10 Relaxing Video Games Perfect for Newbies
Whether new to gaming or a veteran, these video games are a one-way ticket to relaxation.
From detailed life simulators to intuitive puzzle games, these ten games turn a day inside into a day of adventure.
Are you an avid gamer?
With extra time on your hands, now’s the perfect time to pick up a new hobby or brush up on an old one.
Shall I suggest video games?
The variety of games available is as plentiful as a buffet at your favorite restaurant.
In this curated list, you will find ten relaxing video games that each offer a unique experience.
The games are easy to pick up and start playing today, even if you have never picked up a controller.
Sit back, relax, and plug into one of the video games below.
1. Journey (2012)
Journey is an epic tale that pairs exploration with the reminder that, as people, we need each other to thrive.
Most multiplayer experiences in video games are fast-paced and often violent.
With Journey, you are playing through this adventure with a random faceless, nameless person you cannot communicate with.
Yet, you work together in Journey to reach an important common goal.
As you are paired with a new partner every time you play, Journey is fun to pick up and play multiple times.
The soothing soundtrack gained Journey a Grammy nomination in 2013 for the category “Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media,” making it the first video game to be nominated for a Grammy.
2. The Sims 4 (2014)
The Sims 4 is the latest rendition of the OG life simulation video game series The Sims.
No matter what you are interested in, there is an experience for everyone to enjoy.
Looking to act out stories starring virtual versions of you and your friends?
Want to design the home of your dreams?
Want to see what it’s like to live in a haunted house?
It can all be done in The Sims 4.
You can play this game in a million different ways with so many mods and expansion packs available.
Also, The Sims 4 is available for PC, Mac, Playstation 4, and Xbox One, making it extremely accessible for any gamer or gamer-to-be.
3. Assemble With Care (2020)
Assemble With Care puts you in the shoes of Maria, a traveling antique restorer.
As she grows accustomed to a new town, she fixes different unique antiques.
Slowly, she learns more about the city around her and herself through each item she cares for.
This game is perfect for anyone who is into DIY projects or puzzles.
Each antique offers a brand new puzzle for the user to accomplish.
Along with a hand-drawn art style and an 80s-inspired soundtrack, Assemble With Care is a story well worth diving into.
4. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020)
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you start your life over on a beautiful, deserted island with adorable, anthropomorphic animals of varying personalities, daily schedules, and interests.
On the island, the world is your oyster.
You can sell fish, bugs, or fossils to pay off your mortgage, visit other deserted islands, participate in various DIY projects, and much more.
The beauty of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is that there isn’t any pressure for you to take a certain path.
You can follow your interests while the game hops in for the ride, looking adorable in the passenger’s seat.
5. Broken Reality (2017)
Broken Reality is a surrealist collect-a-thon that puts the oddities of the internet, social media, and meme culture in one game.
Strolling through the game’s various vaporwave-inspired worlds is an experience, as you slash away internet ads with a katana and take pictures of strange things you see for likes.
Along the way, you’ll find peculiar characters wanting you to complete odd jobs as you climb to the top of the game’s popularity ladder.
If you are drawn to strange experiences, Broken Reality will be your kind of game.
6. Gris (2018)
Gris is almost like an interactive animated movie with a deep narrative and watercolor art style.
After dealing with a traumatic event, Gris goes on a journey of self-discovery as she works through her emotions.
Gris explores breathtaking environments to an atmospheric, intricate soundtrack in this puzzle platformer.
Unlike most video games, you are not faced with danger or death throughout the game.
Instead, you come across puzzles and optional skill-based challenges if you are interested in testing your skills.
7. Tetris Effect (2018)
You have played Tetris before, but you surely have never played it like this.
Tetris Effect takes the well-known puzzle game and puts it into dreamlike environments all over the world that are very much alive.
As you play the game, the setting and soundtrack immediately react to the moves you make.
If you have access to virtual reality (Playstation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, etc.), then the VR version of Tetris Effect has to be on your to-play list.
It is an incredible experience and makes it easy to get in the zone while you play.
8. Prune (2015)
Available on the iOS store and the Google Play store, Prune is a minimalistic puzzle game where you create unique bonsai trees.
The name refers to the word “pruning”, which Merriam-Webster defines as, “to cut off or cut back parts of for better shapes or more fruitful growth.”
With just a swipe of a finger, you cut and sculpt bonsai trees to protect them from obstacles that come their way.
Unlike many other mobile games, there are no in-app purchases or microtransactions to be trampled.
Prune is a tranquil, unique step into mobile gaming that will immerse you no matter where you are.
9. American Truck Simulator (2016)
American Truck Simulator puts you in the shoes of a new driver as you make deliveries throughout the United States.
As you play, you work your way up to becoming an owner-operator of your own transportation company.
American Truck Simulator is a game that finds beauty in the simplicity of life.
Throughout your journey, you drive through detailed, lifelike environments across the nation and landmarks that you may already be familiar with.
It’s just you and your precious cargo as you try to follow the open road rules.
10. I Love Hue (2017)
Those who love puzzles and/or coloring books will find themselves enamored with I Love Hue.
In I Love Hue, you complete puzzles centered around colorful mosaics.
This mobile game has over 900 puzzles that keep you occupied for hours.
I Love Hue is just relaxing enough to soothe you while challenging enough to keep your attention.
What video games are you planning to try?
From truck-driving simulations to puzzles about antiquing, this list of video games could fit perfectly into your self-care routine.
Beginners and veterans alike can easily jump into any title without dealing with a sharp learning curve.
I hope you enjoy one of these chill experiences and can escape the stressors and anxiety that may linger in everyday life.
What relaxing video games do you love to play?
Did we miss a video game on this list?
Let us know your thoughts below; we would love to hear from you!
