The beauty of video games is how accessible they can be. Not every video game has to be thrill-inducing or violent. Sometimes all we need is something to soothe the nerves and calm the soul. Perhaps you’ve had a long hard day at work and you need something to relax the stress you’ve experienced all day? Perhaps you’ve been playing so many action games and you’re looking for a nice change of pace? We hear you, and we’ve gathered a bunch of videogames where you can sit down, relax, and enjoy the ride. Without further ado, here are our top picks for the most relaxing games you can play right now.
Journey
Release Date: 13th March 2013
Platforms: PlayStation 4, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3
Journey is a simple game. You find yourself in a large desert world that you can freely explore. There’s no grand scheme or plot to uncover, you’re simply given the freedom to pick a direction and just go there.
On your journey, you’ll come across various ruins, each with beautiful visual storytelling. Your mode of travel is the ability to glide across the smooth sand and soar through the air, all the while being mesmerized by a somber Grammy Nominated musical score.
You don’t have to embark on this tranquil journey alone, the game features 2 player co-op.
Stardew Valley
Release Date: 26th February 2016
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Stardew Valley is a farming sim RPG.
You find out your grandfather has passed away and in his will, he’s left you his old farm plot and a few coins. Fed up with the city life, you travel down to Stardew Valley to begin your new life.
There are plenty of enjoyable activities to engage in, just as farming, fishing, meeting the local folk, testing your mettle in the mines. As each day goes on, it’s up to you to decide how you improve your farm, make money, and perhaps even settle down along the way.
The game features up to 4 player co-op.
ABZÛ
Release Date: 2nd August 2016
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
ABZÛ is a game about exploring the beauty that lies beneath the surface of the sea.
Explore the ocean depths and observe many different species of sea dwellers, some based on their real-life counterparts, and others original creations.
Take control of the Diver and immerse yourself in the fluidity of the movement controls. explore various distinct biomes and observe the life of their inhabitants. Their behavior isn’t static, they react to you, to each other as well as to potential predators or prey.
Spiritfarer
Release Date: 18th August 2020
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Google Stadia
You play as a Spiritfarer named Stella. Her job is to act as a guide for the recently deceased. She befriends them and cares for them before releasing them into the afterlife.
To find these lost spirits, she’ll build a boat and explore the world. The game features crafting mechanics, as well as farming, mining, harvesting, and cooking.
Engage in cozy relaxing gameplay bolstered by soft ambient music. Create bonds with the spirits you find, learn their stories and ease their journey into the next world.
The game features 2 player co-op so you can enjoy a relaxing journey with a friend.
Cozy Grove
Release Date: 7th April 2021
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series S/X, iOS, Xbox One, macOS
Cozy Grove is a relaxing game about camping, adventure, and making spooky friends!
You are a Spirit Scout on a haunted Island. Your job is to scour the island, find hidden secrets and ease the local ghosts. As you wander around the island, you’ll find various crafting supplies which you can use to craft decorations to bring some color and joy into the spooky Island.
You’ll meet various ghosts who you can befriend and help. The game features a stunning hand-drawn art style and an interesting twist! The time in the game is synced to the real world and you only get a few hours of story content per day.
The game is designed to be played slowly and leisurely which is perfect for whenever you want to just wind down.
Chicory: A colorful Tale
Release Date: 10th June 2021
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a top-down adventure game set in a drawing book world.
Chicory, a superstar artist and wielder of the Brush has mysteriously disappeared. This has caused the once beautiful colors of the world to fade into a blank white and black.
It is up to you, her biggest fan, to wield the Brush in her absence and restore the vibrant colors back into the world.
As you travel the lands, you’ll meet over 100 different animal characters, solve various puzzles using paint, and customize your character with different decorations and clothes.
You can also embark on this colorful adventure with friends!
Luna’s Fishing Garden
Release Date: 16th June 2021
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Android, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS
Luna’s Fishing Garden is a short relaxing game about fishing and building.
You play Cassie, a young girl who suddenly finds herself on an island belonging to Luna, a mysterious fox spirit. Cassie is tasked by this fox spirit to build the biggest garden ever, and so her journey begins.
You can get on your boat, sail to the open waters and catch various species of fish, plant a variety of seeds in the garden, and you can even have animal pets.
There are also spirits inhabiting the island which have small quests you can complete for useful rewards. Once the main story is complete, you’re free to continue expanding and beautifying your garden.
Aery – Calm Mind
Release Date: 22nd July 2021
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
Aery – Calm Mind is an interactive gaming experience. You take control of a little bird and take to the skies looking for your friend’s feathers.
There are no enemies to fight or mysteries to solve. Your only goal is to explore the beautiful scenery as you search for the feathers.
The game features 16 distinct landscapes to explore, gorgeous visuals, and a soothing soundtrack. The levels are randomized to encourage replayability, giving you the opportunity to see the landscapes in various ways while enjoying the joy of flying through the air.
Far: Changing Tides
Release Date: 1st March 2022
Platforms: Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 5
Far: Changing Tides is an atmospheric vehicle adventure game.
You play Toe, a character that awakens to find themselves alone in a strange world that is completely flooded. You get aboard your seafaring vessel and explore this alien world.
On your journey, you’ll brave the various elements whilst keeping your vessel afloat. The depths are full of salvageable materials that you can use to upgrade and craft parts for your vessel.
There are no enemies to fight in this world. The danger you face comes from the environment. You’ll solve various puzzles within the depths and keep your character out of harm’s way.
The game features a solemn soundtrack that changes in response to your actions, giving you clues and hints. How far you go depends on how well you can keep your vessel afloat in this desolate world.
Submerged: Hidden Depths
Release Date: 10th March 2022
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Google Stadia, PlayStation 5
Submerged: Hidden Depths is a noncombat third-person adventure.
The story follows Miku and Taku, two siblings who must work together to accomplish their goal of saving the World.
The world is covered with black tentacles that seem to be draining the life from it, and it is up to our two daring heroes to stop this decay before it is too late.
They try to accomplish this by sailing the seas in search of seeds that can heal the environment. This search will lead them to discover various relics, boat upgrades, landmarks, ruins that tell of what used to be.
The game features various environmental puzzles with which you must control both characters to solve. The slow pace mixed with subtle tranquil music makes the game a beautifully relaxing experience.
