Games To Play When Feeling Sad

With more games released every year than ever before, the gaming industry is becoming increasingly saturated with all kinds of titles. Yet, to some degree or another, many of these games still revolve around violence in both their narratives and gameplay.

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By  John Cunningham

While the following games are not all devoid of some kind of violence and/or combat, they offer lighter-hearted experiences with generally wholesome narratives and simple, intuitive gameplay that isn't all too challenging. Because of this, each of the games here offers a distinctly relaxing and fun environment to de-stress after a long day, week, month, or even year.

1 The Sims 4 - A Pleasantly Predictable Sandbox Simulation

Steam User Rating: 87%

Players could likely substitute The Sims 4 for any Sims game of their choosing, as every entry in the series is a great way to escape from the every day and toy around in a consistent and predictable environment.

The Sims may be a life simulator, but creating a family of fictional characters and seeing them through their day-to-day life, with the occasional opportunity to get creative, can be a rewarding form of escapism. The Sims 4 is, unfortunately, plagued by a variety of paid DLCs, but its free-to-play form is still an easy way to escape for a few hours.

2 LEGO The Lord Of The Rings - A Heartwarming Adventure

Steam User Rating: 90%

Although those who have yet to read the books or watch Peter Jackson's film adaptations may not share the sentiment, LEGO's take on The Lord Of The Rings is as heartwarming and uplifting as its source material. The simple and engaging narrative, great characters, and fleshed-out world of The Lord Of The Rings, combined with the intuitive, undemanding gameplay of LEGO titles makes LEGO LotR a wonderful way to cheer up.

All LEGO games are, arguably, great games to play for those who are feeling down. Their combination of low-stakes combat, simple puzzles, and humorous storytelling make them a breeze to play through, and an experience that's even better when played with a friend in local co-op.

3 Unpacking - An Undemanding And Therapeutic Distraction

Steam User Rating: 92%

The ultra-simplistic gameplay of Unpacking might not be for everyone who's looking to distract themselves with a good video game, but for those who don't mind entirely undemanding gameplay, Unpacking is a wonderfully light and short experience that makes for a relaxing way to spend an afternoon.

Unpacking simply tasks players with, as its title suggests, unpacking possessions for those moving into a new home. That's the entire gameplay loop of Unpacking, and for those who enjoy organizing and placing items in just the right spot, this game is likely to be a perfect boost.

4 Coffee Talk - A Quiet And Relaxing Story-Driven Experience

Steam User Rating: 95%

Set in an alternate, fantastical version of Seattle, Coffee Talk tasks players with running a late-night coffee shop for a variety of wholesome characters, each with their distinct personalities and problems.

In Coffee Talk, players will listen to and talk with the game's varied, well-written characters as they mix and make a variety of different beverages for them. The game's lo-fi soundtrack, brilliant pixel art, and overall atmosphere make Coffee Talk a quiet and contemplative experience worth having for fans of story-driven games.

5 Slime Rancher - Cute And Colorful Exploration

Steam User Rating: 97%

This laid-back, colorful science-fiction game has players managing and maintaining a ranch on an exotic alien planet, wrangling the titular slimes into pens and keeping them well-fed and happy. Players will grow crops, explore varied and colorful environments, and chase after slimes, all while doing their best to make a profit.

Slime Rancher's gameplay may be simple, but it's also one of the more engaging games. Although the game offers little to no challenge, exploring the world is a joyful experience, and there's plenty of progression to be had as players build up and expand their ranch.

6 Sticky Business - A Cute And Creative Business Simulator

Steam User Rating: 98%

This cozy, colorful, casual game tasks players with designing a variety of charming stickers, as well as their packaging, and selling them to virtual customers through an in-game website. Sticky Business features a steady level of progression that keeps the casually creative gameplay engaging, as well as some brilliantly relaxing music to soundtrack the experience.

Sticky Business is among the simpler games, but its addictive gameplay loop, along with its consistent progression, make it a rewarding and relaxing experience that's worth giving a go for those looking for a low-stakes game.

7 Stardew Valley - An Expansive And Accessible Farming Simulator

Steam User Rating: 98%

It's no secret that Stardew Valley is one of the most successful indie games to have been released in recent years, and this is arguably due to its extreme accessibility, well-written characters, and addictive gameplay loop that has players restoring a family farm to its former glory in whatever way they see fit.

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Stardew Valley takes a lot of inspiration from games such as Harvest Moon and arguably does it better, streamlining the experience and blending farming mechanics with character interactions, mining, and light combat. Those who are looking for a low-stakes, relaxing experience that's perhaps a little more engaging and offers more mechanical depth may find themselves right at home with Stardew Valley.

8 A Short Hike - A Short, Intuitive Adventure

Steam User Rating: 99%

As its title may suggest, A Short Hike is a tremendously short, albeit sweet, experience with a calming color palette, unobtrusive music, and a simple gameplay loop facilitated by a straightforward goal that's given to the player at the start of the game: climb a mountain.

A Short Hike is perfect for those who are feeling down. The game allows players to take things at their own pace, exploring the beautifully realized island, collecting items, and interacting with the charming NPCs. It's easy to play, fun to explore and doesn't take up an awful lot of time.

9 Lil Gator Game - A Zelda-Inspired 3D Platformer With A Wholesome Story

Steam User Rating: 99%

This cute, cartoonish adventure game puts players in the shoes of a young and adventurous alligator attempting to draw his older sibling into a game of make-believe. Lil Gator Game takes a lot of inspiration from The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker for its visual style and action-platformer gameplay, but Lil Gator Game is a decidedly simpler and shorter experience with a tighter focus.

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Lil Gator Game's world is a joy to explore, in large part thanks to its intuitive platforming and movement options, allowing for climbing, swimming, sailing, and gliding as players explore the cute and colorful surroundings.

10 Minecraft - A Creative Classic

Steam User Rating: N/A

Released back in 2011, Minecraft was a large part of many gamers' lives, being at the forefront of gaming during its peak, with an abundance of online content being dedicated to it even to this day. For some, Minecraft was a major part of their formative years, with the game offering plenty of nostalgia for returning players.

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Whether or not Minecraft was released when players were younger, it's this nostalgia, combined with the game's low stakes, focus on creativity, and collaborative nature through its online multiplayer that make it such a heartwarming game to play. For those who are content to explore, mine, and build needlessly complex structures, Minecraft is a game that's always worth coming back to.

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