It can be quite relaxing mowing down hordes of mobsters and aliens while imbued with superpowers in Saints Row 4 or plowing through mobs in GTA 5. But not all games are conducive to lowering your stress levels. Fast-paced shooters like Doom Eternal might not be the best way to keep your blood pressure in a happy place.
For those of us who need something calmer, this list of 14 extremely relaxing games is just the ticket. The core gameplay in all of these titles is explicitly soothing and meant to put you at ease.
All
A truly odd and offbeat offering from DoubleFine, Everything is a bit like an anti-Katamari Damacy. Instead of pulling it all together and going inward, you are constantly expanding outward, so far, in fact, that you could start all over again! There is no end goal and now way to win or lose. You just exist and explore while philosophical concepts are presented as voiceovers.
Everything's non-traditional gameplay is especially useful in stressful situations, as this weirdly wonderful simulator makes you feel connected to the universe at large, wherever you are.
This extremely strange yet incredibly intriguing title made our list of the best weird games. Not all of them are relaxing, but all offer something out of the norm.
Coffee talk
Sitting somewhere between a visual novel and a barista simulator, there's something oddly relaxing about making a cup of joe in Coffee Talk while listening to people's troubles.
The twist, of course, is that in the Coffee Talk universe, supernatural beings walk among us. Think of it as a low-key Shadowrun, with no violence and a lot more coffee. You'll be able to offer advice to an elf and a succubus whose parents don't approve of their relationship while learning how to make lattes, teas, and smoothies.
I don't know if real real-world baristas will get the same level of soothing therapy, but everyone's in for a wonderfully relaxing time. Not sure if this format is right for you? Get the free demo on Steam to try before you buy!
Industrial caresses
Farming and ranching simulators are some of the best benchmark titles for relaxing games, and there's no shortage of options. While the big names like Farming Simulator are worth trying out, there's also plenty to explore if you dig into the indie scene.
Industrial Petting is one of those lesser-known titles currently available in Early Access. While the content isn't overflowing just yet, there are still tons of adorable animals to enjoy while building an empire of fair-sourced and fair-traded exotic animals.
Stardew Valley
You must have known that country living sim Stardew Valley would make the list, right? Take things at your own pace as you learn to live off the land by farming, fishing, raising animals, and building relationships with other members of the local community.
Sure, Stardew Valley isn't entirely stress-free as you manage various resources, especially if you see everything as a challenge to overcome as quickly as possible, but for the most part it's casual gaming at its best. There are a good number of mods to make things more relaxing.
Stardew Valley also (finally) features multiplayer, so you and your friends and family can all farm together.
For those looking to take a darker route, Graveyard Keeper offers a different, but certainly less relaxing take on the farm life genre.
Animal Crossing New Horizons
New Horizons is pretty much the best way to take things at your own pace and forget about the problems in the world right now. Dig up fossils, catch bugs, build your house, make animal friends.
This next-gen reboot of the classic Nintendo franchise lets you live out your interior (and exterior!) decorator fantasies on an entire island while slowly expanding access to new areas. Whether it's crafting, shopping, hunting, inviting new creatures to live nearby, or just enjoying the scenery, there's also something relaxing (and fun) to do in Animal Crossing.
Slime Rancher
In the past, heroes have slaughtered slimes by the thousands in the various Dragon Quest games. Now we live in more enlightened times and realize that slimes are a lovable and intelligent species that should be sustainably farmed in Slime Rancher.
The concept sounds weird, but it's wonderfully relaxing to suck carrots, beets, and even chickens into your vacuum gun, then drop them in to feed the slimes as you build your ranch.
It's important to note that as you approach the end, the puzzles can actually get difficult and stressful. That being said, most of the game is incredibly heartwarming and the stakes incredibly low.
Over There: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles
If you've ever played My Time At Portia or Stardew Valley, then Yonder is the next farming game that should catch your eye. Forget combat or anything stressful, because The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is a wonderful lazy Sunday of a match.
Relax while exploring a beautiful island, building a farm, taking time out for a fishing break, and helping people while learning skills like carpentry and sewing. It's simple, it's easy, and it's just what you need when the real world is too much to handle.
Abzu
In contrast to Subnautica, Abzu, which explores the ocean, focuses on the calm and peaceful aspects of life below the waves. Swim with whales, weave through coral reefs, and experience life to the fullest as you follow schools of fish in this incredibly vibrant and visually stunning experience.
There's not a ton of actual "game" here, but that's okay: sometimes you just want to live in an underwater paradise and not have to save the world or rack up a high score.
eastshade
If you like the idea of Abzu but prefer the open-world grandeur of nature instead of what lies beneath the waves, then Eastshade is for you. As a free traveling painter, your only goal here is to walk around and paint pictures of beautiful landscapes.
Along the way, you can help people solve their problems and make the world a little bit better.
A world of keflings
The Oddball World Of Keflings title would probably have faded into obscurity forever (and let's be honest, it's not well known yet) if it hadn't been one of the first free games with Gold to hit the Xbox. 360.
If you missed the way back, now is the perfect time to get back to it, because there's not much room for frustration in this adorable city builder. Your Xbox (or Wii) avatar is the only giant in a world of very small inhabitants, so you can help the Keflings build their utopia.
Gather sand and clay to make glass, store planks to take to the carpenter for crafting carved wood, and so on until you enter a zen groove of harvesting and building.
Bedroom
Point-and-click puzzle titles may not be the first choice for a relaxing experience, as there are plenty of opportunities to get frustrated with obtuse mechanics or high difficulty. The Room avoids these problems thanks to the strength of its gameplay and the overall immersion of its sounds and visuals.
You can get lost in this one, especially if you prefer the games to be a bit scary. Essentially, you have an escape room in digital form, but all the levers, knobs, and pulleys are truly satisfying to play with this particular iteration of the genre.
Bejeweled 3
The original waste of time. Bejeweled should always be on your save list of fast and easy to use games. When you need the troubles of the day to melt away and your mind to focus on soothing colors and patterns, this is the way to go.
Relaxation Imminent Even though it was just a simple web game ten years ago, Bejeweled has only increased its relaxing game options since then, as the newer PC and console editions also include the mode Zen.
Grey
Watercolor is relaxing enough already, so it only makes sense to use it as an artistic medium in a game meant to offer hope like Gris. You don't have to worry about combat or dying here, and it's one of those rare platformers where you won't be constantly frustrated trying to figure out the mechanics.
What really sets Gris apart is his lack of dialogue. Everything about this story is told through emotional connections and visual clues, which makes it extremely calming to play.
Wattam
Another extremely casual no-combat game, the Weirdly Intriguing Wattam is all about reconnecting with old friends while dancing, holding hands, and even soaring using your weird hat.
While there may be more shit than you'd like in a relaxing game, Wattam is undeniably charming and a joy to play when you don't want anything too heavy.
Let us know which of these 14 games you plan to play by sounding off in the comments below. Be sure to let us know which game takes the top spot for you or which games should be on this list that aren't!
Of course, not everyone will want their games to be all teddy bears and rainbows. If you'd rather unleash your frustration by blasting through hordes of enemies or engaging in a thousand rounds of a complex strategic battle title, there are still tons of options.
To get started, take a look at all the free games currently available and stay tuned for our next list of great games with the longest campaigns!
Published on 24 March 2020
