Between the hustle and bustle of work and school, life can sometimes get away from us. So it’s important to take care of yourself and relax every now and then. These six games can help you relax and unwind from an otherwise stressful day.
- Stardew Valley Developed & Published by ConcernedApe/Chucklefish.
This is the perfect game for those who have ever felt the grind of the good old nine to five job. You’ve just inherited your late grandfather’s farm located in Pelican Town and decide that it’s time to get the heck away from it all! Stardew Valley is a farming simulator that provides endless hours of entertainment. The possibilities are endless with the amount that there is to be done on Stardew Valley. To name a few you can spend your time fishing, farming, and mining. You can also get to know the locals and eventually marry if that is your fancy. The soundtrack is super relaxing and overall does an amazing job at setting the mood. Plus to top it all off it’s easy to pick up and put down again. But be warned it’s highly addictive! So you may find yourself surprised at how hard it is to put down. You can find Stardew Valley across multiple platforms such as Steam,Playstation, Xbox, both the google play and app store respectfully.
2. World’s Dawn Developed & Published by Wayward Prophet.
This game has to be one of the most wholesome farming simulation games out there. With its rich colors and charming art style, it’s sure to catch your eye. Your character arrives in Sugar Blossom Village, a small town that is a ghost of its former self. Despite all that your character finds themselves welcomed with opened arms. What truly makes this game so wholesome is the wide range of characters. As you go throughout the game, you’ll find each character thought-provoking. The great thing about World’s Dawn is the sense of community you have as you play the game. It truly makes you feel as though you as the player are a part of this community. The music is a treat to listen to and does a great job of creating a sense of atmosphere. There are several things that you’ll find yourself doing in this world. Farming, fishing, mining and most importantly restoring life to Sugar Blossom Village. For those who enjoy the marriage system in simulation games, you won’t be disappointed. With a generous range of candidates, you may find it hard to choose! Overall this heartwarming game isn’t to be missed! You can find World’s Dawn on Steam!
3. Slime Rancher Developed Monomi Park & Designed by Nick Popovich.
If you truly wanted to get away why not take a trip to the Far, Far Range? The player plays as Beatrix Lebeau, a young rancher who travels from Earth to a planet far, far away. There she sets about managing a wide variety of slimes while getting to know the other farmers via telecommunication. You’ll spend your days caring for slimes, exploring the Far, Far Range and discovering it’s many secrets along the way. Just be sure to watch out for those pesky Tar slimes! The game is downright adorable and very playful in nature and at other times very touching. What starts out as a seemingly simple game, soon becomes so much more. It has a lot of character that will easily pull curious players in. Because it is so immersive, it’s not hard to log several hours into Slime Rancher before you even realize it. The game is an adventure that everyone should experience at least once. With its soothing music and colorful, fun art style with an added underlying mystery; there’s something for everyone. You can find Slime Rancher on the following platforms Steam, Playstation and Xbox.
4. Staxel Developed by Plukit & Published by Humble Bundle.
Fans of Minecraft and simulation games alike will enjoy this quirky title. One of the first things that caught my eye about this game was how colorful everything was. The second was the darling characters that you meet along the way. In Staxel you can get both the single-player and multiplayer experience. There’s also a generous amount of character customization from the very beginning. Going so far as to allow the player to choose from three different races. Elf, Human, Caith.
Upon arriving you’re tasked with becoming the town’s builder. From there you’ll find it’s easy to create your own sandbox adventure with Staxel. Most everything can be customized to suit your creativity and then some. There’s a lot to do within the world besides just building. Get your farm on, spend the day fishing or maybe hanging with the villagers in your town.
There are also several festivals and quests to partake in. While there’s no marriage system in-game, you can reach best friend status and even have a roommate. As with the above games, if you’re a player who enjoys gaming soundtracks, you won’t be disappointed. The music in Staxel is easy on the ears and is very lulling. This game has a lot of charm and is a hidden gem among hidden gems. Presently you can only find Staxel on Steam but there are plans for console release at some point!
5. My Time At Portia Developed by Pathea and Published by Pathea & Team 17 Digital Limited.
The end of the world has come and gone. Society has started to rebuild and while shaky, it is thriving. You arrive fresh off the boat and straight into the town of Portia. You’ve just inherited your Pa’s workshop and quickly set off to restore it to its former glory. While farming isn’t the central focus, it is possible to raise crops. Crafting plays a bigger part in this game, so those who enjoy this element won’t be disappointed. It doesn’t stop there, you’ll find yourself fishing and ruin diving for needed materials. There’s also several festivals and events to enjoy along the way. You can also build relationships, marry and have kids. As for the romance candidates themselves, you’ll find that you have a plethora of choices. It’s both refreshing and surprising to see how many candidates there are. Portia is one of those games that isn’t always on everyone’s radar. But should be. With the amount that there is to do, it’s a great way to spend some well deserved down time. With its overarching storyline makes it feel reminiscent of earlier Harvest Moon games. Giving the player a gold mine of nostalgia. You can pick up My Time At Portia on Steam, Playstation, Xbox and the Nintendo Eshop.
6. Animal Crossing Developed by Nintendo & Created by Katsuya Eguchi.
Animal Crossing is a well known and beloved franchise. It has spanned a total of five games alongside a couple of spin off games and a mobile app. The most recent installment being Animal Crossing New Horizons. Each game varies and has evolved more and more as the series has gone on.
At the heart of it you find yourself venturing out on your own to put down roots in a town filled with animal neighbors. It’s there you become indebted to a tanuki, (in the Western version he’s referred to as a racoon.) after he offers you a place to stay. In no time you’ll find yourself picking fruit, going fishing, hanging out with neighbors and even fossil hunting! There are many charming things about the world of Animal Crossing. It’s the ultimate de-stressor from the calming music to the relaxing activities of everyday life.
Truly it’s a world you can get lost in and keep coming back to again and again. It has a real time clock so that you can experience the seasons and holidays at the same time. Which is what initially drew me in when my neighbor introduced me to the game in my teens. Over years it always amazes me how the series manages to grow and adapt with the times. Even better it’s newcomer friendly so you don’t have to start with the first installment if you’re new to the franchise. You can pick up the latest installment from Amazon, your local retailers, or if you prefer digital try the Nintendo eshop!
As the gaming world is ever evolving there are more and more simulation games that come across my radar. The above list are just a few that I personally recommend to those who are just looking to take a brief break from the chaotic world around them. Life is already crazy as is but it’s important to take a break from time to time. If you have the means and are looking for something new to play I suggest picking up one or all the above titles.
~Thage Basilisk~ 