The Heartbeat

What Video Games Really Do at the Inclusion Arcade

At the Inclusion Arcade, video games are more than entertainment, they are tools of connection, therapy, safety, and identity.

For the communities we serve cancer survivors, disabled gamers, 2SLGBTQI+ youth, neurodivergent families, trauma survivors, and those facing medical isolation, games do something extraordinary:

They Give You Back Your Voice

When your body, diagnosis, or past tries to silence you… a controller lets you speak again.
Whether it’s customizing an avatar, exploring a new world, or just laughing with others,  games help our players reclaim identity and choice.

They Rebuild Community

Gaming brings people together, not with judgment, but with belonging. Multiplayer co-op titles, party games, and creative sandbox modes help rebuild trust, foster friendship, and offer low-pressure social re-entry for people who’ve been hurt, isolated, or excluded.

They Support Mental Health

Many of our guests have lived through:

  • PTSD

  • CRPS and chronic illness or disability

  • Grief

  • Medical trauma

  • Autism-related burnout

  • School bullying

Games let the brain enter safe, predictable flow states, allowing players to feel in control in a world that often isn’t. Games help regulate emotion, reduce anxiety, and open the door to creative self-expression.

Why We Don’t Use First-Person Shooters, Fighting Games, or M-Rated Content

At the Inclusion Arcade, we intentionally choose our game library with care.

We don’t feature:

  • First-person shooters

  • Fighting games

  • Games with blood, gore, or heavy violence

  • Mature-rated or overly intense content

Here’s why:

🚫 Violence Isn’t Healing

For our communities, including trauma survivors, medically vulnerable individuals, and grieving families, violence can be triggering, not empowering. We prioritize emotionally safe spaces where joy, not adrenaline, is the goal.

🧠 Cognitive Accessibility

Fast-twitch, sensory-heavy games can overwhelm neurodivergent players.
We design experiences that are gentle, intuitive, and low-stress, especially for those with ADHD, autism, memory challenges, or sensory integration needs.

🧒 Youth-Focused

Many of our events include young children, medically fragile teens, and family units. We curate games that encourage co-play, laughter, storytelling, and wonder, not violence or survivalist tropes.

💬 Conversation > Competition

We believe the best gaming moments happen not with K/D ratios, but in real conversations between real humans. Our games are hand-picked to build bridges, not scoreboards.

What We DO Feature:

  • Cozy games like Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, Minecraft, Disney Infinity

  • Accessible multiplayer like Mario Kart, Rocket League (non-violent settings), Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

  • Creative and emotional storytelling like Journey, Gris, Spiritfarer, Unpacking

  • Games for education and connection from the Taming Gaming database

This is Gaming With a Soul.

At the Inclusion Arcade, we don’t just turn on consoles. We turn on hope, connection, and healing, one safe, joyful game at a time.