The following examples are intended to remind developers that 1) prosocial actions do happen frequently in games, and 2) we create environments that generate them more than we realize.
This list is going to grow as we discover new examples, so we encourage you to bookmark this page and check back often!
1. Dropping ladders and likes in Death Stranding
In Death Stranding, helping yourself can often help others. For example, leaving a ladder in a place that’s difficult to cross can help players in other worlds. They, in turn, can indicate their appreciation for your prosocial behavior with a like.
2. Leaving messages in Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls 3 allows players to leave notes for other players in different worlds, giving them tips on the environment (or sometimes misleading them).
3. Giving a friend a boost in Super Mario Galaxy 2
The Co-Star mode in Super Mario Galaxy 2 allows a second player to join and help out with tasks, such as activating machines, collecting items, and giving your friend a power boost while in flight.
4. Requesting help in Wild Hearts
Though the prosocial behavior is technically exhibited by those who answer the call, Wild Hearts makes it easy to request assistance from strangers when a player is facing particularly challenging monsters.
5. Cooperation and coordination (and lots of it) in It Takes Two
Working together to overcome challenges despite interpersonal problems is the entire point of It Takes Two. The characters put aside their differences and exhibit prosocial behavior.
6. Pushing, pulling, riding, and swinging in Chariot
The goal of Chariot is to get your father’s coffin to its final resting place, which is itself a prosocial activity. To accomplish this, you and a teammate must work together to overcome 25 challenging levels.
7. Building a town in My Time At Sandrock (multiplayer)
As you might expect, building a town takes a lot of teamwork. My Time At Sandrock gives you and a handful of other players a chance to experience this kind of teamwork.
8. Sharing prehistoric chores in Roots of Pacha
If you’ve ever wondered what sharing chores in a prehistoric world could mean, Roots of Pacha is the game for you.
9. Playing a two-player game within a two-player game in A Way Out
The many ways players exhibit prosocial behavior in A Way Out is too long to list, so we’ll simply shine a light on how within this two player game you can play a two player game!
10. Bowing to Arena duelists in Elden Ring
Though not an actual requirement, bowing to opponents in the Arena of Elden Ring is considered proper etiquette by the game’s community.
11. Reviving a teammate with pizza in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, players learn that pizza saves lives — at least the lives of fellow Ninja Turtles!
12. Sacrificing yourself for your teammates in Left 4 Dead 2: The Sacrifice
Players know going into the Left 4 Dead 2: The Sacrifice campaign that someone isn’t going to make it out alive — and it could be you! The ultimate prosocial act.
13. Donating troops in Clash of Clans
Clash of Clans empowers players to donate and receive troops with their clanmates, which is also a useful way to gauge the strength of clan-based relationships.
14. Good deeds unlock karma kisses in KarmaZoo
Karma is what players earn in KarmaZoo. Sometimes karma is unlocked by working together, sometimes you receive a karma kiss from another player.
15. Straight talk in We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip
Puzzles only get solved through communicating through walkie-talkies and working in tandem in We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip.
16. Skin boosting in League of Legends
In the Howling Abyss mode of League of Legends, a player can pay to unlock random skins for their teammates for use in the game they’re about to play.
17. Mentoring in EverQuest 2
Teaching and guiding the next generation of players is classic prosocial behavior in games. For example, EverQuest 2 allows experienced players to mentor “apprentices.”
18. Stepping up for a friend in Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power
In Trine 3, players can use their magical abilities to help each other navigate a dangerous world in order to return the Artifact to its rightful place. In this example, one player is creating a step to help a teammate cross a chasm.
19. Fist bumps in League of Legends
League of Legends gives players a way to celebrate great team moments: fist bumps.
20. Giving gifts in Xenoblade Chronicles
Xenoblade Chronicles gives players ways to gift and track affinity between their party members. Gifting is clearly a prosocial behavior. Strong relationships are a key outcome of digital thriving.
21. Lifting up friends in PUBG
In PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), players have co-op climbing abilities that help them literally pull each other out of dangerous situations.
22. Joining a battle in Rift
The public groups can easily merge and unmerge with others in RIFT, which helps strangers contribute to a battle in progress.
23. Getting fair loot in Borderlands 3
The Cooperation mode in Borderlands 3 ensures everyone gets their own loot drops. This helps keep teams in the cooperative (i.e., prosocial) mindset.
24. Warning teammates of danger in Apex Legends
In Apex Legends, players have the ability to warn their teammates of the locations of nearby enemies.
25. Dead drops and donations in Fallout 76
There is a long tradition in Fallout 76 of high-level players dropping gifts for lower-level players. The game recently added a donation box to support this tradition.
Now what?
Checkout a more complete list of prosocial behaviors in Prosocial Behavior | Checklist
