30 Play Therapy Games That Support Mental Health and Build Skills

We played games in therapy today. “You did what?” The parent might ask the child. “You did what?” A friend or colleague might ask an adult. (Yes, adults play games in therapy, too.) The child might shrug. The adult might shrug. Maybe the client knows why he or she is playing games in mental health therapy. Maybe not. Rest assured that there is intent and purpose on the therapist’s part. Playing games can have great benefits in therapy!

Game play can help create a safe place for clients. Familiar games can help clients feel more comfortable and build rapport between client and therapist (Kids First, 2025). Playing games takes direct focus off a client and his or her direct struggles and can help externalize them instead (Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy, 2017). Playing games is also just fun, and can lower inhibitions and resistance that might detract from therapy (Admin, 2020; Sutton, 2022; Zoe Life Psychiatric Services, n.d.). Playing games can add structure to therapy, making it more predictable to and amenable for clients (Yorke, 2020). Playing games in therapy is good for more reasons than these, though. Playing games can also teach specific skills.

Playing games in therapy is part of what is considered “directive” play therapy for children. In directive play therapy, the therapist plans specific activities, such as playing games, to allow for self-expression, processing, and skill-building (Ohworvoriole, 2024). Children learn best through hands-on experiences, and games give children opportunities do just that (Confident Counselors, n.d.; Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy, 2017; Sutton, 2022). Game playing can have the same benefits for adults, though therapists may use more advanced games, such as tabletop roleplay games for this purpose (Connell, 2024). Video games are another form of play that has benefits in therapy. These games can help individuals work through difficult emotions, build self-esteem, and learn skills to use in “real life” (Video game counseling, n.d.). The question is not really if playing games has benefits for therapy, but what games will provide the greatest benefits for clients.

In the end, almost any game can have therapeutic benefits for clients. There is no “best” game, but rather games most ideal for setting, theory of counseling, and client characteristics (Yorke, 2020). It is the counselor’s job to choose the game most suited to help the client meet his or her goals (Connell, 2024).  Examples of games and potential benefits for clients are: