How Grow Home Taught One Writer to Let Go of Parenting Anxiety Through Video Games
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Eurogamer contributor Christian Donlan explores how Ubisoft's Grow Home used clever game design to help him overcome parenting anxieties and find optimism in interactive spaces.
Writing for Eurogamer as part of the outlet's Optimism Week, contributing editor Christian Donlan recently reflected on how Ubisoft's climbing platformer Grow Home helped him navigate deep parenting anxieties. Watching his young daughter explore the world brought up fears of permanence and loss, mirroring his own struggles with the unpredictable nature of everyday life. In the game, players control a clumsy robot named BUD who must scale a massive alien plant while carrying essential seeds that can easily be dropped into the ocean.
For a long time, those mechanics felt like a stress test for his worst fears about making irreversible mistakes. However, the game's developers quietly built a brilliant safety net into the world known internally as the Magic Beach. Any item lost to the water eventually washes back ashore on the starting island, ensuring that critical progression never stays permanently lost. This design choice allowed Donlan to share the game's sense of awe and discovery with his child without letting minor disasters ruin the experience.
Looking back, Donlan realized that safety net was ultimately for him, helping him manage his own worries so he could introduce his daughter to virtual worlds. Rather than merely simulating danger, video games truly excel at simulating safety, giving players structured spaces to make mistakes and experiment without permanent consequences. In an uncertain world, those digital bubbles of safety provide a vital anchor, encouraging players to take risks and appreciate the thoughtful generosity built into interactive design.
Tags: Ubisoft, Indie Games, Game Design, Platformers
Original article: Eurogamer