What are your "cool down" games

[Professor James]

Technically, videogames in general are used for leisure but if you just want to fully relax and have a low stress, easygoing experience; I wouldn't boot up Counter-Strike or Starcraft. I might be mocked for this but my relaxation game is Peggle. No complicated mechanics and can take as much time as you want to line up your shot.

 

[brtt150]

Dark Souls

 

[the_dramatica]

I put on some music and do some quake trick jumping. It would complicated if played normally but I just run around and rocket jump and stuff.

 

[Elfgore]

Rogue Legacy and FTL are my two. I never feel a compulsive need to complete those games and I view dying as no big deal. I've never found myself shouting in frustration at them, or hell, even feel frustrated.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

Pokemon, and right now it's Alpha Sapphire.

It don't need to put much thought into playing the game, and I can grind mindlessly.

The music in the game is pretty relaxing anyways, so it puts me in a very mellow state. Until I have to face the Elite Four because then it's show time, motherfuckers!

 

[Buzz Killington_v1legacy]

Right now it's Ticket to Ride. No twitchy reflexes required--it's just a quick board game-y railroad-building thing that's weirdly relaxing.

If I'm feeling a little more action-y, I'll start up Goat Simulator and just screw around. (I was pretty much hooked when I headbutted a guy off the end of a construction crane.)

 

[Lilani]

Dark Souls

Oho, funny! Very funny! We got a joker over here! Relaxing with Dark Souls! HA! Is that before or after you bathe in acidic sludge and trim your toenails with a rusty spoon?

*cough*

For me, I guess the Portal or Half-Life games, or Skyrim, or Minecraft, or Mass Effect. Something I'm already very familiar with and can practically do blindfolded, or and can build myself up to the point where I'm OP and just destroy all challenges easily. Basically any game where all the risks and variables are known, and the only challenge left for me is deciding what to do. Play through the puzzles quickly, or stop and smell the roses and look at the details? Magic or arms, Stormcloaks or Imperials, heavy armor or light? Build a cottage or explore more caverns? Paragon or renegade?

 

[Story]

Animal Crossing.
It still feels nice fetching fruit for talking animals after a long stressful day.

 

[default]

Dustforce. It's one of my all time favourite games.

Look at this trailer. For me this is the ultimate in zen, chill out games (unless you're shooting for super fast times or playing one of the ultra hard levels).

 

[The Madman]

Unreal Tournament 2004.

Not really sure I'd call it low stress, but it's my go-to game for when I want to enjoy something quick for a few minutes or don't particularly feel like playing or doing anything more serious.

 

[Squilookle]

For me it was always Pilotwings 64.

There was just something so peaceful about drifting around a tropical island riding warm thermals in my hang-glider while listening to this:


Outside that, it was occasionally Just Cause 2, or maybe some iteration of UT with the bots turned low for a change.

I never owned a Wii, but if I did I imagine I'd play Endless Ocean and Animal Crossing to chill out.

Also Minecraft, but rarely.

 

[Tahaneira]

Arkham City. Specifically, that one map in the museum with all the standard thugs. No armored henchmen, no weapons that require special tactics, just punch punch punch until they're all flat on the ground. Sure I'll get tired of it after a bit and either do something else or switch to a more challenging map, but by that point I've usually unwound from whatever stress I'm feeling.

 

[username sucks]

Minecraft, Skyrim, or Dark Souls 2.

Some of you may think I'm crazy for saying Dark Souls, but I've gotten to the point in that game that I rarely die, no matter what build I'm running. I can take down some imposing bosses with ease, and the satisfaction is still there.

 

[erbkaiser]

Euro Truck Simulator 2 & Prison Architect

ETS2 because it is absolute Zen, and PA because I can play it on a secondary monitor without needing to do much more than do the occasional scan for contraband.

 

[False Messiah]

Either Minecraft or one of the Harvest Moon games. I like games where you build a nice home for yourself, starting from little. I wish there where more games like that.

 

[stroopwafel]

Probably the Creed games. They are like an interactive virtual tour through some popular city in a different time period. If you look for it there is also so much environmental detail, its impressive. It's the same appeal aimlessly wandering in a game like Skyrim has. So yeah, those are probably the most relaxing games I can think of.

 

[wooty]

Recently its been Shogun 2: Total War. A mix of relaxing traditional Japanese music on the campaign map and the need to carry a thought process calms me down.

It also takes me back to when I went to Japan, the only time in recent memory where I can honestly say I had peace of mind. I was walking around Himeji Castle listening to the OST on my iPod at the time. Made it a lot more atmospheric.

 

[timeformime]

Either Assassin's Creed or Grand Theft Auto V, just running and dicking around, or Gran Turismo 6, just tinkering with my cars and taking them out on the track. If I want to relax I typically won't pick a Lambo or Ferrari. Hatchbacks like the Delta or Clio are some of the most relaxing and fun to drive, especially around the new Sierra circuit.

 

[go-10]

Far Cry 4, I just mindlessly walk around and see what happens. To make it more entretaining I don't use the map I simply look up see if there's something cool in the horizon and try to make my way there. See a large tower, try to get to it, see some smoke try to find my way to it. Not using the map makes thus game 4 times as fun

 

[The Raw Shark]

Dark Souls or Metal Gear Rising.
Nothing gets me more cooled down.

Then again occasionally even RPGs do that (Think Normal mode on something like say Dragon Age, awful Auto Save not withstanding).