Finding the best relaxing games to play on PC can be a challenge if you don’t know where to look or what to look for. But in the end you will find a large number of games at your fingertips. Don’t get me wrong, we all love playing the big titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but sometimes it’s nice to come home after a long, hard day at work and dive into the calm and tense-shrunk title.
Sometimes all you need is a psychedelic, mind-blowing game to play an hour before bed — and by an hour I mean several. That is why we have compiled this list of the best relaxing PC games that you can play right now.
By the way, don’t forget to check out our reviews of some of the latest indie games to decorate our screens like Rogue Legacy 2 And the Journey to my day. Who do you know? You may find that these titles are exactly what you are looking for.
What are the best relaxing PC games?
Relaxation games have become an increasingly popular genre in recent years. Many players prefer to enjoy the gentleness and warmth, relax with hot cocoa, leaving their lives behind to plunge into a carefree world before returning to reality.
We’ve seen several big titles released in the genre in recent years with the likes of Stardew Valley, Abzu, and even Minecraft taking the lead. Within this list, we wanted to showcase some of the titles that may have slipped through the loopholes, without giving the credit they deserve. As such, the above games will not exist. Not that they don’t deserve to be, but they are already well known in the relaxed gaming community.
So here it is. Our list of what we think are the best relaxing games you can play right now on PC. Please keep in mind that this list is not ranked from best to worst.
The best relaxing games you can play right now on PC
1. Flipper house
The game that can be enjoyed across multiple platforms but is at its best on PC is House Flipper. House Flipper is a simulation game in which you are tasked with being a one-man renovation crew. Buy houses, build walls, tear down walls, paint them, decorate them and then sell those houses (hopefully) for a profit.
I know you’re probably thinking “this doesn’t look comfortable at all”, but believe me, it is. There are no time limits, you run at your own pace, creating your dream house (or someone else’s dream house), all with a catchy tune that repeats itself in the background – one that will totally stick in your head.
Also, with the many DLCs House Flipper offers, there’s nothing you can’t do. Do you want to create a perfect garden with a luxury swimming pool? examines. Do you want to own a yacht and make it look elegant? examines. Own your pets and take care of them as you would yourself? Also check. This is one of those games where you don’t really know how much time goes by while you’re playing it, and it’s great for relaxing at the end of the night. And with constant updates and more downloadable content on the way, this will be your favorite game for a while.
2. Planet Zoo
If home renovation isn’t your thing, take a look at Planet Zoo, a game from the developers of Planet Coaster and Zoo Tycoon. Said to be the “ultimate zoo sim”, it includes real live animals that think, feel and explore just as real animals do. With a huge selection of animals to care for and get to know, this will keep you occupied for hours.
It’s not all about animals! Keep your customers happy by creating the best zoo you can imagine. Build creative galleries, hire (or shoot) your workers, and use a range of building components to create your masterpiece. Complete different missions across various zoos in campaign mode or spend countless hours building your dream zoo in sandbox – the choice is yours.
If you have enough building and crafting, just stare in awe while watching the animals in the zoo via animal cam. I’ve lost countless hours just watching lions, tigers, and bears for themselves; Watching them play, sleep and eat. It is very comfortable!
3. Discharge
We all know how frustrating it can be to move: packing Tetris-like, carrying heavy boxes, and frustrating because you realize you have a lot of useless stuff. Well, Unpacking takes all of that and makes it a fun, relaxing and even emotional experience.
Unpacking is classified as a zen puzzle game, and it sees players literally doing it: emptying boxes and placing them either where you think they should go, or where they fit in. This may seem boring to some, but it is a game that requires as little brain power as possible. You can completely lose yourself in someone else’s life story and fully invest in it.
No times, no grades – just a stress-free game with a soundtrack that evokes more feelings than I’ll admit. You stick to a character you never see, no story is told, but you learn it through the different moves around the house. If you need a game to completely lose yourself in, Unpacking is the game for you.
4. Townscaper
Townscaper is called The Passion Experimental Project, and it’s a game that has no real goals or gameplay. I know, but stay with me. This is a beautiful experience where you can simply build exotic island cities however you choose. Simply select colors from a palette, press a button to drop colored blocks of houses, and the basic algorithm will automatically convert these blocks into tiny houses, stairs, arches, gardens and bridges depending on where they are placed.
It is a game where you can let your creativity flow and get lost in your own creations. It’s simple, but it will totally pull you in and keep you hooked. Watch the city literally come to life before your eyes, and create something truly magical.
It’s a quirky, vibrant game and an absolute gem at a very low price.
5. Cloud Gardens
Cloud Gardens is unlike any you’ve played before. It’s a simple hypothesis, but an interesting one. Players must harness the power of nature to amplify scenes of salivary decadence and manufactured landscapes to make something of it. Sow seeds, repurpose hundreds of objects, and create unique structures in this game that defines the type of chill game.
Take part in a multi-season campaign where you must find the balance between the natural and the factory – or sit back and relax in the sandbox with no goals and no purpose but relaxation. Settle in with some lo-fi tunes to go with it, and you’ve got the perfect chill game.
Guide the artist in you and create the best apocalypse park you can share with the community.
6. Cozy Grove
This game gives away its name, but Cozy Grove is a simple game about camping on a haunted and ever-changing island. You play as a spirit scout, tasked with helping local ghosts move forward by helping them complete certain tasks.
This game is designed to be played in short slots every day; It plays in real time and provides approximately 30-60 minutes of gameplay every day. After completing these quests, you can still roam around the island to hunt, craft, and decorate.
The standout aspect of Cozy Grove is his artistic style. It’s absolutely stunning and the colors come alive as you complete different missions around the island. Everything is completely hand painted – it is truly a work of art.
This is not a game where you get lost in the world for hours and hours, but a game that very easily becomes a part of your daily routine, and that’s beautiful.
And that’s it! This list is simply what we consider to be some of the best relaxing games to play on PC at the moment based on what we have been playing. These are just a few of the options available and designed to point you in the right direction of where you’re looking.
If you are looking to upgrade your PC setup, see File Best gaming headphones of 2022 as well as Best gaming mice.Best USB-C Accessories & Cables in 2022.
How to choose the best PC games for you
Self-paced video games. Everyone likes different things and you need to try different types to see what you enjoy and what you don’t. If you enjoy strategy games, try the Total War series. Do you prefer open world survival games? Take a look at the raft. Maybe you like some old supernatural goodness? Scare yourself with some- Phasmophobia.
Try with them! Try as much as you can, and most of all, have fun.