What's your go-to 'feel good' game?

[Reinhardt Schneider]

Any pokémon game, the whole series is relaxing for me
Igavanias, since when i want to relax i want easy games
Harvest Moon 64, that game is particularly cozy for me
Stardew Valley

 

[vsMIC]

sega rally 2 on the dreamcast

 

[GwyndolinCinder]

Nioh (or Dark souls/DMC/ninja gaiden/monster hunter).

But Nioh is usually top of the list

 

[Tethered Penguin]

risk of rain 2.

the sheer chaos of the final stages are so fun, literally serotonin

not my footage but a pretty good example how dramatic the game can get

 

[TanookiTom]

Sayonara Wild Hearts. Never get bored of it and can complete it in under an hour.

Click to shrink...

Same! My definite go-to-game for down days at the moment. Very uplifting and some good tracks in there.

Animal Crossing is another relaxing choice. And Ring Fit Adventures if I feel like getting some endorphins flowing <3

 

[Síriocaz]

Well, for that matter, I'd definitely go with my favorite games, but mainly Pikmin 2. It's a game I know so we'll that I feel it's somehow part of me. I genuinely have an extraordinary time every time I play it, doesn't matter which level is it, there's no bad part or section for me in this game.

In recent years, Xenoblade Chronicles X and Breath of the Wild also have filled this spot. It was always fun running around or flying in a Skell across Mira. And Breath of the Wild, while I didn't like it a lot initially, it eventually sucked me in with its relaxing gameplay. It's a game I can play after months without touching and immediately feel like everything is recognizable again and great. It's one of the very few Switch games I frequently replay.

 

[60fps]

I find it almost meditative to play a few races of Mario Kart Online. It's simple, good fun, good for clearing your mind.

 

[Alecs27]

Mario Odyssey

 

[Kellemann75]

Snowrunner is my therapy game.

 

[Dablado]

Celeste.

Ironically, the difficult plattforming is relaxing to me.

Click to shrink...

And the mental health theme is feel-good? :D

Love the game though and it has a certain charm to it. I generally hate "trial and error" and not clearing things on the first try, except when it comes to good platformers with short checkpoints.

 

[DrHercouet]

Well, I didn't know that until I caught myself playing Aria of Sorrow while listening to some night-time talk radio but :

Igavanias, since when i want to relax i want easy games

Click to shrink...

This, most definitely. It's so smooth, the game's flow is natural and uninterrupted. I thought RPGs would be more relaxing but I was definitely wrong. I would add more traditional platformers as well, such as Tales From Space : Attack Of The Mutant Blob, so cosy! Rayman Origins and Legends are great "I want to smile for a minute" games, but then I remember I suck at them and turn them off.

Also, SSX games. Any SSX games.

 

[Kubricks]

The Witcher 3.
Wandering around the open world with Roach never gets old. And I still discover new small side quest even on my 3rd play through.

Oh, the sunset is always amazing.

 

[Ghostfacedon]

Destiny. Just go to a planet and wander around shooting aliens.

 

[Reinhardt Schneider]

Well, I didn't know that until I caught myself playing Aria of Sorrow while listening to some night-time talk radio but :

This, most definitely. It's so smooth, the game's flow is natural and uninterrupted.

Click to shrink...

i know right? Igavanias have this flow that make them so relaxing to play, kind of like making a repetitive task, but without being actually repetitive.

That said, out of all the Igavanias, both Aria and Dawn of sorrow have this comfy and intimate atmosphere that no other game in the series can replicate.

 

[Santos]

World of Warcraft, just doing some World Quests, old raids, farming mounts, etc. Always short and chill.

 

[DaleCooper]

Completing locations and viewpoints in Ubizoft games, mainly AC, is always chill.

 

[julia crawford]

Final Fantasy IX

 

[Chimpzy]

Katamari Damacy

I challenge anyone to play it and not walk away with a huge ass grin.

 

[Redcrayon]

if I want to just unwind, I'll happily sit there fishing and cooking in Monster Hunter. Otherwise, Streets of Rage 2 or Megaman 2 for the music combined with great gameplay.

 

[Onix555]

Sometimes i'll just start up Borderlands 2 and play through the first 6 hours 🤷‍♂️
Much more laid back game then other shooters.

 

[Bomaye]

Lately its been Hyrule Warriors. Its challenging enough to keep me engaged but not so much that I can't put on some music or talk with friends while I'm playing. No cutscenes (for the most part), addictive yet simple gameplay, and watching the rupee/level/weapon/KO numbers rise is so satisfying. Perfect for chilling.

 

[Deleted member 46948]

Night in the Woods or RDR2. Both are very calming for me.

 

[Trode]

Mega man 9 endless mode.

 

[maouvin]

A few matches of Turf War in Splatoon 2 (or a bit of story/octo expansion), or a bit of Mistery Heroes in Overwatch.
Those can bother me during Splatfests or when I need 9 wins for a new event skin, but when I get in to chill, it's chill time.

 

[Diogo Arez]

Spider-Man PS4, have had depression for about 4 years and that game still helps in the worst moments, whenever I feel down I boot it up and just swing away my troubles for a bit

 

[Torpedo Vegas]

Anything Dragon Quest, but Builders the most.

 

[Prototype Viktor]

master of magic

 

[mudai]

When I'm super down due to various reasons, I often see myself playing something where I can just turn off my head. A quick round of an arcade game, something with a (somewhat) chill OST for example (like Darius Gaiden). Or a game wher I can just lose myself in, like an RPG. I don't necessarily have a "go to" game, but when I'm down I just need something that isn't something where I have to think too much, something I can play from muscle memory. Grinding in a RPG can be just that. Or a musou game. Doing laps in a racing game helps me too. Advancing the plot in a narratively driven game is something I really struggle with when I'm going through a tough time, though. But when I can force myself to do so, it can do wonders (depending on the plot of the game, of course). I remember Final Fantasy X and Persona 3 being helpful to me. A more recent example would be the original Life is Strange.

 

[BrassDragon]

This past year, it's been the open world of Red Dead Redemption 2 (story mode because there's nothing fun or relaxing about online.)

The spectacular views, slow, deliberate animations and subtle environmental storytelling just make it a joy to wander around in that world and maybe do some hunting, fishing or messing with locals.

 

[OrangeNova]

Soul Blazer
Link to the Past
Final Fantasy 7
Oblivion
Fallout 4
Minecraft

Just games I either know inside and out, or can do whatever I want in

 

[DJwest]

Then there's also...

Streets of Rage 2 when I just wanna turn my brain off, vibe to some great music, and beat up bad guys.

Click to shrink...

SOR2

Click to shrink...

Is the original trilogy available on ps4/xbox?

 

[Pascal]

Is the original trilogy available on ps4/xbox?

Click to shrink...

Yeah in the Sega Genesis Classics compilation. Not sure if you can get it anywhere else on PS4. There's also free versions of SoR1 and 2 on mobile if you can get past the touch controls.

 

[lilojigsaw]

A golden sun game.

 

[Jakten]

Spelunker. It's short so it's easy to just sit down and playthrough it in 10 minutes and since it's a lot of concentration and rote memorization it's easy to not have to think about anything else. Touhou games are similar but I usually suck at the later levels so it only works for awhile.

 

[Flevance]

Dreams and Super Mario Maker 2 (and 1 at some point), there's always something new to experience with these two that gives you peace of mind

 

[Dervius]

Right now, the Spyro trilogy.

Collecting gems and platforming is incredibly chill.

That or blasting stormtroopers in Star Wars Battlefront II's coop mode.

 

[Rzarekta]

Tetris Effect, but haven't played it in a while now that I think about it

 

[DJwest]

Yeah in the Sega Genesis Classics compilation. Not sure if you can get it anywhere else on PS4. There's also free versions of SoR1 and 2 on mobile if you can get past the touch controls.

Click to shrink...

Thanks a lot

 

[Exellus]

Chrono Trigger
Suikoden 2
Shining Force 2

I go back to each of these games frequently.

 

[mute]

Outrun.

 

[Cajun]

I don't have one particular game like this, but rhythm games are the ultimate feel good. Just listen to some good tunes and crush some friends' scores.

 

[eddieXVI]

Jak and Daxter

 

[Cornyzuka]

A Short Hike

 

[PeterThePanda]

Playing Borderlands 3 on Mayhem mode and hearing those "pings" while all these cool weapons just rain on the level is just orgasmic.No looter shooter can do it better than this

 

[MickD]

Lumines

 

[Scruffy8642]

Difficult games like Souls are great I find. It's nice to just be able to lose sight of everything going on in your life and place all your focus on the hurdle in front of you until you overcome it. I feel like playing more relaxing type games doesn't use enough of my brain, and when I haven't had a great day, they're not enough to distract me from my thoughts.

 

[Valcon]

This masterpiece.

 

[Bigmac]

For me it's Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon on N64. Something about the music, graphics, gameplay all come together to give me a good warm and fuzzy feeling that I come back to at least once a year. Love that game.

 

[Winstano]

Tetris Effect/Resogun. Switch off, enjoy the visuals, feel better

 

[Mad_Rhetoric]

Mario Sunshine.