Relaxing games tips?

[Carra]

Audiosurf springs to mind. Just listen to the music and play.

[Xercies]

Anno 1404 was probably the most relaxing and calm games I've ever played, even when I was in the red with money I didn't feel anxious or at all worried about what was happenning and just tried my best to not be in the red.

Also Railroad Tycoon 3 as well, I can spend a few hours looking at the trains and tracks I built in first person mode for some reason and not be bored.

[alms]

Also Railroad Tycoon 3 as well, I can spend a few hours looking at the trains and tracks I built in first person mode for some reason and not be bored.

Easy scenarios in Train Simulator are pretty relaxing, too.

[universe]

I think Sims or maybe Minecraft

[crazy horse]

Calming, relaxing, soothing, lulling, introspective, whimsical and mind numbing:

Bastion
Trine 2
Puzzle Quest 2
Walking Mars
Cthulhu Saves the World
Machinarium
Terraria
Botanicula


Hotline Miami and Orcs Must Die have a very soothing effects on me as well but that's probably because there is something wrong with me.

[MOKKA]

Just Cause 2 with the Superman Mod (or however you call this mod where you can fly around). Put some relaxing music on and soar through the clouds.

Super Hexagon also gets pretty relaxing, once you get used to the frantic speed and let your subconsciousness do all the work.

[Blackice]

I find action rpg's relaxing, the repetitive nature of the gameplay soothes my brain (on lower difficulties anyway), interspersed with some light story and decisions on skills and gear to keep my interest. Currently Torchlight 2 is fulfilling this role, but the Diablo's, Titan Quest and Dungeon Siege have also played their part.

Questing in WoW has the same effect too.

[crazy horse]

As far as strategy games go I'd say Disciples 2 was easily the most relaxing. It pretends to be strategy game but really all you do is walk around a map leveling a single stack of 5 or so units. Not a great game in any sense but there was something calmly addictive about losing an afternoon in the repetitive monster killing.

[alms]

Solar 2, edit: midweek madness on Steam for dirt cheap (1.74€ for me)

http://store.steampowered.com/app/97000/

360 pad strongly recommended.

[mizzu]

I played that with the keyboard and found the controls to be fine. Anyway, it can be a very relaxing game indeed.

[Smashbox]

Forgot about this thread. Glad it's back!

My go-tos:

Minecraft, lately with the Buildcraft mod
SimCity 4, though I have a lot less patience for RHM puzzle pieces than I used to
Anno
Total War with heavy pausing & thinking
Civ

[Protoman]

Braid
Nightsky
Limbo
Fly'n
Analogue: A Hate Story
Trine Series
Diablo Style ARPG's
Recettear
Dear Esther
To The Moon
Little Inferno
Scribblenauts Unlimited
Turn Based RPG's
Stacking
World Of Goo
Vessel
Just about every point n' click adventure game not written by someone obsessed with slapstick comedy
And 100 more I didn't happen to think of right now.

Also, Fallout 3 can be relaxing if you play a maxed agility character and spam vats all the time. And you refuse to go in any subway stations.

[cptgone]

it's gone now, but the browser MMO named Glitch was extremely relaxing.

[Nalano]

Easy scenarios in Train Simulator are pretty relaxing, too.

Until my friends see my name on Steam and start messaging me "WTF ARE YOU DOING, PLAY A REAL GAME"

[alms]

Until my friends see my name on Steam and start messaging me "WTF ARE YOU DOING, PLAY A REAL GAME"

Friends you say? I heard tales about these mythical creatures but I actually have never seen one myself.

[Nalano]

Friends you say? I heard tales about these mythical creatures but I actually have never seen one myself.

aka long-term alcoholic co-imbibers