Games that relieve stress

[Maeta]

In the past 7 months I've found myself experiencing bouts of anger that I see as totally justifiable, and I've needed ways to sorta calm myself down a bit before I do any work, so first off back in February I bought Painkiller on Steam and found that the titular weapon was amazingly effective at making me feel better (no doubt because I'm an absolute sociopathic lunatic), and the game had an overall cthartic effect, but then the wheel on my mouse broke and I haven't sorted a new mouse just yet. The anger was triggered again yesterday morning so I went on G-Mod and spawned scored of Alyx and Mossman (as those who upset me bear resemblance to them) and went on a crowbar rampage, which was quite amusing, I thought.

2 questions for you: Am I totally messed up? And have you ever found a game like that that just makes you feel better, whether relieving anger or anything else?

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Borderlands just always feels relaxing when I'm playing with friends.

When I really need to zone out though and do something totally mindless I usually play Dragon's Nest.

 

[thedarkfreak]

Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast.

Use console commands to summon a billion stormtroopers, then enable realistic lightsaber physics(i.e. touching the blade can kill, and allowing dismemberments.) FUN.

What's also hilarious is watching the friendly AI bug out, because of the fact that you were never intended to have more than one "ally" with you at a time.

The AI is programmed to automatically attack whatever attacks an ally; THIS CAN BE ANOTHER ALLY.

Much fun was had by summoning a swarm of Luke Skywalkers, turning on realistic lightsaber phsyics, and summoning ONE stormtrooper in the center of them. They ALL pull out their lightsabers and attack; one of them is BOUND to accidentally kill another one, and from that point on, it's an all-out deathmatch that's fucking hilarious.

 

[ace_of_something]

All of them? I mean that's the whole point of a hobby isn't it?

Flower is so soothing and new agey if you want to relieve stress studies show doing something that CALMS you is better then doing something that is frantic and will wind you up.

 

[Anarchemitis]

Sid Meier's Railroads.
The game is designed to be harshly competitive but I'm so good at it that it's not really a challenge, and there's some element of relaxation that comes from managing a railroad somehow.

 

[BlackLurker]

It seems like it would be weird to play something that makes you -more- stressed. Unless you take your games way too seriously, in which, truthfully as can be, not out of insult or anything, I can't think of anything I could say. I hope you enjoy it?

As for my stress reliever... the spray of blood across a room and the hacky slash goodness that is Ninja on World action in Ninja Gaiden 2 has -always- been my favorite stress reliever. Even the Machines can be used to litterally -paint-. It's just... enjoyable.

And no, you aren't messed up (at least I assume so). There are plenty of people far worse than you or me, including how we handle our gaming. Did you know that someone actually went out and stabbed another gamer over being knifed in I think Counter Strike? That's ridiculous.

 

[Maeta]

It seems like it would be weird to play something that makes you -more- stressed. Unless you take your games way too seriously, in which, truthfully as can be, not out of insult or anything, I can't think of anything I could say. I hope you enjoy it?

Ok, I kinda fumbled words with the 'games that relieve stress' thing, as I more meant your 'go to' game for harder times, but then it's not really been an issue so far in the replies. Admittedly, though, I do kinda take FM2010 way too seriously because the teams I manage are sorta downtrodden in real life.

Did you know that someone actually went out and stabbed another gamer over being knifed in I think Counter Strike? That's ridiculous.

I think I had heard about that but forgotten it. That's really... That's messed up... damn...

 

[TriggerHappyAngel]

GTA IV... hitting people with your car never gets old.

 

[Theo Rob]

for me its dynasty warriors, offing soldiers by the hundreds is refreshing

 

[Byere]

Personally, I'm quite partial to playing the Fallout games, but that's just my choice. It'll be the same with Skyrim and Diablo 3 when they come out. Any game where I can run around and kill multiple enemies in quick succession helps me out.

 

[LordRoyal]

Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast.

Ahh Jedi Outcast, the only game's multiplayer I played for more then a week straight. Amazing single player but the multiplayer was fantastic

Anyway Serious Sam has been a major stress reliever for me for a number of years. When the HD remake came out I almost squealed like a girl in anticipation.

All of them? I mean that's the whole point of a hobby isn't it?

I dunno some video games I play like Baldur's Gate and Starcraft require a lot of thinking/strategy, I usually don't play them while I'm stressed out simply because I dont exactly think straight when I'm stressed/exhausted

 

[ExileNZ]

2D fighters seem to do the trick for me.

Failing that, some FPSs.

 

[jacobythehedgehog]

Plants Vs Zombies, and also Flower. Any game really but these arte games that make you happy

 

[kouriichi]

Minecraft.
Put on some sooooooothing music, change it to peaceful, and build a prison tower deep in the earth to lock away all your negative thoughts.

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

2 questions for you: Am I totally messed up? And have you ever found a game like that that just makes you feel better, whether relieving anger or anything else?

Nah, you're not crazy.

Personally, when I get mildly depressed or severely frustrated, I need to play a game that involves blowing up everything in sight. Then, once I'm a bit better, I find that speedrunning helps me take my mind off of things (I enter a sort of "zen" when I start seriously speedrunning).

So...The best option for me is a game that combines both of these. Shadow the Hedgehog. I just skip the crappy story and blow up everything in sight, while trying to reach the end of the level as fast as I can. It usually works, and I feel a lot less frustrated than when I started playing.

Next time I need to vent, though, I think I'll give InFamous's evil side a run. PLENTY of carnage to be had there.

Borderlands just always feels relaxing when I'm playing with friends.

0_o I find it ANYTHING but relaxing. There is non-stop anarchy everywhere! ...Although that DOES make it one of those games that would make me feel better when angry. Especially with friends. It's so much fun to run into an ambush of 3 badasses and a bunch of random enemies, and then survive by the skin of your teeth.

It's just not relaxing.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Borderlands just always feels relaxing when I'm playing with friends.

0_o I find it ANYTHING but relaxing. There is non-stop anarchy everywhere! ...Although that DOES make it one of those games that would make me feel better when angry. Especially with friends. It's so much fun to run into an ambush of 3 badasses and a bunch of random enemies, and then survive by the skin of your teeth.

It's just not relaxing.

If it's not relaxing then you speced your character wrong.

My Soldier is pretty much invincible, has a super high powered assault rifle, and every time he kills someone he's shields and health regen and he gets higher accuracy and less recoil, which makes it even easier to kill people. Dropping a turret also regens health and shields.

It's a very relaxing game when pretty much nothing can touch you.

 

[rt052192]

Always Oblivion when I'm just chilling out

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I actually find The Sims 3 really relaxing and cheerful, just building a random house or playing a household. It's pretty much a no pressure, ridiculously easy game.

Spoiler: just for lols I'm building this house atm in between Deus Ex and Bastion :p

 

[The_Deleted]

Always Oblivion when I'm just chilling out

Yeah, something about the scenery and slowpaced game play keeps me very serene.
Fallout's world is just too depressing to be relaxing.