Relaxing video games

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

I like my hardcore games just as much as anyone. But sometimes after a long day at work they just aren't all that enjoyable to play. I've noticed if I play shooters after work I'll get kind of hyped up from playing it and then can't sleep at night. Then I'll start thinking too much about it and that induces even more insomnia.

Any suggestions?

[Obiwanshinobi]

Ballance, although I hope it gets pretty challenging, the presentation is something else. I recall somebody calling Kirby's Epic Yarn relaxing, but I can't back it up.
Heroes of Might & Magic III or Disciples II. (Well, if you work at desktop computer, you might not wanna sit down at the computer after work. If that's the case - Advance Wars.)
Yet another intrernet person found inventory management in RE4 relaxing (didn't think much of the game otherwise).

[lilmanjs]

NightSky is best described as marble madness on its side. Somehow with the soundtrack it manages to be relaxing.

Knytt Underground is another Nifflas game that really relaxes me. Tons of beautiful places and secrets. Another soundtrack that features a lot of relaxing music.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Sky Odyssey: press the analog button on gamepad (or it'll be digital-only), set the controls to Advanced and complete all tutorial missions first. It's very arcade-y for a flight sim, but nothing twitchy by nature. All story missions start with takeoff and end with landing (manually).
FantaVision, anyone? (I played it when unemployed.)
My pal sucks for gambling mini-games (I saw him playing those a lot in Big Mutha Truckers and God Hand), despite not falling for it in real life, so this could work for you too.
Is Sega Bass Fishing relaxing?

[Squire Grooktook]

I'm probably the wrong person to ask, because for me, when I want to enjoy my time off, I prefer to try and trigger as many emotions as I can. Hence I prefer gameplay that emphasizes tension, excitement, etc. if I don't get some sort of palpable feels (whether they be excitement, joy, tears, dread, etc.) out of whatever I'm doing for enjoyment, then I feel like I've wasted my time.

That being said, some story driven games I like might fit the bill. Undertale and Trails In The Sky are frequently very warm, sweet, and humorous games. Neither of them are particularly punishing in combat either, despite being quite fun, so they might be perfect for relaxation.

[EmperorIng]

Undertale is pretty easy and enjoyable (depending on how you play it). A lot of the fun is going around reading charming flavor text from various NPCs.

Ico - the open environments, ambient noise, and puzzle-solving evoke a very toned-down low-key affair. The atmosphere is pretty rich, as is the sense of scale.

Magic Pengel - one of the most comfortable soundtracks to a game, ever. Lovely RPG (with bad VA but can anything else be expected?) that exudes cuteness.

Breath of Fire 3, likewise, for being as much fun to just wander around and soak in the little things, whether it be finding a fishing spot, looking for masters to train under, as it is cruising along the main plot.

(didn't think much of the game otherwise).

[tribal_war]

Ecco the dolphin relaxes me. Just swimming around, trying to jump over rocks or hanging with the schools of fish while the light soundtrack plays in the background is completely comforting.

Breath of fire 3 is a good one for me as well. The soundtrack is so mellow that it's hard not to relax.

[nissling]

Aquanaut's Holiday is nice if you're looking for a completely peaceful and unique game. One of a kind.

[copy-paster]

GTA San Andreas, any cheats enabled, relax

[Bonus!]

In that context, Animal Crossing is often mentioned. Any of the Musou/Warriors games should be fine as well. Also, I had the impression that quite a few RPGs can be quite relaxing.

[atheistgod1999]

Proteus, Fez

[SuperDeadite]

For me, Splatterhouse and Akumajou Dracula Arcade (JP Haunted Castle). While probably not the best examples for most people, I've played through them so many times and have them so completely memorized that there is no challenge what so ever, and even if I do mess I up, I really couldn't care less. I just laugh and keep playing.

Considering that I think any game could be relaxing, but other games I've played through a million times like Resident Evil 2 still have a few points that worry me when doing a no-save run. But the above two? They never fail to make me sit back and smile.

[Stevens]

Ico - the open environments, ambient noise, and puzzle-solving evoke a very toned-down low-key affair. The atmosphere is pretty rich, as is the sense of scale.

Haven't played Ico, but I used to just ride the horse in Shadow of the Colussus and explore shit.

Solar 2 - https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=c ... =solar%202

[Obiwanshinobi]

Panel de Pon in Marathon mode (I play the GBA version) - while it lasts, I don't care how far I went (usually starting from Speed 25, Game Lv. FASTEST). Most likely will give you Tetris effect initially, but I've yet to find that a bad thing.

[dan76]

I was playing Lost in Shadow yesterday. When I first got it I was a bit bored, but it was just right this time - I had a whiskey and a cat asleep on my lap. Perfect.

[KAI]

Play the Densha de Go!series. It's relaxing even if it's hard as fuck.

[Zaarock]

Katamari -series, Okami

[Leandro]

Mobil 1 Rally Championship. 30 min races, nice landscape

[Vexorg]

Bejeweled 3 is my go-to for a chill-out game. Somehow I've ended up with 70 hours on it on Steam, plus a few more on mobile...

Terraria is another one that's good for when you just want to mess around.

[professor ganson]

Pokemon

[cave hermit]

Just got Yoshi's wooly world today; the aesthetic is very pleasant and calming, and the actual gameplay is engaging yet laid back. I'm still on world one, but the platforming challenges already seen to expect some level of competence so it isn't boringly easy. There are plenty of hidden collectables also which are fun to look for.

In general this seems like the sort of game I would want to play to calm down after a stressful day.

[Shepardus]

My current go-to games for this purpose are 100% Orange Juice and Hearthstone. I also love the atmosphere in Knytt Stories, Fez, and Limbo, and maybe some others I can't think of off the top of my head, and like to relax with those. I find Path of Exile and other Diablo-likes w/o permadeath good for unwinding and not thinking, even if it is more visually intense than the others I've mentioned. Sim games like Rollercoaster Tycoon and OpenTTD are also a good choice.

[Specineff]

No mention of Flower?

[Obiwanshinobi]

Herdy Gerdy always seemed like a good idea to me, but does it really fit the bill?

I was playing Lost in Shadow yesterday. When I first got it I was a bit bored, but it was just right this time - I had a whiskey and a cat asleep on my lap. Perfect.

Haven't finished A Shadow's Tale yet, but when I played it, it was good for afternoons indeed. As a matter of fact NieR played recently made me feel like revisiting A Shadow's Tale.

[Ixmucane2]

Hardcore puzzle games like Fish Fillets NG. If you fail, you can try again tomorrow.

[Xyga]

The First Funky Fighter

[broken harbour]

Journey is nice and relaxing, great OST, same with Flower, those games don't really have a way to lose so there's no tension, and they are pretty to look at.

City builder games are fun and relaxing to me, Cities: Skylines is fairly recent and probably the best one out there right now.

[ZellSF]

OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast

[Obiwanshinobi]

If OutRun 2006 works for you, so should time-attacking Burnout 2. I might just play either tonight...

[BrianC]

Animal Crossing New Leaf
Tetris
Mario Paint
Sim City