273

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?

(page 4) 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] reverendsteveii@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

burnout paradise. I'll just put on a podcast and drive around. Sometimes I'm seeking out races, or new best times on roads. Sometimes I'm just driving around more or less obeying traffic laws like a reasonable citizen.

[-] sag@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I don't play Tetris usually but when I get bored or just wanna relax then I play Tetris[Highest Score: 500k in 8 Hours]

[-] TheOneAndOnly@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

Dead Cells. I can just... Zone out and go. It's really cathartic, and if I do particularly bad during a run, I just... Die and start over. You don't lose anything you've gained, (unless you pick something up in a biome and don't make it to the exit), and each run is practically a new game that requires nothing to learn it. It's my Zen game.

[-] ImpossibilityBox@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

I play Hades, but I cheat.

It's super fun to see what kind of ridiculous combinations of powers and weapons you can create when you aren't worried about money or resources in any way shape or form.

I had a Hermes Build for Max speed that did bonus damage based on speed bonuses, Ares for Blade rift when dodging, and some Athena for some invulnerability.

Sprinting around the levels like the flash and absolutely nuking everybody with blade rifts is just too much fun.

[-] hubobes@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Mars First Logistics & Animal Crossing

[-] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 3 points 1 year ago

Dwarf Fortress.

Theme Hospital.

The Sims.

Games that I can mostly play hands off.

[-] Evotech@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Path of exile for a few weeks every league

But I'm enjoying rogue lites / vampire survivors like games. There's a billion of them so you can just chill with one of them. I usually find a new one every other day too, some demo or whatever

Risk of rain 2 is also not something I would call a chill game. But it's definitely something you can just fire up and play for an hour

[-] Mediocre_Bard@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

World of Warcraft Retail.

[-] rip_art_bell@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Any of the building/management games like Factorio or Dyson Sphere Program or RimWorld. You can definitely make those games extremely challenging (speed runs, achievements, ultra hard modes/challenges). But for me they're cozy games where I can chip away at a small project or part of a larger project, like, I don't know, slowly building a scale model or something.

[-] Hadriscus@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

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

[-] philpo@feddit.de 3 points 1 year ago

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.

load more comments (4 replies)
[-] Putykat@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Sky Children of the Light (solo player)

load more comments (1 replies)
[-] SchizoDenji@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

Honestly, some visual novels like Ace attorney, Katawa shoujo, Steins Gate, Clannad are very chill.

[-] Apeman42@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Weirdly, Yakuza. Not even to thrash thugs, just to have a virtual night out with some karaoke, pool, darts... sexy bug-lady wrestling... I love most of the mini games in the series.

[-] TheLonelyWonderer@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Harvest Moon /Story of Season games.

Stardew Valley.

Diner Dash series of games.

[-] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago

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

Solitaire

[-] stevedidWHAT@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Stacklands, inscription, forza.

Stacklands was surprisingly addicting

Inscription was fun and challenging but not too crazy if you get creative ;)

Forza - I mean really any game where I can drive around. Fun to try to hit some corners sharp or do some tricks in gta.

[-] pan_troglodytes@programming.dev 2 points 1 year ago

civ 5 - random everything & just do whatever.

Not a long or super replayable game like some of these answers but Jusant is super chill.

[-] TheInsane42@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I have several games for a lazy evening on the sofa, so it depends on the mood.

I hoard virtual cars, tanks and ships, so I pick CSR2 when I want to do an event there (daily boring grinding tasks are automated). When I want to shoot I either junp in World of Tanks Blitz or World of Warships Blitz.

When in a mood where I want to just tap around, I dust off Hay Day.

Gershwin Impact has been on the tablet, but after a few attempts to play it, it's removed again. Looks nice, but not my style, yet.

[-] dan1101@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

I usually listen to music and play driving games like Forza Horizon, BeamNG, or Dirt.

Also roguelike games like Deadly Days.

[-] kemsat@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Diablo 4. I usually turn on Futurama when I play.

[-] Daxtron2@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

I liked the earlier diablo games but have heard lots of negatives about 4. I know 3 had a lot of issues on launch but I really enjoy it now. Would you recommend it for someone who doesn't really have an interest in constantly running endgame content?

load more comments (3 replies)
load more comments
view more: ‹ prev next ›
this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2023
273 points (97.2% liked)

Ask Lemmy

26980 readers
490 users here now

A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions

Please don't post about US Politics. If you need to do this, try !politicaldiscussion@lemmy.world


Rules: (interactive)


1) Be nice and; have funDoxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, and toxicity are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them


2) All posts must end with a '?'This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?


3) No spamPlease do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.


4) NSFW is okay, within reasonJust remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either !asklemmyafterdark@lemmy.world or !asklemmynsfw@lemmynsfw.com. NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].


5) This is not a support community.
It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions. If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email info@lemmy.world. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.


Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.

Partnered Communities:

Tech Support

No Stupid Questions

You Should Know

Reddit

Jokes

Ask Ouija


Logo design credit goes to: tubbadu


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS