Whether you’re hung over, sick, or just plain depressed, video games are always going to be there to make you feel better. But normally when you’re feeling crook the very last thing you wanna do is get out of bed, or off your comfy couch. The other day when I was feeling sick I found myself missing my DS. I haven’t picked up that console since I ran out of things to do on Pokemon Soul Silver and currently it’s sitting on my bedside table collecting dust. It makes me feel bad, because my DS and I have had some good memories.

The DS is the perfect console to play when you’re sick, because it’s the only one that can give you a hug (well, it can sorta close itself around your wrist… which is more comforting than nothing at all). It also has such a wide variety of games on it that no matter what sort of sick you’re feeling, there’s always gonna be something to aid you.

When I’m ill I turn to puzzle games. I even bought myself a little puzzle book before I realised that I’m a 21st century kid, and should be doing everything electronically. Simple games like CrossworDS are good to play, as they stimulate your brain just enough to stop it from turning into mush, but not enough to overwork it and make it leak out your ears.

A puzzle game with a bit of a twist is Scribblenauts. I thought this was the most amazing thing ever invented until I got absolutely stuck on a level (which I still haven’t beaten to this day). In this game, you’re placed in a level with the aim of reaching the star at the end. To reach it, all you have to do is enter words into the game to conjure objects to aid you.
For example, if there are enemies in the way of the star, you can type ‘gun’ and blow them away. Or you can type ‘boulder’ and stick them between a rock and a hard place. Or like the picture, lure cops away with donuts (the circular doughy goodness is always a fail safe plan). There’s almost no limits to what you can do, though you get points based on how creative you are, so try to think outside the box.
Playing this game when you’re feeling like crap will probably make you feel a lot better, as there are a fair few laughs to be had. However if you get stuck, it might be better to take a break than persist with it. Throwing a temper tantrum when you’ve got no energy doesn’t sound like the fast track to recovery to me.

Keeping your brain alive isn’t always what people wanna do when they’re sick… or healthy for that matter. For these sorts of people, perhaps one of the RPG games on the DS is more your style. Nothing shuts off your brain better than immersing yourself in a world that isn’t your own. Your sniffly nose and sore stomach cease to matter when you’re searching for the king in Dragon Quest, or battling against the elite four in Pokemon. RPG’s are also massive time sinks. I know I invested well over 100 hours into Final Fantasy Tactics A-2, so chances are if you start up one of these games you’ll be better before you finish it. So just play it really fast!

The Nintendo DS is something of an underrated console, but I’ve never been more grateful for it than when I’ve been sick. And the multiplayer modes for some of the games are hilariously fun, so once you’re better, you can go harass your friends to pick their DS’s back up again too. Or just dump it back in the drawer you found it in until you fall ill again. Either way.    

I don't like playing Scribblenauts at any time, and it seems like playing it while sick would only make it worse. : / 
 
However, I do agree that the DS is mad awesome. Some great games have come out for that system, though I have inexplicably gone on a hiatus from playing it as well.

Most people are already familiar with Scribblenauts and how it was rendered unplayable by some of the worst controls in gaming history. Such a disappointment.

 The DS is the perfect console to play when you’re sick, because it’s the only one that can give you a hug (well, it can sorta close itself around your wrist… which is more comforting than nothing at all). 

Going through a bit of this as we speak, and was about to blog it. This is making me take a closer look at FFTA-2 also. SO thank you!