this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2023
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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?

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[–] thelsim@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago

Caves of Qud is something I love to relax with. It's full of stuff to explore and you can take your time since its turn based. I don't even mind so much when I die, because you get to create a completely new weird mutant and try again.

[–] dansity@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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[–] ModernRisk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 year ago

Persona 5 Royal.

I love the social element, characters and such.

Forza and Rocket League

[–] shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago

I only played it to try it out, and it isn't 100% in my range of games I'd care that much for, but I've gathered that Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (especially the first few pairs of games in the series) is the king when it comes to escapism. If someone said a psychologist made the games, I'd believe them.

[–] Bishma@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Oxygen Not Included. - !oxygennotincluded@lemmy.world

Just started a new colony yesterday because an update was released with new tools and content. The colony I was playing up until that point was almost 3000 cycles old.

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[–] spittingimage@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Minecraft. Sky Factory 3 - a void world modpack. Nothing exists without my having created it. I can allow mobs to spawn on my platform or not, depending on how I feel.

[–] runestomper@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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.

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I think I understand what you mean lol.

Lately for me it's been: Mass Effect legendary edition, Mount & Blade 2, Crusader Kings 3, Dishonored 1 and 2, and Hitman 3.

[–] PoppyJalopy@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

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

[–] Ravi@feddit.de 4 points 1 year ago

The Hunter: Call of the Wild. I have nothing to do with hunting. I'd never thought a hunting simulation could be my type of game, but putting headphones on and running through the woods is so relaxing.

[–] NENathaniel@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 year ago

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

[–] x2XS2L0U@feddit.de 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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[–] wildcardology@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Elder Scrolls Online for me.

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[–] Witchfire@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Splatoon. Don't ask why, I don't know. My gf calls it "yelling at 12 year olds"

But seriously it's like watching your own team score against you in soccer ;___;

[–] Wallaby@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

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

[–] 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.

[–] ICastFist@programming.dev 3 points 1 year ago

Skyrim or Fallout 4 when I want to chill as an adventurous muderer

Earth Defense Force when I want to blow shit up

Dinkum is a really good Stardew Valley/Animal Crossing mix. If you like either, you'll likely end up like me, playing "just a bit" and realizing over 4 hours flew by.

[–] 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]

[–] 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

[–] 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.

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

World of Warcraft Retail.

Slay the spire

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

Dwarf Fortress.

Theme Hospital.

The Sims.

Games that I can mostly play hands off.

[–] philpo@feddit.de 3 points 1 year ago (4 children)

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.

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[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@lemmy.one 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Skyrim was my chill game for years, but now I'd say Elder Scrolls Online. Everyone I know who plays ESO is super non-competitive and chill. It's just got a great vibe.

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[–] AlexWIWA@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

C&C Generals World Builder. I just make maps while I'm in discord.

It's stimulating enough that it keeps my mind from wandering from a conversation, but brainless enough to be engaged in the conversation.

I'm also partial to Minecraft. Just decorate a little section then log off until tomorrow

[–] 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.

[–] kugel7c@feddit.de 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Apart from trackmania which was already named it's certainly slay the spire. I often do both TTD and the daily in sts. If I didn't always end up trying to go for sub 35min points it'd actually be relaxing probably.

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