GTA 4 and cyberpunk 2077 for me. I've played through both of these games so many times I've lost count. I don't quite know what draws me to these two games but whenever I feel like shit playing one of these games just takes my mind off things
Ditto on Cyberpunk. I think the only games I have more hours played on are EQ, TF2, and Rogue Legacy 2.
Currently trying to get 100% on GTA4. It's such a great story-game, but I'm not a big fan of the realism-part. Also, there seems to be soo much missing in comparison to GTA:SA. Still, having a great time and I'm hyped af for the DLCs. Only have to finish the monster jumps and doves. c:
I'm perhaps the outlier in that I felt like San Andreas felt like they'd thrown shit at the wall to see what would stick. Most of the extra mechanics didn't land for me at all and I was pleased to see them gone.
For the longest time growing up it was Baldur's Gate 2. Was such a formative gaming experience for me as a kid and several of those companions feel like reuniting with old friends.
More recently, Civ V on a medium difficulty is like Solitaire for me. You can just kind of go through the motions and enjoy building an empire.
For a different kind of relaxation-through-stimulation I also kind of find myself going back to Ninja Gaiden 2 recently. It's hard to explain why this would be comforting (and the game can also be infuriating at times) but there is just something to the combat and the constant stimulation that can take your mind off things. Especially when you go back and just replay the best parts in chapter challenge as opposed to a full campaign.
More recently, Civ V on a medium difficulty is like Solitaire for me. You can just kind of go through the motions and enjoy building an empire.
I really feel this, in a weird way. I reaaally suck at RTS games, and I don't wanna know how bad I am at those extremely complex games. Not my cup of tea(sadly), but they're definitely interesting af and in my childhood I played a lot of Anno and Stronghold games, so I'd kinda love to check them out.
Subnautica on Creative Mode. It's like a SCUBA vacation where i can build my own resort.
A short hike.
Katamari Damacy
I love soundtrack
Valheim.
I spin it up every now and then just to go sailing and build some stuff. I would play more often, but pretty much all of the people I used to play with moved on to D4, or just lost interest I think.
Valheim is a great one. I personally have a hatred against those ore-farming stuff, but everything else is just soo much fun and chill.
And I feel ya with D4, most of my friends left for D3 seasons and D4 stuff, so I'm sitting here alone, thinking about what to do. :/
Morrowind, Stardew Valley, Fallout 4
Terraria the goat.
For quite some time was Chrono Trigger, I played almost every year.
I also like to play some Bethesda's games while listening podcasts
I just finished my first Terraria-playthrough on the hardest difficulty as mage, and I'm still chilling in the midgame in my highest-difficulty melee playthrough. I wanted to also say "Terraria", but I kinda stopped playing for many years. It's definitely still my number 1 game that you HAVE to play on Steam, or else you're... well, a stinky non-Terrarian! c:
Mario 64. I have like 4 save files that I am actively playing and it really gets mg head of things
Roller coaster tycoon
Anything souls, factorio, subnautica, cities skylines 1, humanity, journey, og doom.
Balatro and New Super Mario Bros.
Retro games from my formative years:
Newer games:
I realize those are divisive entries in each of their franchises, but they're the ones that hit for me and just let me wander off and do whatever I feel like.
I just wanted to play Super Mario RPG, but my 8bitdo gamepad had problems, even after opening everything up and cleaning that shit. :(
But I wanna know more about the Sierre adventures you like. I only watched Let's Plays of my favorite old-ish LPer that helped bring me those game closer(GronkhRetro)... I really love the "Leisure Suit Larry" series, anything else you recommend to watch? AND! also anything you'd like to recommend to some younger guys like me, who'd like to play those good old games? c: <3
In the late 80s/early 90s, my parents wouldn't let us have a game console, but somehow trying to bed hookers in Leisure Suit Larry was okay for their pre-teen. IDK.
If it's the humor that made LSL good for you, the Space Quest series is an easy leap. Or Freddy Pharkas. Plus lots of Lucasarts games like Monkey Island, Indiana Jones, Maniac Mansion...
The Police Quest series is my favorite. PQ1 is easily in my top games of all time. Followed very closely by the first Gabriel Knight game. I went to New Orleans years back for work and the best thing I got to do was look out over Lafayette Park and St Louis Cathedral from the same vantage point as in the game. Maybe silly, but it was a really fulfilling moment.
Oh, I always really liked the Quest for Glory games too, though I don't think I ever finished any of them. Maybe I should work on that this year.
Subnautica, Astroneer, and Powerwash Simulator
I love Powerwash Simulator. As an achievement hunter I just wish those at-best-mediocre DLCs wouldn't cost so much. :/
Super Tux Kart. Saved my life when I had nothing else but suicidal thoughts.
I feel ya, for me it was Terraria in those times. Since currently everything sucks, I might give it a shot(again). <3 Thank you. :3
Bloodborne or whatever soulslike I'm feeling at the moment. Fired up DS3 the other day after a couple o weeks with little to no gaming because I wanted something predictable and chill.
You are welcome to join us at !soulslike@lemmy.zip
Valheim
Factorio. Always. Others depends on mods. Minecraft, rimworld and satisfactory are great if mods are good for them. Well mods for Factorio too but playing space age without added content is just always so relaxing to me. Only 5k hours sadly in Factorio.
I kept finding myself coming back to No Man's Sky. Just peaceful dopamine from numbers go up
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy Tactics
Shadowrun Returns
River City Ransom
Altered Beast
To a lesser extent:
Gauntlet
Rampage
I play the Uncharted series over and over again.
Cozy Caravan
Ff14
Stardew
Okami
Harvesrt moon/story of season
Nethack
Dungeon keeper has been a go to fix for many years. I usually play through the base game campaign at least once a year. Just peak comfy gaming for me.
The Witcher 1. It's been a while since I've replayed it, but I know it like the back of my hand. Just thinking about the first chapter - gathering some White Myrtle accompanied by that lovely soundtrack - calms me down.
I'm always down for another Slay The Spire run.
The Outer Wilds.
Just makes me weep typing that.
This is still sitting in my "to play" bin, I really need to get to it.
It'll throw you through a loop at first, but stick with it and don't look up any spoilers or cheat guides. It's my all time favorite game, and I've been playing games since I had an Atari 2600.
I think for me it's usually an old 3d platformer or something, rayman 2 & 3, but i also like the ps2/3 ratchet & clank games. I replayed those a ton as a kid, and as an adult i still like to boot them up every now and then.
Hard Space: Shipbreaker
It's nigh meditative.
Red Dead Redemption 2 - played all the way through 3 times. Now I'll just load up in a random chapter and just enjoy the game and atmosphere. Sometimes I'll go a play a mission where I get you go nuts, or just load up go camping with my horse and explore the map. Or I'll make up my own challenges. Like hijacking a train to see how far around the map I could make it before getting shot. Or seeing how many racist/KKK members I can burn alive.
I like to replay The Last of Us (1) every couple of years - though it's always emotionally taxing.
Other than that I enjoy diving into Ultima 7 every here and then, though I tend to lose sight somewhere along the road, so technically speaking it doesn't fit the original post... but it's much fun/relaxing, following certain quest lines or just exploring.
Oh, Air Traffic Chaos on the DS is sometimes on the menu as well. Though I usually don't play it through, just some missions (i.e. airports and difficulties).
Sea Power: Naval Combat in the Missile Age. No more beautiful sight than a sinking carrier.
Sub for any gaming related content!
Rules:
