Nowadays I find a lot of games feel like too much work and/or anxiety when I just want to relax for like, 30 minutes to an hour after a long day. On the other hand, the games specifically designed to help you unwind just feel boring imo.
In the past I’ve felt like Outer Wilds scratched this itch, cause the whole experience was engaging but generally relaxed. There was a mystery that kept me hooked and the exploration and movement was fun in and of itself. I also felt like Subnautica filled this role since it was very much at my own pace, with anxiety producing portions which could for the most part be avoided or minimized, and also there was a clear objective to fulfill, get off the planet.
So what games do you play when you just wanna relax?
Chrono Trigger. I have a save that I just load up, do some things on, and then turn off when I’m done. I’ve beaten the game dozens of times, and I know every aspect in and out, so it’s like flipping on the TV and catching an episode of a sitcom, I just roll with it and mellow out.
I’ve started rewatching old sitcoms for that kind of feeling, I know them inside and out, so it’s just there for comfort in the background while I do other things. I don’t think my brain can do this with old school RPGs though. I don’t think I’ve ever replayed an old turn-based RPG cause once I beat the story and/or get all the items, my brain is no longer motivated to pick it up.
Yeah, I get it. For me, it’s because it is such a long and enduring part of my life. I’ve been playing it for literal decades. When I load it up, I look where I’m at, and when I remember who the next boss is, I get a little excited. “Oh, yeah, I’m going to the Tyranno Lair,” or I’m at the end of time and I pop in to beat Spekkio’s geek ass again. It’s all rote memory, and it brings me back to summers at home with my parents at work, playing video games and eating Cheez-It’s.