Games that you can play while watching something in the background (preferably PS4)

[dscross]

I've recently been having fun playing games where you don't really have to follow the story very closely but are still great fun to play while watching something at the same time. A lot of the games I've got that I haven't played yet are quite story heavy. Basically, something where you don't have to concentrate on the sound too closely or have to read too much on screen.

Of games that fit this on ps4 ive played...

Bloodstained
Hollow knight
Streets of Rage
Shantae
Tearaway unfolded
Trials of mana
Secret of mana
Wondetboy
Castlevania (all available)
Resident Evil games (all available)
Shovel Knight
Sonic Mania
Freedom Planet
Horizon Zero Dawn (side missons)
The Witcher 3 (side missions)
Rez
Mega Drive Collection

So no need to suggest the above as I have played them. I don't tend to like FPS games either so none of those please.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

No Man's Sky? Doesn't even pretend to have a story. You're pointed vaguely in the direction of the Galactic Core with some lore thrown in for flavor, but once you're done with the tutorial it's just a space survival sim. Lately I've been bouncing around galaxies and planets for hours listening to all kinds of podcasts, just gathering resources and building bases.

 

[Dalisclock]

I imagine most open world games could be played with something playing in the background. Most of them handhold/railroad you pretty heavily during the main missions anyway and the freeplay stuff can be done at your own pace.

 

[Dreiko]

I only ever do that on my phone with shadowverse (card game) or fate/grand order. Not with console stuff.

 

[SckizoBoy]

Anything by 'thatgamecompany', though that might be missing the point of the games that they do.

The later Dynasty Warriors, and that ilk of game might fit too. They're just a run from point A to point B killing anything that moves sort of game anyway. AFAIK, they ported 8XL to PS4 (dunno about 9, apparently it's shit, tho).

 

[dscross]

No Man's Sky? Doesn't even pretend to have a story. You're pointed vaguely in the direction of the Galactic Core with some lore thrown in for flavor, but once you're done with the tutorial it's just a space survival sim. Lately I've been bouncing around galaxies and planets for hours listening to all kinds of podcasts, just gathering resources and building bases.

I've heard mixed things about no man's sky. Is it worth it?

 

[CaitSeith]

Minecraft is my choice for that.

 

[dscross]

Minecraft is my choice for that.

Nah I'm not into Minecraft. I don't get much out of it. Terraria I don't mind, though, in that kinda genre, but I've played it.

 

[Yoshi]

literally any Nintendo Switch game

play in handheld while you watch the TV

 

[Drathnoxis]

I don't see the point. Is your attention span that small that you can't focus on just one thing at a time? You are going to be either missing some of what is going on in the game or going on in the show.

The only time I've done it is when the game I'm playing turns into a slog and I need something to help me get through it, but actively looking for a game like that is strange.

 

[Worgen]

Smite. Its quite a good 3rd person moba that I tend to frequently play while watching vids. There is also a game like Terraria.

 

[dscross]

I don't see the point. Is your attention span that small that you can't focus on just one thing at a time? You are going to be either missing some of what is going on in the game or going on in the show.

The only time I've done it is when the game I'm playing turns into a slog and I need something to help me get through it, but actively looking for a game like that is strange.

No, I plenty of games where I get immersed, judgey mcjudgeson. I'm just going through a multi-tasking phase with games where I'm enjoying doing them both. People's brains are different and want different things at different times. It's a different, equally valid, skill.

 

[meiam]

Warframe if that's your thing (probably destiny too, haven't played much)
Horizon zero dawn would probably work well, maybe with some pausing whenever a story event happen.
earth defence force is pretty much made for mindless grinding.
Maybe MGS5.

 

[happyninja42]

Slay the Spire is good, as it doesn't really have a story, it's just a deck building card game where you try and climb the tower and slay the heart at the top. It's fun and engaging, but it doesn't need sound, isn't timed, so you can stop paying attention to it for stretches of time without any issue.