At the end of a long day, we all just want to relax. These top 20 games provide the perfect solution: no stress, no pressure, just peace of mind.
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About this gallery ...
Welcome to our gallery of the 20 best games to relax! It's impossible to be truly objective, but this light-hearted opinion piece celebrates our favorite games to relax with. Explore the list and share your own favorites in the comments!
20. Red Dead Redemption 2
Get on your horse and gallop towards the horizon, or, if you prefer, the bar for a game of poker. It's a great way to unwind and have some relaxing fun. RDR2 is one of the best games for this kind of whiling away of the time. | © Rockstar
19. Death Stranding
The atmosphere might be a little depressing, but driving around the country and delivering packages can be really relaxing. Especially with the ceaseless pitter-patter of rain. | © Kojima Productions
18. Disney Dreamlight Valley
The cozy, immersive Disney Life simulator lets you explore the Disney Dreamlight Valley and connect with your favorite Disney heroes. Unfortunately, the grind isn't as engaging as it could be. But, it's undoubtedly a soothing game. | © Gameloft
17. The Witness
The riddles aren’t always easy, but the comic art style and the overall vibe of these games encourage you to keep calm and smell the flowers along the way. Just what we need. | © Thekla inc.
16. No Man’s Sky
What could be more pleasant than sitting in your spaceship and simply enjoying the peace and quiet of space? And when you've had enough of that, find your dream planet and build your own dream house. | © Hello Games
15. Age of Empires II
Normally, RTS games can be pretty intense! But, if you just want to relax, AoE 2 is actually perfect. Just play against bots and then set them to easy, you can build up a huge army before your opponent does anything. And if even that is too stressful, no problem! Just play with a buddy and agree on a non-aggression pact. | © Forgotten Empires
14. Astro Bot
We were pretty shocked to see Astro Bot become the icon it has, but well done Sony. They turned a tech demo into one of the highest-rated games of all time, and we're here for it. It's just a gorgeous and fun game that doesn't try to be too challenging. | © Team Asobi
13. Anno 1800
Of all the city-builders out there, Anno 1800 is one of the absolute best for when you just want to chill out and have an easy game, with no threat and the only thing to focus on being what to build next. The aim is to develop a series of islands and slowly progress from sustenance farming to industrialism. Great. | © Ubisoft
12. Planet Zoo
You build your dream zoo and just watch the animals do what animals do (and they do it well, thanks to the surprisingly great AI). It can be overwhelming at first, but you'll soon get the hang of it, and if not you can set the game to be insanely easy. | © Frontier Developments
11. Firewatch
Firewatch doesn't seem that impressive on paper. However, just give it an hour, and the story will become very intriguing. The main appeal is the gorgeous graphics and small, beautiful side stories you stumble upon. | © Campo Santo
10. A Little To The Left
While cleaning up in the real world can be a chore, this game turns it into a wonderful puzzle. The stakes are incredibly low, the puzzles aren't too difficult, and the vibe is meditative. | © Max Inferno
9. Farming Simulator
It's likely the top-selling simulator on the market. It lets you enjoy all the best parts of farming and leaves out all the boring stuff, like paperwork. So hop into your tractor and enjoy the ride! | © Giants Software
8. Sims
The character editor alone can take hours, and it's a completely relaxing throughout. Then, we spend countless hours building our dream home (that as millennials and zoomers we'll never actually be able to afford) before dismantling the pool ladder. | © Electronic Arts
7. Minecraft
The music, the atmosphere, and the cute animals are great. But if you really want to relax in Minecraft, join the Middle-earth server and recreate the journey of Frodo and Sam. Excellent. | © Microsoft
6. Spiritfarer
This one might seem counter-intuitive at first, since the principal theme of the game is death. However, it looks at that subject in a hopeful, peaceful way, and we can highly recommend it, especially to those who have recently experienced loss. | © Thunder Lotus Games
5. Civilization VI
Take your time to look at all of your cities and decide how your civilization should develop. After hours and hours, you'll be the king of the world! And thanks to the turn-based nature of the game, you can take as long as you please. | © Firaxis Games
4. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
One of the most beloved games and life simulators of all time. Its distinctive graphic style and wonderful characters are hard not to love. Their have been a number of great Animal Crossing games, but the latest one is undoubtedly the best. | © Nintendo
3. Medieval Dynasty
Life in the Middle Ages was pretty rough. Fortunately, Medieval Dynasty is just a game. But it's more than that. It's a mix of role-playing, building strategy, survival, and life simulation (but mostly building strategy). At first glance, it may seem small-scale, but seeing the final product and walking through your own village is perfect after a long day's work. A simpler time. | © Render Cube
2. Stardew valley
One of the biggest farming and life simulator hits of recent years is also one of the most relaxing game of all time. Simple tasks, lovely music, and sweet pixel graphics makes this game perfect for those chill Sundays. | © The Secret Police Limited
1. Dorfromantik
No enemies to defeat, or times to beat. This is a wonderfully simple game that set your mind to the simple task of connecting dots. Playing this game is like taking a relaxing dip in a small, calm pool. | © Toukana Interactive
At the end of a long day, we all just want to relax. These top 20 games provide the perfect solution: no stress, no pressure, just peace of mind.
