by Marie (@rlpte)
- Glitchhikers
- by Silverstring Media
- PC (itch.io)
Single Press is a series of short writings on small games. It is made possible through the support of our Patreon.
Content warning for discussions of suicide below:
My first time through Glitchhikers, I felt at peace. Driving down the road, having abstract conversations about existence with other worldly beings, it was comfortable. The game told me the destination didn’t matter and asked why the reason did. The eerie landscape, haunting music, and strange creatures all felt like a night curled under blankets talking about life with friends. It was a combination of my favorite things. They were just real people distilled down into existentialist conversations. So I had to share it.
I’d been friends with David for a few months, stayed at his house a few times and listened to all his problems and fears. He always came to me for answers because I knew him so well.. David was superstitious too, believed in ghosts, destiny, soul mates, so the coincidences of life meant a lot to him. He was the perfect person to experience such a surreal, ethereal journey. He’d also lost a brother to suicide, which haunted him constantly, being both his driving force and a constant shadow over his life. I wanted him to experience the game simply because I found it sobering, but I had no idea what mark it would leave on him.
At first, David was kind of creeped out (he’s real easy to scare). Then, as he drove on, he became bored (he isn’t very patient). As the passengers and the questions came, David would swing between being confused and being visibly uncomfortable with the questions. He talked to one alien faced hiker about a beached whale. The hiker says she could speak to it, asking “Why do whales beach themselves?” It responds “Why do humans jump off bridges?” David was stone faced. His brother’s death was a shadow over his life, always in the back of his mind, and oft times just the notion of suicide would make him uncomfortable.
Continuing the conversation, the hiker talks about how suicide hurts those around them, even if people don’t realize it at the time. She asks if he’s ever lost someone and he answers “Yes, a family member.” She talks about losing a brother. She describes it, “I lost a brother, a little while ago. He was always there for me. Now he’s just… not. That hurts.“ It’s simple, but it brings David to the verge of tears. It’s a statement that stings and validates him at the same time. Afterwards, David says he’s really glad he played it. He knows it hurts to confront this, but in the end, it helped him come to terms with loss.
The journey through Glitchhikers is disconcerting, but not as frightening as it seems. It’s a ride through insecurity and the destination is knowing what that insecurity is. David found empathy and understanding with his trauma. That others knew his pain and confusion made it that much easier to stomach. It’s not quite peace, but comfort.