What is the best game to play to relax? You don't always want to end a long, hard day plunging into the brutal world of Thumper's violence, or trying to kill the brutal boss from Dark Souls for the hundredth time. There are times when the soul asks to settle down on a cozy gaming throne with a cup of tea and a cute relaxing game that will help to distract from problems and relieve stress.
Calming games for moments like this shouldn't be overwhelming. They also don't need to be too loud, dynamic, or demand lightning-fast reactions like most online games. A light, melodic soundtrack should slowly plunge you into an enchanting world that deserves admiration, not a frenzied breakthrough.
If you want to take a break from the popular battle royale that tends to take over all your free time, check out the relaxing games on our list. You will dive into the blue ocean depths of Abzu, clean up the mess at House Flipper and even roll everything into a huge ball at Katamari Damacy REROLL. We reviewed all the variety of relaxation games and chose, in our opinion, the best of them. Here they are.
ABZU
Too often when scuba diving in games, we are strictly limited in time. Whether we get food and water in survival simulators like Subnautica, or waste oxygen in countless other games, we always need priceless air. But Abzu is different - this is a relaxation game from the creators of Journey, where you can relax and go with the flow.
Here you have plenty of time to explore the world at a comfortable pace and thoroughly explore the ocean. The mesmerizing waters of Abzu alternate with mysterious ruins that can't wait to tell their silent stories, somewhat reminiscent of Journey's story-driven surroundings. Each new episode of this relaxing splendor opens with unobtrusive puzzles , but you'll want to explore every inch of this aquatic world before moving on.
When you get tired of sitting at the bottom of the ocean in brooding silence, you can admire the underwater fauna, which is more than happy to show you. Climbing on the back of the fish, you will see the name of its species, learning a little more about your new vehicle, which can playfully jump out over the iridescent water surface. Despite its minimalist gameplay, Giant Squid's intoxicating ocean is deep enough.
JOURNEY
Once exclusive to consoles, the incredible Journey follows a strange and fractured world inhabited by fragile creatures with enormous willpower.
Drawn by the light, players explore the ruins asleep in the sands, descend into the depths of a gloomy grotto, bypassing its dangerous inhabitants, understand the purpose of ancient machines and climb a mountain peak bound by permafrost.
Alone you go on this journey or with fellow travelers, the story in Journey will flow slowly, and the gameplay, even in the most climactic moments, will not force you to make unnecessary efforts. Like a leaf in the wind, from the beginning to the very end of the adventure.
STARDEW VALLEY
Many find a mental escape from reality in relaxing games, and Stardew Valley begins with an escape from the present. For a burnt out office clerk, whom we have to play as, grandfather's farm on the southern coast of Starfall Valley (as the name of the game is translated) has become a chance to escape from the burning and smog. But even though you have freed yourself from your dull gray cube, you will have to work no less.
Once in the vastness of your new home, you realize that grandfather's neglected grounds knew better times. It was not for nothing that real estate agents politely called this windbreak and weedy area "promising for development." Now a new life is in your hands - you can romance with the inhabitants of the valley, fish or become a ruthless jam maker.
No matter how realistic the game is, this is the best RPG for nature lovers who want to fly in the clouds of fantasy getting rid of the city bustle. That's why the 16-bit beauty of Stardew Valey is so great to chill out and spend whole evenings and weekends.
FLOWER
Imagine that you are the wind. You woke up all before, washed yourself with dew and set off across the summer field, ruffling the grass. You are faster than all birds, you are swifter than the sun's rays, you are serene and free, and nothing can hold you back.
Soft, relaxing game with simple controls gives a feeling of freedom, gives the opportunity to set your own rhythm to the breathing of the world. Traveling through colorful and diverse landscapes, players will be able to interact with the environment, change its mood and fill with life.
Flower has been awarded numerous times for the beauty of its performance and the deep personal experience that every player experiences.
HOUSE FLIPPER
Have you ever watched "General Cleaning" or "Housing Problem", thinking that you can do better? House Flipper will allow you to turn a cesspool with cockroaches into luxury apartments and sell them with a good fat. But before that you have to get your hands dirty.
You start your business from an office in a flimsy trailer with a laptop , at first grabbing at any work, from cleaning for tenants to repainting for painters who mistakenly chose colors. But if you save money, you will eventually be able to buy your own properties. Of course, they will also be smelly dumpsters at first, but this time after the renovation is completed , you can make more money.
Like many simulators, House Flipper can feel like work. Installing batteries and mopping floors may not be your idea of relaxation, but many people love the therapeutic effect of cleaning. In addition, here you can smash the walls with a sledgehammer, which is great for relieving stress.
NO MAN'S SKY
Space is space in itself rather meditative: myriads of celestial bodies shining in the infinity of systems. However, for the most part, the games associated with it draw us into confrontations, force us to learn the subtleties of piloting, or keep us in suspense. No Man's Sky is a different story - a real zen simulator from the world of space sandboxes .
Local people gather resources, discover new planets and explore untouched worlds at their own pace, often slowly and thoroughly. Traveling through the picturesque and unearthly landscapes of an endless, tirelessly generated world, pilgrims gradually study alien technologies, conduct trade deals, and improve equipment and ships . Even battles with hostile creatures in No Man's Sky fit seamlessly into the overall fluid atmosphere.
The game is perfect for dreamers who are certainly aiming for the horizon, but they want to enter there slowly and with taste.
FLOW
flOw is a mesmerizing charm originally released as a Flash game for the master's thesis of co-founder Jenova Chen. Chen's research topic is dynamic difficulty adjustment, a concept for creating games that allows players of different levels to personalize the gameplay and enjoy the game comfortably. In other words, this is exactly what many gamers need for relaxation.
At first glance, this concept may seem complicated, but the gameplay is completely irrelevant. You play as a plankton-like organism exploring the mysterious biosphere in search of food. The absorption of other life forms provides evolution and the ability to cope with more serious threats, and then flOw can be played as a more intense survival game, but less serious players can simply swim peacefully for their pleasure. The game is best known on PlayStation, but if you are into surreal minimalism, you can download it for PC too.
DONUT COUNTY
Sometimes life becomes so unbearable that you just want to sink into the ground. But if Donut County proves anything, it’s impractical when it comes to urban infrastructure. However, this is a lot of fun.
In Ben Esposito's eccentric indie game,you control a hole in the ground. Each bright object that falls into the abyss magnifies it. You will start with bricks and small animals, but over time, your all-consuming pit will be able to digest entire city blocks.
Like many other relaxing games on this list, Donut County doesn't claim to be serious. The absurd descriptions of the items you swallow flock to the surrealistically bizarre Thrashopedia. You start at the ninth level and end at the tenth level for no good reason. With such light delirium and simple puzzles, the game is just perfect for relaxation after a hard day.
BOTANICULA
Another unusual indie adventure game from the creators of Samorost and Machinarium about strange and funny creatures that live all together on a gigantic tree, recently infected with parasites. Players will have to unite the efforts of the tree inhabitants to save the last seed of the tree.
Light, fabulous quest is very easy to learn. He is responsive and does not require serious mental activity from the player. Soft colors, understandable humor and unobtrusive sound design will relax and brighten the watch for players of any age and gender.
GRIS
If the result of four hours of playing Gris is framed, it will look great in an art gallery. The stunning graphics of this creation by Nomada Studios create the feeling of being immersed in animated watercolor. Pieces of light clouds melt into the endless sky. Exquisite ruins with intricate labyrinths dominate the magnificent paintings.
You play a heroine who paints her monochrome world with vibrant colors, but the game refuses to use words, telling a story of pain and loss through music, color and movement. Like Matt Makes Games' Celeste, Gris uses platforming gameplay as a metaphor - through jumping and falling, we realize our limits.