A lot of video games require time, attention, and for your heart to start beating fast and your blood pressure to rise. While the thrill-seeking gamer will reach for those games gladly, some are looking for games that offer a quieter, more relaxing experience.
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Here is a list of a few of the best simulation games available to play If you’re looking for something to unwind with but aren’t sure where to start your search. While some are a little more involved than others, all of them offer an easy gaming experience.
12The Sims
A simulation game so perfect, it’s in the name!The Simsfranchise has been a top-notch life simulation for over twenty years. And as it’s developed, its possibilities have expanded. In The Sims, you can be an astronaut, a doctor, a scientist, and more. Or, you can spend hours painting and crafting. Or, you can raise generations of a family.
The gameplay is completely customizable to what you want out of it, and if keeping up with your Sim’s many needs is stressing you out, you may alwayscheat them back to happiness.
11Havendock
Havendock is a colony simulation that starts you out on a small island without much to do. You’ll be able to build your world from scratch, customizing docks, buildings, and farms to start up a robust community.
As you progress through the game, you’ll be able to explore under the sea or in the mines, then craft materials from items you’ve gathered. A lot of resource management is involved, but with those charming ocean views, a day spent building your town will feel like a vacation.
10Minecraft
One of the most recognizable simulation games,Minecrafttakes place in a 3D-pixelated world where you’re able to find rare gems in the sprawling mines, fight monsters, and build elaborate homes block-by-block.
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Of course, if you’re looking for a relaxing time, you may be unnerved by a Creeper sneaking up on you and exploding your beautiful house. This is why peaceful mode is an option for gameplay that eliminates all hostile mobs from the game and allows you to tend to your garden at night in peace.
9American Truck Simulator
It’s time to hit the open road and see the sights! InAmerican Truck Simulator, you are a truck driver delivering your supply across America. The goal in the game is to become the most successful trucking company in the country, but the real draw is seeing the beautiful sights of America from the comfort of your couch.
The base game lets you explore states like California and Nevada, and there are DLC packs that feature states like Colorado and Wyoming to expand your sightseeing.
8Bear and Breakfast
Everyone knows bears hiding out in the woods, but did you know they’re business owners, too? InBear and Breakfast, you play as the titular bear running a bed and breakfast out of an old cabin. As you play, your B&B empire will expand deeper into the forest and even down into the desert.
There are a lot of fun features like crafting andcooking from scratchthat will not only help your business succeed but provide some relaxing tasks for you to complete.
7Stardew Valley
If you love farming but don’t love getting your hands dirty, then the pixel-style farm empire you can build inStardew Valleyis perfect for you. After inheriting your grandfather’s farm, you can build it from the ground up. Planting seasonal flowers and vegetables, hunting for resources in the mines, and getting to know the townspeople along the way.
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Stardew Valley also has a great co-op mode that will let you run the farm with up to four friends. Your more adventurous friend can take on the stress of the mines while you relax and water your flowers.
6Strange Horticulture
In Strange Horticulture, you’re the owner of the titular plant store in the mysterious town of Undermere. The townsfolk will visit you requesting various odd plants, and as they do, you’ll slowly uncover the dark secrets that envelop the town.
As the game goes on, you’ll identify new plants, learn more about the various characters, and spend some time chatting with your cat. The game is mostly story-based, meaning there’s lots of reading and very little stress. If you love the occult or just a good story, this game is perfect for you.
5Animal Crossing: Happy Home Paradise
During the pandemic,Animal Crossing New Horizons was a comfortfor many players. Its colorful style and happy-go-lucky animal residents make it the perfect escape. With the addition of the Happy Home Paradise DLC, Animal Crossing allows you to go on island time and unwind.
In Happy Home Paradise, you are in charge of designing vacation homes for visiting villagers. You’ll have full access to a catalog of limitless items and a provided theme distinct to each character. The best part? You get paid for all of your hard work, and you can use that money on decor for your own home.
4Brewmaster
Don’t have the room to set up a brewery at home? Most people don’t, which is whyBrewmaster offers the next best thingin this beer-making simulation game. Using some careful measurements, you can create a wide variety of custom brews complete with your own name and label.
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If you aren’t looking to brew your way up the beer-making ladder, there’s even a sandbox mode available that allows you to brew with all ingredients available in the game.
3Unpacking
While moving in real life is not very relaxing, moving inUnpackingtells a beautiful story about growing up and moving on. In the game, you follow the life of an unnamed main character through their bedrooms, unpacking their childhood bedroom up to the home they settle into with their partner.
It is, ultimately, a puzzle game wherein you have to find the correct spaces for each object, but by doing so, you’ll intimately learn this character without ever meeting them. If you have a day to spare, you cancuddle up under a blanketand finish the entire game within a single night.
