After a long and stressful day, it can be hard to come home and boot up just any game. Some are too intense, and others require too much of the player, making them feel more like chores than escapes. But there are quite a few games out there that can make all that stress go away, transporting players to relaxing worlds full of warmth and comfort.
It can be tricky to find the right game to make that stress feel more manageable. Thankfully, whether players are looking for a calming adventure in an unknown frontier or a relaxing getaway to a place focused on connecting with others, the gaming world offers plenty of options for relieving stress and feeling more relaxed.
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10 Best Relaxing Games To Play After A Long Day, Ranked
Tired after a long day? These charming games are the best cure!
ABZÛ
A Calming Journey Beneath The Waves
Abzu
- Released
- August 2, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
ABZÛ is a breathtaking underwater adventure that transforms exploration into a meditative art form. Set in a vast, dreamlike ocean teeming with marine life, it invites players to dive deep, swim alongside schools of fish, and uncover ancient ruins hidden beneath the waves. With no combat, death, or urgency, players are free to explore at their own pace, descending into the heart of the ocean where they can take their time to absorb their surroundings or press on into the unknown in search of answers.
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The game perfectly captures the quiet magic of the ocean in all its mystery and beauty. There are several points when players will find themselves standing still just to take in the gorgeous scenery that the game presents them with. It's the perfect game for players who don't want to worry about complex mechanics, and instead simply want to enjoy the act of moving around. The only goal is to enjoy the journey itself.
Stardew Valley
From Stress-Free Farming To Cozy Fishing
Stardew Valley
- Released
- February 26, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Stardew Valley is the perfect antidote to everyday chaos, as time slows down and small victories feel deeply rewarding. Set in a sleepy rural town, it lets players inherit and rebuild a neglected farm, nurturing crops, tending animals, and forming heartfelt connections with the locals. No two days are the same. With shifting seasons and constant changes within the town itself, players will begin to feel like a valuable member of the community rather than just an outsider.
Beyond farming, Stardew Valley offers a world brimming with charm and community. Every villager has a story to tell, and players who enjoy those cute conversations will be rewarded with gifts and snippets of lore to help them understand the wider context of the world. While progress comes slowly, it’s never stressful. Players will never feel as though they need to rush to the next steps, and can instead take their time and build their home however they choose.
Spiritfarer
Connecting With Others In The Afterlife
Spiritfarer
- Released
- August 18, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
On the surface, Spiritfarer may seem like the opposite of calming, as it is marketed as a management game about dying. In reality, the game is far more about accepting death and building connections in the afterlife, without the actual danger of dying itself. Players sail across vast oceans to islands and faraway lands full of interesting characters with their own pasts that players can uncover and relate to on a deeply human level.
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The basic gameplay loop of moving between locations and slowly constructing a larger boat to house the deceased is both satisfying and relaxing at the same time. There are no difficult mechanics to learn, and players can quickly jump in and out of the game when they need to, without worrying about where they left off or losing any progression. It's an enjoyable experience for players who enjoy simplistic management sims, but who also want a compelling narrative to follow along the way.
House Flipper 2
Home Renovations, Minus The Real Pains
House Flipper 2
- Released
- December 13, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Frozen District
- Genre(s)
- Simulation, Casual
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
House Flipper 2 takes the concept of home renovation and turns it into an addictive simulator where players are free to create the home of their dreams, all within a virtual world. Players are given all the tools they need to build, paint, and perfect every minute detail of the houses before them, with the only real restriction being their own imagination. There is something so rewarding about turning tattered old properties into beautiful homes that anyone would be lucky to own. Plus, the actual gameplay is therapeutic in a way that very few games can compete with.
Beyond its satisfying mechanics, House Flipper 2 manages to create an environment that is free from pressure but still enjoyable from start to finish. The basic objective tasks give players some direction to follow, like cleaning out certain rooms or achieving a specific aesthetic. But even with those goals in mind, there is never a sense of urgency. This makes it the perfect game to hop into for players who want the freedom to express themselves, without the pressure of time or other stress-inducing mechanics.
WebFishing
Enjoying An Escape Together
Webfishing
- Released
- October 11, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Lamedeveloper
- Genre(s)
- Multiplayer, Simulation, Indie
- Platform(s)
- PC
WebFishing is an incredibly unique game that strips away all the complexity of other social games. Instead, it leaves players with a calming island where all they need to do is have a good time. Players can stand on a pier fishing, or come closer to land to play guitar for their pals, without having any intrusive objectives to force them down a specific path.
There is practically nothing to learn, so even brand-new players can load up the game and feel relaxed while surrounded by similar people all looking to step away from the real world for a moment. Even for players who enjoy some sense of direction, there are nearly 100 different creatures to catch and countless additional rewards to find. There is more than enough content to keep players invested for hours, on top of the fun that comes from interacting with others in an adorable shared world.
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