What game do you play to just chill?

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?

CalamityBalls,
@CalamityBalls@kbin.social avatar

It might be more catharsis than unwinding, but dark souls/sekiro. I've been through them enough times that it's just comfortable.

Buffaloaf,

Kerbal Space Program

knexcar,

Wouldn’t that be a bit complex to learn/hard to spend just 30 minutes a day playing? I haven’t played, but from what I can tell it’s basically rocket science the game.

KeenFlame,

That’s what’s chill, you have no stakes and just build and fail over and over until you succeed and it’s pretty hard so when you do succeed it’s an awesome payoff

Kata1yst,
@Kata1yst@kbin.social avatar

Sure, but once you know how it's very chill.

chemical_cutthroat,
@chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world avatar

Chrono Trigger. I have a save that I just load up, do some things on, and then turn off when I’m done. I’ve beaten the game dozens of times, and I know every aspect in and out, so it’s like flipping on the TV and catching an episode of a sitcom, I just roll with it and mellow out.

DashboTreeFrog,

I’ve started rewatching old sitcoms for that kind of feeling, I know them inside and out, so it’s just there for comfort in the background while I do other things. I don’t think my brain can do this with old school RPGs though. I don’t think I’ve ever replayed an old turn-based RPG cause once I beat the story and/or get all the items, my brain is no longer motivated to pick it up.

chemical_cutthroat,
@chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world avatar

Yeah, I get it. For me, it’s because it is such a long and enduring part of my life. I’ve been playing it for literal decades. When I load it up, I look where I’m at, and when I remember who the next boss is, I get a little excited. “Oh, yeah, I’m going to the Tyranno Lair,” or I’m at the end of time and I pop in to beat Spekkio’s geek ass again. It’s all rote memory, and it brings me back to summers at home with my parents at work, playing video games and eating Cheez-It’s.

qooqie,

RuneScape, really hard to beat how chill it is

Guster,

Hope you mean OSRS

qooqie,

I do lol, but I R3 can be a gateway drug too

tegs_terry,

Nah, you gotta move with the times a bit man.

FontMasterFlex, (edited )

I’m really in the same boat. Lately it’s been these:

Dorfromantik

Mini Motorways

Halls of Torment

Vampire Survivors

Brotato

Firewatch was great but it’s really a one or two sitting game. Same with Unpacking.

What I’m REALLY looking for but having trouble finding is something like a city builder or house builder that there is no money, nothing like that. Just creativity in building. Way back when I first tried the Sims, I loved the house building part more than anything.

I’ve been searching for something new though. I tried Satisfactory but really just wish it had a creative mode. I tried Terraria but I can’t get the Minecraft allegory out of my head so this game infuriates me.

TheFonz,

There was a neat city builder a year back that had no end goal - just the building itself. I can’t remember what it was called. You could pick like three themes: medieval, modern. ,or renaissance (?). I wish I remembered the name.

FontMasterFlex,

I’d be interested if you wind up remembering the name.

zalgotext,

What I’m REALLY looking for but having trouble finding is something like a city builder or house builder that there is no money, nothing like that. Just creativity in building.

Not sure if it’s quite what you’re looking for, but building in Valheim is quite fun, and it has a creative mode, so you can just go crazy without having to grind for materials.

abouttocomealive,
@abouttocomealive@lemmy.world avatar

Not a city builder / house builder, but Planet Zoo might scratch that itch. Takes a bit to really learn the building mechanics, but people can build amazing things in it.

FontMasterFlex,

i’ll look into it. thanks for the recommendation.

pomodoro_longbreak,
@pomodoro_longbreak@sh.itjust.works avatar

Minecraft, Doom (first two), Cities Skylines, and more recently, Unpacking.

FontMasterFlex,

unpacking is great.

Cmar,

How’s Minecraft as a singleplayer chill game? Been debating on getting it, just to explore and survive pretty much.

Seems like it can go a long way.

pomodoro_longbreak,
@pomodoro_longbreak@sh.itjust.works avatar

It’s an almost perfect chill game. If you want to be creative, you can build all kinds of cool stuff. You can work from a homebase that you build up over time, or stay on the move. Or dig a big hole, just because.

It’s become one of those games that I go back to every couple of years.

Cmar,

I’ve seen quite a few mods making it even more immersive. Also seems to be quite playable on the steam deck even with mods.

Thanks for the reply.

pomodoro_longbreak,
@pomodoro_longbreak@sh.itjust.works avatar

I used to mess with mods, but even just vanilla it’s a great experience. But whatever floats your boat :)

fne8w2ah,

openRCT2.

Rootiest,
@Rootiest@lemmy.world avatar

Terraria

Celeste

Dwarf Fortress

weew,

cyberpunk is actually great for that. Sometimes if I don’t wanna do anything in particular I’ll just… fight the police, lol. Or just randomly do some open world stuff, like drive around the badlands. Then if I’m feeling like doing something more “meaningful” I’ll jump into an actual story quest

dm_me_your_boobs,

The spiderman games are great for this as well. Yeah, I’ll go swing around aimlessly for 20 minutes. No problem.

SgtAStrawberry,

Animal Crossing New Leaf, Stardew Valley, Starfiled, Minecraft and Fortza Horazion 3,4 or 5.

ModernRisk,
@ModernRisk@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

Persona 5 Royal.

I love the social element, characters and such.

CNNFDDR,

Rimworld for me.

meekah, (edited )
@meekah@lemmy.world avatar

I really liked playing Talos Principle 2 the past days. makes you think not just about logic but also some aspects of philosophy. which, at least to me, is pretty relaxing.

SVcross,
@SVcross@lemmy.world avatar

Tetris.

DashboTreeFrog,

I know for some people it’s super relaxing. I tried playing the free tetris on the official website recently, was into it until it started getting fast. I am not much of a quick reflex gamer

SVcross,
@SVcross@lemmy.world avatar

It helps me focus my mind into one thing. With just some minutes, all the noise on my head goes away, and even when I lose, the frustration does not build up, all there is on my mind is the current game.

The only con is that if I play to much I start seeing blocks falling when I try to fall sleep.

pomodoro_longbreak,
@pomodoro_longbreak@sh.itjust.works avatar

It might not be for you, but it got me at a young age and you do get used to it. There really is a “flow state” to Tetris, where it can feel like you’re just noticing the pieces and they’re almost moving on their own.

offspec,

Potion craft is great for this, just running a little potion shop making potions to order.

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