Shmups you play when you just want to relax

[mamboFoxtrot]

I think BWR+ is the closest I can think of. Auto-Guard takes a lot of pressure off, but scoring is still a lot of fun.
But, like some other people here, shmups are usually not on my "relax" list. I don't tend to play video games at all for relaxation.

[professor ganson]

This is a great topic I've thought a bit about recently. Lately I have time for games (if at all) only at the end of the day when it's time to relax, and shmups dont feel like a great fit for the most part. Hence, I haven't been playing shmups much lately. But I am actively thinking about which shmups might work. I'll post here if I ever find some answers!

[bikingjahuty]

This genre isn't really one that I can play and relax given how dependent it is on being alert and having fast reflexes. Probably the closest I can come to relaxing when playing an STG is Radiant Silvergun, mostly because I've played it so many times that it doesn't take a ton of effort for me to beat it anymore. A few parts in the last third still challenge me, but the first 2/3s of the game I can 1cc with minimal effort.

[hamfighterx]

I've literally fallen asleep playing Mars Matrix, more than once. It just really gets me into a trance. Hyperactivity and action don't necessarily mean you can't feel relaxed, to me it's more about getting into that rhythmic "zone".

Lately though, the PS4 is my system that's set up the easiest to just put on some headphones and zone out at night once my wife is asleep, so I'll use that and play either of the M2 Shottriggers releases on their easy modes (Battle Garegga's super easy/novice mode, of Dangun Feveron in Fever mode) and just cruise through for 1CC survival. Then, if I've been drinking, I'll put on a Hatsune Miku game until I pass out... Don't judge.

[wasilewski]

I've literally fallen asleep playing Mars Matrix, more than once. It just really gets me into a trance. Hyperactivity and action don't necessarily mean you can't feel relaxed, to me it's more about getting into that rhythmic "zone".

Lately though, the PS4 is my system that's set up the easiest to just put on some headphones and zone out at night once my wife is asleep, so I'll use that and play either of the M2 Shottriggers releases on their easy modes (Battle Garegga's super easy/novice mode, of Dangun Feveron in Fever mode) and just cruise through for 1CC survival. Then, if I've been drinking, I'll put on a Hatsune Miku game until I pass out... Don't judge.

Dangun Feveron is great to zone out to and the soundtrack isn't bad either.

[hamfighterx]

Dangun Feveron is great to zone out to and the soundtrack isn't bad either.

You know it! That Chibi-tech VIP arrange is probably the best music I've heard in the past year, video game soundtracks or otherwise.

[Squire Grooktook]

Oh man, I definitely know this is a person to person thing after hearing people mention Dangun.

I put a fair amount of time into scoreplay into that game after clearing it, and I have a fairly decent above-average-ish score, so I don't think this is scrub talk: but that game literally makes me feel dehydrated and out of breath. I think it might be the least relaxing game I've ever played, ha ha.

Not a complaint, mind you. Part of why I love it.

[LordHypnos]

This is a good topic. I occasionally just feel like playing a shooter, but not really trying to learn or improve at it, often while listening to a podcast or something.

I've literally fallen asleep playing Mars Matrix, more than once. It just really gets me into a trance. Hyperactivity and action don't necessarily mean you can't feel relaxed, to me it's more about getting into that rhythmic "zone".

I actually kind of agree with this. I think it's just because of how well my routes are burned into my memory, and how rhythmic of a game it is, but it can be quite relaxing to just play single credits until I die over and over while listening to podcasts or music. Or just grind one stage in score attack. I don't usually clear it while playing it this way, but occasionally I'll clear it.

Otherwise, I kind of enjoy playing STGs that I don't really know well or care about doing well in, and switching between different games frequently. Been doing this a bit with linux shmups recently. Most of the free ones are too terrible to even do that with, but Kenta Cho's games are nice for it, just because they're kind of gimmicky. For example Val and Rick. Also Linley Henzel's Garden of Colored Lights is not too bad. White Butterfly was also good, but that's not in Debian's repositories for whatever reason. Geki3 is mildly fun, though it could really use a fullscreen mode.

I will say that I don't usually go for shmups when trying to relax, though.

[Ex_Mosquito]

I don't find Shoot em' ups very relaxing at all, even ones I know very well. If anything I find them the most demanding and stressfull genre. If I want to relax I generally wouldn't play a videogame but if I were then I'd probably go with a point and click. Preferably one with voice acting like Broken Sword just be be extra lazy.

[blackpawn]

I zen out with Phoenix on iPad while stuck waiting or just wanting to get away from work for a bit.

[Pedro Lambrini]

When I want something to zone out too, I usually look to Xevious or Geometry Wars Galaxies. The best thing about GWG is that there's a pretty much a planet for whatever mood I'm in. Xevious is just an old worn armchair that's super comfy and you never want to get up again.

[nesrulz]

Galaga (Arcade), Scramble (Arcade), Juno First (Arcade), Beamrider (Atari 2600)...