So, I’ve been playing Empyrion, which I enjoyed very much, but I am kind of getting fed up with it. I really want a feel good game, something pretty, possibly even cute. Something like Stardew Valley or Recettear. Failing that, I’d love something absorbing.
Middle Earth: Shadow of War is coming out, and I’m excited for it, but at the same time it is grim as hell, and I’m at the stage where I would dig planting flowers or something. I bought Divinity the Original Sin 2, and it is a great game but I have trouble getting into it. Battle Chaser: Nightwar is out, but I am not sure if it’s good. Desperate for a distraction here.
Suggestions? PC games preferred.
I like The Sims (preferably Sims 3). That game lets you be creative and can be as light or dark as you want it to be.
What I’d recommend the most in terms of PC games is the Atelier series, which started coming on Steam recently. I’ve only played Atelier Sophie so far, but it definitely hits that cutesy relaxing button.
If you’re interested in a 3DS (or Wii, but only one of the Wii games is fantastic), I cannot recommend the Rune Factory series enough. It’s a Harvest Moon spin-off series that has fully fleshed combat and crafting systems, and surpasses HM in some ways. Sadly the company went bankrupt, but XSeed has been teasing us with RF5 a bit.
Well… you could go for Divinity: Original Sin 2 (http://store.steampowered.com/app/435150/) – really good, really pretty… lengthy enough… but it does have it’s dark undertones.
If you want something like Stardew Valley there’s Yonder: the Cloud Catcher Chronicles (http://store.steampowered.com/app/580200/). It’s quite relaxing…
For a pure time sink: Planet Coaster (http://store.steampowered.com/app/493340/) … Has been out a bit, but still the prettiest Roller-coaster Tycoon game out there currently…
Also… maybe Renowned Explorers: International Society (http://store.steampowered.com/app/296970/) and it’s DLCs is something for you…
The assassin’s creed, origins go out 11/27 and he will be awesome…. Better than Middle Earth. 🙂
Wizard 101 and pirates 101 are both very cute and free to play for the first few levels. they also let you buy each level separately if you want, which lets you come back later if you want further levels. not very expensive. can craft but not the emphasis. worth looking at for the very pretty graphics.
Story of Seasons and SOS Trio of Towns for the 3DS. Really cute farming simulation games, where you also can get married and have a child.
Check out Dragon quest games. My favorite Dragon Quest 8 Journey of the cursed king my son was able to port from apptoid onto my kindle. Hours and hours of one of the best games ever made. Great story and characters and the most adorable monsters ever. Love Dragon Quest Monster Hunter games for the DS too. Clever fun and cute. NiNo Kuni I is fabulous and Nino Kuni II is much anticipated next year. Love OverLord. The minions are the best.
So many games so little time But these I believe are just what you are asking for. Hope you check them out.
A picture of Hacksarus Dragon quest games are awesome.
I am a World of Warcraft girl. I love that you can play seriously or just ramble around and work on different achievements. Some of the storylines are dark and some are ridiculous. Some days i work twelve hours and dont have the brain power left to do serious questing. Or walking and talking at the same time. I never have time for raiding. And when i level up one of my characters past one expansion section, i can go back and solo lower dungeons inorder to get story line and loot without having to drag other players down to my level. And because of the cool mini games inside of it i can literally sit brain dead and fish in game if i want to while still earning achievement points and awards. Gaming and reading are two of my faforite ways to de compress. My second choice for decompression gaming is minecraft its the repetition of digging and building.
Yep, WOW does it for me also, even after all these years and story line changes….kind of still miss WOW vanilla. Diablo III demonhunter is mindless for me, works for when i just want to kill things. Same with any of the lego games that I grab from the grandkids, the smashing sound of breaking bricks is therapeutic. But when i really, really just want to relax I grab an old Final Fantasy.
If you want a Stardew Valley feel how about the My Time in Portia demo on Steam. It’s a couple of hours long (I think at least 8 hours) and free. Instead of creating the perfect sprinkler system for your farm while wooing the eligible folks in town, in Portia you run a workshop. You gather materials for your inventions from foraging, defeating enemies, and exploring ruins. If you need some extra cash you can have friendly sparing matches with the townsfolk.
I’m a PS4 girl so I watched someone play the demo and liked it so much that I supported the developer on Kickstarter. They only need $800 more to fund the game by 10/11 for I think you’ll see the full game on Steam pretty soon. Really have to up my PC game because Divinity Original Sin 2 looks really cool. I just picked up the first game for my console and really enjoy it….except for the fact that I keep setting my teammates on fire. That’s why I keep a hydromage on the team.
I don’t actually have a pc, but if you’re looking for peaceful games, look to thatgamecompany’s “Journey” & “Flower”. (PS3 & 4 and Xbox, & Flower was just released for iOS) Journey is hands down one of, if not the, most beautiful game – both visually and musically- I’ve ever played. A simple, beautiful story told without a single spoken or written word anywhere. Replay value is high, especially if you’re a completionist out to earn your white cloak by finding every mural and glyph. Once you have it, you can fly farther and the gameplay is even sweeter. It really is all about the journey. There are monsters to avoid, but zero fighting (all they will do is tear off a bit of your scarf after making you jump). Did I mention sand-surfing?
Oh! I almost forgot Portal! I haven’t played the original, but Portal 2 is great. Puzzles and snark and a totally screwed-up “science” facility, it’s an FPS where no one dies. You shoot portals onto walls/ceilings/whatever-white-space-you-can-find in order to get from point A to point Z. GLADDOS is trying to kill you with science in revenge for you killing her in the first one, then plot twist I won’t spoil. Brain twisting puzzles + snarkily funny story/commentary = pure joy.
I play Yoworld it’s a house decorating game in FB, you begin with a standard apartment and you decorate it, you can dress up your avatar too. You make money and advance levels and of course buy more houses to decorate. This soothes me
A lot in this time and age…
Apologies if someone has already suggested this, but have you played Slime Rancher yet? It’s super cute and really relaxing, and there are goals built in that aren’t irritating. 🙂
I don’t play these games, but my daughter really likes Stardew Valley so I asked her for suggestions. She came up with Terraria, comparable graphically to Stardew but is a little more adventure oriented; Owlboy which is also pixellated and “absolutely visually stunning” and you play as a boy/owl as he tries to save the world; and Abzu by the same people who made Journey and Flower and has a gorgeous score. Monster Loves You! which is a choose your own adventure where you raise your own monster and choose how to interact with others