While they can be a great stress release, video games can be pretty stressful sometimes. After all, most games will hit you with difficult challenges that make you fight for your virtual life. And while committing virtual violence can be a big release when you’re feeling angry, there are times when a game that relaxes you and/or gives you the warm fuzzies is just what the doctor ordered. This is a list for those times- a swathe of positive games that will leave most people feeling happy and relaxed at the end of them. These are games that are fun and uplifting and for the most part not terribly aggressive- the perfect recipe of kindness and serenity. Do you have any go-to feel good games to add to the list? Talk about them in the comments.
Katamari Damancy
It’s hard not to feel happy the second you log into Katamari Damancy. Its catchy, cheerful “Na na na” music puts you in a positive mood right away. Moreover, the game is very easy to get the hang of and perfect for casual gamers. The premise of the game is that you are a young prince and your father, the King of all Cosmos, basically wiped all the stars from the sky after going on a bender. So it’s up to you to fix your father’s mistakes.
You go to earth and roll stuff up into a ball to make new stars. You can roll up anything you want into a ball as it grows bigger- from thumbtacks, to mice, to snails, to boats, tornadoes, and islands. By doing this, the stars are rebuilt.
It’s a bizarre premise, but the game has a quirky charm that makes it work. The colorful designs (including lots of rainbows), oddball humor and upbeat soundtrack combine to make an absurd but fun experience. Rolling up things in a sticky ball is weirdly satisfying, even when some of those things include comically screaming and twitching people. So if you’re down for something bizarre, out-of-this-world fun, this is the perfect game for that.
Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing is one of the cutest and most relaxing games out there. The premise of the game is you are the sole human in a town of anthropomorphic cartoon animals. Gameplay is completely open-ended- you can basically do whatever you want and not face any huge consequences. But typically you spend your time improving your town and helping your neighbors, through lots of small activities. These include collecting fruit and fish, catching bugs and digging up fossils to fill the museum with, running errands and playing games (like hide-and-seek) with the residents. You can work to customize your house, appearance and town to make it as appealing to you as possible.
All of your neighbors are kind and affable- even the “mean ones” merely have a bit of a surly streak, rather than actually being cruel. You can visit the villages of other players, hang out with them, play games with them and send messages. The game is also played in real time, so it will change seasons along with the world outside and if you go away for days, the world you return to will reflect that.
So if you want to kick back and experience living a cute cartoon life with no pressure on you, Animal Crossing is perfect for that.
The Kirby Games
When it comes to cute video games with a cheerful setting, the Kirby games are the ones that come to mind for a lot of people. The games let you play as a pink, spherical protagonist hopping through a brightly colored world, solving puzzles, making friends and inhaling enemies. The gameplay is simple and there are tons of different worlds to explore.
There are about 20 Kirby games, so there are plenty to choose from. One I’d recommend is Kirby’s Epic Yarn. This twist on the games has Kirby transported to a strange land that transforms him into a yarn creature- he also gains the ability to make other cool transformatons, like turning into a car or dolphin. It’s so feel good that one of the companies that produced it is actually named Good-Feel Inc.
A Boy and His Blob
You know a game’s feel-good when it has a “hug” button. This heartwarming puzzle platformer has a boy team up with a blob creature to save said blob’s planet from an evil emporer. You overcome obstacles and bond with the blob- and yes, this includes hugs. The game is a very accessible to casual gamers, offering plenty of hints and help along with a simple but compelling story. It also features bright and bouncy art and plenty of lush environments.
The Pokemon Games
When it comes to feel-good games, Pokemon is a classic. While there are plenty of challenges and battles to face, modern Pokemon games aren’t overly difficult and allow you to take your trainer’s journey as slow as you want. You can explore the world at your own pace and catch all the cute critters you can carry. Recent games even allow you to pet and play with your Pokemon to strengthen your bond. Simply working to raise the friendship level of your Pokemon can be a low-pressure, heartwarming experience. On top of all that, all the characters in the game are so upbeat and excited, it’s hard not to feel happy yourself.
Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon
Innocent Life is the laid-back Harvest Moon farming game….but with robots. As in, you play as a little robot boy created by a kindly doctor. The stakes are a little higher than your average Harvest Moon game as the goal of your farming is to calm an angry spirit and keep it from destroying an entire town. Still, the main focus is on cultivating plants, interacting with townspeople and exploring the world.
Journey (the game)
The indie game Journey is about the player taking a journey to climb a hill in a vast desert is all about evoking a sense of awe of and connection with the world around you. And just looking at the enthusiastic reception the game had, it succeeded. The breathtaking visuals transport players and the journey gives them a sense of accomplishment.
While a lot of people accuse gaming of cutting people off from the world, Journey is all about emotional connection. Players can meet and help each other, but they can’t communicate through speech or see who the other person is- the only way to talk is with a faint chime. Weirdly, this lack of communication makes your bond with the other player stronger and more poignant. Journey will give you some of the highest highs, but the game can also evoke a sense of loss at times, so if you’re not up for that, be cautious.
Super Mario Galaxy
Mario games can be a feel-good experience in general, containing lots of colorful creatures, cartoony elements and increasingly inventive levels. Super Mario Galaxy might be among the most joyous. In this game you get to explore many galaxies and bounce around in zero gravity- it’s an exhilarating experience. The design of the game is also out-of-this-world eye candy. This is one Mario game that really invokes a sense of freedom and wonder. Mario’s journey is as much about enjoying the raddest reaches of outer space as it is about rescuing Princess Peach.
Proteus
Proteus is a game with no objective or goals besides exploration. The player is simply supposed to approach the island and wander through the blocky, yet beautiful environments. At a certain time, the player can change seasons in the game and discover how the island changes with them. If you love open world games, this game is pure unadulterated wanderlust from beginning to end. The flora and fauna you encounter causes unique music to be played. The game is simple and seemingly aimless, yet oddly intriguing.
Okami
In Okami, you play as the Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu in the form of a white wolf. The premise of the game is that a demon has been unleashed and is sapping life from the earth, and it’s up to you to stop it. The game is steeped in Japanese mythology and presents a supernaturally exciting world. Using the power of the celestial brush, you can draw on the screen to rejuvenate the lifeless and beat back enemies.
Though there’s plenty of combat in the game, there’s also a heavy focus on restoring nature. The power of creation is the real star here, not the power of destruction. The Japanese watercolor-inspired graphics are a true artistic triumph, making the game a visual feast all the way though. It’s like watching a moving painting. The game is also full of snappy humor that will keep you amused all the way through. This game is a little more intense and violent that some others on a list, but even with all the challenges it holds, it’s an epic adventure that will leave you feeling good at the end.