Video games aren’t just mindless entertainment. There are plenty of things we can learn from them, if we only heed their lessons. One recent example of this is the moving coming-of-age tale A Boy and His Blob, in which a young man figures out how to survive on his own, with his pet and best friend at his side. These are some of the teachings to take from that game, whether you're an Earthling or Blobolonian.



Parental Guidance is Overrated.

Together, a young boy and his pet alien blob managed to save both Earth and Blobolonia from the rule of an evil empire. Where were the boy’s parents during all of this? Who knows, and furthermore, who cares? They weren’t in his treehouse, or even at home in the middle of the night. The boy certainly didn’t seem to miss them, and did fine without them. Sure, it might be a bit worrisome that any parent would leave his or her child alone for days on end, but when you’ve got a heart full of adventure and a pocket full of jellybeans, who needs them?



Always Keep Some Candy on Hand.

If not for a hearty supply of jellybeans, the boy would have been consumed by evil Blobolonian monsters before even stepping out of his treehouse, and the blob would probably still be quivering in fear—if not arrested and tried for treason (I’m not really sure how Blobolonian evil empires work). It was the young man’s sweet tooth that ultimately saved not just him and his pet, but two entire planets.



You Don’t Need a Reason to Give a Hug.

Maybe you just yelled at your blob a little too harshly for hopping off a steep cliff and taking too long to float his way back. Perhaps the two of you just made it past a challenging series of traps, or a particularly nefarious battle. These are all solid reasons for a friendly display of emotion, but absolutely not required. If you want to give a hug, just give one! Remember, you’ll be getting one in return, and isn’t that enough?



A Hungry Blob Goes Faster Than Any Space Shuttle.

For decades, the world’s top scientists and astrologists have been trying to figure out the mysteries of interplanetary travel. It’s just too bad they’ve been beaten to it by a little boy. By gulping down a single jellybean, the blob instantly transforms into a powerful, insanely fast rocket that can transport the boy from Earth to Blobolonia in seconds. It’s so fast, the boy doesn’t even need to bother with a space suit, helmet, or any safety precautions. He merely needs to hop on the blob’s back.



When in Doubt, Get in Your Bubble!

What, you thought it only worked for that other game? The blob can transform into a protective bubble as well, only it doesn’t make the boy completely helpless. Instead, it allows him to speed past danger without being touched. Be warned, though, bubble transformation isn’t possible at all times, so it’s best not to depend on it too much.