I have always been fond of video games ever since I was a kid. I remember checking my Nintendogs game on my DS and being ecstatic to give them a bath or exploring creative mode in Minecraft and building houses. Although I have since expanded my varieties and interests when it comes to video games since, there’s a soft spot in my heart for relaxing games that help me destress, whether I’m going through academic exams or life in general. Here are just a few I’ve been really enjoying – most can be found on various platforms (Nintendo Switch, PC, other consoles) if any of them pique your interest.
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
I think that everyone knows the Animal Crossing franchise by now, if not its most recent release, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Released during the pandemic year, many people (including me) spent hundreds of hours talking to their animal villagers, redesigning their town, and taking in the soundtrack as many universities were being converted to online classes. All of the main games in the franchise are designed to be life and social simulation games, so the game entails a lot of friendship building and ways to earn money to expand your house and island. None of the characters will bad mouth you in any way, and they all seem genuinely happy that you’re there. It’s very easy to get lost in this game as a peaceful break from reality!
- The Sims Franchise
The Sims is another franchise I’ve grown up with, and I can play the games for hours at a time. For those who are unfamiliar with it, The Sims is another simulation game where you literally simulate life: from birth to death, going to school and work, and making friends (or more) along the way. Balancing a Sim’s needs and maintaining relationships can be oddly fun (but there are cheat codes if you want to disable it!) and I love expressing my creativity in the Sims 4 through world-building (different characters, have them have separate careers, etc.). Sometimes I gravitate towards the previous iteration, The Sims 3 for its nostalgia factor and having features that are missing in the newer game. There are expansion packs that are released for every game that add new furniture, worlds, and other features to make it as rich as possible. Mods exist if you want to add custom content too. No matter how you want to play it, it offers unlimited freedom without any stress involved.
- Stardew Valley
If you like farming, romancing villagers, and dungeon-crawling, Stardew Valley is for you. There’s something relaxing about the soundtrack and the general ambience, and the pixelated art style reminds me of a late 90s or early 2000s game (but in a good way!). The game isn’t overly harsh on you in any way, and I find harvesting crops and the dating aspect to be rewarding. There are different “heart events” you can experience with the romanceable marriage candidates if you are close enough to them, adding to their personalities and really fleshing out how they interact with other people in the town as well. You can make money in various ways that you can use to customize yourself or your house, and ultimately help make Pelican Town a better place.
- Unpacking
Unpacking is a recent game that is more reminiscent of a puzzle than anything else. You uncover the game’s story by unpacking the protagonist’s furniture as she moves in and out of places, and promptly put them where they belong. I really like the art style for this game and it’s fun to see what she has packed, but as the game progresses the puzzles become more difficult. I would recommend seeking out an online guide or walkthrough for this game if you have any trouble, but unpacking virtually is a lot more fun and Zen than in real life!
- House Flipper
House Flipper is a game that I played in my senior year of high school and I really fell in love with it. In this game, you take requests from individuals who would like their home fixed or refurnished in some way, as well as having the opportunity to fix up your own office or other miscellaneous homes for a profit. Although the requests might sound complicated and as you gradually unlock tools (paint roller, lawnmower, tiling and paneling) it might be overwhelming, but after a while it becomes muscle memory. The soundtrack is simple and is quite catchy, to the point I can “autopilot” cleaning up and renovating a house while listening to it.
Video games don’t always have to be action and adventure: cozy games that have casual or simulation elements to it are always a great pick if you need to get away from the real world for a while! Thanks for reading!