How a decade of playing Final Fantasy XIV has helped me through life and motherhood

The popular MMO game has helped me deal with everything life brings. As I celebrate 10 years immersed in its world, I speak to other people who have found solace in this online community

It's no secret that the art that moves us becomes associated with certain periods of our lives: the song that helped you navigate your first breakup, the movie that helped you take those first steps into adulthood, the book that persuaded you to try something new. Video games, however, are unique in that some are designed to be played for years. They can develop alongside you, grow up with you, or be a consistent refuge from the mundane.

I've played Final Fantasy XIV for a full decade now, enraptured by its fantastical locations and a story that takes you from green adventurer to universe-saving hero. It's always been the game I turn to unwind at the end of a long day, and my life has completely changed alongside it. I've gone from the early stages of my career and a draughty flat, through a long-term relationship, and now I have a house and child - my character, Cel, was there for the whole journey.