Summary
- Tetris Effect combines beloved mechanics with meditative gameplay & soothing soundtrack.
- Flower lets players focus on gentle visuals and serene gameplay without traditional stressors.
- Spiritfarer offers emotional storytelling and gentle management gameplay for a comforting experience.
Life can be overwhelming at the best of times, and when the stress in a player's life builds, they sometimes must find a game that can take their cares away. Whether they are looking for gentle visuals, a stunning soundtrack, or a story that allows them to escape, the games on this list offer a much-needed escape from the pressure of reality.
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The following titles are not about high scores, high-budget visuals or beating the competition mainly, and instead focus on the slowing down of high-paced action, and allowing the player to feel at ease.
10 Tetris Effect
Mesmerizing Visuals
Tetris Effect
- Released
- November 9, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle
- Familiar Tetris mechanics
- Meditative, rhythmic gameplay
- Challenges offer stress-free engagement
Tetris Effect is a great combination of the beloved mechanics of Tetris with a great soundtrack and visuals, making it the perfect means of an escape from reality and stress. This is one of the more challenging games on the list, but the challenges do not feel harsh and instead are just absorbing and meditative.
Players know exactly what they are going to get when they hear Tetris. Block after block, players can always imagine the stress being removed from the box like a full line being made.
9 Flower
Hypnotic Flow
Flower
- Released
- February 12, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Tranquil gameplay
- Experience gentle visuals
- Simple yet hypnotic
Flower allows for the players to be the wind and weather, as they guide petals through landscapes filled with color. There are no traditional gaming stressors in Flower, and instead players get to focus on the motion and beauty captured.
Players are allowed to just simply be in this game, perfect when they are looking to calm their brain down and focus on something both simple and beautiful. This game is one of the best when it comes to non-traditional gameplay, making it a game that anybody would be able to pick up.
8 Spiritfarer
Emotional Storytelling
Spiritfarer
- Released
- August 18, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Language, Use of Tobacco, Violent References
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Indie Games, Simulation
- Emotional yet comforting
- Blends management and storytelling
- A gentle approach
Spiritfarer is a heartwarming game that gets players to guide spirits in the afterlife onboard their customizable boat. The overall themes of the game are a little heavier than most, but the experience itself is almost comforting and uplifting.
6 Cozy Games About The Environment
These charming cozy games do an excellent job exploring the environment and ways to appreciate its beauty and worth.
Players are able to have a blended sim and management experience in the game, with tender moments that will move anybody to feel lighter about the world around them. Stress can cause the brain to have some heavy thoughts, and sometimes tackling these head on in a game like this can be cathartic and just what someone needs.
7 Townscaper
No Set Goals
Townscaper
- Released
- June 30, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- City Builder
- Free-form building
- Easy-to-use mechanics
- Stress-relieving simplicity
Townscaper is a game without the traditional gaming elements. There are no missions, no timers, players are just allowed to explore their grids and color palettes. Fans can build entire towns with the click of a button.
Players looking for a stress-relieving escape will find it in Townscaper. It’s almost like being able to doodle entire towns digitally, making it a low-energy way to be creative. With a world at their fingertips, players can just focus on the possibilities of what could be.
6 PowerWash Simulator
Repetitive Satisfaction
PowerWash Simulator
- Released
- May 19, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- Highly satisfying
- No penalties or restrictions
- Visually soothing and mentally calming
The trend of cleaning stuff for the vibes is not lost on PowerWash Simulator. Players are able to pick items or whole areas to clean with their powerwasher, taking as much or as little time as they would like to.
Seeing surfaces shine after completion is both satisfying and stress-relieving. These tasks can be done over and over again, without any penalties or ways to do them wrong. It is just a power washer and a player, making the world cleaner one spot at a time.
5 Journey
Beautiful Art Direction
Journey
- Released
- March 13, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Mild Fantasy, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Minimalist design
- Beautiful visuals
- Anonymous multiplayer
Journey has a minimalist design that gives way to the emotional storytelling that happens. It is a gentle ride of feelings and an escape from the beginning to the end. It also offers multiplayer that is anonymous but feels very supportive.
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The music, visuals, and pacing offer players a chance to escape into serenity. With the ability to be one part of a giant landscape, seeing others along the way, it is almost a gaming representation of life, and something that everyone can enjoy.
4 Stardew Valley
Routine-Based Comfort
Stardew Valley
- Released
- February 26, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Simulation
- Offers comforting
- Freedom to farm
- Tranquil pacing
Being a farmer is a dream many players may have in real life, and now they are able to fulfill that dream in Stardew Valley. Players can choose to tend to their farm, talk and romance townsfolk, and decorate their home, making it a cozy escape from the outside world.
There are no strict objectives; instead it allows players to focus on the parts that they choose. It is a tranquil and routine-based way to decompress, allowing players to unwind and relax at their own pace.
3 Kind Words
Community Connection
Kind Words
- Released
- September 13, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Casual, Indie
- Unique community connection
- Relaxing lo-fi music
- Helping others anonymously
Kind Words is a unique experience for players, who are able to speak to other players around the world through letters they can send to each other. The letters are anonymous, but the support offered by strangers speaks volumes to how players interact.
Pairing this with some lo-fi beats and a cozy room, players can send and receive letters in a space of virtual self-care and relaxation. Messages that they are able to help others will be cathartic, and the perfect escape on a stressful day.
2 ABZU
Soothing Music & Visuals
Abzu
- Released
- August 2, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Peaceful ocean exploration
- Immersive visuals
- Gentle exploration
In ABZU, players are able to explore vast oceans that are filled with ancient ruins and sea life. The gentle score and flow of moments help to create an almost dream-like experience that can wash away the stress of a player’s day and get them to focus on something new with every dive.
Peaceful exploration is a gaming genre that would suit many players out there, and ABZU is able to offer this in spades. The visuals of the ocean and what is out there is a great way to find calm, and keep the brain from too much stress.
1 Unpacking
Gentle Mechanics
Unpacking
- Released
- November 2, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle
- Zen-like organizing
- No pressure from timers
- Quiet storytelling
Unpacking offers an almost zen-like experience for players. While there is a goal in mind, to unpack the items and make sure everything has a place, there is some creative freedom in how this is done, and where players can start first.
There is no time pressure or scoring system. Instead, players are able to unpack the items to their own organizing desires (apart from a few special items), making it a great experience to just unwind. The quiet stories told with each new set of items are impactful and allow for a new calming retreat every time.
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