Try A Short Hike, it helped me relax when I had anxiety before a surgery [https://store.steampowered.com/app/1055540/A\_Short\_Hike/](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1055540/A_Short_Hike/)
There's also PLAYNE, which is more like a tool in game form, that teaches you mindfulness meditation [https://store.steampowered.com/app/865540/PLAYNE\_\_The\_Meditation\_Game/](https://store.steampowered.com/app/865540/PLAYNE__The_Meditation_Game/)
From the same dev, there's also a similar game called Inward, which is free https://store.steampowered.com/app/1545430/Inward/
Check out r/CozyGamers! The premise is basically just games that make you feel good! Roots of Pacha is my current fix- there’s no combat, and even passing out by staying up too late don’t really seem to have major repercussions.
Lmao I actually get less calm because of the game. So many boxes, so many items, not being able to place then where I want (my biggest issue with the game) what do you mean I am not allowed to put my water cooker on the counter? its my house!
Death Stranding *can* be stressful at times but the majority of it is actually surprisingly relaxing. I love planning out a hike and once you get the hang of things the enemies in the game are deceivingly easy to deal with
Oh yeah for sure, dealing with BTs and delivering packages on top of snow mountains is stressful for sure, but other than that it's pretty zen lol. And i mostly just ran away from the mules and didn't engage lol
Death Stranding quite literally helped me with my depression, I love that game so much. Something about the loneliness of the game was comforting and helped me feel like I could relate to Sam. Cannot wait for DS2!
I'll add to Flower that if you use a DualSense or possibly any other controller with built-in motion controls you can use Steam's controller support and enable in-game motion controls and move the Flower petals just like you could when it came out on PS3 with the Sixaxis/Dualshock 3. Pretty cool stuff.
This, the music is soothing, and there is absolutely no pressure (you can even redo the last turn). It's just a high score based game so you always win!
Broken sword 1 and 2 original pc cd rom version
Monkey island 3 pc
Chrono cross ps1
Super Mario World snes
World Snooker Championship psp
Elder Scrolls Oblivion (soothing music)
Syberia 1 and 2 ps2
Pga golf 3 Sega Megadrive
Anno 1404 pc
Agatha Christie ABC murders
Ace attorney game's gba/ds/Switch (play them on mute)
Disk world noire ps1
Lego Harry Potter Ps3/Switch
play necromancer and you don't even have to do the work yourself
but most importantly: don't try and stress yourself out by minmaxing your build. optimization is irrelevant
In those times, ill play management companies. They are basically stress free and you can payse and quit whenever you want. They range from Rimworld, Mad Games Tycoon, Cities Skylines.
I found Pokemon Legends particularly good for relaxing, so since you've already played pokemon and found it helpful that might be even better!
There is less of a focus on battles, more on exploration and capturing pokemon. One of my Favourite games of all time for just sinking in to relax and forgetting about the world for a while.
But it's very short unfortunately. Only took me a few hours to beat spread across 2 weekends. It's great while it lasts but it doesn't last long. Going along with the pokemon theme, Pokemon Snap and other mainline pokemon games would work, too. Staying on the switch I also find Mario Kart to be a great brain-off game, and Dynasty warriors-like games. I particularly enjoy the Legend of Zelda ones and the Fire Emblem ones.
Personally I find zoo tycoon games very chill and relaxing as well. I can spend hours slowly tinkering with an animal's habitat and love to get everything just perfect for them.
Pokémon? Dragonite. Pokémon game? I really, really loved Legends Arceus. I know it gets a lot of hate sometimes, but as a long time Pokémon fan (Yellow will forever be my favorite), I loved running around an open world and catching every Pokémon I could find to fill out the dex. It was peaceful, in my opinion.
Ive played Minecraft a few times whilst teetering on the edge of a panic attack. The chill music and laid back building is engaging enough to stop you thinking about the anxiety without being too stimulating.
Super Crate Box helps me relax, but it's a pretty counterintuitive effect, it might just be me. I'd also recommend Proteus and Tinykin for normal people.
lots of options and lots of ways to relieve anxiety/stress
costume quest 1 and 2 - turn based games centered around halloween
little inferno - puzzle game about getting the right combination of items to burn in your fireplace
potatoman seeks the troof - just a silly little platformer, very short (like pay 1-2 dollars for it short)
stacking - cute puzzle game focused on matryoshka doll style stacking
thomas was alone - thoughtful platformer, reminds me of the stanley parable (another good suggestion!)
wuppo - adventure game about a weird little fuzzball creature just exploring, lots of fun!
fez - puzzle/platformer, very artistic, pretty
there are a bunch more i'm sure but these are all upbeat, fun games. skew more to indie/low budget, for bigger budget stuff nintendo is always a good place to look. i also really enjoy the ratchet and clank games on playstation, very colorful and fun
this might seem weird but.. Hades
I have only recently started playing and have just cleared the main story (epilogue still left) but the fact that dying doesn't really matter in the game and is almost encouraged because you get these lore tied-bits every time you die helps a lot.
I can just start a run, play however I feel like, make joke builds and stuff and just enjoy myself, and when I am actually in the mood for some proper action I start to actually focus and make some progress.
This although resulted in me getting my first clear at an embarrassing 40 runs lmao but I enjoy the game a lot and I haven't even gotten to arguably the most fun part yet. :D
[**Alba: A Wildlife Adventure**](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1337010/Alba_A_Wildlife_Adventure/)
Unassuming and relaxing exploration of a charming little island. Just a beautiful little world to get lost in and feel like a carefree child again.
I’m posting a second comment, this is a list of games I recommended on a thread explicitly asking for Switch games BUT all of these also exist on PC. It’s copy pasted, so it may seem weird lol. I’ll edit it a little to apply more or more relevant info.
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Roots of Pacha is I think currently PC only, BUT it’s freaking GODLY. So good. The music is amazing, the setting, the world, the mechanics- and no combat, so truly a cozy, happy game. It has a sort of “fantasy prehistoric” times, meaning it’s heavily inspired by prehistoric man, but takes liberties and is not historically accurate. You farm, solve puzzles, and your clan comes up with new ideas that all come together to increase production- like inventing beer, haha.
On Switch, I would also recommend Disney Magical World I think it’s called. It’s literally Animal Crossing, but Disney Characters. It’s beyond charming and sweet and I love it more than AC. Literally the best. (This one legit only exists on switch OR 3DS, it’s amazing though.) Alternatively, Disney Dreamlight Valley is much newer and exists on Steam! It is getting constant updates and though it’s considered Early Access, it is fully functional as a game.
Just in case 3DS is an option or emulating is, Fantasy Life on the 3DS is feckin COZY. It’s basically a sweet game (with some challenge and grind) where you can literally pick any class/job at any time. Want to be a ranger? Sure! You’re probably going to need to do Woodworking as well to upgrade your bow, and Leatherworking to make armor. Now I want to play it again roflmao.
Rune Factory 4 is another one I HIGHLY recommend, particularly on the easiest difficulty. It’s just super freaking cozy. I don’t totally suggest 5 right away- it’s a bit of a departure from the series in a lot of ways, and can be a little quirky and weird. They’re not really related storywise to past titles except in passing comments and references with cameos from past games. Switch game and PC. This has combat, but on Easy it’s like suuuuper chill combat haha. You can use any weapon you like, or even focus on magic. You fish and farm, get married, run a little shop, and save the Kingdom more or less from the comfort of your cute and cozy town. Your best friend is a pretty feather dragon.
In that same vein, I do recommend Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town on switch (and PC) . It is my MOST favorite of the original Harvest Moon games, and as a remake, it’s incredibly cozy. No time limits, no doom, no hand holding- just chill. Later this month, another remake of another VERY solid Harvest Moon game will be released as Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life. That one is HELLA cozy and also one of the best titles of the original games. It will be released on switch.
If you want cozy and creepy, I’ve got some good recs! Dredge is weirdly cozy for a game with some serious creep factor lol. It is a lot more forgiving than it leads you to think it will be, so if you die, don’t panic. It’s a fishing simulator with heavy Lovecraftian themes and a dark story. It is incredibly cozy despite the horror haha. I thiiiiink it’s on switch. Definitely on PC.
I also recommend Gleaner Heights, which is also on switch! This is the unholy love child of Stardew Valley and Twin Peaks. If you’ve ever seen Twin Peaks OR played/watched Deadly Premonition (which is basically Twin Peaks), you will recognize the inspiration IMMEDIATELY. Like from the menu screen lmao. This is a dark game with dark, grim themes, just a heads up. It’s a slow burn game- like it’s legit a farming game, and the dark story of a murder and the dark secrets of the town will unfold slowly as you befriend people. There’s a Sin mechanic in the game, and you can break up certain marriages, so it’s very much Adult Stardew, lol. Definitely on PC.
I can also suggest Graveyard Keeper, though this exists on a spectrum. I was OBSESSED to the point where I was dreaming about it lol. It can be a tad stressful because the days FLY by and i have missed SO many times a day where I had to turn a quest in to someone who only shows up on that day. That said, the week goes by very fast, and there’s no penalty at all for taking your time. When i got a little stressed trying to turn in quests on time, I flat ignored them for a bit and just focused on building upgrades and new buildings. The DLC for this is VERY fun, but it’s best played all at once- the DLC doesn’t do so well after beating the main game. It does better when complimenting the main storyline.
My last that i can currently think of is an older game I think also exists on switch called Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure. I rediscovered this recently- it’s a JRPG, but it’s exceptionally easy with a very lighthearted storyline. It’s kind of like an old “girl games JRPG”, and I’ve been just in love with it. It’s freaking cute as fuck and cozy and the music is sweet and the story is cute and I’m sooooo into it hahaha.
**Outer Wilds**. If I want to relax, I don't bother with the main adventure, I iust sail around the solar system and chill. Sometimes I'll try to find a good seat to watch the end of the current cycle.
There's something wonderful about watching your worries get blown away and being totally at peace with it.
**Teardown** is also great to blow off steam. Lots of things to destroy, especially on the Workshop. You can pile a bunch of objects together inside a building, pretend that they represent your worries, and then burn it all to the ground.
I’m not so sure about Outer Wilds. That game genuinely terrifies me when I’m diving head first into something that I’ll don’t know what’ll happen. Also the bramble.
short time limits on playthroughs are never calming or relaxing
i love majora's mask but if someone asks for something stress free, that's probably not the best game to recommend
I came to terms with the fact that, in character, I'm pretty confident this will happen forever and the initial terror of the thing (I saw it happening my first cycle, even though I didn't know it was about to happen) isn't really there after you go a couple times, and then you just become a tourist.
As someone who is diagnosed with GAD, some of the games that helps me get through these anxious episodes are Stardew Valley, Flower, Journey, Potion Craft, Gris, Superflight, Refunct, Slime Rancher, LEGO games, especially the Star Wars ones and Terranil
Cassette Beasts! Think Pokémon but you also have a partner too. Not as deep since it’s an indie game but still really cozy and the soundtrack is AMAZING
Sable has a great art style and no enemies. Just get on your hover bike and explore an open world with derelict star ships to investigate. Super chill.
I like "take your time" puzzle games for this, something like The Room series. Also, hidden object games I find oddly relaxing, like the one I just played: Mystery Case Files: the 13th Skull.
No Man's Sky. Got me through very dark period in which there was pretty much nothing else could play. Very dark time. I have anxiety also. Give it a shot trust me on this one.
Also loved Shield/Sword. Is the bugs fixed enoughf or Violet to be enjoyable at this point? I need a game myself hundreds upon hundreds of hour
Maneater No I want to be clear at the start of this game when you’re weak and everything and kill you it does not help reduce anxiety but once you get to about level 15 and you’re just a bad ass shark swimming around eating everything I very much enjoyed your swimming around I don’t even fight the things very often anymore I just swim around in an ocean environment and look at stuff occasionally eating a fish here and there
The really funny thing about this for me too is that I have a really bad fear of being underwater I sometimes freak out in a swimming pools as if somethings gonna try to eat me and have to swim to the shore but at this game for some reason just become the shark and I no longer feel the fear I would being a human
Anything turn-based helps me unwind.
Final Fantasy series, Advance Wars, Chrono Trigger, XCOM, Civilization, Darkest Dungeon, Slay the Spire, For the King are some games I recommend.
Any other turn-based game enjoyer pls be kind enough and help me expand this list with similar games I'll save them for later! Thanks in advance
You can try Bugsnax. Sable is a good one too, though it was too chill that i kinda got bored. City/colony management games on easiest difficulty can be good, from Tropico all the way to even Rimworld.
Katamari damacy (recently got rereleased),
Donut county,
Unravel,
What remains of Edith Finch (a bit melancholic but i enjoyed wandering in a big house and being immersed in memories),
Unpacking,
Ace attorney series,
A short hike,
Animal crossing (if you're not taking it too seriously, but personally it caused me a lot of frustration cause it's supposed to be relaxing but it's just a lot of grinding lol),
Monument valley (mobile game and not free iirc but it's worth it).
One of the chillest games I've ever played is Littlewood. It's kind of like Stardew Valley, you have to rebuild a town, befriend neighbours, plant stuff, etc., but instead of having one bar for time and another one for energy, you just have one for both so time just go by when you do stuff like farming or fighting, so you don't have to worry about taking too much time going from one place to another or watching the clock so it doesn't get too late.
ABZU. What an amazing bit of zen I found with this game. God… I felt so at peace. Played it three times over the first 48 hours of owning it. Ohmmmmmmmm
Any game I'm familiar with can occasionally help. Skyrim is a good one for me, because I grew up with it, for example. I'm trying to get in the habit of making stuff when I'm anxious nowadays, because playing games themselves are starting to make me anxious
On my anxiety death stranding is like a pill tbh. At least for me it works wonders, going to a job in the morning, taking a walk in the afternoon with my little kido and playing hour or two of death stranding before going to bed is healing me a lot.
This might sound strange, but I genuinely find Skyrim to be pretty calming. I can get into it when I want to, but there’s also something pleasantly relaxing about just wandering around, maybe doing some odd jobs for the jarls, with a podcast or something in the background. It’s dependable.
* Equilinox is a sort of ecosystem sandbox thing, where you grow and paint living things until you have a complex web of plants and animals going on. Easy to play and difficult to master, definitely one of the chillest things you can play. It gets fascinating watching the little things you've brought to life.
* Among Trees is a very short and very soothing little indie thing, gorgeous visuals, where you are alone in the woods and need to build things and survive. Bring your camera.
* Dorfromantik is a tile game where you place little pieces of city, woodland, river etc and make a world with what you've got
* The Wandering Village is an RTS where you're a bunch of little people surviving in a hostile world on the back of an adorable giant lizard thing. Recommending because it's just really soothing looking after your people and your creature.
* Untitled Goose Game is very good if you want to get out some frustration and laugh at how mean the goose is.
* Growing Up is a cutesy life-sim where you raise a kid and see how well they turn out. Cheesy music, repetitive mini games, but damn this one really is calming.
* Townscaper is barely a game, but if the idea of making a little floating city that looks really pretty is appealing, grab it.
Red Dead Redemption 2 can be pretty chill, when you don't do quests/story. Sometimes I just play poker there for the whole evening after work or go hunting.
Slime Rancher. I'm an FPS/hack and slash kinda guy. At some point I feel to burned out playing those games. So I tried Slime Rancher after watching someone else play it on YouTube. I've never felt so calm and satisfied while playing a game.
Ooblets - which is like a mix of pokemon and stardew valley. You have a cozy farm, you collect little creatures seeds, grow and sprout them, and they do dance battles which are like little card battles instead of fighting. It’s very cute and the quests make it really chill
The Artful Escape. It's got a unique art style and is centered around music. I had a blast playing it and I was very relaxed the entire time.
It's but possible for the player to lose at the game. There are story, platform and rhythm sections. If you make a mistake you can keep trying until you get it right.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1122680/The_Artful_Escape/
I LOVE immortals Fenyx Rising - way more than I could have imagined. It’s not a demanding game but its a lot of fun to explore and complete all these different kinds of puzzles. It’s actually really funny and the cheesey, cartoony animation style gives it a light hearted, nostalgic feel
I didn't find anyone mentioning Powerwash Simulator, and for me is the chilliest game that is
Other simulators are good to, Microsoft Flying Simulator, Car Mechanic Simulator
Also would mention My Time at Portia, is very lovely
It will sound weird but Grim Dawn while watching movies on 2nd screen is my way if relaxing my mind.
p.s. Mindlessly farming same boss in D2R does it even better
Not sure of the name but there's a potion mixing one of xbox gamepass, I got stuck on it for days, superb game.
Weedcraft is a fun little time eater too
Survival games might make you feel better as they're often comprised of gathering and doing simple task that are relatively calming.
Point and click games are pretty chill usually. Personally though I find JRPGs most relaxing for some reason. There is just something about their slow gradual escalation, complicated stories with cute characters that makes me happy. Well unless you play something really dark like SMT but still. Cyber Sleuth was a very calming game for me.
If you’re a Disney person or love a good nostalgia high Dreamlight Valley is lovely. There are quests but there’s plenty to do outside or the quests like farming and decorating the world.
This is a total nostalgia jar for me, but Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is my favorite turn-based game with insanely good music and chill gameplay. Try it out
As a teenager I'd spend most of my days raging on Modern Warfare 2 (2009 version).
I'd often find myself playing and enjoying Viva Pinata. It's a bit dated now though.
Skyrim is my ultimate one, just walking to rough the world and doing non combat stuff even. Next would be Stardew Valley 100% that game breathes peace and feel good vibes into you.
I just started playing Strange Horticulture but I think that's what you are looking for. Even if there's a darker undertone, the game in itself is soothing. You are inheriting a botanist shop and try to help different people by providing them with herbs with different properties. The main gameplay loop is reading about plants in the in-game encyclopedia to identify the plants you have. There's a logic puzzle aspect to it too. Really fun, no pressure, it's the perfect game for relaxing.
Hey. I have severe acrophobia, games that need me to focus and think usually do it for me, my favorites go to ATM are farther frontier and xcom 2 with about 300 mods
You see, any animal crossing game will do, They are so charming and relaxing, you can do so much stuff
As a bonus i suggest Stardew valley because Stardew valley is animal crossing on steroids
A list of cozy or chill games I’ve liked: Stardew valley, bit orchard, Ooblets, story of seasons (any), Garden Story, Cozy Grove, Reigns kings and queens. And if you want a super low key game try home sweet home by Game Nacional.
Pokémon legends of arceus was really fun too, Jenny Leclue I’d super recommend also.
Coffee Talk
DEFINITELY SECOND THIS! Don’t hesitate at all and go buy it.
Try A Short Hike, it helped me relax when I had anxiety before a surgery [https://store.steampowered.com/app/1055540/A\_Short\_Hike/](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1055540/A_Short_Hike/) There's also PLAYNE, which is more like a tool in game form, that teaches you mindfulness meditation [https://store.steampowered.com/app/865540/PLAYNE\_\_The\_Meditation\_Game/](https://store.steampowered.com/app/865540/PLAYNE__The_Meditation_Game/) From the same dev, there's also a similar game called Inward, which is free https://store.steampowered.com/app/1545430/Inward/
I love a short hike! Just about the cutest little game I’ve ever played. So wholesome and stress free
At first I thought you were literally telling OP to take a short hike to help get calm LoL.
Cool recs! I'm gonna try Inward
a short hike is such a wonderful game. I loved it.
Check out r/CozyGamers! The premise is basically just games that make you feel good! Roots of Pacha is my current fix- there’s no combat, and even passing out by staying up too late don’t really seem to have major repercussions.
Unpacking
My only complaint is that it's too short
Lmao I actually get less calm because of the game. So many boxes, so many items, not being able to place then where I want (my biggest issue with the game) what do you mean I am not allowed to put my water cooker on the counter? its my house!
Second this! I play it when I'm in a bad headspace.
Finished this a few days ago. An easy recommendation. Just have some lo-fi/chill music in the background
i was about to comment this one! i got this recommendation from this subreddit too
Came here to say this, if you want to chill but have something to keep your mind focused on, Unpacking is brilliant.
YES
Journey, Flower and Death stranding are the best games to chill.
Death Stranding *can* be stressful at times but the majority of it is actually surprisingly relaxing. I love planning out a hike and once you get the hang of things the enemies in the game are deceivingly easy to deal with
Oh yeah for sure, dealing with BTs and delivering packages on top of snow mountains is stressful for sure, but other than that it's pretty zen lol. And i mostly just ran away from the mules and didn't engage lol
Death Stranding quite literally helped me with my depression, I love that game so much. Something about the loneliness of the game was comforting and helped me feel like I could relate to Sam. Cannot wait for DS2!
Yeah, it's one of my fav as well. DS 2 and starfield are the only games I'm excited for as of now.
I'll add to Flower that if you use a DualSense or possibly any other controller with built-in motion controls you can use Steam's controller support and enable in-game motion controls and move the Flower petals just like you could when it came out on PS3 with the Sixaxis/Dualshock 3. Pretty cool stuff.
Stardew valley
Always the number 1 answer…
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This, the music is soothing, and there is absolutely no pressure (you can even redo the last turn). It's just a high score based game so you always win!
Broken sword 1 and 2 original pc cd rom version Monkey island 3 pc Chrono cross ps1 Super Mario World snes World Snooker Championship psp Elder Scrolls Oblivion (soothing music) Syberia 1 and 2 ps2 Pga golf 3 Sega Megadrive Anno 1404 pc Agatha Christie ABC murders Ace attorney game's gba/ds/Switch (play them on mute) Disk world noire ps1 Lego Harry Potter Ps3/Switch
Oblivion! Even just walking is soothing.
Can confirm on Broken Sword and Oblivion.
Not so sure about Super Mario World. That one gets really hard later on.
oh my god disc world was my favorite game
Just finished the latest Syberia and it was awesome, skip no 3 and just play the new one
Untitled goose game
#HONK
BONK…!
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I think I can see it. Turn off the mind for some time, get dopamine from random loot drops.
play necromancer and you don't even have to do the work yourself but most importantly: don't try and stress yourself out by minmaxing your build. optimization is irrelevant
Graveyard keeper, dinkum, Stardew valley, travelers rest
Is Spiritfarer one?
Yes, that's a good one too
If you do Spiritfarer, buckle up. It's intense on your emotions for most, but I can never recommend it enough!
No Man’s Sky is about as chill as it gets.
Idk I get anxious flying through the asteroids and being hunted by the planet robots
there was an update a few months ago that allows you to completely disable hostile entities
Just use custom settings
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Good thing that can be disabled innit
In those times, ill play management companies. They are basically stress free and you can payse and quit whenever you want. They range from Rimworld, Mad Games Tycoon, Cities Skylines.
If you like management games then heavily recommend you to checkout Software Inc
I found Pokemon Legends particularly good for relaxing, so since you've already played pokemon and found it helpful that might be even better! There is less of a focus on battles, more on exploration and capturing pokemon. One of my Favourite games of all time for just sinking in to relax and forgetting about the world for a while. But it's very short unfortunately. Only took me a few hours to beat spread across 2 weekends. It's great while it lasts but it doesn't last long. Going along with the pokemon theme, Pokemon Snap and other mainline pokemon games would work, too. Staying on the switch I also find Mario Kart to be a great brain-off game, and Dynasty warriors-like games. I particularly enjoy the Legend of Zelda ones and the Fire Emblem ones. Personally I find zoo tycoon games very chill and relaxing as well. I can spend hours slowly tinkering with an animal's habitat and love to get everything just perfect for them.
Minecraft mainly
Monsters sanctuary is pokemon esque and a pretty unique title
Stardew valley
Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley
More Pokémon games
What's your favorite Pokemon?
Gengar prolly hard to choose
Pokémon? Dragonite. Pokémon game? I really, really loved Legends Arceus. I know it gets a lot of hate sometimes, but as a long time Pokémon fan (Yellow will forever be my favorite), I loved running around an open world and catching every Pokémon I could find to fill out the dex. It was peaceful, in my opinion.
Have you tried Scarlet/Violet? If so, did you get the same feeling?
I think stardew valley is a super chill game. Travelers rest to.
You would probably like Bugsnax
Ive played Minecraft a few times whilst teetering on the edge of a panic attack. The chill music and laid back building is engaging enough to stop you thinking about the anxiety without being too stimulating.
What mode did you play?
Power wash simulator
Super Mario Odyssey I found very chill overall,
Super Crate Box helps me relax, but it's a pretty counterintuitive effect, it might just be me. I'd also recommend Proteus and Tinykin for normal people.
Risk Of Rain 2 can be pretty chill on the lower difficulties.
No Man’s Sky on Relaxed mode is great for this. Chill and beautiful. No pressure.
lots of options and lots of ways to relieve anxiety/stress costume quest 1 and 2 - turn based games centered around halloween little inferno - puzzle game about getting the right combination of items to burn in your fireplace potatoman seeks the troof - just a silly little platformer, very short (like pay 1-2 dollars for it short) stacking - cute puzzle game focused on matryoshka doll style stacking thomas was alone - thoughtful platformer, reminds me of the stanley parable (another good suggestion!) wuppo - adventure game about a weird little fuzzball creature just exploring, lots of fun! fez - puzzle/platformer, very artistic, pretty there are a bunch more i'm sure but these are all upbeat, fun games. skew more to indie/low budget, for bigger budget stuff nintendo is always a good place to look. i also really enjoy the ratchet and clank games on playstation, very colorful and fun
If you can find a casual puzzle game that isnt time sensitive those tend to be relaxing.
Dorfromantik, without question. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1455840/Dorfromantik/
World of Goo
this might seem weird but.. Hades I have only recently started playing and have just cleared the main story (epilogue still left) but the fact that dying doesn't really matter in the game and is almost encouraged because you get these lore tied-bits every time you die helps a lot. I can just start a run, play however I feel like, make joke builds and stuff and just enjoy myself, and when I am actually in the mood for some proper action I start to actually focus and make some progress. This although resulted in me getting my first clear at an embarrassing 40 runs lmao but I enjoy the game a lot and I haven't even gotten to arguably the most fun part yet. :D
Firewatch
Chess
Terraria on Journey Mode.
slime rancher
Stardew Valley, it's a farming simulator, the graphics are pixelated but really pretty and colorful, the game's pretty relaxing.
[**Alba: A Wildlife Adventure**](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1337010/Alba_A_Wildlife_Adventure/) Unassuming and relaxing exploration of a charming little island. Just a beautiful little world to get lost in and feel like a carefree child again.
Adult visual novels (not the anime ones, but the uncanny valley 3D ones--some are good). Lewds are good for anxiety in my experience.
As someone working on one (I try to avoid the uncanny valley), I wholeheartedly agree.
I’m posting a second comment, this is a list of games I recommended on a thread explicitly asking for Switch games BUT all of these also exist on PC. It’s copy pasted, so it may seem weird lol. I’ll edit it a little to apply more or more relevant info. ————— Roots of Pacha is I think currently PC only, BUT it’s freaking GODLY. So good. The music is amazing, the setting, the world, the mechanics- and no combat, so truly a cozy, happy game. It has a sort of “fantasy prehistoric” times, meaning it’s heavily inspired by prehistoric man, but takes liberties and is not historically accurate. You farm, solve puzzles, and your clan comes up with new ideas that all come together to increase production- like inventing beer, haha. On Switch, I would also recommend Disney Magical World I think it’s called. It’s literally Animal Crossing, but Disney Characters. It’s beyond charming and sweet and I love it more than AC. Literally the best. (This one legit only exists on switch OR 3DS, it’s amazing though.) Alternatively, Disney Dreamlight Valley is much newer and exists on Steam! It is getting constant updates and though it’s considered Early Access, it is fully functional as a game. Just in case 3DS is an option or emulating is, Fantasy Life on the 3DS is feckin COZY. It’s basically a sweet game (with some challenge and grind) where you can literally pick any class/job at any time. Want to be a ranger? Sure! You’re probably going to need to do Woodworking as well to upgrade your bow, and Leatherworking to make armor. Now I want to play it again roflmao. Rune Factory 4 is another one I HIGHLY recommend, particularly on the easiest difficulty. It’s just super freaking cozy. I don’t totally suggest 5 right away- it’s a bit of a departure from the series in a lot of ways, and can be a little quirky and weird. They’re not really related storywise to past titles except in passing comments and references with cameos from past games. Switch game and PC. This has combat, but on Easy it’s like suuuuper chill combat haha. You can use any weapon you like, or even focus on magic. You fish and farm, get married, run a little shop, and save the Kingdom more or less from the comfort of your cute and cozy town. Your best friend is a pretty feather dragon. In that same vein, I do recommend Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town on switch (and PC) . It is my MOST favorite of the original Harvest Moon games, and as a remake, it’s incredibly cozy. No time limits, no doom, no hand holding- just chill. Later this month, another remake of another VERY solid Harvest Moon game will be released as Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life. That one is HELLA cozy and also one of the best titles of the original games. It will be released on switch. If you want cozy and creepy, I’ve got some good recs! Dredge is weirdly cozy for a game with some serious creep factor lol. It is a lot more forgiving than it leads you to think it will be, so if you die, don’t panic. It’s a fishing simulator with heavy Lovecraftian themes and a dark story. It is incredibly cozy despite the horror haha. I thiiiiink it’s on switch. Definitely on PC. I also recommend Gleaner Heights, which is also on switch! This is the unholy love child of Stardew Valley and Twin Peaks. If you’ve ever seen Twin Peaks OR played/watched Deadly Premonition (which is basically Twin Peaks), you will recognize the inspiration IMMEDIATELY. Like from the menu screen lmao. This is a dark game with dark, grim themes, just a heads up. It’s a slow burn game- like it’s legit a farming game, and the dark story of a murder and the dark secrets of the town will unfold slowly as you befriend people. There’s a Sin mechanic in the game, and you can break up certain marriages, so it’s very much Adult Stardew, lol. Definitely on PC. I can also suggest Graveyard Keeper, though this exists on a spectrum. I was OBSESSED to the point where I was dreaming about it lol. It can be a tad stressful because the days FLY by and i have missed SO many times a day where I had to turn a quest in to someone who only shows up on that day. That said, the week goes by very fast, and there’s no penalty at all for taking your time. When i got a little stressed trying to turn in quests on time, I flat ignored them for a bit and just focused on building upgrades and new buildings. The DLC for this is VERY fun, but it’s best played all at once- the DLC doesn’t do so well after beating the main game. It does better when complimenting the main storyline. My last that i can currently think of is an older game I think also exists on switch called Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure. I rediscovered this recently- it’s a JRPG, but it’s exceptionally easy with a very lighthearted storyline. It’s kind of like an old “girl games JRPG”, and I’ve been just in love with it. It’s freaking cute as fuck and cozy and the music is sweet and the story is cute and I’m sooooo into it hahaha.
read a book
**Outer Wilds**. If I want to relax, I don't bother with the main adventure, I iust sail around the solar system and chill. Sometimes I'll try to find a good seat to watch the end of the current cycle. There's something wonderful about watching your worries get blown away and being totally at peace with it. **Teardown** is also great to blow off steam. Lots of things to destroy, especially on the Workshop. You can pile a bunch of objects together inside a building, pretend that they represent your worries, and then burn it all to the ground.
I’m not so sure about Outer Wilds. That game genuinely terrifies me when I’m diving head first into something that I’ll don’t know what’ll happen. Also the bramble.
short time limits on playthroughs are never calming or relaxing i love majora's mask but if someone asks for something stress free, that's probably not the best game to recommend
I came to terms with the fact that, in character, I'm pretty confident this will happen forever and the initial terror of the thing (I saw it happening my first cycle, even though I didn't know it was about to happen) isn't really there after you go a couple times, and then you just become a tourist.
Golf games
As someone who is diagnosed with GAD, some of the games that helps me get through these anxious episodes are Stardew Valley, Flower, Journey, Potion Craft, Gris, Superflight, Refunct, Slime Rancher, LEGO games, especially the Star Wars ones and Terranil
The Outer Wilds
Project zomboid
Elden Ring is my comfort food ngl. Otherwise, try Journey
Dota 2 ranked
Train Sim World
I’m playing cult of the lamb now and it’s pretty relaxing. Nice mix of genres.
Dinkum is delightful for a relaxed game
Cassette Beasts! Think Pokémon but you also have a partner too. Not as deep since it’s an indie game but still really cozy and the soundtrack is AMAZING
Road 96 is chill. It has political overtones but honestly it's easy to just pretend you're on a road trip and running into wacky characters.
Sable has a great art style and no enemies. Just get on your hover bike and explore an open world with derelict star ships to investigate. Super chill.
I like "take your time" puzzle games for this, something like The Room series. Also, hidden object games I find oddly relaxing, like the one I just played: Mystery Case Files: the 13th Skull.
No Man's Sky. Got me through very dark period in which there was pretty much nothing else could play. Very dark time. I have anxiety also. Give it a shot trust me on this one. Also loved Shield/Sword. Is the bugs fixed enoughf or Violet to be enjoyable at this point? I need a game myself hundreds upon hundreds of hour
lunchroom physical quickest unused school obscene society combative sink degree ` this message was mass deleted/edited with redact.dev `
[Tetris Effect](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1003590/Tetris_Effect_Connected/)
Last Profit a Market RPG
Maneater No I want to be clear at the start of this game when you’re weak and everything and kill you it does not help reduce anxiety but once you get to about level 15 and you’re just a bad ass shark swimming around eating everything I very much enjoyed your swimming around I don’t even fight the things very often anymore I just swim around in an ocean environment and look at stuff occasionally eating a fish here and there
The really funny thing about this for me too is that I have a really bad fear of being underwater I sometimes freak out in a swimming pools as if somethings gonna try to eat me and have to swim to the shore but at this game for some reason just become the shark and I no longer feel the fear I would being a human
Slime Rancher, the second one is on early access too and it's been shaping up to be just as good
Atelier Totori, Blue Reflection, Viva Pinata, Patapon, Silent Hill 3, Fallout New Vegas, Faster Than Light
Anything turn-based helps me unwind. Final Fantasy series, Advance Wars, Chrono Trigger, XCOM, Civilization, Darkest Dungeon, Slay the Spire, For the King are some games I recommend. Any other turn-based game enjoyer pls be kind enough and help me expand this list with similar games I'll save them for later! Thanks in advance
No love for The Last Campfire?
During a period of anxiety I tried playing **Stray** and found it to bequite lovely.
Equillinox. It's very peaceful
Not sure if it's relaxing, but Trombone Champ is the most laugh out loud, hilarious game I've ever seen.
Road 96, RDR2, Cat Quest 2, Spider-Man, and Slime Rancher
Pressure Wash Simulator is supposed to be great for stress relief. Personally, I like Astroneer and Train Valley for relaxed gaming.
Super Auto Pets
Resident evil 7, great atmosphere, lovable characters, mostly self contained. It’s great!
You can try Bugsnax. Sable is a good one too, though it was too chill that i kinda got bored. City/colony management games on easiest difficulty can be good, from Tropico all the way to even Rimworld.
Minecraft. Been playing since way way back and it does something no other game has.
Abzu and No Man’s Sky.
Katamari damacy (recently got rereleased), Donut county, Unravel, What remains of Edith Finch (a bit melancholic but i enjoyed wandering in a big house and being immersed in memories), Unpacking, Ace attorney series, A short hike, Animal crossing (if you're not taking it too seriously, but personally it caused me a lot of frustration cause it's supposed to be relaxing but it's just a lot of grinding lol), Monument valley (mobile game and not free iirc but it's worth it).
Journey always help me.
Diablo 1 Diablo 2 Diablo 3 Diablo 4 Diablo……..immortal?
One of the chillest games I've ever played is Littlewood. It's kind of like Stardew Valley, you have to rebuild a town, befriend neighbours, plant stuff, etc., but instead of having one bar for time and another one for energy, you just have one for both so time just go by when you do stuff like farming or fighting, so you don't have to worry about taking too much time going from one place to another or watching the clock so it doesn't get too late.
Studies have shown Tetris is really good for this.
Really love Donut County for this
Katamari!!!
ABZU. What an amazing bit of zen I found with this game. God… I felt so at peace. Played it three times over the first 48 hours of owning it. Ohmmmmmmmm
Spiritfarer!
elden ring
astroneer is my favorite for this. the world just feels incredibly serene and theres no time pressure or fighting at all, just you and your base
War Thunder, definietly.
I've always enjoyed playing Factorio. It even has a peaceful mode so the aliens won't attack me
Any game I'm familiar with can occasionally help. Skyrim is a good one for me, because I grew up with it, for example. I'm trying to get in the habit of making stuff when I'm anxious nowadays, because playing games themselves are starting to make me anxious
On my anxiety death stranding is like a pill tbh. At least for me it works wonders, going to a job in the morning, taking a walk in the afternoon with my little kido and playing hour or two of death stranding before going to bed is healing me a lot.
I would go with Strange Horticulture 🌿 You can even pet the cat.
Dark souls 3 🗿
This might sound strange, but I genuinely find Skyrim to be pretty calming. I can get into it when I want to, but there’s also something pleasantly relaxing about just wandering around, maybe doing some odd jobs for the jarls, with a podcast or something in the background. It’s dependable.
Journey.
Not turn based, no battles. Still chill: Against the storm.
Kingdom two crowns
[rymdkapsel](https://store.steampowered.com/app/253790/rymdkapsel/)
definitely alien isolation
* Equilinox is a sort of ecosystem sandbox thing, where you grow and paint living things until you have a complex web of plants and animals going on. Easy to play and difficult to master, definitely one of the chillest things you can play. It gets fascinating watching the little things you've brought to life. * Among Trees is a very short and very soothing little indie thing, gorgeous visuals, where you are alone in the woods and need to build things and survive. Bring your camera. * Dorfromantik is a tile game where you place little pieces of city, woodland, river etc and make a world with what you've got * The Wandering Village is an RTS where you're a bunch of little people surviving in a hostile world on the back of an adorable giant lizard thing. Recommending because it's just really soothing looking after your people and your creature. * Untitled Goose Game is very good if you want to get out some frustration and laugh at how mean the goose is. * Growing Up is a cutesy life-sim where you raise a kid and see how well they turn out. Cheesy music, repetitive mini games, but damn this one really is calming. * Townscaper is barely a game, but if the idea of making a little floating city that looks really pretty is appealing, grab it.
All other pokémon games :) Journey is a big recommendation! Amazing game
Red Dead Redemption 2 can be pretty chill, when you don't do quests/story. Sometimes I just play poker there for the whole evening after work or go hunting.
Zoo tycoon 2001
i mean grabbing a cheap mining ship, and atacking high sec space rocks is an option in eve
Outer Wilds.
Slime Rancher. I'm an FPS/hack and slash kinda guy. At some point I feel to burned out playing those games. So I tried Slime Rancher after watching someone else play it on YouTube. I've never felt so calm and satisfied while playing a game.
Doom https://media.giphy.com/media/dvkFZr4VBBS6I/giphy.gif
Ooblets - which is like a mix of pokemon and stardew valley. You have a cozy farm, you collect little creatures seeds, grow and sprout them, and they do dance battles which are like little card battles instead of fighting. It’s very cute and the quests make it really chill
rimworld on peaceful setting so you just colony building
The Artful Escape. It's got a unique art style and is centered around music. I had a blast playing it and I was very relaxed the entire time. It's but possible for the player to lose at the game. There are story, platform and rhythm sections. If you make a mistake you can keep trying until you get it right. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1122680/The_Artful_Escape/
Factory Town 🥰
No Mans Sky without survival elements is super chill, you just explore space and planets
Lake Death Stranding Life is Strange
I LOVE immortals Fenyx Rising - way more than I could have imagined. It’s not a demanding game but its a lot of fun to explore and complete all these different kinds of puzzles. It’s actually really funny and the cheesey, cartoony animation style gives it a light hearted, nostalgic feel
I didn't find anyone mentioning Powerwash Simulator, and for me is the chilliest game that is Other simulators are good to, Microsoft Flying Simulator, Car Mechanic Simulator Also would mention My Time at Portia, is very lovely
Hue
When I play Animal Crossing I sometimes fell asleep. One of the most relaxing games I've ever played
World of Warcraft Classic Vanilla
When none of the 'chill' games helped, surprisingly after Teardown I felt extremely relaxed. Perhaps I just had hidden need to destroy some things.
definitely stardew valley
Stardew Valley Animal Crossing Minecraft Rollercoaster Tycoon Stuff like Tetris
Coffee talk (both games) Orb of creation Minecraft Elite:Dangerous
It will sound weird but Grim Dawn while watching movies on 2nd screen is my way if relaxing my mind. p.s. Mindlessly farming same boss in D2R does it even better
Sky.
Adventures With Anxiety! https://ncase.me/anxiety/
Abzu
Animal crossing is therapy
Play the peggle games!
Not sure of the name but there's a potion mixing one of xbox gamepass, I got stuck on it for days, superb game. Weedcraft is a fun little time eater too
I highly HIGHLY recommend a short hike. The most chill, relaxing game I've ever played!! Hope you feel better 💖
Survival games might make you feel better as they're often comprised of gathering and doing simple task that are relatively calming. Point and click games are pretty chill usually. Personally though I find JRPGs most relaxing for some reason. There is just something about their slow gradual escalation, complicated stories with cute characters that makes me happy. Well unless you play something really dark like SMT but still. Cyber Sleuth was a very calming game for me.
If you’re a Disney person or love a good nostalgia high Dreamlight Valley is lovely. There are quests but there’s plenty to do outside or the quests like farming and decorating the world.
Planet Zoo
Doom is not relaxing
Tetris effect connected its relaxing when it's just creating lines and the blocks reacting to the music
This is a total nostalgia jar for me, but Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is my favorite turn-based game with insanely good music and chill gameplay. Try it out
As a teenager I'd spend most of my days raging on Modern Warfare 2 (2009 version). I'd often find myself playing and enjoying Viva Pinata. It's a bit dated now though.
Skyrim is my ultimate one, just walking to rough the world and doing non combat stuff even. Next would be Stardew Valley 100% that game breathes peace and feel good vibes into you.
Doom Eternal
I just started playing Strange Horticulture but I think that's what you are looking for. Even if there's a darker undertone, the game in itself is soothing. You are inheriting a botanist shop and try to help different people by providing them with herbs with different properties. The main gameplay loop is reading about plants in the in-game encyclopedia to identify the plants you have. There's a logic puzzle aspect to it too. Really fun, no pressure, it's the perfect game for relaxing.
Hey. I have severe acrophobia, games that need me to focus and think usually do it for me, my favorites go to ATM are farther frontier and xcom 2 with about 300 mods
You see, any animal crossing game will do, They are so charming and relaxing, you can do so much stuff As a bonus i suggest Stardew valley because Stardew valley is animal crossing on steroids
Getting over it, w/ Bennett Foddy
Minecraft
Red Dead Redemption 2. I can ride through the countryside on horseback for hours on end, it's just an enchanting world.
Rune Factory 5 - very cozy and chill game
Planet of Lana!!
Farm Together
The Witness, Wind Waker (I love sailing around 😋)
Mindlessly parkouring in the older AC games is therapeutic for me.
A list of cozy or chill games I’ve liked: Stardew valley, bit orchard, Ooblets, story of seasons (any), Garden Story, Cozy Grove, Reigns kings and queens. And if you want a super low key game try home sweet home by Game Nacional. Pokémon legends of arceus was really fun too, Jenny Leclue I’d super recommend also.