(Hardcore) Games are made for pure entertainment. What you're probably referring to is 'Edutainment', but even with edutainment titles like Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego (Geography), I don't think there are much(or at all) self-help games because people want to be entertained, not be bored out of their brains trying to learn the principles of life.

Chicken Soup for the Gamers Soul?

I'd still call it entertainment, edutainment also can.. You do learn a bit of some things here and there..

But self-help is and never was part of entertainment IMO. It's for people to read, and make them a better person.. I doubt playing Dead Space, or World at War would make any difference in a person.. Maybe peeing in pants and perhaps running out to gun people lar, but self-help it is not.

Short quote from wiki:


With that quote said above, it refers to self-guided improvement, meaning that, reading/playing the game alone does not immediately improves ones self. The person requires to digest the meaning and understand of what's given.

Games are storyline driven to give the OOMPH in games. Sure they may call all FPS's generic, hence stories and plots are added in to make a difference. Difference is, whether the plot/story is meant to teach you something or not, which is not the developers/publishers intent.

Good self-help books are like "7 Habits of Highly Effective People", "Rich Dad Poor Dad", "Greatest Salesman of All", the Chicken Soup series..

But games? I think we all have failed to find one that influences our lives. I mean REALLY influence. Self-help are made to change your lives PERMANENTLY with proper understanding.