Best Games For Stress Relief

Taking out the time to de-stress after a long day of school or work is more important than ever in today's fast-paced world, and video games have become the popular method of relaxation for the immersive experiences they offer. While players can also boot up an online multiplayer shooter or develop their character in an MMORPG, there are also games that aredesigned with the purpose of helping players relax and beat the daily pressures of life.

So, for those who are looking for special games that help in unwinding and de-stressing, the following six titles offer not just entertainment but also a peaceful retreat for a mental break.

No Man's Sky

Explore Infinite Galaxies At Your Own Pace

• Vast, Procedurally Generated Universe: Enjoy endless exploration in a procedurally generated universe, brimming with unique star systems and mysterious planets. Players can explore these varied planets and eventually find one (or many) to build their base(s) on.
• Relaxing Space Travel: The game offers a creative mode that encourages freedom of exploration over managing survival aspects.

No Man's Sky is a visual treat for everyone who wonders about the scale of the universe and everything there is to be discovered. The game plays along this line of fantasy and offers players an experience of piloting a spaceship and exploring the unknown universe.

Players can simply jump into their spaceship and launch themselves into an adventure of exploring star systems after star systems in search of unique planets inhabited by diverse flora and fauna. Or, you could simply pursue the main questline to find out what the space-bound narrative is all about.

Prince Of Persia (2008)

Enjoy Relaxing, Fluid Gameplay & Mesmerizing Cel-Shaded Art Style

• Artistic Visuals: The 2008 reboot of Prince of Persia takes a different direction from the heavily action oriented Prince of Persia trilogy and instead focuses on captivating art style, soothing music, and fluid parkour animations, delivering a chill and meditative experience.
• Simplified Combat Mechanics: Prince of Persia 2008 also deviates from mob combat and instead replaces it with one-on-one sword fights. Combat is also made easy, and the removal of the death mechanic makes it so that players won't have to worry about losing progress.

Despite being a game released in 2008, Prince of Persia's art style and parkour animations remarkably hold up to this day. The game transports players into a beautifully crafted world where the main emphasis is on exploration and storytelling rather than combat.

This simplified gameplay formula guides players through a breathtaking world where their primary form of traversal is parkouring across walls, jumping from pillars, or using the magical power plates. The game also tops off the experience with its soothing soundtrack, which, when combined with the stunning visuals, is a great video game for those who wish to unwind after a long day.

Journey

A Meditative Experience Through A Mystical Desert

• Wordless Storytelling: Without using a single word, Journeynarrates a profound story, evoking various emotions and creating a sense of wonder in the player.
• Cooperative Exploration: Journey also features a unique cooperative experience like no other video game does. Players can encounter strangers while on their journey and travel together throughout the session.

Set in a vast, mysterious desert, Journey offers a meditative experience unlike any other. From the outset, players can recognize their goal of reaching a distant mountain and the journey to the destination tells the simple but poignant tale in less than 5 hours.

The game narrates an emotional story without using any dialogue, and players can expect to pick up on the story through the environment and the emotive soundtrack that supports discovery. Players can sometimes also come upon strangers on their own journey and take a moment to share the experience through unique chimes. Journey's minimalistic art style and soothing soundtrack is a perfect escape for anyone wishing to escape from the stresses of everyday life.

Lego Builder's Journey

Build & Solve Creative Puzzles In Tranquility

• Creative Freedom: Lego Builder's Journey offers a clean, minimalistic presentation along with soothing music and satisfying audio effects. The game's presentation promotes creativity in a calming, stress-free setting.
• Beautiful, Minimalist Design: Lego Builder's Journey features an aesthetically pleasing design with neutral color palettes, soothing soundscapes, and no time-bounded puzzles.

Lego Builder's Journey offers a delightful puzzle solving experience that encourages creativity and promotes calm. The game's neutral color tones, calming soundtrack, and aesthetic visuals offer a peaceful retreat where players can solve creative puzzles at their own pace.

The pressure-free environment and no time constraints truly allow for a relaxing experience, where players can comfortably use their imagination to progress through each puzzle.

Forza Horizon 5

Race Or Cruise Across A Stunning Imagination Of Mexico

• Open-World Exploration: Drive on long stretches of roads spanning across a large, diverse map filled with varied biomes and breathtaking vistas.
• Stress-Free Cruising: With no cops chasing you around and penalizing players for breaking traffic rules, Forza Horizon 5 encourages players to let loose and drive their favorite cars wherever and however they want.

Forza Horizon 5is a visually stunning driving game that offers more than just high-speed thrills. Set in a stunning rendition of Mexico, the game allows players to explore diverse regions and drive various types of vehicle, ranging from exotic sports cars to monster trucks.

Forza Horizon 5 also offers various casual racing modes that prioritize enjoyment over competition, making it a great option for relieving stress.

Flower

Enjoy A Serene Journey Through Nature

• Relaxing Gameplay: In Flower, players take control of the wind and guide petals through visually stunning landscapes, creating a soothing and meditative gameplay experience.
• Stunning Visuals & Soundtrack: Supporting the game's artistic visuals is the tranquil soundtrack that keeps players engaged and immersed in the atmosphere, encouraging relaxation and reflection.

Flower offers a meditative journey that blurs the line between game and art. In this game, players take control of a breeze that guides flower petals through various environments, ranging from rolling fields to more dense urban landscapes.

The game features a minimalist design and simple controls, making the game widely accessible. Players will begin their journey with a single flower petal and collect more along their journey, with a surprise waiting at the end of the game. Flower's emphasis on relaxation and simple gameplay makes this experience perfect to unwind and connect with nature in a digital space.