Climbing the ladder in competitive titles may be fun, but it’s also highly intense and tiring. After a long, stressful day, we don’t want to mess ourselves up even further. Sometimes shooting headshots in CS: GO or dealing with stubborn teammates in League of Legends is a no-go. Instead, we’re opting for a more relaxing game in our cozy gaming chair equipped with a cup of hot tea. 

The most relaxing games we’re looking for should meet specific requirements. They shouldn’t be too loud, action-heavy, or require fast reflexes to succeed. A soothing, melodic soundtrack is also crucial when you want to savor the game’s world at your own pace. We’ve picked up the best relaxing video games you can find on the market with these requirements in mind. 

Whether you’re a PC or console gamer, here you’ll find several chill games for your relaxing gaming sessions. What’s more, most of them are available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys for great prices!

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

• Release Date: 20 March 2020 
• Developer: Nintendo
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch
• Metascore: 90

We're starting with probably the laziest game on our list. By laziest I mean it requires such a minimum involvement you could die and still be able to play it. And it’s not a flaw by any means! There are no tasks, quests, or character progression. There’s only one objective – living in a modern world where you can do absolutely everything. 

You can spend days harvesting wood, fishing, or hunting bugs and butterflies. There are many activities to choose from, but none will test your brain. Like in The Sims, you can hang out and carelessly spend time with your friends. The only difference is that Sims are replaced with cute little critters. 

And since it all happens virtually, there’s no need to worry about real-world dramas between real-life friends. It’s definitely one of the best calming games on the market if an effortless break from reality is all you’re looking for. 

Key Features

• Great soothing experience with minimal effort.
• Cute, little critters.
• Many non-demanding activities to choose from.
• No objectives – you can do whatever you want.
• Hanging out with others.

Stardew Valley

• Release Date: 26 February 2016
• Developer: Eric Barone, ConcernedApe
• Platforms: PC, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android
• Metascore: 89

The accessibility of Stardew Valley is its indisputable advantage. It’s a great game to chill out no matter where you are. You can start your adventure from your phone and then continue it from your gaming PC. As an aspiring young farmer, your ultimate goal is to develop your farm and make a living out of it. 

It’s a 2D Farming Simulator mixed with exploration, puzzle-solving, dating, fishing, cooking, and a bit of magic. At first, the amount of content feels overwhelming, but its easy-to-learn approach will get you going in no time. With the addition of an online co-op mode, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Stardew Valley Steam Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• A 2D Farming Simulator with diverse activities.
• RPG and platforming elements.
• Online co-op.
• Five maps to choose from.

Monument Valley

• Release Date: 3 April 2014
• Developer: ustwo
• Platforms: iOS, Android
• Metascore: 89

Although sharing a similar title with Stardew Valley, Monument Valley is an entirely different game. As a silent princess, you will manipulate the terrain around you and guide yourself to reach the exit of each level. The impossible geometry around you is built from different shapes, optical illusions, and evil Crow People standing in your way to freedom. 

The game relies primarily on puzzle-solving and doesn’t have any combat. It’s a technical and aesthetic masterpiece that rewards players with beauty, originality, and grace through its 19 chapters. The ambient music adds to the immersion and creates a soothing atmosphere for a perfect, relaxing gaming session. 

The difficulty curve is set perfectly, leaving you stuck for no more than a couple of minutes. Personally, it's one of my favorite games to relieve the stress even after completing it several times. It also has a sequel, which is similarly captivating.

Key Features

• Beautiful art style. 
• Escher’s paintings inspired the game’s level design.
• 19 chapters to complete.
• Diverse gameplay mechanics. 
• Reasonable difficulty curve.

Slime Rancher

• Release Date: 17 August 2017
• Developer: Monomi Park
• Platforms: PC, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Metascore: 81

Slime Rancher is a first-person adventure game mixed with life simulation. You’re taking control of Beatrix, a slime rancher who moved to a foreign planet to start a new life. Your main objective is to construct her ranch and raise other slimes. Those little blobs will try to escape quite often, so you’ll have to bring them back by using your handy gun. 

The game is set in a sandbox world where you can play for an infinite amount of time. The only stressful moments can happen if you wander too far from the farm, looking for new slimes as there are lots of enemies. Additionally, you can do many things to do around your farm, especially taking care of your lovely slimes.

Slime Rancher Steam Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• First-person, survival life-simulator on a foreign planet.
• Unique ranged weapon.
• Cute, little slimes.
• Many ways to develop your base.

Katamari Damacy: Reroll

• Release Date: 7 December 2018
• Developer: Bandai Namco Games
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia
• Metascore: 87

Have you ever been drunk in your life? If so, you know this feeling when you said or did something you regretted later on. Katamari Damacy: Reroll shows how this might look exaggeratedly. The topic doesn’t sound very relaxing, but the game is delightful, especially on a hangover. 

After partying way too hard, your clumsy, royal father shattered all the stars in the night sky. As Prince of All Cosmos, you have to fix your father’s mess and replace the sky’s constellations. The only way to fix this is by rolling stuff up into a giant ball. 

You can roll almost anything you stumble upon – bowling pins, cars, boats, even entire buildings. The amount of absurd this game has is comparable to movies with Leslie Nielsen. It makes Katamari Damacy: Reroll one of the funniest games around to sink into. 

Its colorful aesthetic adds to the amusing atmosphere making it a fantastic meditative game. And if you’re dedicated enough, there are a lot of challenges and achievements for completionists.

Katamari Damacy: Reroll Steam Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• Funny and light-hearted atmosphere.
• Cute aesthetic.
• Absurd humor.
• Challenges and achievements for the most dedicated players.

Journey

• Release Date: 21 July 2015
• Developer: Thatgamecompany
• Platforms: PC, macOS, iPhone, Android, Playstation 3/4
• Metascore: 92

We could include every game from Thatgamecompany on this list and call it a day. Originally released on Playstation 3 back in 2012, now it’s available on almost all platforms. Journey was the obvious choice here, as it's the most renowned game from the studio. And not without reason! 

It features the best controls, the most varied visuals, and an engaging storyline with a powerful message. You’ll be taking control of a robed figure exploring the vast desert. Your main objective is to reach a large mountain seen in the distance. The path towards your destination is divided into several sections. 

It also has a multiplayer system similar to Dark Souls, where you can meet other travelers along the way. The entire experience is completely wordless and relies on music and visuals to express emotions and narrative. It’s undoubtedly a classic among artistic platformers and a must-play for anyone looking for a relaxing journey.

Journey Steam Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• The most renowned title from Thatgamecompany.
• Original and emotional story with a powerful message behind it.
• You can meet other players on your journey.
• Narrative is entirely wordless and relies on music and visuals.  

Donut County

• Release Date: 28 August 2018
• Developer: Ben Esposito
• Platforms: PC, iPhone/iPad, Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
• Metascore: 77

Once, I’ve heard someone saying that life can get so stressful you just want the ground to open up and swallow you. Donut County is an embodiment of this sentence. In this eccentric indie game, you’re piloting a hole in the ground. The hole gets larger and larger, with every object falling into the abyss. You’ll start with small objects like trash cans or little critters, but soon after, you will devour entire tower blocks. 

However, the main strength of Donut County is that it doesn’t take itself seriously. The item descriptions are nonsensical; you’re starting at level nine, finishing at ten, etc. It also features simple puzzles to solve to avoid repetition. The simplicity and humorous approach of Donut County make it the perfect title to play after a garbage day.

Donut County Steam Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• You’re taking control of a hole in the ground.
• Simple, yet engaging gameplay.
• Satirical approach to the presented world.

Gris

• Release Date: 13 December 2018
• Developer: Nomada Studio
• Platforms: PC, iPhone/iPad, Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch
• Metascore: 84

Gris is a meticulously crafted 2D platformer that looks like an interactive art gallery. You’re playing as a young woman who’s lost her voice and embarks on a journey to get it back. It’s not a literal journey as the whole action takes palace inside her head. Along the way, you’ll face her incarnated traumas in the form of puzzles, traps, enemies, and platforming challenges. 

Gris uses platforming as a metaphor: we learn our limits by jumping and falling. The mesmerizing watercolor aesthetic is something I’ve never seen before in a video game. The “watery world” is eye-pleasing and feels unique — the sky, clouds, surreal buildings, and overall level design function in perfect harmony. 

On top of that, the simply perfect soundtrack will sink you in more than most games on this list. Although the presented story is quite deep and psychological, it lets you forget about your problems for a while. 

Gris Steam Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• Watercolor aesthetic which looks like an interactive art gallery.
• Action takes place inside the mind of a young girl.
• Mesmerizing level design.
• Flawless soundtrack.
• Deep, psychological story.

Everything

• Release Date: 21 April 2017
• Developer: David OReilly
• Platforms: PC, Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch
• Metascore: 78

Everything shows that simple ideas are usually the best. As the title suggests, here, you can become everything. You can take control of almost every living thing around you, including animals, grass, trees, etc. Even entire planets! It sounds bizarre, and that makes it even more charming. It features a procedural, AI-driven simulation of the systems of nature from every possible point of view. 

To top it off, the game includes recordings of quotes from philosopher Alan Watts. You can listen to him discuss Buddhism, Taoism, and Hindu philosophy while wandering around. There’s no story, but you can complete the encyclopedia by becoming everything. 

It may serve as a game for casual entertainment, but it also challenges your understanding of self and the universe — the ideal title for a relaxing experience.

Everything Steam Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• You can become literally everything you want.
• Procedurally generated world with AI-driven simulation of the systems of nature.
• The game is narrated by the philosopher Alan Watts.
• No campaign mode, just unlimited freedom.

Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture

• Release Date: 14 April 2016 
• Developer: The Chinese Room
• Platforms: PC
• Metascore: 76

A game set in a post-apocalyptic world doesn’t sound very relaxing. Yet, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture captures the doomsday settings in the most relaxing way possible. This non-linear walking simulator lets you unravel the secrets behind the global catastrophe at your own pace. 

It’s a game about discovery. You will trace the fate of several Yaughton inhabitants who witnessed the world's end. You’ll follow the memories of six major characters in the form of shining golden lights. After approaching each one, you will witness their final moments, allowing you to piece together what happened. 

There are a lot of side activities and quests to discover full of heartwarming stories for a complete experience. All in all, the cause of everybody’s disappearance will keep you hooked for hours.

Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture Steam Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• A relaxing experience in a post-apocalyptic world.
• Emotional and engaging storyline.
• Non-linear approach to given tasks.
• Many secrets to discover for a complete experience.