Since I love indies in general, Fractured Minds looked interesting just conceptually. This is a game solely developed by a talented 17 year old. Not only that, but it’s an exploration of mental illness. And did I mention it was nominated and won for a BAFTA Young Game Designers award? Yea, all those details got my attention. While I personally don’t always love puzzle games, this one still is noteworthy just because of the age of the designer and the premise overall.
Oh and if that all wasn’t enough, most of the proceeds from sales of Fractured Minds go towards a mental health charity devoted to helping gamers. It contends with problems like anxiety and even more serious issues. That’s a lot of ambition for a 17 year old.
If any of that sounds interesting, you might appreciate that Fractured Minds is coming to several platforms today, including Switch, PS4 and Xbox One. To find out more details about this project, and to decide if you want to jump on its bandwagon, just keep reading the official press release below.
BAFTA YGD Award Winning Puzzle Adventure Game, Fractured Minds, Launches on Multi-Platforms to Raise Support for Mental Health Awareness
Powerful Indie Project by Winner, Emily Mitchell, Explores Anxiety and Mental Illness; 80% of Proceeds to be Split Equally Between Mitchell for her Future Career and the Video Games Mental Health Charity, Safe In Our World
Watford, England – November 14, 2019 – Fractured Minds, a first-person puzzle adventure game highlighting the impact of mental health issues, launched today digitally on PC, Nintendo™ Switch, the PlayStation®4 Entertainment System, and Xbox One. The immersive and emotionally fueled project is published by Wired Productions and now available for $1.99 / £1.79 / €1.99, with 80% of the proceeds going to Ms. Mitchell and Safe In Our World, a new games industry charity dedicated to raising and supporting mental health awareness.
Fractured Minds comes from the imagination of 2017 BAFTA Young Games Designers award winner, Emily Mitchell, who at 17-years-old found solace through game development. Inspired by Emily’s personal journey through severe anxiety Fractured Minds seeks to create greater understanding and stand in solidarity with mental health sufferers around the world. Players will embark on a deeply personal and emotional journey through the human psyche. Exploring atmospheric and thought-provoking chapters, each symbolizing a different aspect or challenge associated with mental health — from isolation to anxiety, with everyday situations becoming distorted beyond recognition.
“I created Fractured Minds to help those who suffer from anxiety and other mental health issues feel they’re not alone,” said Emily Mitchell. “The effects of illness can be invisible from the outside, yet debilitating to those affected, so it’s important to continue raising awareness and offering support. I am grateful for the support I’ve received and want to help others however I can.”
Safe In Our World is a new mental health charity for the video games community with the goal of raising awareness of mental health issues among gamers and creators and affecting positive change within the industry. Supported by industry luminaries and ambassadors across the world, its mission is to create a digital destination where sufferers can seek help, gain access to resources and information, and discover stories from real people within and surrounding the games industry.
“Fractured Minds represents the best of what inspired talent can aspire to offer to the world, and Safe In Our World is honored to be a beneficiary as we support Emily and her poignant project,” said Gina Jackson, Trustee for Safe In Our World. “We are passionate about shedding light and destigmatizing mental health conditions while helping the gaming community to come together in support of one another.”
Game Details
- BAFTA award-winning indie game exploring matters of mental health
- Interactive environments to overcome through challenges and puzzles across 6 levels, each inspired by real-life obstacles
- Explore the emotions surrounding emptiness, anxiety, depression and paranoia with hope
- Enjoy a rich and immersive soundtrack including “Silence” provided kindly by Kai Engel
- A thought-provoking experience about what it means to live with mental health
- Giving back via 80% of proceeds split equally between Emily Mitchell and Safe In Our World
Developed by Emily Mitchell with global publishing by Wired Productions, Fractured Minds is available for $1.99 / £1.79 / €1.99 on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4™, and Xbox One. The game is rated “E” for Everyone by the ESRB.
About Safe In Our World
Safe In Our World is a registered charity in England and Wales no. 1183344. It was founded by a team of seasoned gaming veterans passionate about mental health who brainstormed for over two years over ways they could make a difference. Launched on World Mental Health Day, in October 2019, its aims are to raise awareness of mental health issues within the video games industry, and to provide resources, signpost help, and to drive change for everyone connected with the industry, for developers, publishers and service provides, to content creators and players. Its initial mission is to create an online destination where people can seek help, gain access to resources and information, and discover stories from real people within and surrounding the games industry, with more detailed policies available via the website. Safe In Our World is a worldwide hub accessible for anyone in need.
About Emily Mitchell
Emily Mitchell, is an up-and-coming video games developer from Watford, UK. Winner of a coveted 2017 BAFTA Young Game Designers Award, Emily is a proud advocate for mental health awareness and Safe in our World, a gaming industry initiative which strives for awareness in the video games community.
Her award-winning debut title, Fractured Minds, bravely explores issues such as isolation and crippling anxiety. Emily has spoken openly about her own battle with anxiety and her desire to create a game to share her own experiences, to break the silence and provoke real and meaningful discussion around mental health.
About Wired Productions
Wired Productions is an award-winning video games publisher based in Watford, UK. Founded in 2008 and shortlisted by MCV for Indie Publisher of the Year in both 2018 and 2019, Wired has produced and published award-winning titles across all major platforms. Bringing games to market in both physical and digital media, the company has made notable launches to date including Deliver Us The Moon, Close to the Sun, GRIP: Combat Racing, Victor Vran: Overkill Edition, Max: The Curse of Brotherhood, Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn and The Town of Light. #GETWired reflects the active and ever-growing number of fans and consumers who support us.
