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[niilokin]

I don't really have any "stress relief" games. But if I am feeling a little down with nothing else going on, maybe I would log into Ultima Online. Specifically, UOSA or Ultima Online Second Age - a private shard that emulates UO from the late 90s, so it really brings me back to see things exactly as they were, walk around Moonglow or wherever. Britannia is truly like a second home to me.

I think Elder Scrolls could be a second runner up. Just walking around Balmora, Cheydinhall in the rain, or Whiterun can make me feel pretty solid in that kind of scenario, I suppose. Especially accompanied by Jeremy's music.

Just making a lumberjack or miner character in UO is great. Balmora is my favourite ES town, especially watching a foggy dawn arise. Skyrim is cool just for scenic walking too.

 

[Saber]

When I had a xbox360, playing Banjo Kazzoie Nuts and Bolts would be my first choice, as playing in the first area is cool and calming as fuck.
But nowadays I just play emulators for fun and it's enought already to cool off.

 

[PendekarRajawali]

Doggystyle with some hairpulling.

 

[DragonNCM]

 

[pudel]

Simulator games… my newest recommendation is City Transport Simulator Tram – not complex and very relaxed:

Check out "Derail Valley". Just recently discovered this game, even so its out since 2019 already. But it looks amazing.

 

[theStartupSound]

Check out "Derail Valley". Just recently discovered this game, even so its out since 2019 already. But it looks amazing.

Already have it on my wishlist – thanks for the recommendation though

 

[Ceadeus]

Phantasy Star Online v2

What is it? Original PSO but updated or something?


My relaxing games are either Skyrim or Oblivion.

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

Just making a lumberjack or miner character in UO is great. Balmora is my favourite ES town, especially watching a foggy dawn arise. Skyrim is cool just for scenic walking too.

I agree with that, it can be really cathartic.

 

[clarky]

Balatro. The music and sound effects are chilled out to fuck.

 

[mdkirby]

Walking sims and things like Dave the diver

 

[twilo99]

Tetris.

Trauma, treatment and Tetris: video gaming increases hippocampal volume in male patients with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder - PubMed

Tetris may be useful as an adjunct therapeutic intervention for PTSD. Tetris-related increases in hippocampal volume may ensure that therapeutic gains are maintained after completion of therapy.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/04/09/523011446/how-playing-tetris-tames-the-trauma-of-a-car-crash

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

Tetris.

Trauma, treatment and Tetris: video gaming increases hippocampal volume in male patients with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder - PubMed

Tetris may be useful as an adjunct therapeutic intervention for PTSD. Tetris-related increases in hippocampal volume may ensure that therapeutic gains are maintained after completion of therapy.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/04/09/523011446/how-playing-tetris-tames-the-trauma-of-a-car-crash

The Soviet Challenge is always a good time.

 

[Trilobit]

Zelda. Doesn't matter which one. Great escapism!

 

[IDKFA]

Minecraft.

Not survival mode, but creative mode. It's like virtual Lego. You can build whatever you can think of.

Probably the most relaxing game I've ever played.

 

[cireza]

What is it? Original PSO but updated or something?

The original one on Dreamcast, 100% offline. Will never get bored of it. And Dreamcast is a console that made a pretty great transition to HD TVs, thanks to the built in VGA signal and superb picture quality.

 

[NewYork]

Factorio
The factory must grow

 

[nemiroff]

Pinball FX while listening to podcasts/youtube videos.

 

[Paasei]

Hitman
New Vegas
OpenRCT2
Cities Skylines

 

[Zarak]

World of Warcraft
Powerwash Simulator

 

[Ceadeus]

The original one on Dreamcast, 100% offline. Will never get bored of it. And Dreamcast is a console that made a pretty great transition to HD TVs, thanks to the built in VGA signal and superb picture quality.

What cable do you use?

 

[TheSweeper]

I like replaying games that I know by heart. Right now I'm playing through Mass Effect 1 again. For probably the tenth time or so. That is pure relaxation for me.

Alternatively a Slay the Spire run. Good way to quiet down the brain.

 

[Zannegan]

There was an SSX on Wii that had a downhill no challenge mode and real subtle motion controls. I'd just drop my dude at the top of the mountain and carve back and forth by swishing the joycon around.

Super relaxing.

 

[Dacvak]

Last year it was Powerwash Simulator

 

[Mortisfacio]

Satisfactory. It's stress relieving and stress inducing and I like the cycle of pain. Very simple and soothing building and automation. Can go at my own pace. What's that? A downflow stream wasn't optimized for 100% efficiency and I've been building this factory for 4 hours? Shit. Continue. Lose sleep. Wake up the next day. Supposed to work, but tired. Thinking about the 86% optimization and where I messed up. Day is ruined. More stress. Hop on Satisfactory. Repeat.

 

[cireza]

What cable do you use?

I have a VGA cable coming from the DC, then go to an OSSC and apply a x2 resolution bump. My TV gets 960p and manages pretty well with it, the picture is good.

In the past I also used an Akura Box, it worked well, but it outputs 480p over HDMI. My TV upscaling is not good enough for 480p (Samsung). But it was still a very good solution as well, and depending on the TV, you can get a very clean picture too (it was the case on a Sony TV, that looked like it was doing a sort of x2 integer scaling).

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

Usually indies like the messenger, wonder boy, monster boy or rocket league.

 

[Dacvak]

Satisfactory. It's stress relieving and stress inducing and I like the cycle of pain. Very simple and soothing building and automation. Can go at my own pace. What's that? A downflow stream wasn't optimized for 100% efficiency and I've been building this factory for 4 hours? Shit. Continue. Lose sleep. Wake up the next day. Supposed to work, but tired. Thinking about the 86% optimization and where I messed up. Day is ruined. More stress. Hop on Satisfactory. Repeat.

I really wish I could find a game genuinely as good as Satisfactory or Factorio but on iOS. All of the factory-builders on mobile are either dog shit, or severely unpolished.

 

[elhav]

3d platformers like Mario games are just easy enough to not be stressful, but involving enough to not put me to sleep

 

[SenkiDala]

Resident Evil 2 Remake, or 4, or even 1.
Tetris

 

[Mortisfacio]

I really wish I could find a game genuinely as good as Satisfactory or Factorio but on iOS. All of the factory-builders on mobile are either dog shit, or severely unpolished.

I've been trying to find the same. I don't game much on mobile, but family trips for example my wife and kids tend to crash early and I can't sleep. Would be great to have something for times like that when I don't have my Steam Deck or something. I've seen a few suggestions on Reddit and they've all been terrible.

 

[Markio128]

I like to play something chilled after a stressful day, and NMS is always a solid option. I also enjoy races that I’ve set up myself using some of the lower tier vehicles in GT7.

Sometimes I’ll just go for a wander in one of the better open world games, like Cyberpunk.

 

[Lupin3]

Donut County, if I ever needed to.

 

[ZoukGalaxy]

JOURNEY is my answer to everything, with an headphone or a proper audio setup to bring to my eyes , ears and brain a wonderful stress relief.

It's not a game, it's pure ART.

 

[Sushi_Combo]

GTAIV

 

[RAIDEN1]

JOURNEY is my answer to everything, with an headphone or a proper audio setup to bring to my eyes , ears and brain a wonderful stress relief.

It's not a game, it's pure ART.

Never played it, maybe I need to check this out! also related to this topic here's some more suggestions:

 

[Housh]

COD and Quake Champions

 

[Osthyvel]

The world is shit! But we gotta do something to take our minds off it. What games do you play to relieve stress? It can be any game, new or old.

Every game i play is a ticket to escape from this f×cked up world.

Been playing a lot of vr lately, highly recommend to escape reality.

 

[Famipan]

Touchgrind Skate 2 (mobile)

 

[notseqi]

Skyrim still, dunking on fools with my bow. Weird kind of repetition through the years.

I would like to check out VR soon.

 

[FIREKNIGHT2029]

No Man’s Sky in VR
Elite Dangerous in VR
Microsoft Flight Simulator in VR
GT7 in VR
DOAXVV
DOAX3 in VR
Skyrim, sometimes in VR
CP2077 just cruising around

Yea, I spend a lot of time in VR lol

 

[Humdinger]

I don't use games for stress relief, but if I did, it would probably be something like Skyrim.

 

[Hohenheim]

FromSoft games.

 

[TheGreatMusashi]

Max Payne 3

 

[Arsic]

Diablo 2

 

[KimDongHwan]

Right now, Marvel Rivals, there is something satisfying about that kill sound when you land a good combo/ulti

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

Diablo 3/Arpgs (FLOG not PO2....I need Xanax for that shit), Stardew, Monster Hunter...just stuff that lets me shut off my brain.

 

[Radical_3d]

Try Battletoads, i heard it's pretty relaxing.

Never got the itch in the 90’s. But I did bought Super Gohuls’n Ghosts. So… yeah…

 

[Northeastmonk]

As a kid I’d race practice mode in F-Zero on SNES. Later I’d play Wave Race practice, the music was so enjoyable at the time. Later on I’d just turn on a fighting game and zone out.

Anymore I like to shop for games when I’m stressed or start something I haven’t played yet. I thought Tears of the Kingdom was a game I’d put 100’s of hours into. I feel like this goes without saying, a replay or a single playthrough is enough. Some games I’ll replay because they’re comfort food. I also have money to buy games I want to buy versus replaying the same game for years on end.

Had to think a little more about it..
I usually do a Dark Souls or From Software replay when I’m down. MvC Collection - reminds me of when my mom would give me $5 and then she’d run off and shop.
RE4 - hits the horror fan in me every time.
Maybe a PS1 JRPG from time to time on my Vita.
Handheld gaming really helps me get over stressful stuff.
Balatro is good too. I was playing that while my son was in the ICU.

 

[pachura]

Sound Shapes

 

[JayK47]

It used to be Sims until they ruined that, like EA ruins everything. I do not play very many casual games anymore. I still have Poker Night 1 and 2 installed, but have not played them for ages.