Image via Cardboard Computer
After a long and productive day at work, it's always nice to reward yourself with a bit of play. While some days you're ready for competitive games like Valorant and Escape from Tarkov, other days you just want to sit back and relax with a pleasant and anti-stress game.
These games help undo the anxieties of everyday life and encourage you to stop and smell the virtual flowers. Brew a cup of tea, grab your softest blanket, and come join us for the best anti-stress games.
Best relaxing games in 2022
garden collector
Image via William Chyr Studio
Manifold Garden is a game where falling is the fastest means of transport, and reality is not what it seems. In this game, you explore geometric buildings and solve puzzles, navigating a beautifully minimalist world.
In Manifold Garden, everything is infinite. The structures extend to infinity and more. The basic mechanic of Manifold Garden is that the player can change the gravity of the world by selecting a surface. Then that surface becomes the ground plane of the world. Manifold Garden is a nice game that relieves stress with its infinite architecture.
Disco Elysee
Image via ZA/UM
Disco Elysium is a crime RPG set in the forgotten city of Revachol. You play as Harry, an amnesiac detective waking up from the worst hangover of his life. As you talk to other characters, you gradually remember who you are and why a certain gumball wrapper and phone number means so much to you.
The game has a breathtaking style, and every screenshot taken from this game could be considered as an individual work of art. Revachol is relaxing to explore, and watching Harry become his own person with unique habits and ways of working is endearing.
Related: When will Disco Elysium: Final Cut release on Nintendo Switch?
Sable
Image via Shedworks
Sable is a parkour exploration game with a surprisingly unique art style. The game centers around the character of Sable and follows them as they discover where their home really is. Sand takes place in an open desert world, with dunes and steep mountains to climb. This game is truly one of a kind and the narrative is sure to connect with the player personally. Discovering the intricacies of the world of Sable is a reliable method of stress relief.
Village romance
Image via Toukana
Dorfromantik is a relaxing city building game where you place tiles to create your own cities. This game has a heartwarming vibe and the minimalist art lends itself quite well to that vibe. The game lacks time limits and narrative requirements, although there are challenges to overcome if you're the competitive type. Dorfromantik's simplistic gameplay is sure to relieve your stress after a long day.
Kentucky Route Zero
Image via Cardboard Computer
Kentucky Route Zero is a story-rich adventure game sprinkled with magical realism. The game follows Conway and his dog Blue, who search for a mysterious road known as "The Zero".
The narrative in this game is top notch and follows the stories of disparate characters whose paths cross in surprising ways. The game's gorgeous art style, along with its soundtrack of Ben Babbit and The Bedquilt Ramblers, is sure to relieve stress and make the player feel right at home.
Related: Destiny 2: Destination Tier List - Most Beautiful Destination Locations
Among the trees
Image via FJRD Interactive
Among the Trees is a survival game where the player is placed in the middle of scenic wilderness and must fend off the dangers of nature. Among the Trees gives the player a cabin as their starting point, and this becomes their base of operations.
The game encourages the player to learn how to fish, feed and survive in nature's crucible. Although it's a survival game, Among Trees sports a nice art style with bright colors and shapes, making it a solid stress reliever.
For more best-of lists, check out 5 best co-op games like It Takes Two for every platform here at Pro Game Guides.
