “they’re not real”; they are just games. This makes logical sense, but the truth of the matter is far more complicated. If I tell you a person can develop PTSD fromthe dreams or hallucinations that can happen when they are in a coma or under the influence of a drug, then this argument of “video games aren’t real” suddenly becomes a lot less solid.

We explore what PTSD truly is and what can trigger this. By exploring this and whether video games can trigger the condition we learn about how the brain forms memories and how this differs for trauma memories. We also gain insights into why certain thoughts cause more distress for us and what we can do with these to help looking after our mental health.  

Video Games discussed:

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (2017, Developed by MachineGames)

Spec Ops: The Line (2012, Developed by Yager)

Music Credits:

‘Pneumatic’, ‘Incinerator’ and ‘Train Ride’ by Cicada Sirens(from ‘Signalis’, Developed by ‘rose-engine’)

Available at: SIGNALIS (ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) | Cicada Sirens & 1000 Eyes | SIGNALIS

‘Detective Arriving on the Scene’ by Sea Power (from ‘Disco Elysium’, Developed by ZAUM)

Available at: Spotify

‘Hex’ by Amos Roddy (from ‘Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector’, Developed by Jump Over the Age)

Available at: Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Original Soundtrack) | Amos Roddy

‘Checking In’ by Lena Raine (from ‘Celeste’, Developed by Maddy Makes Games and Extremely OK Games, Ltd.)

Available at: Celeste Original Soundtrack | Lena Raine

‘Redwood Colonnade’ and ‘The Weight of Rain’ by Lifeformed x Janice Kwan (from ‘Tunic’ by Isometricorp Games)

Available at: TUNIC (Original Game Soundtrack) | Lifeformed × Janice Kwan | Lifeformed

‘River’s End’ by Andrew Prahlow (from ‘Outer Wilds’,Developed by Mobius Games)

Available at: Spotify

‘Queen’s Gardens’ by Christopher Larkin (from ‘HollowKnight’, Developed by Team Cherry)

Available at: Hollow Knight (Original Soundtrack) | Christopher Larkin

My name is Graham Walker. I am a professional psychotherapist and lover of all things video game. GameFeel is the podcast that explores what gaming and therapy can teach us about playing better and living better.

In this second episode of series one of Game Feel, we explore how more text-based games like Citizen Sleeper and Disco Elysium still evoke powerful emotional responses like fear, but without high-fidelity graphics or voice acting. Through the lens of psychotherapy, we examine how the brain treats imagined scenes as real, and how fear, immersion, and even physical responses like salivation can be triggered by nothing morethan words. Featuring thought experiments, game design reflections, and a deep dive into a Sleeper’s existential dread, this episode asks: how can we imagine fear into existence and then back out of it?

Video Games discussed:

Citizen Sleeper & Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector(2022; 2025, Developed by Jump Over the Age)

Disco Elysium (1993, Developed by ZAUM)

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes (2024, Developed by Simogo)

Music Credits:

‘Suncatchers’, ‘Blade in the Dark’, ‘Blink’, ‘Another Cycle’by Amos Roddy (from Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, Developed by Jump Over the Age)

Available at: Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Original Soundtrack) | Amos Roddy

‘Tiger King’ and ‘Detective Arriving on the Scene’ by SeaPower (from ‘Disco Elysium’, Developed by ZAUM)

Available at: Spotify

‘Fungal Wastes’ by Christopher Larkin (from ‘Hollow Knight’, Developed by Team Cherry)

Available at: Hollow Knight (Original Soundtrack) | Christopher Larkin

Titles by Linnea Olsson, Daniel Olsén (from ‘Lorelei and the Laser Eyes’, Developed by Simogo)

Available at: Spotify

‘Forest Interlude’ by David Wise (from ‘Donkey Kong Country 2’, Developed by Rare)

My name is Graham Walker. I am a professional psychotherapist and lover of all things video game. GameFeel is the podcast that explores what gaming and therapy can teach us about playing better and living better.

In episode 1 I explore how virtual worlds can trigger a real-world sense of fear for us. Why does this happen? And what can that teach us about managing our emotions in life and gaming.

This episode explores themes of fear, how the brain interprets information, how the brain processes pieces of simultaneously received information and what this means for how we can feel. We consider what this means in terms of therapy, managing emotions and gaming.

Video Games discussed:

DOOM (1993, Developed by id Software)

Amnesia: The Bunker (2023, Developed by Frictional Games)

Music Credits:

‘The River’ by Andrew Prahlow (from ‘Outer Wilds’, Developedby Mobius Games)

‘Checking In’ by Lena Raine (from 'Celeste', Developed by Maddy Makes Games and Extremely OK Games, Ltd.)

‘Suspense’ by Andrew Hulshult (from 'DOOM', Developed by id Software)

Fungal Waste by Chris Larkin (from 'Hollow Knight', Developed by Team Cherry)

‘Cavernous’ by Tom Batista (from 'Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure', Developed by Furniture and Mattress)

Aquatic ambience by David Wise ('Donkey Kong Country', Developed by Rare)

Additional References:

Podcast: “The Challenges of Designing Horror (ft. Fredrik Olsson - Amnesia: The Bunker) | Dev Heads Podcast” (Second Wind Group)

https://www.youtube.com/live/K0lJmFdHNRI?si=idnBFBc5kgCcenJf