I don't know about you, but I get s?tressed easily. Life's hard sometimes, and my go-to relief is gaming (and hitting the gym). There are very few things I enjoy more than spending my nights playing chill games for a couple of hours before hitting the hay.

This got me thinking: how do you define a relaxing game? I have several friends who think games like Stardew Valley and Minecraft are relaxing, while I experience a mix of chill times and occasional stress. Instead?, these will be ones that I can reliabl??y hop on, knowing I will always feel much calmer and happier after.

With my exposition out of the way, here are 12 games I can confidently say are some of the most relaxing I've ever played, in ?no particular order.

12. PowerWash Simulator

• Price: $24.99
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Meta Quest

I'm sure plenty of people will see this one and ask how a power-washing game can be relaxing or how I don't get stressed from seeing 99 percent in the top left corner. I totally get it. This one might seem a li??ttle odd at first, especially since its main (and only) premise is power-washing things.

There's just something about hopping into games like PowerWash Simulator, cleaning a bunch of buildings, and seeing everything go from filthy to beautiful that is oddly satisfying.?? As someone who focuses on small sections of an area at a time, I find it very relaxing to sit back, power wash part of a level for a few hours, and watch as whatever I'm cleaning sparkles. This is one of those games you don't expect to be fun until you go in and experience it yourself.

11. Minami Lane

• Price: $4.99
• Platforms: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch

If PowerWash Simulator is a game I can sink hundreds of hours into, Minami Lane is the cute, cozy game I spend one night playing in-between sessions. Although it's technically a store management game, its more casual pacing makes it almost impossible to feel any stress, even in?? later levels when you have more features to play around with.

To sum it up quickly, Minami Lane is a casual management game where you run shops ranging from convenience stores to flower shops. The price, beauty, and shop diversity on your street determine your customers' satisfaction levels, which vary ?as you unlock more character types. It sounds like a lot, but learning its mechanics is surprisingly easy.

If you're looking for a cute, shorter game to play for a few hours that has you strategizing but not stressing, Minami Lane is a great one to pick up.

10. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

• Price: $59.99
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch

Animal Crossing is a game where you, as a human character, pay off your house mortgage while befriending a?nthropomorphic animals. This sounds like a recipe for stress and anxiety, but the lack of time limits, real-time progression, and events sprinkled throughout make it one of the most relaxing games ever created.

As an Animal Crossing: New Leaf fan, I was initially hesitant to get into New Horizons. I loved the chill vibes of New Leaf and its ??????????????????????????content, and I wasn't confident the sequel could match? that. Considering ACNH came out in 2020, it was either pick this up or be more bored at home than I already was.

I don't regret it at all. Animal Crossing has always mastered the art of balancing relaxation and enjoyable gameplay, and New Horizons continues to carry that torch well. While I haven't forgotten about New Leaf, I fully accept ACNH as a worthwhile successor.

9. Dorfromantik

• Price: $13.99
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch

At first, Dorfromantik looks like a simple tile-placing game? where you collect points and build cute little plots of land. Honestly, that's exactly what it is, which is what makes it so relaxing. It's one of those games that you can play for 20 minutes on a lunch break or for five hours straight if you're on a roll.

Dorfromantik also has multiple modes that determine your level of relaxation. The creative mode gives you limitless tiles, and the monthly mode lets you compete against others. It has the same vibes as Townscaper, which I'd also recommend as a nice chill game.

As a bonus, if you're not necessarily an avid video game fan, Dorfromantik has a board game, too. Although it's best played with four to six people, it's also a solid option for couples or even solo.

8. Spirit City: Lofi Sessions

• Price: $11.99
• Platforms: PC

Some would say Spirit City: Lofi Sessions isn't a video game at all. Honestly, I somewhat agree, but I'm ?adding it anyway.

Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is a focus tool-v?ideo game hybrid that lets you relax to lo-fi music while collecting cute animals. It comes with a customizable character and room, focus tools like a to-do list and timer, and options for adding your own music if you get sick of lo-fi and want something different. I have this open daily while I'm working, and I've come to appreciate its ability to calm me down when I'm stressed.

The animals are also cute. While this might not be a selling point for everyone, it definitely was for me and a few friends I recommended this game to. Having a tiny hedgehog sit next to me as my character plays next to? a fireplace is something I didn't think I'd care much about, but we all learn new things every day.

7. Terra Nil

• Price: $24.99
• Platforms: PC, Mac, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch

Terra Nil has a lot going on in and outside the game itself. Within the game, you tackle ecological conservation by turning barren, empty wastela?nds into b??eautiful ecosystems full of forests, animals, and vast oceans. It sounds daunting at first, and you'll use numerous tools to do this, but it's a relaxing experience that ??positively impacts the game's environment.

Getting Terra Nil also helps support the Endangere??d Wildlife Trust, allowing you to have a positive, real-world impact outside of the game. I already recommend the game just because it's fun, but this is a nice added bonus if you want to help a good cause.

6. Garden Galaxy

• Price: $9.99
• Platforms: PC

Here's another one for the infinite playtime pile. Garden Galaxy is one of the most relaxing and?? simple games I've ever played, and I mean that in the best way possible. By collecting coi??ns and tossing them into a little bowl in the center of your screen, you'll unlock a ton of land tiles and furniture for building and decorating.

And that's it. There's no complex story or overly complicated mechanics that create stress. Whether you want something to kill time or pour hours into building beautifully decorated landscapes, Garden Galaxy will have what you need. This is another one that I ??usually only play during my lunch breaks or right before I go to bed, but it never fails to calm me down after a stressful day.

5. Unpacking

• Price: $19.99
• Platforms: PC, iOS, Android, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch

Unpacking is another one that I wasn't expecting to enjoy as much as I did. I spent extra time making the rooms look cute, letting me clock in just under five hours ove?rall. I loved every bit o??f it.

The game's style, idea, and storyline make for an overall relaxing experience that I enjoyed way more than I expected. Although it isn't a lengthy game, it's another great option for something you can play and fini??sh in a few days or fly through in one night if you immerse yourself in unpacking and tidying up your house.

Learning about our character was also interesting, even if my focus was initially on the cute pig and tiny chicken plushies. It's a surprisingly emotional story that can make you smile an??d tug at your heartstrings. At the same time, it's oddly tranquil and mak??es you feel at peace, especially as you realize what you're experiencing as you play.

4. Sticky Business

• Price: $9.99
• Platforms: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch

I'll admit it: I have a whole lot of memories and experiences involving games where you own a business, and I can count on one hand how many of them didn't stress me out. Nonetheless, I was optimistic about Sticky Business since it struck ?me as a more casua??l and cozy game. I can happily say I wasn't disappointed.

Although you do run a sticker business, there's surprisingly little stress when it comes to actually running it. You mainly focus on actually creating the stickers, which, as someone who loves expressing creativity in games, is always a fun time for me. I've made all kinds of wacky creations in this, from a goblin making potions to floral and mushroom arrangements. The characters in it also have in-depth stories, and seeing their happiness with my sti?cker cr?eations was more gratifying than I thought it'd be.

3. Summerhouse

• Price: $4.99
• Platforms: PC, Mac

We're on a roll with relaxing sandbox games here. Like a few others on this list, Summerhouse is all about creatively expressing yourself by build??ing houses, stores, or any other building yo?u wish to make. There's also a ton of secrets, which is a surefire way to get me interested in a game.

Although I haven't invested quite as much time into this one as I have in the other games on this list, I still consider the little bit I played to b?e one of the most relaxing experiences I've had this year with games. I enjoy booting it up to show friends, especially when I get the urge to build something cool or cute.

2. Slime Rancher

• Price: $19.99
• Platforms: PC, Android, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch

Slime Rancher is one of the most adorable games I've ever played. You begin your journey as Beatrix LeBeau, and as you explore the Far, ??Far Range, you meet a host of adorable slimes. Sometime later, you gradually build a slime ranch, make money, and unlock additional areas to explore, allowing you to meet new characters and learn more about the world around you.

I've considered Slime Rancher one of my favorite games for years, and that still holds true to this day. I've played both Slime Rancher and Slime Rancher 2, and although I'd recommen??d the second game for its quality, it's worth trying out the first to get t?he full story and experience.

If I'm ever in a bad mood, I look at the slimes' little faces for a quick smile. Otherwise, I'm always happy to hop back into Slime Rancher for a relaxing replay.

1. Rusty's Retirement

• Price: $6.99
• Platforms: PC, Mac

Ending this list is Rusty's Retirement, another peculiar entry conside??ring its purpose. At first, it may look like a regular farming simulator, but there's an interesting twist: it takes up only a third of ??your screen.

Much like Spirit City, Rusty's Retirement is a game designed to sit at the bottom of yo??ur screen as you do other things. You can watch videos, work, or even play other games as you have this idle in the background. Occasionally, you can check back, replant your crops, and see what's new, but it's not ?the type of game you actively play for hours on end.

One of the most? relaxing aspects of a game to me is how little I need to focus on it, and this is a perfect example of something I can briefly play before moving on to something else. I don't need to crunch numbers or plan out my in-game time in any way. I can just hop on, check up on it every half hour or so, and let it sit as I do other things. It's calming yet fun, peaceful yet interesting, and I'm all for it.

The post 12 Best relaxing video games to play when you’re stressed appeared first on Destructoid.

Many new games, including NieR Replicant and Civilization VI, are joining the PlayStation Plus Extra October 2023 lineup, as per the PlayStation Blog. Some retro games, including the Star Ocean series, will be available for Pl??ayStation Plus Premium members as well. All of these titles can be downloaded to your PS4 and PS5 on September 19.

2??0 titles ??have been announced to join the PlayStation Plus Extra October 2023 lineup. They include the following:

• NieR Replicant
• 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
• Civilization VI
• Star Ocean The Divine Force
• Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2
• Odin Sphere Leifthrasir
• Unpacking
• Planet Coaster Console Edition
• This War of Mine Final Cut
• Cloudpunk
• Contra: Rogue Corps
• Tails Noir
• Cult of the Sea
• West of Dead
• Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness
• PAW Patrol The Movie: Adventure City Calls

The PlayStation Premi??um classics lineup for October 2023 are:

• Star Ocean First Departure R
• Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
• Dragon's Crown Pro
• Star Ocean: The Last Hope - 4K & FHD Remaster

Note that PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium may be difficult for some to access due to the recent price hike. PlayStation Plus Extra is now $134.99 and PlayStation Plus P?remium is $159.99.

Thankfully, some of these new games are highly rated. NieR Replicant, for example, earned an 8.5 from Destructoid's Chris Carter. Meanwhile, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim has garnered critical acclaim for its strong writing and a beautiful art style. Destructoid gave it an 8.5/10 as well.

PlayStation Plus subscrib??ers can check out these games ??on September 19.

The post NieR Replicant and Civilization VI join PlayStation Pl?us Extra this month appeared first on Destructoid.

Be careful with that, it's expensive

If you're a PlayStation-owning Doctor of Ergonomics, then you'll be stoked to hear that one of the most compelling and engaging indie hits of 2021, Unpacking, is getting ready to move in on a console near you soon. Announced by Humble Games, Unpacking will launch on PS4/PS5 ?as soon as tomorrow, May 10.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6unR5JdqAs

For those who never checked out Witch Beam's quirky release, Unpacking tasks the player with unloading boxfuls of items within a variety of confined areas, best-fitting furniture, decorations, plants, and other possessions in a snug and aesthetically ?pleasing fashion. As you instill your design skills in each room, you'll experience an intimate and dramatic story, told through the art of relocation.

Unpacking won a bevy of plaudits from both critics and fans, who were won over by its satisfying, zen-like gameplay, fun, retro visuals, and a neat score from composer Jeff van Dyck. Players also found its underlying themes of life and the many changes that find us �intentional or otherwise �suitably affecting. Unpacking has much more to offer than the simple shifting of furniture. A ??game where the very title is equally as reflective of its ??narrative philosophy.

Unpacking launches on PlayStation tomorrow, May 10. It is available now on PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Oh, and if you get a kick out of it, then be sure gimme a call, bec??ause I'm legitimately moving house this week and I could use the help. Don't fret, you'll get to hear just as much life drama.

The post You can unpack? Unpacking on PlayStation platforms? tomorrow appeared first on Destructoid.

Both indies and big productions took home trophies today

The winners for the 2022 BAFTA Games Awards have been announced, and Housemarque's Returnal took home the top prize. Alongside the PlaySt??ation 5 exclusive, several other stars ?of 2021 added more trophies to their collection tonight.

Returnal leads the pack with wins in Best Game, Best Music, Audio Achievement, and Performer in a Leading Role for Jane Perry. It Takes Two and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart took home two BAFTAs apiece. Unpacking also took home two, thanks to the publicly vote?d EE Game of the Year award.

The indies made a strong showing tonight, though. Chicory: A Colorful Tale, Inscryption, Before Your Eyes, TOEM, Unpacking, and The Artful Escape all won awards. And No Man's Sky received recognition for its continuous growth, wi?nning the Evolving G??ame category.

The 2022 BAFTA Games Awards were held in London and streamed out over Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook. You can find a Twitch VOD of the awards show here.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOezF7i4mB0

BAFTA Games Awards 2022 Winners

Animation: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart - Inso??mniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment

Artistic Achievement: The Artful Escape ??- Beethoven & Dinosaur / Annapurna Interactive

Audio Achievement: Returnal - Housemarque / Sony Interactive Entertainment

Best Game: Returnal - Housemarque / Sony Interactive Entertainment

British Game: Forza Horizon 5 - Playground Games / Xbox Game Studios

Debut Game: TOEM - Something We Made

Evolving Game: No Man's Sky - Hello Games

Family: Chicory: A Colorful Tale - Greg Lobanov, A Shell in the Pit, Madeline Berger, A??lexis Dean-Jones, Lena Raine / Finji

Game Beyond Entertainment: Before Your Eyes - GoodbyeWorld Games / Skybound Games

Game Design: Inscryption - Daniel Mullins Games / Devolver Digital

Multiplayer: It Takes Two - Hazelight Studios / Electronic  Arts

Music: Returnal - Housemarque / Sony Interactive Entertainment

Narrative: Unpacking - Wren Brier??, Tim Dawson, Annie VanderMeer - Witch Beam / Humble Games

Original Property: It Takes Two

Performer in a Leading Role: Jane Perry as Selene Vassos, Returnal

Performer in a Supporting Role: Kimberly Brock as Hollis Forsythe, Psychonauts 2

Technical Achievement: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart - Insomniac?? Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment

EE Game of the Year (Public Vote): Unpacking - Witch Beam / Humble Games

The post Returnal, It Takes Two, and Ratchet & Clank among winners at 2022 BAFTA Games Awards appeared first on Destructoid.

Digital PlayStation launch scheduled for May 10

Unpacking was one of the purest gems in the indie game space last year, and if you missed it on PC, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch, there's good news on two fronts: additional platforms, and a physical edition. Humble Games and developer Witch Beam are rolling out Unpacking on PS4 and PS5 on May 10, includi??ng a physical release from Limited Run Games.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeVCBPVlN9w

Pre-orders are open as of this morning, if you'd like to peek �the physical PS4, PS5, and Switch copies are $34.99 each, which is in line with prior Lim??ited Run, err, runs.

The main extra is a "collector's sleeve," though I imagine the main appeal for fans is just having a chance to get thi??s great game on a shelf in an increasingly digital world.

Physical pre-orders are running until May 1

You've got until May 1 to?? make up your mind, and as a heads-up, physical games "are typically not expected to ship until 4-5 months after the pre-order window close??s."

[caption id="attachment_313950" align="alignnone" width="1600"] _{Unpacking physical editions for PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch with a "collector's sleeve."}[/caption]

Yes, Unpacking is "just" a game abo?ut pulling items out of a box and finding an appropriate space for them �but it's extremely resonant! The act of organizing everyday and eclectic stuff has this soothing quality to it, and there's also a story unfolding quietly, almost behind the scenes, as you ponder what these possessions mean to their owner.

It's a contemplative game full of cute nods to gaming, pop culture, and life, some of which will go over players' heads, depending on their background. There's even a (legally distinct) GameCube that gave some folks a hard time; it's a funky-looking console, you know?

The little details make it. I distinctly remember playing Unpacking on a plane during the holidays �it's a "holiday game," through and through �and the guy next to me was surprised that this game even existed, conceptually. "Ooh, you're into that kind of stuff." He kept trying to get me to play Mario Kart 8 with him, but I wouldn't budge. I had to unpack!

The post Limited Run’s Unpacking physical edition is up for pre-order on Switch, PS4, and PS5 appeared first on Destructoid.

It's the first to win the big award at both ceremonies

The 22nd Game Developers Choice Awards and 24th annual Independent Games Festival Awards were held last night in San Francisco. Many different games were honored, but Inscryption made history by taking both big awar?ds of the night.

Daniel Mullins Games' Inscryption won Game of the Year at the 2022 GDC Awards and the Grand Prize at the IGF Awards. It's the first game to ever do so. The narrative deckbuilding game also won for Excellence in Design, Audio, and Na?rrative at the IGF Awards.

Other big winners include Unpacking, Valheim, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, each of which took home two GDC Awards apiece. Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Steven?? Spohn was recognized with the Ambassador Award for his work?? in advocating for and improving accessibility in games.

//twitter.com/Official_GDC/status/1506825929?6??99430401

Here's the full list of winners, for both the GDC and IGF Awards.

2022 Game Developers Choice Award winners:

• Best Debut: Valheim (Iron Gate Studio)
• Best Visual Art: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Best Audio: Unpacking (Witch Beam / Humble Games)
• Best Narrative: Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine Productions / Xbox Game Studios)
• Social Impact Award: Boyfriend Dungeon (Kitfox Games)
• Innovation Award: Unpacking (Witch Beam / Humble Games)
• Best Technology: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Best Design: It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios / Electronic Arts)
• Audience Award: Valheim (Iron Gate Studio / Coffee Stain Publishing)
• Game of the Year: Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games / Devolver Digital)
• Ambassador Award: Steven Spohn
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Yuji Horii

2022 Independent Games Festival Award winners:

• Best Student Game: Live Adventure (Live Adventure Team)
• Excellence in Design: Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games)
• Excellence in Visual Art: Papetura (Petums)
• Excellence in Audio: Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games)
• Nuovo Award: Memory Card (Lily Zone)
• Excellence in Narrative: Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games)
• Audience Award: Mini Motorways (Dinosaur Polo Club)
• Seumas McNally Grand Prize: Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games)

The post Inscryption had a big night at this year’s GDC and IGF Awards appeared first on Destructoid.

This year's indie award candidates are pretty stacked

It's a new year, and the 2022 Game Developers Conference is right around the corner. Which means there's also a new bat??ch of nominees to compete in the 2022? Independent Games Festival, or IGF, Awards.

The competition this year is strong, as we were not left wanting for good indies to play throughout the last year. And I always enjoy reading over the IGF nominees, because they tend to highlight some cool picks that often go overlooked. Hades and Umurangi Generation were the big winners of last year's awards, for example, and the 2020 winners included A Short Hike and Heaven's Vault.

As for the 2022 IGF Awards nominees, there are two games leading the pack in nominations: Inscryption and Unpacking both accrued four category nominations. They'll be competing with each other in the Audio, Design, and Narra?tive categories as well as the Grand Pr??ize.

Don't rule out the competition, though. Some of these, like Cruelty Squad and Unsighted, could be fierce competit??ion. Really, reading down the nominations, it was like a list of games I need to get around to playing, alongside the ones I've already been playin?g.

??Here's the full lineup of nominee?s for the 2022 IGF Awards:

Seamus McNally Grand Prize

• Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games)
• Unpacking (Witch Beam)
• Loop Hero (Four Quarters)
• The Eternal Cylinder (ACE Team)
• Cruelty Squad (Consumer Softproducts)
• Unsighted (Studio Pixel Punk)

Nuovo Award

• Memory Card (Lily Zone)
• Okthryssia and Saturnia's Bureaucratic Adventures (Outlands)
• Space Hole 2020 (Sam Atlas)
• Tux and Fanny (Ghost Time Games)
• Cruelty Squad (Consumer Softproducts)
• Sparkles & Gems (Resnijars)
• Fuzz Dungeon (Jeremy Couillard)
• Cuccchi  (Fantastico Studio)

Best Student Game

• Cai Cai Balão (Look Up Games)
• Abriss - build to destroy (Randwerk Games eG)
• Letter Lattice (Ethan Zarov)
• SmallLife (Yueqi Wu)
• Nainai's Recipe (Fan Fang, Mai Hou)
• Live Adventure (Live Adventure Team)

Excellence in Visual Art

• The Eternal Cylinder (ACE Team)
• Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery (Silver Lining Studio)
• Papetura (Petums)
• Fuzz Dungeon (Jeremy Couillard)
• The Wild at Heart (Moonlight Kids)
• Jett: The Far Shore (Superbrothers A/V + Pine Scented)

Excellence in Narrative

• Last Call (Nina Freeman and Jake Jefferies)
• Neurocracy (Playthroughline)
• Closed Hands (Passenger)
• Overboard! (inkle)
• Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games)
• Unpacking (Witch Beam)

Excellence in Design

• Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games)
• Unpacking (Witch Beam)
• Overboard! (inkle)
• Strange Horticulture (Bad Viking)
• Webbed (Sbug Games)
• Midnight Protocol (LuGus Studios)

Excellence in Audio

• Toem (Something We Made)
• Unpacking (Witch Beam)
• Jett: The Far Shore (Superbrothers A/V + Pine Scented)
• Mini Motorways (Dinosaur Polo Club)
• Sable (Shedworks)
• Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games)

You can find the full list of games and developer bios, as well as honorable mentions for each of the categories, at the 2022 IGF Awards site here.

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