What are your Relaxing Games?

[CasualScrub]

6 minutes ago, Mr Masker said:

Ooo yeah I've done this sometimes, usually some rougelikes maybe. What are some examples of "Podcast Games" for you?

City builders/tycoon games are usually my go-to, like Cities Skylines and Roller Coaster Tycoon/Planet Coaster. Some of my favorite puzzle games like Mini Metro/Mini Motorways and Dorfromantik are good for this. I also put games like Bloons TD6 in this camp as well. I also have some pure sandbox games as these since they keep my brain occupied easily, like Worldbox and Townscaper.

[openroadracer]

10 hours ago, openroadracer said:

For me, it's going to be racing games.

But not just any racing games.

The ones that let me relax are the ones where you can select a course, select a machine, and go out and drive without worrying about garbage like rocket launchers or turtle shells.

It's just you, your ride, the track, and maybe a pack of rivals. The only timer is just a stopwatch telling you how quick you're running. Beyond that, you can just tune out the world with the sounds of engines roaring, tires squealing, maybe the sound of the crowd in the background.

It almost becomes zen when you can just hit that PERFECT line and FEEL like you're driving right up to the limit of your vehicle's performance.

So I feel like people are going to think that I'm suggesting simulation racers with what I'm talking about here. I just want to clarify that I'm not.

I do personally lean more towards arcade racers. But here, for this, I think I'd really say that it leans more towards "semi-arcade" style of games, like the DiRT games by Codemasters, or the Need For Speed games that came out before the first NFS Underground.

It's just about having to know when and where to use the brakes to be able to drive right up to the very ragged edge without going over, and being able to pull it off.

But if you've ever played those kinds of "semi-arcade" racing games, you know the feeling of hitting that perfect line.

[CasualScrub]

Racers are actually a good one for me too. Arcade racers as well, especially kart racers though.

[openroadracer]

Just now, CasualScrub said:

Racers are actually a good one for me too. Arcade racers as well, especially kart racers though.

I personally hate kart racers. Too much random garbage.

"I absolutely believe in RNG. And I absolutely hate the f**ker."

[CasualScrub]

3 minutes ago, openroadracer said:

I personally hate kart racers. Too much random garbage.

"I absolutely believe in RNG. And I absolutely hate the f**ker."

Some can definitely be like that, but not all kart racers are super RNG-dependent. Sonic & All-Stars Racers Transformed for example is far more skill-based and have fewer items that can screw you over.

 

Actually you would probably enjoy Blur a lot. It's got features of kart racers like powerups but has more realistic handling and uses real vehicles.

Edited October 16, 2023 by CasualScrub

[openroadracer]

14 minutes ago, CasualScrub said:

Some can definitely be like that, but not all kart racers are super RNG-dependent. Sonic & All-Stars Racers Transformed for example is far more skill-based and have fewer items that can screw you over.

 

Actually you would probably enjoy Blur a lot. It's got features of kart racers like powerups but has more realistic handling and uses real vehicles.

I tried Blur and honestly never got into it.

[DeadKiitsune296]

Minecraft, either with friends or on a random multiplayer server
for me i prefer going on survivals for building some houses or just explore around the map to find some cool places

[natashanightmare]

Goat simulator

[Xaser]

It's not the first mention of this in the thread, but there's some funny overlap for me between this thread and the challenge one because for me, Soulsborne games are the games I play when I want to chill out and relax. :P

 

I've got enough hours in the series that playing through them is pure zen at this point, and replaying one and trying out a new build is a fun way to take a break from Real Life(tm) for a bit.

 

Also, falling deaths are the funniest thing ever to me for some reason. Just getting yeeted off a ledge and getting the big YOU DIED text will never not be entertaining.

 

Not sure if this means my brain is screwed in correctly, but idgaf.

[Hellektronic]

Open world zombie games. State of Decay 2. Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare. Sometimes Metal Gear Survive.

It's easy, it's busy, you lose track of time.

Most other games, I feel rabidly compelled to make everything brutally hard in one way or another.

Edited October 16, 2023 by Hellektronic

[Eric Claus]

1 hour ago, Xaser said:

It's not the first mention of this in the thread, but there's some funny overlap for me between this thread and the challenge one because for me, Soulsborne games are the games I play when I want to chill out and relax. :P

 

I've got enough hours in the series that playing through them is pure zen at this point, and replaying one and trying out a new build is a fun way to take a break from Real Life(tm) for a bit.

 

Also, falling deaths are the funniest thing ever to me for some reason. Just getting yeeted off a ledge and getting the big YOU DIED text will never not be entertaining.

 

Not sure if this means my brain is screwed in correctly, but idgaf.

 

Eh, people all have different quirks on this I think, and honestly I have felt some zen in games even in stressful moments especially when things all come together and you feel like you mastered something.  I think it can just depend as well on mindset going in.

[P_A_Z]

Anno 1800 in safe mode, no AI, lonely on a Gigantic map, this is cool.

[Mr Masker]

2 hours ago, Eric Claus said:

I have felt some zen in games even in stressful moments especially when things all come together and you feel like you mastered something.  I think it can just depend as well on mindset going in.

I wouldn't mind having that kind of mindset, instead of getting annoyed by failing. Funny how different people find different things relaxing.

 

17 minutes ago, P_A_Z said:

Anno 1800 in safe mode, no AI, lonely on a Gigantic map, this is cool.

I was considering buying this on sale, love the visuals and setting

[P_A_Z]

Just now, Mr Masker said:

I was considering buying this on sale, love the visuals and setting

 

Yes you can, this is a good opus. I like also Anno 1404 lonely on the map with the occidental and oriental civilization to manage.

[Classic SSG Enjoyer]

Final Doom's Plutonia Experiment is the most relaxing game for me.

 

Long live Final Doom !

Long live Plutonia Experiment !

[Naan]

I found Hearthstone Battlegrounds to be really chill. Bob the Innkeeper is certainly a big part of that.

Edited October 16, 2023 by Naan

[Fonze]

I find randos to be some of the most relaxing games to play, particularly for a link to the past and hollow knight. Playing through a game whose mechanics are vastly familiar to you while the game layouts and progressions are fresh and new is super comfy.

 

Raft has been a very relaxing experience  beyond the first few days lol

 

Shadows of Doubt, a fascinatingly complex new detective/PI game thats just come out in early access, is also a good one to relax to as you look for clues, fingerprints, work schedules, phone records, etc. to solve crimes and other scandals in a procedurally generated voxel city. 

 

Kakuro puzzles can also make the list for me.

 

Tons more games I can add but these are my most played or most current games to relax to.

Edited October 16, 2023 by Fonze

[whybmonotacrab]

A bit of a weird one, but I find repeat playthroughs of the Soulsborne games really relaxing. The first playthrough is obviously really tense and intimidating, but once you've conquered it and are coming back it just feels weirdly cozy.

 

28 minutes ago, Naan said:

I found Hearthstone Battlegrounds to be really chill. Bob the Innkeeper is certainly a big part of that.

I agree. It's been my go to game to unwind after coming home from work. It helps that the game is still fun even when you're losing because just the aspect of composing your team is satisfying.

 

[Gravepicker]

Haven't played it in a while, had forgotten about it until I read the topic's titular question, but here goes: Proteus.

 

It's a walking simulator set in a procedurally generated alien world. You just go places and see weird and beautiful things. Used to use it to relax when I got home from university some ten years back. I should probably go back to it, it's already downloaded while I typed this reply.

[openroadracer]

10 hours ago, openroadracer said:

I tried Blur and honestly never got into it.

So I know I shouldn't go off on this derailing tangent, but I've actually got something to talk about here.

It's actually kind of ironic that I never really caught on with Blur, yet I really got into SkyDrift. This despite how similar the games seem at first glance, what with both of them featuring powerups that are placed in the courses, but in fixed patterns instead of random pickups.

I think the reason Blur turned me off is probably because of all the random extra stuff you could do to earn "Fans" that would help you progress through the game, while SkyDrift really just let you focus on the race, even if you were also trying to blow up the other racers.  

[SirJuicyLemon]

I enjoy and relax while playing Puzzle type kind of games.

 

Games like Assemble with Care and A Little Bit to the Left are both heartwarming and relaxing. The bad part is that they are not very replayable, as they'd become boring soon enough. I also enjoy other kind of Puzzle games like The Room or Escape Rooms/Simulators. Oh, Monument Valley is also very relaxing and engaging. Usually Puzzles that aren't very very hard, and have appealing/interesting graphics or art style.

 

Finally, I've been recently enjoying Co-op Puzzle games such as the We Were Here series. It's fantastic, although they may not be as relaxing as the games listed above, but still is entertaining as hell without pumping my blood with adrenaline or anxiety.

[Gmg]

Video games are not relaxing.

[Chezza]

After the many stressful, high pressure, failed attempts at Faster Than Light (FTL) it eventually became familiar and relaxing.

 

Soft music, simple point and click combat mechanics, ability to pause and plan during battle, and simple to read dialogue make the game relaxing.

 

Sometimes games like Red Dead Redemption 2 with animal hunting and playing poker for hours is relaxing.

Edited November 30, 2023 by Chezza

[sptz33]

As much as I enjoy FPS games, almost my entire life I always loved racing games. Can be both simcades or sim racing ones.

 

As far as which ones, it would be either Race 07 (just practice sessions with other cars running as well) or Colin McRae Rally 2005, Dirt 1 and 2, Dirt 3. (I absolutely love rally, favorite sport of mine as well.)

 

And the difficulty choices are plentiful if I am looking to do a more serious race.

 

 

[rita remton]

[just cause 3] with all the [dlc]s. i like to freely fly around the huge open-world island while enjoying the awesome scenery :)

[vyruss]

Dark Souls III. Sure, lots of folks don't like it for any reason and that's fine but I've played through it so many times its just a very chill and relaxing game for me.

[mrthejoshmon]

Total war.

 

Lite city management and enjoyment from the employment of strategies and formations.

 

Mainly pike wall, 95% pike wall actually, maybe only pike wall.

[Mr Masker]

14 hours ago, Gmg said:

Video games are not relaxing.

Not with THAT attitude they aren't! :)

 

2 hours ago, vyruss said:

Dark Souls III. Sure, lots of folks don't like it for any reason and that's fine but I've played through it so many times its just a very chill and relaxing game for me.

It's funny to see all the Dark Souls mentions in this thread. It was initially pretty far down on my predictions of "Relaxing Games". Maybe if I actually beat one, I might start to understand the relaxing appeal, haha.

Edited November 30, 2023 by Mr Masker

[vyruss]

28 minutes ago, Mr Masker said:

Not with THAT attitude they aren't! :)

 

It's funny to see all the Dark Souls mentions in this thread. It was initially pretty far down on my predictions of "Relaxing Games". Maybe if I actually beat one, I might start to understand the relaxing appeal, haha.

 

Don't get me wrong, the games can be plenty frustrating at times especially when you're still learning them. I think the relaxing phase of it comes from when you've beaten it so many times that you know what to expect and how to react at any given moment.  For me, I think its the aspect of feeling mastery over the game and being able to keep control of all of its scenarios.

Edited November 30, 2023 by vyruss

[EraserheadBaby]

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

 

Obviously this game isn't relaxing the first time.  But it's in my top ten and I speed ran it for a while.  It's not scary anymore.  It's familiar and comfortable.  I like decaying buildings, so Castle Brenneburg is a joy to stroll around inside.  I love listening to Alexander's smoky voice as he seduces Daniel with half truths and lies.  I like fucking with the monsters and that screeching sound while they chase you.  And I know people say the grunt is goofy, but I think it's perfect.  It's got an uncanny valley quality to it.  It's kind of a person.  It used to be.  I find that terrifying, like the stalkers in Half life.