Interesting concept in the idea of having to shoot at the ideal timing to not kill yourself before the trial ends. In a way sniper elite and the 5way headshot, in a way bowling.
If instead of the concept of emotions, you put your emotions into it, perhaps there'd be something more to say than "it is a game." If we're talking spinning and emotions, we can go to "spiraling," which could be how you approach this theme. To externalize too much and to internalize too much both can be both lead to spiraling, so instead of a black or white of "you do this perfectly or you die" approach, maybe you should try making it about having a balance.
No man is an island, we must both output and input to get by.