timppu: Although I didn't really understand much of what you wrote, that is still very good to hear!

As for your original question, I think I found the perfect solution. I bought LEGO LOTR from GOG yesterday for only 4.99€!!! So should you. The game has everything: elves, Gandalf, orcs, Gandalf, hobbits, Gandalf, dwarves, Gandalf, Gandalf, Gandalf and Gandalf!

When you start the game, you will completely forget about those other games whose names I don't even remember anymore.

Carradice: Hi Zim

"High pressure work environment. Demanding a good physical condition as well as a healthy mindset.
...
You need a new game,"

Looks like a big non sequitur.

If the person in this situation needs a new experience, it does not seem that playing videogames is going to be a new experience for said person.

If this person needs to be in good physical condition, it does not seem that videogames are going to help much with that.

If a healthy mindset is required, probably some fresh air an mild exercise would help. Also, any kind of socializing, even taking a walk or visiting a populated area, if you find yourself living in a place where some friends are not at hand.

The thing with videogames is that more often than not they evaporate big chunks of your time. There is an opportunity cost, since the time that you dedicate to playing games draws away from other activities. Like those mentioned above, as well as sleeping. Playing videogames can be compared to drinking beer or smoking, only that often it is done alone indoors. Add to that that it is easy to adopt a bat posture while seating playing a videogame. So, it requires some balance and self-control to keep it a not-too-unhealthy activity.

On the other hand, some time with a videogame can become a small reward after doing some chores, and we know that videogames can be fun and sometimes mind-expanding, but better keep the habit under control.

About family, what about trying to help them with their tasks/chores/issues/problems first, if they are not available for helping the person we are talking about? It might make for a better environment, possibly.

Thinking and caring for other people might help a lot. Also taking a walk, if no other healthy activity is available.

Good luck to the guy/gal you wrote about!

sasuke12: If I have the money, I would buy -
Black Myth Wukong

This game has phenomenal reviews. Over 2 million people are playing and enjoying this game as we speak.

Plus the developers reject the western woke ideology crap and believe in making games for gamers by gamers.

Zimerius: Heya

Maybe you're overthinking the job requirements a bit much, to give an example,

people who enjoy SM in their free time could be considered as a solid candidate for this job

Carradice: LOL XD

Well, I do now want to trash videogames. I would not trash wine or beer either. They can be great if kept in check, and they might do a lot of harm if abused, that is all.

Some videogames, appart from entertain, can inspire, help you learn things as you go, widen your horizons, and more. They can be a reward, an escape, or a starting point for something else beyond games. Although admittedly, many will just entertain, and others not even that.

If the person of the example absolutely must have a new game, a way might be... dive into their backlog, and be surprised. Otherwise, it is a matter of personal taste, if one is to choose between the two said games, for they belong to very different playstyles (strategy vs action).

Maybe you might want to start another thread about strategy vs action and how different genres might be suited to different situations in life?

Geromino: Well, if my goal was pure stress relief, I'd probably go for PlayerUnknown BattleGrounds. *shrug*

Its free to play, there is no pay to win component about it, you play against other players online and thus its quite challenging, one game lasts at most half an hour (if you get into the top 10) so its easy to estimate at which point you no longer have time to play, and it seems just the right game to get rid of excess aggressions.

You would probably also want to do some sports, too, like running 2-3 times a week, preferably in natural environment.

Zimerius: You know, i find it quite challenging to maintain balance when the pressure is pretty high. Especially since it seems i'm a lot more vulnerable and prone to bad decision-making when i'm with higher levels of stress.

Carradice: This brings to mind the tv series House of Cards. In the first season, the machiavelian protagonist lets off steam by playing a FPS. He actually delighted in killing the opponent soldiers in the game. He was a psycho who feigned empathy by day). His wife told him off, as that hobby would be detrimental to his political career, if known (I wonder if today it would be the same, as a few famous actors and sports stars have mentioned they enjoy videogames).

Why did I mention this? Because maybe an action game might be more easily picked up to blow some steam if you only have a limited amount of time, while the games in the venerable Civilization series require some time for immersion. I would say an hour minimum per game session. On the other hand, this immersion might help forgetting about RL issues, if you have the time for it, that is.

Also, how much time would you give the person in the example for playing games, in weekdays and in weekends? (some Japanese game developers who are also parents establish a maximum of two hours at home, and some even less). Depending on that, you might have an answer.

Zimerius: Situation:

High pressure work environment. Demanding a good physical condition as well as a healthy mindset.
2 colleagues are on the verge of collapse (not enough hands on the job). One could be considered an introvert with outbursts once every 2 days, the same outburst. The other is an extravert who tries to alleviate his condition with constant bad joking/ maintaining a social demanding profile. Both play an important role in your job responsibilities.

Financially, you are nearing the end of the month. All bills are paid for, but you know that losing a job at this specific moment could endanger a solid future.

Your household is too self-absorbed (for w/e reason possible) to be of any help at this moment.

You need a new game, a new experience, something to take your time away, while enabling you to at the same time to lower pressure levels, possibly providing insights on how to tackle challenges.

22 euros remain in your steam wallet.

Black Myth Wukong and Civilization 7 are available for purchase, you know you could enjoy either. Both are priced at 70 euros. Which is actually 10 euros more than you are willing to spend, taking your wallet into account.

You do need a game!

What will you do ?

marcob: I really hope this is an experiment using a made-up situation but probably it's not. By the way, I'm not in a so much better shape then you, from some points of view, really. Remember games and such are great to boost your mood but you have to care about them while trying to address other more basic issues in parallel.

marcob: That said,
there's another caveat: those games seem a bit too expensive if you're on budget. I understand a brand new title would feel gorgeous but you still can go for something a bit more humble and get tons of content nonetheless.

Carradice: Did an AI write this post?

One trained on a mysogynist body of text, too. The paragraphs do not make much sense when put together, especially the last (quoted above) but the first paragraph is outright sickening.

Is this a new level of low effort for those "seeking reactions"?

Enebias: I have a couple fo friends from the Netherlands... yes, your country really does good work there, the issue is addressed properly for once.
I'm from Italy, and getting any kind of mental health support from public healthcare is outright impossible unless you're really in an extremely dire situation. Life threatening tier, I mean. This bad.
The public system just thinks mental health isn't "really" health, only the physical one matters somehow... if you want to get a therapist, be ready to fork over 100€+ per session, something people like me with a glorious 4€/h wage can just forget about.
So, in short, you can take care of your psyche only if you're wealthy.

Zimerius: Heya

Maybe you're overthinking the job requirements a bit much, to give an example,

people who enjoy SM in their free time could be considered as a solid candidate for this job

Zimerius: You know, i find it quite challenging to maintain balance when the pressure is pretty high. Especially since it seems i'm a lot more vulnerable and prone to bad decision-making when i'm with higher levels of stress.

Xeshra: I think, this woman is handing out some great messages regarding those social matters some users are bringing up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Joc-cpA4wio
What matters is not your gender, what matters is if you got a heart and a capable mind.
Besides, i do not think those whole "accusations" will lead to a lovely outcome; a good example of a no go.