What do you play when you want to relax?

There are times where I don't want to dive into a complex story or intense action. Sometimes I just want to play something that's simple and relaxing. I play Bejeweled 3 when I just want to relax. What do you guys play when you are craving something simple and relaxing? there is no right/wrong answer. Let me know! :)

I used to play Skate 3 a lot to relax, now I often go to Call of Duty multiplayer.

Forza horizon

I really like playing card games like Hearthstone, Marvel Snap, etc. I'm also a big online poker player and can't wait until they reopen online betting in my state, because I'm not too bad. Other games I enjoy include quick pick up and play games like Mario Maker or Rocket League.

Just playing anything helps me relaxed but if I want to play a real relaxing game, games like No Man's Sky and Yu-Gi-Oh: Legacy of the Duelist Link Evolution are my main games for relaxing but playing Yu-Gi-Oh truly helps me relaxed more so.

This. Also,

Nearly any open world game.
Pokemon.

Definitely Forza horizon but also Zaccaria pinball.

Usually racing games I've mastered to the point that I can think less about driving and more about whatever comes to mind while I play. Ridge Racer(s) 2, OutRun 2006, Wave Race 64...brainstormed a lot of op-ed videos and the like by doing that.

Lately my chill out games are

Rocket League, Crusin Blast, Kakorat, Demons Tilt

For relaxation currently it's DD2. Travelling/ exploring, the decent combat, and camping is a ton of fun.

Usually it's MH because I get a ton of the above with better combat and level design than any other ARPG franchise, all with drop-in drop-out four player coop.

Survival Horror games are pretty relaxing depending, yet while I enjoyed Alone in the Dark 2024 it was not exactly relaxing.

Finally a good puzzle game Tetris, Monster Strike, etc.

Retro games, and when I say Retro, I mean 'Retro', games that I remember playing from my childhood in the 1980's and 90's. Modern games it's usually either racing or some type of RPG, but with the skill level turned down. It's not relaxing if it's too hard.

As a PC gamer, Strategy games like Rome Total War 2, or 4x strategy games like Civ 6 are my 'just one more turn' games.

Racing games are definitely relaxing dirt 5 is my go to run through it on both Xbox and ps5.

Match 3 on Microsoft

Sea of Thieves. Like a fine wine, it’s gotten better over the years and there’s no better coop experience imo.

I put on a podcast or some music and play a building game, usually Factorio, Satisfactory, Farthest Frontier, Per Aspera, or Cities Skylines.

Yeah it's pretty fun. You play with friends or randoms? Thinking of getting back into it because I'd like to play MP but, you know, not COD or anything too stressful.

Pinball M and Monopoly.

Slay the Spire, No Mans Sky, Marvel Snap...

Sometimes I like a Ubisoft style game cause those require no thought or skill. Which sounds insulting but they are relaxing too

@brimmul777: Yeah, I have played a lot of Monopoly with friends too. Lol.. good times.

Another game I've enjoyed in short bursts is super monkey ball banana blitz.

Back in the day, it was Ocarina of Time, then it was Mario Kart DS, followed by Super Smash Bros: Brawl. Nowadays, it's whatever I'm currently playing through, which would be Tears of the Kingdom. I stopped playing it awhile back due to picking up RE4Make since people kept posting spoilers left and right, but decided to pick up TotK again to finish it...

Do the odd Doom/Duke3D level.

Always a good time.

I also like to play No Man's Sky, it truly is a relic of the past.

Random casual games on mobile. Games that are easy to pick up and play. Ditch it after about a week or two, then move on to the next casual game.

Any old platformer, spyro has typically been my go to for comfort gaming

I don’t have a goto game very unfortunately for me to just relax.

I will be listening to music, for that.