My go-to stress relief plan is simple: Find a new podcast archive to listen to and boot up a cozy and calming game on Steam to distract myself. I’ve gotten through some really tough life circumstances by letting this simple flow distract me until the Big Feelings move on.
But calming games have other benefits, too. Like, did you know that health and research institutions around the world have found that video games can positively affect your mental health? That’s right! Here are some interesting takeaways:
- According to a survey of 97,602 participants during the COVID-19 lockdown, people playing video games appeared to have a “greater sense of life satisfaction” than those who didn’t play (source).
- There was also an Oxford study back in 2020 that showed that “if you play four hours a day of Animal Crossing, you’re a much happier human being” (source).
- A United Nations survey of over 13,000 gamers from 12 countries found that 71% of participants believed video games relieve stress, 55% used them to combat isolation, and a whopping 2/3 of participants reported “turning to games to help them cope with daily challenges” (source).
While researchers are calling these types of games “light games” or “friendly games,” we know them by another name: cozy games!
However, something people don’t realize is that not all cozy games are “calming.” Think about the high stress of Stardew Valley’s Skull Caverns combat or the overwhelming “what am I doing here?” feeling you have when first getting into similar busy farming/life sims. So, I’ll only highlight cozy and calming games here! Perfect for stress relief and relaxation.
What is Considered a Calming Game?
Calming games, in my opinion, are video games designed to help players de-stress and unwind. These games are often slow-paced, with little to no time pressure or competition, allowing players to take their time and enjoy the experience. I’m looking for games that:
- Prioritize free exploration and movement
- Have soft, soothing soundtracks
- No combat or death
- Have positive/uplifting narratives, or little narrative at all
- Aren’t worried about time constraints
- Don’t have huge to-do lists weighing on you
The Best Calming Games on Steam Right Now
A lot of this is personal preference; however, I always take into account what calming games on Steam are popular, talked about a lot, recommended often, and rated highly by players. I include titles on my lists that I haven’t played or didn’t enjoy simply because I know they fit the bill and I want holistic coverage of the category.
I’ve marked my very favorite games at the top of the list, though. These are games I bought, played, and can vouch for on a personal level. Here are some of the best calming games on Steam:
1. Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To
🏅Cozy Game Reviews recommends
Genre: Puzzle
Calmness Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ☆
Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To is a visual novel with match-3 puzzles to accentuate different story beats. The main story is really short, so you can play through it in a sitting or two if you want to. There are slight “dating sim” elements that can lead to tougher story themes, but those can be avoided by keeping things casual with every NPC. Your choice!
What I appreciated about Spirit Swap is that all of the characters are emotionally intelligent and even go a bit heavy on the “therapy speak” when dealing with issues. This makes it a safe, calming, and uplifting place to spend time. Even the few whisps of “angst” aren’t that angsty.
My favorite way to chill out with the game is to put on Endless Mode and just swap-n-match to my heart’s content. You don’t “lose” anything when your bricks reach the top and can restart at any time. The whole game has the best lofi soundtrack, too.
You can read my full Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To feature here.
2. ABZU
🏅Cozy Game Reviews recommends
Genre: Exploration
Calmness Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
From the art director of Journey, ABZU is an atmospheric underwater exploration game with a gentle, lulling soundtrack. The visuals are stunning, and players will be exposed to some of the most beautiful sequences of light/shadow contrast in any game, ever. Think: Diving into a flora-kissed cave and seeing tendrils of sunlight bleed in from a crack in the ceiling above.
ABZU has some light puzzle elements to progress the main story, but they aren’t demanding. Press buttons to call new fish to the biomes, activate robot guides, meditating on nearby fish, et cetera. The game’s story, although incredibly subtle, is very touching and emotional. There are a few darker landscape sequences, but you are never in grave danger. Just relax, explore, and enjoy the oceanic flow.
There are some light “circle of life” themes, so if you don’t like the idea of a fish sprite blinking out of existence because a shark passed by and “ate” it (zero gore), the game won’t be for you. Same with if you are afraid of deep water, the ocean, large aquatic life, or small spaces.
3. Katamari Damacy Reroll
🏅Cozy Game Reviews recommends
Genre: Puzzle
Calmness Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆ ☆
Listen, I know the lo-fi graphics scream “early 2000s,” but that’s because Katamari Damacy Reroll is a remastered version of the classic game that first came out in 2004. But there is nothing more calming (in my humble opinion) than being a little guy rolling your ball of junk/etc. around a silly map.
Technically, this game does have a time limit per level, so I’ve decreased my calmness score for that reason. But running out of time is not punishing at all: you just restart the level. And who wouldn’t want more time as a little guy rolling your ball of junk around a silly map?!
I have such a love-hate relationship with this game, because it definitely shows its age when trying to go back and play it with nostalgia-tinted glasses. But the formula fits: Rolling + gathering = hours and hours of peak Zen.
4. House Flipper
Genre: Puzzle
Calmness Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
House Flipper is an easy puzzle/management game for those of you who feel calmness from cleaning, organizing, and tidying up. There is some very light-touch storyline about running a “house flipping” business, but you will mostly spend time doing your own thing, however you want to do it.
Sweep up dust and scum. Smash broken walls. Pick up trash. Add a fresh coat of paint. And then furnish each home as you see fit. If cleaning doesn’t calm you, then this might not be the game for you.
You can power through the main story in ~13 hours, but achieving 100% completion will net you a solid 40+ hours with the game. Just noting that because it’s one of the higher-priced items on the list, so if chasing perfection isn’t for you, then it might not be worth the spend.
Wishlist it and watch for a good sale, though!
5. Everything
Genre: Exploration
Calmness Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Play as, well, everything in this epic, award-winning reality simulation game featuring endless exploration and narration from Alan Watts. Everything is a game that’s hard to describe: Basically, you explore the whole universe and transform between thousands of playable characters, from bugs to fish to birds and more. You can even “become” and play as planets and galaxies. I’d say “sky’s the limit” but the reality is that Everything lets you go way, way beyond the mere sky.
Everything is a go-your-own-way game about the connectedness of the universe and every living thing within it. Polygon called it “bizarre, compelling and beautiful,” and Kotaku called it “An exuberant celebration of connections.” But even that doesn’t narrow down the essence of it, does it?
Be sure not to spoil the whole experience for yourself, but Keith Ballard’s Let’s Play does a great job of introducing the game to a general audience:
6. Cozy Grove
Genre: Life Sim
Calmness Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cozy Grove is a lite-touch life-sim that progresses with the real-time clock, much like Animal Crossing games do. This makes it a great game if you want to pop in and out of something without a long time commitment to each play session.
Your job in Cozy Grove is to help spirits with quests and bring color back to the world. There is a lot of resource gathering, fishing, crafting, and that kind of stuff. It’s incredibly low-pressure and vibey for a life sim.
My favorite calming element of Cozy Grove is decorating the island. You can obtain all sorts of fun furniture and decor, and get bonuses for how you place things. It’s incredibly satisfying. Sometimes I log in, rearrange my island, and log back off; I forget there is even more to the game! Anyone who gets into a flow state through virtual decorating will love this cozy title.
7. Tiny Glade
Genre: Builder
Calmness Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tiny Glade is a do-whatever-the-heck-you-want cozy diorama builder. There are no goals, no timers, and no wrong answers. You get to decide what you want to build, and how exactly you want to build it. This relaxing, free-form building game is completely grid-less, so you can move anything anywhere. Make doors bigger or smaller, drag walls over hills, stack windows together. It’s the freedom of movement that makes Tiny Glade stand out. And that’s also what makes it super relaxing.
I’ve always enjoyed unwinding by building things in The Sims. But there are so many rules (ugh) to where and how to place things. Tiny Glade has none of that. Every brick, pebble, and plank can be adapted to your whim.
The world is also beautifully…alive while you work. You’ll see ivy grow up your castle walls, fireflies bobbing through the night, and sheep wandering aimlessly by (yes, you can pet them).
8. Unpacking
Genre: Puzzle
Calmness Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ☆ ☆
Unpacking is a puzzle game about putting things in their place. It’s incredibly satisfying and my go-to when I need a quick calm-me-down. It’s also on mobile, so that makes for a perfect cooldown companion on-the-go. Each room is filled with peak 90s and 00s nostalgia as you cross through decades to watch the female MC pass through different stages of her life.
Some players report getting stuck on certain puzzle answers, though. So, if that’s not your thing, you might want to skip Unpacking as a truly calming game choice. However, a walkthrough or Reddit thread can be your best friend when trying to keep things moving.
After you’ve played it once and know all the puzzle answers, you can click through familiar boxes and belongings at your leisure for repeat play that gets progressively more chill as you memorize it.
9. Leaf Blower Revolution
Genre: Management
Calmness Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Leaf Blower Revolution is a free game with optional paid DLC to support the developer, so that’s a great reason to download it immediately right there. Blow piles of cute pixel-graphics leaves off the screen, earn gems, upgrade your gear, and get right back to blowing!
Some of the screens get so crazy, like leaf-blowing in outer space, but the calm, relaxed vibe remains the same. There are technically enemies that you have to defeat with wind power. They have health bars and can get in your way and even injure you. For some, this game may not be that calming at all.
But the rhythmic and repetitive leaf clearing is so calming to me. And it’s a free game, so you can try it without risk.
10. PowerWash Simulator
Genre: Management
Calmness Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
PowerWash Simulator is a game about cleaning. Methodical, steadfast, and uber-satisfying cleaning. With an Overwhelmingly Positive user rating on Steam, it really doesn’t get more calming or relaxing than PowerWash Simulator. Putter around with your powerwashing gun and meticulously spray rows of dirt off of vehicles, playgrounds, fair rides, statues, Santa villages, steampunk churches, and more.
PowerWash Simulator has a bunch of reasonably priced DLC, too. If you enjoy it, there is so much more to explore. Plus, the devs have some cool collabs with popular franchises like Final Fantasy 7 and Tomb Raider. Go clean Midgar, if it strikes your fancy!
PowerWash Simulator is the number 1 cozy, calming, relaxing game on Steam, in my opinion. The only reason it’s not higher up on the list is because I assume everyone has already heard of it, and probably played it, too!
Other Calming Games on Steam
Didn’t find your game of choice yet, or already played everything on this list? Here are some more recommendations for cozy, calming games:
- Townscaper: Place housing blocks and watch them transform into idyllic ocean-side towns.
- Europa: Zero-death exploration-centric puzzle-platformer that feels like a Ghibli movie.
- Botany Manor: Explore your house and gardens to successfully bloom each plant.
- Caravan SandWitch: A narrative-driven exploration adventure with no time limits or death.
- Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge: An idle-clicker about collecting and breeding rare frog varieties.
- A Short Hike: Serene exploration with no rush, gentle soundtrack, and open pacing.
- Kind Words 2: Write and read anonymous letters while listening to soft lo-fi.
- Eastshade: Travel as a painter; landscapes, exploration, and creative calm.
- Melatonin: A chill rhythm platformer with muted visuals and sleepy beats.
- Flower: Control petals, float through meadows, and feel tranquil.
- Proteus: Wander a minimalist island where your movements shape the music.
- In Other Waters: Explore alien oceans guided by calming narration and ambient vibes.
- Calico: Rebuild a cat café, decorate, befriend animals, and relax.
- Dorfromantik: A calming tile-placement puzzle where landscapes grow peacefully.
- Little Friends: Puppy Island: Pet, bond, and explore with adorable puppies on a laid-back island.
Free Calming Games on Steam
Low on cash? No problem! Try these free calming games on Steam:
- Viridi: Grow and nurture succulents in a slow, peaceful garden.
- Palia: A cozy life-sim with crafting, socialising, and no high stress.
- Russian Fishing 4: Realistic fishing simulator in calming lakes and rivers.
- 100 Hidden Frogs: A chill hidden-object game with gentle visuals and relaxing pace.
- 36 Apples: Collect numbered apples with soothing exploration and simple puzzles.
- Virtual Cottage: Simulate a peaceful cottage with ambient lo-fi vibes and customizable atmosphere.
- Hidden Lands – Spot The Difference: Relax by spotting subtle differences in a generative world.
- SuchArt: Creative Space: A virtual studio where you paint, relax, and express creatively.
- Himno: No-death platformer with soft music and calming, procedurally generated levels.
- Moonbase Alpha: Simulate life on a lunar base with quiet tasks and zero combat.
What Next?
Sometimes you just want to kick back and relax with your video games. No rush, no fuss. It can be a great way to end a stressful day or a perfect companion to a rainy day indoors. These are the games that I recommend, what are yours?
Stay cozy, gamers!
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