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submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by binaryqueen@programming.dev to c/nostupidquestions@lemmy.world

Dear community,

I'm looking for a similar (calm) game like Portal 1/2 or Firewatch that I can play on macOS with a similar vibe. The last time I played a game is years ago, and I wish I had at least once a week a nice single-player game that I can play 1-2 hours. =)

I enjoyed Portal because I had to plan out what I'm doing before I act (without being pressured to act), the atmosphere of the game was legendary and I liked that little robot following me. Firewatch had a calm amazing story, there was no 'action' but sometimes that feeling that something could happen. It was a nice exploring game.

Any ideas?

Update: Thank you for your input!

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[-] JATtho@lemmy.world 16 points 6 days ago

I enjoyed Portal because I had to plan out what I’m doing before I act (without being pressured to act), the atmosphere of the game was legendary and I liked that little robot following me

Portal 2 has two community made "Valve Quality" DLCs. "Portal Stories: Mel" and "Portal: Revolution". Mel seems playable on macOS at least. Revolution is basically a Portal 2 presequel. (It's also so long I would have payed for it.)

[-] hardcoreufo@lemmy.world 14 points 6 days ago

Talos Principal 1 and 2. They are also story based puzzle games. I'm not sure I'd Talos 1 remaster or 2 are on Mac but I'm sure the original one is, which still holds up.

[-] SorteKanin@feddit.dk 6 points 5 days ago

The Talos Principle is amazing and the sequel is super good too. Devs recently came out with a remaster of the first game too.

Outer Wilds is a masterpiece, although it's not completely chill at all times (actually can be scary but only rarely and you can disable that too). But it's a really really really good game.

[-] binaryqueen@programming.dev 3 points 5 days ago

Talos Principle

This. 👍

[-] gilokee@lemmy.world 13 points 6 days ago

A Short Hike! Play as a little bird, climbing a mountain, flying/gliding, talking to quirky characters. Beautiful pixel art. Also Fez.

[-] happysplinter@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

Loved this game so much! I just wanted more after I finished. I'll have to look up the studio and see what else they've done.

[-] pinball_wizard@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Yes. I hope we someday get so many sequels to "A Short Hike"!

Edit: Since the protagonist is a Penguin, it just begs for "A quick swim."

Hardspace: Shipbreaker in sandbox/unlimited mode

[-] InputZero@lemmy.world 5 points 6 days ago

Agreed. Without the shift timer the game is almost peaceful.

[-] Sudomeapizza@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

If factory games are up your alley, Factorio is also great. You can completely turn off the enemy forces/bugs and just build stuff. They have native ports for Mac, along with every other OS, and Nintendo Switch!

[-] btsax@reddthat.com 10 points 6 days ago

Untitled Goose Game

[-] xorollo@leminal.space 8 points 6 days ago

Escape Game Simulator - puzzles, no pressure, exploring encouraged.

Crime Scene Cleaner - no stress, but a little spooky, very relaxing

Slime Ramcher - turn off tarrs and explore. Breadcrumb story, great music and sound effects.

The Entropy Centre is a largely Portal-inspired game that will require you to plan out what you're doing even more than Portal. (Note: there are a few chase sequences and a few battle ones that break this pattern.) And there's a cute robot called E, and your portal-gun-equivalent has an AI too. Basically, it's Portal but the AIs are friendly.

And then there's The Talos Principle series, which is even more like what you're looking for.

[-] binaryqueen@programming.dev 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)
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[-] Sly2@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago

I heard Doom is a very peaceful game. You might wanna try that.

[-] Avicenna@programming.dev 6 points 6 days ago

A very calm game in the same genre: Wolfenstein.

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[-] deafboy@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago
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[-] Cethin@lemmy.zip 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

The Talos Principle (both of them, though the DLC for 1 is optional, and incredibly challenging). They're the best puzzle game I can recommend next to Portal. They do their own thing, and almost to the same level. The gameplay doesn't feel quite as smooth, but there's a lot it goes better than Portal too.

The Outer Wilds. It doesn't feel as chill to some people, but I think it is. Very tiny first ~20m spoiler that can help with being chill:

spoilerit's a time loop, so there are no consequences. Feel free to wreck your ship. It'll be repaired next loop. Feel free to mess around and die. You'll lose nothing. Don't be sucked into the idea you need to do things well or quickly, because it literally does not matter. The only thing that effects the next loop is what you learned.

[-] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 7 points 6 days ago

The first Kerbal Space program?

Timberborn?

Disco Elysium?

If you don't mind turnbased then a whole bunch of stuff.

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[-] whotookkarl@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 6 days ago

Dear Esther, walking sim with great soundtrack

The secret of monkey island, maniac mansion: day of the tentacle, Sam and max hit the road in scummvm, old school Lucas arts adventure comedy games

Kentucky route zero, adventure game making a delivery for an antiques shop with ghosts and bluegrass

[-] asdfasdfasdf@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago
[-] spudsrus@aussie.zone 6 points 6 days ago

Factorio on peaceful settings is pretty calm

[-] MrKoyun@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

Gris is a nice, chill game with a really beautiful artstyle.

[-] variouslegumes@reddthat.com 6 points 6 days ago

I really enjoyed playing the Myst and Riven remakes. Definitely give them a shot. Especially Riven.

[-] Queen___Bee@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I enjoy calmer games most times I'm gaming so I have a lot. The genre I most like is puzzle games, but there are a few exploration/ walking simulators here, too. Among the games already listed, there are:

  • The Room
  • Doors
  • Boxes
  • Machinka Museum
  • My Brother Rabbit
  • The Gardens Between
  • Stela
  • La Rana
  • Dawn
  • Manifold Garden
  • Discolored
  • Tree Bonzai
[-] aquinteros@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago

no man's sky, always relaxes me after a tough day

[-] Echolynx@lemmy.zip 3 points 6 days ago
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[-] agnomeunknown@lemmy.ml 4 points 6 days ago

Maybe a bit too calm, but I really enjoyed what I played of Wanderstop. It's from the dev of Stanley parable, with music from c418 of Minecraft fame. I haven't yet finished it because I got distracted by other games but it's a really peaceful game where you brew tea and gradually unravel a story about trauma and healing from it. Even without finishing the story I can highly recommend it because it's just so beautiful to look at and the core gameplay is simple but engaging. You're an arena champion who stumbles upon a tea shop while looking for respite from battle, and you farm ingredients to combine into different teas for other travelers who come across the tea shop.

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[-] pocker_machine@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

Oxenfree - similar to firewatch

[-] MinFapper@startrek.website 5 points 6 days ago

This one easily veers into survival horror, for those of us with thalassophobia. But I also say that the people afraid of the ocean should play it, because that’s where the game truly thrives.

[-] HiTekRedNek@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

How about a nice game of Global Thermonuclear War?

Or maybe just tic tac toe.

[-] jam12705@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

I was always more fond of Chess, or Guerrilla Engaugement for a calm evening at home.

[-] binaryqueen@programming.dev 2 points 5 days ago

uhm, I'd prefer tic tac toe then

[-] HiTekRedNek@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

You need to go watch an 80's movie with Matt Broderick in it called WarGames.

[-] ryathal@sh.itjust.works 4 points 6 days ago

Transistor and Bastion are similar games that can be chill with combat.

Thomas was alone is a chill platformer with a nice story.

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this post was submitted on 17 May 2026
189 points (100.0% liked)

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