Paper Cages
Wake up, get dressed, brush your teeth, eat breakfast, go to work. A true horror story.
A game about mental health.
Made for Spelkollektivet's 2019 Halloween Game Jam!
The main theme was Horror, and the sub-themes were: Archenemy, Profession, Personal.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Mental health, depression, anxiety, self-loathing, dysphoria, eating disorders
The theme we chose was: Personal + Archenemy
We hope you enjoy playing this game :)
You only need a mouse and a keyboard that has the Z key.
If you like this game, be sure to check out our other game, Death and Taxes, also dealing with serious topics over here:
https://placeholdergameworks.itch.io/death-and-taxes
Download
Click download now to get access to the following files:
Development log
- How do we get out of these Paper Cages?Nov 04, 2019
Comments
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yeah uh maybe i do have sum depression huh
beautiful game, just what i wanted to see for a long time
Played this game after i quit my internship today as the place is quite toxic. This game is quite scary, and it resonates with how I used to feel when I experienced burnout and depression. Thank you for creating it.
To everyone going through tough times, I hope you find the strength to overcome it. In the end, it’s you against the world, and I believe you can make it through
Loved it!! i had the same idea before and I'm really glad someone made it & it turned out this perfect!! it really depicts the same feeling i get. Thank you for your hard work
Felt, seen, heard. Sometimes life is really hard and the battles of one day are unbearable the next.
Hits a little too close home, but it’s a great little game. The theme, graphics, and sound work very well together to give a pretty good look into why mental health care is so important.
This was a cool game that made me reflect on my own life and what im doing.
Such an excellent and accurate depiction of mental struggle. Well done. Stay strong everyone, you are loved <3
<3
this is actually impossible
This game is a great depiction of what its like to mentally struggle. I enjoyed this and thanks for creating a game to help bring visuals to those who can't explain for themselves or for those who cannot understand.
ahhh i love the game so much, but i type too slow to make it past the typing par
I can't seem to wake up, i mash z but nothing happens and the willpower just depletes :(
tbh, real. feel like this everyday. and no, im not being lazy, i just dont know how to explain that i just cant
this is awesome
This game is actually really similar to me when I have depression but like yeah great game
Honestly, it happened to me when I was in middle school. I started to have the depression because of my bullies when I was in middle school.
Are you better now ? I'm sorry that happened to you. People can be very cruel and judgemental.
I really love this game! It's actually really accurate to me tbh. I feel like this everyday.
Dude you okay ? Wanna talk about it ?
"Type your fears"
"Puppies"
WHAT?????
anyways nice game i guess. the ending was unrealistic for me but nice try
This is such a perfect representation of mental illness, it's the most accurate thing I've ever seen. I've been dealing with depression for more than 10 years and it's so spot on... fantastic work, this is truly amazing especially for people who have a hard time grasping of how it feels!!
amazing work
is your depression better now ?
no not really hahaha but it's alright :) I will find a way to feel better!
Ok feel free to talk about it if you want. Some advice from my personal experience - trying something new can help even if it feels pointless. Eg joining a gym, art class, online course you like etc. Or if you keep interacting a bit with people you could eventually find someone positive and helpful to support you. Sometimes deficiency of nutrients like calcium, vitamin b12, vitamin d is known to cause long term depression so try to get checked for that or just eat more of those foods. If you have any doubts regarding this feel free to ask
Also I know very well that sometimes depression, self esteem problems and mental health issues are due to tough life circumstances. Since those vary from person to person idk what advice to give for that. Ig try to find support / advice from capable ppl, and yeah it takes time to figure out how to improve things.
Your reply really filled my heard with joy. I can't believe you took the time to respond and give advice, it really means a lot :D
I have been through therapy but most of my therapists told me that there is nothing much they can do for me since I am self-aware of what I have and why I act the way I do haha.
But hey, I held on for 13 years, I'm 24 now and I'm doing my best to feel better even though everything has a bitter taste. I will, one day, be okay and I do my best to find happiness all around me and spread love and positivity as much as I can because I don't want others to feel the way I do or at least I try to help those who feel sad :)
I played this because this is how I feel every day. :)
dude are you okay you wanna talk
Dude please don't commit sui. Death is the end of existence just nothingness. Life could get better no matter how long it takes. I know it's hard I've been depressed for a long time too. But please feel free to talk or vent if you want. And also, if you bit by bit keep interacting with new people or trying new things, you can find positivity. Lots of shit in the world but also opportunities to improve things.
Also I know very well that sometimes depression, self esteem problems and mental health issues are due to tough life circumstances. Since those vary from person to person idk what advice to give for that. Ig try to find support / advice from capable ppl, and yeah it takes time to figure out how to improve things.
ah man sorry im takin it down. im in a lot better place then i was when i wrote that im so sorry
trust me ending it all isnt worth it at all man, i've been there, i've felt that fear, but it aint worth it. rather keep fighting and pushing, the satisfaction of beating it and making a good life for yourself is just too good
thank you man i appreciate it. im so sorry i was goin though a lot and i am right now but i got this and im stronger. thank you also im sorry for commenting stuff like that too.
don't say sorry man, we all need to talk sometime, also im very happy that u replied. and im proud of u for becoming stronger <3
same
Dude you okay ? Wanna talk ? Anyways I've tried to give advice and support in other comments above too, idk if reading those will help you but ig you could try.
im ok, thank you :)
Short and interesting game. I like the choice of smashing the button to express will power, which is more and more difficult to achieve. The final part was unexpected! The typing was actually not that difficult. Good job!
this was really really hard but i made it for those who cant type anything you gotta type it correctly and perfect and dont stop typing or youll lose
this game was so fucking difficult on the typing part my hands are killing me and I didn't even finish :(
I woke up, pat my cat, go to work, slept in, decide to contemplate about not going to work on my second day for 108 dialogues, opened up to an online friend and unleashed a demon that absorbed all of my depression, thanks demon!
peep
eep
took me a bit at the mashing keyboards part
fighting for my life with words 👍
anyway nice game, fought my inner demons
What an interesting concept! I really liked how the willpower got so hard to achieve. And also the typing game was a nice surprise. I wish I understood the various markers at the bottom better though. (I think the points there are determined by answers I picked?)
Overall, great fun, nice music and visuals!
this was really validating :) what an amazing game concept, incredibly executed! thank you for making this!
when that thing came my heart just went out for a sec , im setting my volume max , its not even a jumpscare but fk tat
IT AiNT LETTING ME TYPE
my dyslexia cant bro but it was overall a great game i can’t spell so it took me millions of years to compete
Same here lmao
The mashing part really got to me. I've had way too many days like day 2, my willpower is just not enough, and it becoming harder to mash is definitely how it feels like. I had some trouble with the typing but I'm glad I played this game :)
This game is AMAZING. The creator and the people who helped in making stuff like this are amazing and talented. <3333
great game but i CANT GET PAST THE WORD TYPING PART :'(
me too :(
Some words cannot be selected. Even with correct typing. 'Vendor' was one of them.
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