Why I Love Psychonauts (2005): A Ramble About a Game That’s Stuck in My Brain

As you can probably tell from my profile, I'm obsessed with the video game Psychonauts (2005). Funny thing is, I've only really known about it for maybe two months. I vaguely knew about it as a kid, but I wasn't a fan back then—just heard of it in passing. Honestly, I'm glad I didn't get into it as a child because I know it would've completely altered my brain chemistry (and it's already a bit scrambled up there).

This game is so wonderful and beautiful. It tackles mental illness and related challenges in such a thoughtful way, without demonizing or trivializing these conditions. Sure, it's almost 20 years old now, so there are moments where it feels a little dated, but that's true of most media from that era. What makes Psychonauts stand out to me is how it explores psychological concepts in such a creative, heartfelt way.

Visually, I actually prefer the first game over the second. There's something about how grimy and dense it looks that really works for me. It's got that old-school, compressed, crusty television set aesthetic that feels so unique. The world feels stylized to the point where you know something's off, everything from the cartoonishly silly music to the art direction gives this creepy-cute vibe. And the humor, it's just so specific and hard to describe unless you've played it.

Another thing I love is how nobody in the game is "normal." Everyone has their weirdness, and the game doesn't frame that as a bad thing. It's such a refreshing take, where being different isn't a flaw but just part of who these characters are.

Now, let me talk about my favorite character: Sasha Nein. I'm obsessed with him because we're so similar. I'm currently studying art history, and one of the chapters I just finished was about Bauhaus and Art Deco, the same kind of style his mental world reflects. It's fascinating how much I relate to his character. Like Sasha, I didn't have the best upbringing, but I've always had this drive to learn and improve myself. His dynamic with Raz, how he wants to pass on his knowledge and mentor him, is so wholesome. I feel that same passion about teaching and sharing what I love with others.

Also, Milla!!! I really like how she's portrayed. While they hint at her being this "party girl," it's done in such an over-the-top, ridiculous way that it doesn't feel offensive or reductive. She's just so interesting and full of life. And the fact that she's dating such a white bread kind of guy is hilarious to me, it's such an unexpected dynamic.

I could honestly ramble about this game forever. The story is silly but impactful, and I love how every character's mental world is visually explained rather than just told to us. The game's use of visual storytelling inspires me as someone who wants to write and incorporate art into my work someday. I'll probably write more posts focusing on specific characters, especially Sasha (because he's my current fixation and the only thing keeping me from spiraling completely). For now, I just wanted to share why I love this game and why it's been stuck in my brain ever since I started playing.