When classes get tough, or I’ve had a particularly taxing day, there’s no better way for me to destress than by playing video games. Here are a few of my favorites:
1. House Flipper (PC)
House Flipper is a great game for destressing while using little brainpower. The game comes with a list of mission houses where you must do specific renovations to get paid in-game currency, along with a list of for-sale homes where you have the freedom to change the house however you like. You can demolish walls, decorate with furniture, build doomsday shelters, and even add your own images into the game as wall decorations. In the settings, you can change the appearance of your in-game hand—my favorite is Robot 2.0—and change cockroaches to broken glass to enhance your experience.
2. Animal Crossing New Leaf (Nintendo 3DS) or New Horizons (Nintendo Switch)
Animal Crossing is widely recognized as one of the most calming games, so it’s no surprise it made its way onto my list as well. Who doesn’t like befriending silly animals and fishing for hours to an amazing soundtrack? New Horizons has become a favorite of mine with the addition of the Happy Home Paradise DLC, where you can decorate houses for your favorite islanders. However, New Leaf still ranks a tad higher for me with the Tortimer Island mini-game tours. You can play these mini-games by yourself or with others.
3. Unpacking (PC or Nintendo Switch)
I discovered Unpacking recently after one of my favorite Twitch streamers played it. The gameplay is straightforward: take an item out of a box and put the object somewhere in the room(s). The story follows someone’s life, unpacking their childhood bedroom, to their college apartment, through roommates and partners, and more. You can organize the rooms as much or as little as you’d like. There’s even an accessibility setting that allows you to put items anywhere instead of where the game determines the “correct” place is. An added bonus is the peaceful soundtrack playing in the background.
4. Cat Game (Mobile)
Cat Game is highly addicting, especially when you first start out. You chose one of three cats to begin your cat tower. You feed the cat, wait for the package to deliver, and “spin” to see if you unlock a new cat. The higher the floor in the tower, the longer the box takes. You can build furniture to increase your odds of getting a cat and play mini-games to earn more in-game money. There are regular events to get special cats or shortened crafting times. There is also a newer dog version, Dog Game, that doesn’t yet have the expansive catalog of characters Cat Game has.
5. Pokémon Legends: Arceus (Nintendo Switch)
I’ve been playing Pokémon games since middle school, and this one has landed in the S tier for relaxing—not including the semi-challenging boss battles. You don’t have to battle any regular Pokémon, opting to sneak up on them and catch them instead. Completing the Pokédex in Legends was more enjoyable for me than in previous Pokémon games, and you can ride around on certain Pokémon, like Hisuian Braviary. You can also customize your character’s appearance and snap cool photos with your Pokémon.