I always play a game of Stellaris every few months. The combination of roleplay and grand strategy massages my brain just right to make the happy chemicals.
I have over 500 hours in Particle Fleet: Emergence. Very chill level-based game where you can slowly move forward and beat a map over an hour or so. All the Knuckle Cracker games have tons and tons of user content available so there’s no shortage of maps to play.
Turn based rpgs, the sort of thing with just enough challenge to be fun but not too quick or difficult. Like I love dark souls but when I just want to chill give me something like dragon quest. Sadly it seems to be dying out as a genre.
I’m in love with pokemon rom hacks for this reason. Tons of great hacks that are usually harder than the main games, but you can always grind if it gets too hard. And there a lots of OK hacks, but sadly only a few really good ones
Pathfinder wrath of the righteous was amazing. Wholeheartedly recommend it. Wasteland 3 too. Can’t wait to play Baldur’s Gate 3, but it’s a bit expensive for me right now.
Definitely Stardew Valley. It’s not necessarily like I could play it endlessly forever but whenever all other alternatives seem boring or like they require more energy than I feel like spending, I always turn to Stardew exactly for comfort.
It’s such an amazing game and such a break from reality. There is tremendous depth there, if you go and look for it, but you can also just dungeon dive and smack monsters in the face with a sword if you want.
Check out OpenMW for a great, easy to use, source port of the game engine.
Diablo 2. I return to it about twice a year and have a good time starting a fresh playthrough farming gear for a few different builds. Especially with the QOL that resurrected has brought.
Death Stranding is downright meditative. One of the most interesting and compelling games I've ever played. I just love delivering the packages and just soaking in that world.
Fallout 3. I know New Vegas has a better story and proper ADS. I know 4 is a markedly better handling experience. But 3 holds a special place in my heart
If you aren’t already aware, check out Tale of Two Wastelands. Merges the Capital Wasteland of FO3 and the Mojave of FNV into one, keeping all the good bits Obsidian introduced with FNV.
Older: Command and Conquer Generals. I’ve started playing it with my kid which is fun. Newer: Rocket League. It’s been fun especially when I stop caring about ranking up. It’s just a game and I can play for 10 minutes and walk away.
Seconded… I take roguelite breaks after every other game I play… Hades, Slay the Spire, Monster Train, Griftlands, and Little Noah have been sort of relaxing to me.
Spyro the Dragon - the first game specifically, I find it more of an immersive treasure-hunting experience than the next two games, which are more obviously... I dunno, video game-y. I like all three but I always 100% the first game at least once a year.
Galloping around, taking in the hazy morning with a cup of coffee at a makeshift camp, the ambient music and noises as you travel. It gives me such wanderlust.
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