12 Best relaxing video games to play when you’re stressed

I don’t know about you, but I get stressed easily. Life’s hard sometimes, and my go-to relief is gaming (and hitting the gym). There are very few things I enjoy more than spending my nights playing chill games for a couple of hours before hitting the hay.

This got me thinking: how do you define a relaxing game? I have several friends who think games like Stardew Valley and Minecraft are relaxing, while I experience a mix of chill times and occasional stress. Instead, these will be ones that I can reliably hop on, knowing I will always feel much calmer and happier after.

With my exposition out of the way, here are 12 games I can confidently say are some of the most relaxing I’ve ever played, in no particular order.

12. PowerWash Simulator

• Price: $24.99
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Meta Quest

I’m sure plenty of people will see this one and ask how a power-washing game can be relaxing or how I don’t get stressed from seeing 99 percent in the top left corner. I totally get it. This one might seem a little odd at first, especially since its main (and only) premise is power-washing things.

There’s just something about hopping into games like PowerWash Simulator, cleaning a bunch of buildings, and seeing everything go from filthy to beautiful that is oddly satisfying. As someone who focuses on small sections of an area at a time, I find it very relaxing to sit back, power wash part of a level for a few hours, and watch as whatever I’m cleaning sparkles. This is one of those games you don’t expect to be fun until you go in and experience it yourself.

11. Minami Lane

• Price: $4.99
• Platforms: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch

If PowerWash Simulator is a game I can sink hundreds of hours into, Minami Lane is the cute, cozy game I spend one night playing in-between sessions. Although it’s technically a store management game, its more casual pacing makes it almost impossible to feel any stress, even in later levels when you have more features to play around with.

To sum it up quickly, Minami Lane is a casual management game where you run shops ranging from convenience stores to flower shops. The price, beauty, and shop diversity on your street determine your customers’ satisfaction levels, which vary as you unlock more character types. It sounds like a lot, but learning its mechanics is surprisingly easy.

If you’re looking for a cute, shorter game to play for a few hours that has you strategizing but not stressing, Minami Lane is a great one to pick up.

10. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

• Price: $59.99
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch

Animal Crossing is a game where you, as a human character, pay off your house mortgage while befriending anthropomorphic animals. This sounds like a recipe for stress and anxiety, but the lack of time limits, real-time progression, and events sprinkled throughout make it one of the most relaxing games ever created.

As an Animal Crossing: New Leaf fan, I was initially hesitant to get into New Horizons. I loved the chill vibes of New Leaf and its content, and I wasn’t confident the sequel could match that. Considering ACNH came out in 2020, it was either pick this up or be more bored at home than I already was.

I don’t regret it at all. Animal Crossing has always mastered the art of balancing relaxation and enjoyable gameplay, and New Horizons continues to carry that torch well. While I haven’t forgotten about New Leaf, I fully accept ACNH as a worthwhile successor.

9. Dorfromantik

• Price: $13.99
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch

At first, Dorfromantik looks like a simple tile-placing game where you collect points and build cute little plots of land. Honestly, that’s exactly what it is, which is what makes it so relaxing. It’s one of those games that you can play for 20 minutes on a lunch break or for five hours straight if you’re on a roll.

Dorfromantik also has multiple modes that determine your level of relaxation. The creative mode gives you limitless tiles, and the monthly mode lets you compete against others. It has the same vibes as Townscaper, which I’d also recommend as a nice chill game.

As a bonus, if you’re not necessarily an avid video game fan, Dorfromantik has a board game, too. Although it’s best played with four to six people, it’s also a solid option for couples or even solo.

8. Spirit City: Lofi Sessions

• Price: $11.99
• Platforms: PC

Some would say Spirit City: Lofi Sessions isn’t a video game at all. Honestly, I somewhat agree, but I’m adding it anyway.

Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is a focus tool-video game hybrid that lets you relax to lo-fi music while collecting cute animals. It comes with a customizable character and room, focus tools like a to-do list and timer, and options for adding your own music if you get sick of lo-fi and want something different. I have this open daily while I’m working, and I’ve come to appreciate its ability to calm me down when I’m stressed.

The animals are also cute. While this might not be a selling point for everyone, it definitely was for me and a few friends I recommended this game to. Having a tiny hedgehog sit next to me as my character plays next to a fireplace is something I didn’t think I’d care much about, but we all learn new things every day.

7. Terra Nil

• Price: $24.99
• Platforms: PC, Mac, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch

Terra Nil has a lot going on in and outside the game itself. Within the game, you tackle ecological conservation by turning barren, empty wastelands into beautiful ecosystems full of forests, animals, and vast oceans. It sounds daunting at first, and you’ll use numerous tools to do this, but it’s a relaxing experience that positively impacts the game’s environment.

Getting Terra Nil also helps support the Endangered Wildlife Trust, allowing you to have a positive, real-world impact outside of the game. I already recommend the game just because it’s fun, but this is a nice added bonus if you want to help a good cause.

6. Garden Galaxy

• Price: $9.99
• Platforms: PC

Here’s another one for the infinite playtime pile. Garden Galaxy is one of the most relaxing and simple games I’ve ever played, and I mean that in the best way possible. By collecting coins and tossing them into a little bowl in the center of your screen, you’ll unlock a ton of land tiles and furniture for building and decorating.

And that’s it. There’s no complex story or overly complicated mechanics that create stress. Whether you want something to kill time or pour hours into building beautifully decorated landscapes, Garden Galaxy will have what you need. This is another one that I usually only play during my lunch breaks or right before I go to bed, but it never fails to calm me down after a stressful day.

5. Unpacking

• Price: $19.99
• Platforms: PC, iOS, Android, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch

Unpacking is another one that I wasn’t expecting to enjoy as much as I did. I spent extra time making the rooms look cute, letting me clock in just under five hours overall. I loved every bit of it.

The game’s style, idea, and storyline make for an overall relaxing experience that I enjoyed way more than I expected. Although it isn’t a lengthy game, it’s another great option for something you can play and finish in a few days or fly through in one night if you immerse yourself in unpacking and tidying up your house.

Learning about our character was also interesting, even if my focus was initially on the cute pig and tiny chicken plushies. It’s a surprisingly emotional story that can make you smile and tug at your heartstrings. At the same time, it’s oddly tranquil and makes you feel at peace, especially as you realize what you’re experiencing as you play.

4. Sticky Business

• Price: $9.99
• Platforms: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch

I’ll admit it: I have a whole lot of memories and experiences involving games where you own a business, and I can count on one hand how many of them didn’t stress me out. Nonetheless, I was optimistic about Sticky Business since it struck me as a more casual and cozy game. I can happily say I wasn’t disappointed.

Although you do run a sticker business, there’s surprisingly little stress when it comes to actually running it. You mainly focus on actually creating the stickers, which, as someone who loves expressing creativity in games, is always a fun time for me. I’ve made all kinds of wacky creations in this, from a goblin making potions to floral and mushroom arrangements. The characters in it also have in-depth stories, and seeing their happiness with my sticker creations was more gratifying than I thought it’d be.

3. Summerhouse

• Price: $4.99
• Platforms: PC, Mac

We’re on a roll with relaxing sandbox games here. Like a few others on this list, Summerhouse is all about creatively expressing yourself by building houses, stores, or any other building you wish to make. There’s also a ton of secrets, which is a surefire way to get me interested in a game.

Although I haven’t invested quite as much time into this one as I have in the other games on this list, I still consider the little bit I played to be one of the most relaxing experiences I’ve had this year with games. I enjoy booting it up to show friends, especially when I get the urge to build something cool or cute.

2. Slime Rancher

• Price: $19.99
• Platforms: PC, Android, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch

Slime Rancher is one of the most adorable games I’ve ever played. You begin your journey as Beatrix LeBeau, and as you explore the Far, Far Range, you meet a host of adorable slimes. Sometime later, you gradually build a slime ranch, make money, and unlock additional areas to explore, allowing you to meet new characters and learn more about the world around you.

I’ve considered Slime Rancher one of my favorite games for years, and that still holds true to this day. I’ve played both Slime Rancher and Slime Rancher 2, and although I’d recommend the second game for its quality, it’s worth trying out the first to get the full story and experience.

If I’m ever in a bad mood, I look at the slimes’ little faces for a quick smile. Otherwise, I’m always happy to hop back into Slime Rancher for a relaxing replay.

1. Rusty’s Retirement

• Price: $6.99
• Platforms: PC, Mac

Ending this list is Rusty’s Retirement, another peculiar entry considering its purpose. At first, it may look like a regular farming simulator, but there’s an interesting twist: it takes up only a third of your screen.

Much like Spirit City, Rusty’s Retirement is a game designed to sit at the bottom of your screen as you do other things. You can watch videos, work, or even play other games as you have this idle in the background. Occasionally, you can check back, replant your crops, and see what’s new, but it’s not the type of game you actively play for hours on end.

One of the most relaxing aspects of a game to me is how little I need to focus on it, and this is a perfect example of something I can briefly play before moving on to something else. I don’t need to crunch numbers or plan out my in-game time in any way. I can just hop on, check up on it every half hour or so, and let it sit as I do other things. It’s calming yet fun, peaceful yet interesting, and I’m all for it.