What game do you play to just chill?

Nowadays I find a lot of games feel like too much work and/or anxiety when I just want to relax for like, 30 minutes to an hour after a long day. On the other hand, the games specifically designed to help you unwind just feel boring imo.

In the past I’ve felt like Outer Wilds scratched this itch, cause the whole experience was engaging but generally relaxed. There was a mystery that kept me hooked and the exploration and movement was fun in and of itself. I also felt like Subnautica filled this role since it was very much at my own pace, with anxiety producing portions which could for the most part be avoided or minimized, and also there was a clear objective to fulfill, get off the planet.

So what games do you play when you just wanna relax?

Hadriscus,

I’ve just started Snake Pass and it’s a no bullshit old-style puzzle platformer (think PS1 platformers such as Croc, Crash Bandicoot or Rayman) with a unique movement mechanic that feels very chill. There’s little in the way of worldbuilding though

NENathaniel,
@NENathaniel@lemmy.ca avatar

I find most games can be relaxing if Ive already played them a lot, even comp shooters. Quake Champions is relaxing for me at this point

misophist,

Nethack or DROD

Just starting to get into genshin impact, though, and it seems pretty cool.

PoppyJalopy,

Recently got back into my childhood favorite, Simcity 2000.

It’s just a classic for me. Amazing city builder with a chill soundtrack. Super rewarding planning out your city and watching it develop across the map. And it’s super stress free if you just play with disasters off

MargotRobbie,
@MargotRobbie@lemmy.world avatar

I play farming games on emulators on my phone usually.

But when I’m too stressed or tired, I don’t really have the energy to play games, just lay on my bed, put something on in the background, and sleep.

vudu,

Hey! which farming games are your favorite? I've been looking at this genre

MargotRobbie,
@MargotRobbie@lemmy.world avatar

Stardew Valley, Rune Factory 4, Friends of Mineral Town, and that’s pretty much it.

runestomper,

I’ve gotten really into Grand Theft Auto San Andreas for unwinding after a long day. Something about the low poly graphics while I can just be a menace in the game feels right.

Cmar,

Played it on my switch a few months ago after many years, still holds up beautifully. The radio stations are spot on and, just like you said, the low poly graphics (even on the DE) are so easy on the eyes.

philpo,

Timberborn is always nice,

so is Minecraft.

Subnautica is also very relaxing after you know your way around it.

But Red Dead Redemption 2 is the most “chill” game for me. You can simply go out to hunt, enjoy the nature, etc.

FontMasterFlex,

You can simply go out to hunt, enjoy the nature,

So incredibly ironic, this statement. god forbid anyone GO OUTSIDE, no, we have to enjoy nature in a video game.

philpo,

Yeah, you’re of course right, after a 12h shift people should go outside in the dark rainy night instead of enjoying themselves for an hour in front of a PC and first and god forbid they live in a region without much nature.

FontMasterFlex,

Look I play games too. I never said not to. I said it was ironic that someone would ‘relax’ by ‘going outside to enjoy nature’ in a video game. IDAF where you live, outside is outside. I’ve lived in remote areas and i’ve lived in heavily populated areas. no matter where I lived there was a park, or a sidewalk nearby. maybe put down the internet for a minute and go outside if you’re getting this triggered over a sentence.

Litany,
@Litany@lemmy.world avatar

Fellow Timberborn enjoyer here. Waiting for the Simple Floodgates mod to get updated.

banneryear1868,

Cities Skylines and Civ

bmcgonag,

iOS / iPad game called “Flight Pilot”. Dumb, not even a simulator, just get off the ground and hit hot air baloons for points kind of game. It’s just a mindless time for me to relax a bit. You can run “missions” if you want, but you don’t have to, and if you’re patient, you can level up without making any purchases using real money. It’s really great.

Wallaby,

Age of Empires 2 custom games. Can’t beat a classic, and you can save whenever you’re done

Immersive_Matthew,

I am biased as I am the Imagineer of my title, but I get a lot of comments that it is a great place to just chill, even with a loved one or good friend. It is a VR Theme Park focused on highly detailed, story driven dark rides like the ones you find at Disney. The first ride is out and it sent me to the top of charts on the Meta Quest App Lab Store. Even if you do not have VR yet, that is fine as I am not done developing yet as I have years of work ahead of me, but if/when you do, come check it out. It really does feels like you are in a Theme Park on a nice sunny day, walking around the grounds, exploring the ride queues and of course boarding the dark rides…well one dark ride, but the second one is coming along nice,”The Haunted Castle” and I will be updating the store with a tease soon.

www.meta.com/experiences/4212005182188732/

philpo,

…that is not even good advertising…

Immersive_Matthew,

Ahahaha I know right. Marketing is just not my thing, but Imagineering is thankfully. Sounds like it is not your thing too as my posts usually appeal to the Disney fans…especially EPCOT which I did not even mention which is odd as that is one of the park’s Inspirations. See…I suck at this.

NostraDavid,
@NostraDavid@programming.dev avatar

Outer Wilds

I will always shill for Outer Wilds, simply because it’s such a niche that only 2 games have come out in its unnamed genre: Majora’s Mask and Outer Wilds.

Yes, Outer Wilds is a spiritual successor to Majora’s Mask.

And the worst part is that talking about the game would probably spoil half of it. All I can say that it’s an adventure like Majora’s Mask.

If you ever were to trust an internet stranger to buy a game blind, now is the time. If you loved MM, you’ll at least like OW.

Happy adventuring, stranger ;)

Abnorc,

I’m really lucky that I didn’t cave in and watch any videos at first. (I think I watched the game’s version of a tutorial, but that was it.) Its fantastic.

FellowEnt,

Thanks for the reminder, I’m gonna go straight in with the VR mod. Haven’t even seen the trailer.

BeaniBlue,

Wurm Unlimited

BeautifulMind, (edited )
@BeautifulMind@lemmy.world avatar

It’s my bike, I ride my bike.

Indoors, I’ve got Zwift, which looks a bit like a game.

Outdoors the resolution is better, but the NPCs can be belligerent.

Thermal_shocked,

Lol

FontMasterFlex,

I’m really in the same boat. Lately it’s been these:

Dorfromantik

Mini Motorways

Halls of Torment

Vampire Survivors

Brotato

Firewatch was great but it’s really a one or two sitting game. Same with Unpacking.

What I’m REALLY looking for but having trouble finding is something like a city builder or house builder that there is no money, nothing like that. Just creativity in building. Way back when I first tried the Sims, I loved the house building part more than anything.

I’ve been searching for something new though. I tried Satisfactory but really just wish it had a creative mode. I tried Terraria but I can’t get the Minecraft allegory out of my head so this game infuriates me.

TheFonz,

There was a neat city builder a year back that had no end goal - just the building itself. I can’t remember what it was called. You could pick like three themes: medieval, modern. ,or renaissance (?). I wish I remembered the name.

FontMasterFlex,

I’d be interested if you wind up remembering the name.

zalgotext,

What I’m REALLY looking for but having trouble finding is something like a city builder or house builder that there is no money, nothing like that. Just creativity in building.

Not sure if it’s quite what you’re looking for, but building in Valheim is quite fun, and it has a creative mode, so you can just go crazy without having to grind for materials.

abouttocomealive,
@abouttocomealive@lemmy.world avatar

Not a city builder / house builder, but Planet Zoo might scratch that itch. Takes a bit to really learn the building mechanics, but people can build amazing things in it.

FontMasterFlex,

i’ll look into it. thanks for the recommendation.

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