Suggestions for "calm" games?

[Cowabungaa]

Apart from Ico, i have no idea. What about turning off the console and go for a walk in the park? Thats calming.

I have it turned off for weeks, the question is: should I turn it on, or go for that walk in the park.

Why not, y'know, do one first and then do the other?

Anywho, I'd suggest a couple of games:

- Civilization 5. The turn-based nature combined with a really [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn3t1ZQKSPo&feature=related] serene [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERp1ELUVVak&feature=relmfu] soundtrack [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I_dG9NcDjk] makes managing your empire a very soothing experience. It's also not as hard on you, management-wise, over the previous Civ's so I'd recommend that one.

- The Settlers: Rise of an Empire. It's a pretty easy Settlers game, but it's just so very Zen to see your kingdom grow and see all those chubby folks walking around doing stuff for you. Here too, the soundtrack [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeTkYGBgzZA] helps. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeKVsB_bBcI]

- Any Anno game. I've only played the very first and Anno 2070, but I love both. Especially without combat it's just a joy to set up a prosperous colony, watch it grow, watch the cash roll in. No pressure.

- Simcity 3000. Same thing really. Simcity 4 is quite a bit harder so I wouldn't pick that if you want to relax. 3000's Extremely [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCAY-trubGA] cool [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUS7Pyuavsc&feature=related] jazz [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEj3RieAxYw&feature=relmfu] soundtrack helps as well.

- GTA: The Lost And Damned. The odd one out, yes, but I just loved simply driving around Liberty City on one of those excellent choppers (they handle so much better than any car in that game) with Liberty Rock Radio on. It's just so very relaxing.

- Locoroco. It's just so much fun. Easy, simple, colorful fun.

- Skyrim. It's pretty easy and low-pressure so I think it qualifies. Just walking around in that harsh but beautiful Nordic environment chills me down.

And last but not least:

- Read a book. Yeah. Dune really helped me relax many-a times.

 

[Vinterdraken]

Some games from my Steam list I find relaxing: Plants VS Zombies, The Path and Limbo (maybe a little to dark)

 

[Rheinmetall]

All games have excellent refferences even the most obscure ones. Everybody loves everything in this site; this isn't very illuminating for a buyer if you know what I mean.

Oh yeah, forgot about that. Sorry. People generally only write a user review on GOG if they like a game. It's helpful if you want to know why people like a certain game because if the reasons happen to be things you hate, then you know to stay away.

You know, I'm thinking that sometimes a positive, or enthusiastic review, a well documentated one nevertheless, motivates someone to try a game, even if it's not their type. It has happened to me quite a few times in the past. Sometimes we discover things we never sespected that we would love, and sometimes... we end up buying a game that it's practically unplayable for us. I guess it's a matter of luck at the end of the day.

 

[MaxiP62]

Journey.

Seriously.

Buy Journey.

Buy Journey or I will strangle you with a drunken ferret and then proceed to bludgeon your parents to death with a badger.

This this this!

 

[Brendan Stepladder]

Knytt Stories. I like iot because it focuses on tone above setting, thereby making the setting that much better.

 

[Gottesstrafe]

inb4 anyone mentions Journey.

Also, I'd give Audiosurf a look. Go through your iPod playlist on casual difficulty and let the hours slip by unnoticed...

Edit: Up for discussion as well: GTA San Sandreas or IV. I know there's a lot of emphasis on the sexy violence, the sexy races, and the sexy hot coffee but try taking the time to avoid the missions and just cruise around. I don't know how many days I've clocked just driving around on a bike with my favorite radio stations playing in the background, but the game world became a lot bigger than the missions do it credit. Hell, a few months ago when I popped the game in for a quick nostalgia trip I found a skycar while pigeon hunting. I know it's not it's not a jaw dropping discovery, but I must've played the game at least 3 times before that and this was the first time I noticed it, prompting me to actually go out and do the other challenges in hopes of finding more things I've missed.

 

[Susan Arendt]

Check out bigfishgames.com. Tons of casual games, including plenty of the hidden object/adventure hybrid. The Mystery Case Files are particularly well done, offering a decent challenge without putting on too much pressure. Puzzles are skippable, should you plain not feel like hammering away on them, and collectors' editions typically come with walkthroughs.

I find them to be extremely relaxing, as they offer just enough difficulty to be engaging, but not so much that you truly need to flex your gaming muscles too strenuously.

 

[Rheinmetall]

Apart from Ico, i have no idea. What about turning off the console and go for a walk in the park? Thats calming.

I have it turned off for weeks, the question is: should I turn it on, or go for that walk in the park.

Why not, y'know, do one first and then do the other?

Anywho, I'd suggest a couple of games:

- Civilization 5. The turn-based nature combined with a really serene soundtrack makes managing your empire a very soothing experience. It's also not as hard on you, management-wise, over the previous Civ's so I'd recommend that one.

- The Settlers: Rise of an Empire. It's a pretty easy Settlers game, but it's just so very Zen to see your kingdom grow and see all those chubby folks walking around doing stuff for you.

- Any Anno game. I've only played the very first and Anno 2070, but I love both. Especially without combat it's just a joy to set up a prosperous colony, watch it grow, watch the cash roll in. No pressure.

- Simcity 3000. Same thing really. Simcity 4 is quite a bit harder so I wouldn't pick that if you want to relax. 3000's Extremely cool jazz soundtrack helps as well.

- GTA: The Lost And Damned. The odd one out, yes, but I just loved simply driving around Liberty City on one of those excellent choppers (they handle so much better than any car in that game) with Liberty Rock Radio on. It's just so very relaxing.

- Locoroco. It's just so much fun. Easy, simple, colorful fun.

- Skyrim. It's pretty easy and low-pressure so I think it qualifies. Just walking around in that harsh but beautiful Nordic environment chills me down.

Hey thanks for all these suggestions!
Civ 5: I already have it. It's a great game no doubt, but I just couldn't get into it so much. I love so much Civ 3 that I can't easily play any other Civ game. I will surely give Civ 5 another try.
GTA: I know what you mean, I own almost all of them. Driving feels very nice in these games, though a bit flawed in GTA-4. I think the cars physics was improved in the two expansion games.
Simcity 4: What a coincidense I installed this game in the morning and I will play it some time later. As a "child" of SimCity 2000 I have sweet memories from this series.
Anno/Settlers: I haven't ever played them, so I will have them in mind.
Locoroco: I have played it, its fun indeed, but I don't think I will play it again.
Skyrim: I have it (fortunately the PC version), but haven't actually started yet. Sounds like I can combine "walking" and playing a video game, the dilemma posed at the beginning.

 

[Rheinmetall]

Some games from my Steam list I find relaxing: Plants VS Zombies, The Path and Limbo (maybe a little to dark)

I will try The Path then. Plants vs Zombies: I already have it and had a blast. Limbo seemed a little dark for my tastes.

 

[Rheinmetall]

Check out bigfishgames.com. Tons of casual games, including plenty of the hidden object/adventure hybrid. The Mystery Case Files are particularly well done, offering a decent challenge without putting on too much pressure. Puzzles are skippable, should you plain not feel like hammering away on them, and collectors' editions typically come with walkthroughs.

I find them to be extremely relaxing, as they offer just enough difficulty to be engaging, but not so much that you truly need to flex your gaming muscles too strenuously.

Thanks for the tip! Seems like I can find dozens of cool games in there.

 

[flying_whimsy]

Most of the suggestions so far have been pretty good (especially zenbound and journey). I'd just like to add a couple:

The Longest Journey for pc (not to be confused with Journey for the PS3) is fantastic point and click adventure game.

I would also recommend The Experiment for the pc (a different take on the point and click adventure) and the Myst games if you don't might something pretty old school.

Also, Katamari Damacy and We <3 Katamari (both for the PS2) are fun and relaxing; they're the kind of game where you just roll with it.

 

[Rheinmetall]

Osmos is pretty calming. very good sound track, very pretty. Like $10 on Steam

Thanks, I already have it on Android. Very clever game indeed.

 

[Susan Arendt]

Check out bigfishgames.com. Tons of casual games, including plenty of the hidden object/adventure hybrid. The Mystery Case Files are particularly well done, offering a decent challenge without putting on too much pressure. Puzzles are skippable, should you plain not feel like hammering away on them, and collectors' editions typically come with walkthroughs.

I find them to be extremely relaxing, as they offer just enough difficulty to be engaging, but not so much that you truly need to flex your gaming muscles too strenuously.

Thanks for the tip! Seems like I can find dozens of cool games in there.

The really good part is you can play all of them for an hour before you buy, which makes it easy to find the ones that really work for you. There are a bazillion games on BigFish, but they vary in quality dramatically.

Oh, one last suggestion: Emerald City Confidential. Fantastic point and click adventure game, but rather laid back.

 

[ChildishLegacy]

You should try Dark Souls.
I've never played a game with such a serene, mellowing atmosphere...

Absolutely, I'm on it at the moment and I'm just walking through the starting area, everything seems fine at the mom- OH GOD WHAT IS THAT THING AND WHERE THE FUCK DID IT COME FROM?!

 

[Rheinmetall]

Most of the suggestions so far have been pretty good (especially zenbound and journey). I'd just like to add a couple:

The Longest Journey for pc (not to be confused with Journey for the PS3) is fantastic point and click adventure game.

I would also recommend The Experiment for the pc (a different take on the point and click adventure) and the Myst games if you don't might something pretty old school.

Also, Katamari Damacy and We <3 Katamari (both for the PS2) are fun and relaxing; they're the kind of game where you just roll with it.

Thanks!
I will try The Longest Journey, I'm in the mood for classic point n' click.
Myst: either I'm a complete idiot, or it is very hard...,or both (lol) I have tried Myst 4 and couldn't make any progress.
Katamari: too hard also. I have tried Beautiful Katamari for the X360, and couldn't go far also. I think I only cleared the first two stages, after that it was impossibe.

 

[mateushac]

If you're into ponit and click, go for Sam and Max

 

[Rheinmetall]

You should try Dark Souls.
I've never played a game with such a serene, mellowing atmosphere...

Absolutely, I'm on it at the moment and I'm just walking through the starting area, everything seems fine at the mom- OH GOD WHAT IS THAT THING AND WHERE THE FUCK DID IT COME FROM?!

Hmmm, seems like you took the path down and left from the starting point and you stumbled upon the skeletons, you tried to hit them and you barely made a scratch to them, they counter attacked you and they cut off half of your health bar with one hit, you realized that this area is for lv. 30+, you retreated towards the bonfire, they chased you down and naturally they killed you, right? lol

 

[flying_whimsy]

Thanks!
I will try The Longest Journey, I'm in the mood for classic point n' click.
Myst: either I'm a complete idiot, or it is very hard...,or both (lol) I have tried Myst 4 and couldn't make any progress.
Katamari: too hard also. I have tried Beautiful Katamari for the X360, and couldn't go far also. I think I only cleared the first two stages, after that it was impossibe.

That's why I recommended the katamari games for the ps2: the difficulty curve for the 360 shot through the roof to accommodate the achievement system and I have to admit I hated it to the point that every minute I was playing I was thinking of my ps2.

Steam has The Longest Journey for pretty cheap and has a free demo to try out; I hope you enjoy it.