5 PC Games To Unwind After A Terrible Day
There are some nights when firing a single bullet in a competitive multiplayer is just completely out of the question. You come home from work absolutely burned out, and the last thing you need is an opponent screaming insults at you over voice chat. I have tested quite a few relaxing PC games over the past few years, and there are five of them that I still boot up regularly just to catch my breath. Make way for absolute comfort and incredibly permissive progression. Everything is calibrated for your relaxation, with soothing soundtracks and the simple joy of cooking a delicious fish. Here is my selection of cozy games that genuinely make you feel good, and which also will not cost you an arm and a leg.
Dave The Diver : The Ocean And The Sushi
We kick things off with a game that does wonders for your mental health. In Dave the Diver, you play as a slightly chubby diver who explores the mysteries of the Blue Hole during the day, and manages his very own sushi restaurant at night. The gameplay loop is one of absolute fluidity : you catch exotic fish to an incredibly relaxing soundtrack, you upgrade your gear little by little, and you serve customers in the evening in a super warm atmosphere.
💬 A deep dive by day, a sushi service by night : the kind of contrast that makes absolutely no sense on paper, and works wonderfully in-game.
We actually already detailed all our love for this title in our full review of Dave the Diver. It is a guaranteed way to clear your head, and clearly one of the best cozy management games out there right now.
Stardew Valley : Farm Therapy
It is hard to make a relaxation ranking without talking about the undisputed king of the genre. Stardew Valley offers you the chance to leave everything behind to take over your grandfather's old farm. You plant your cabbages, you raise your chickens, you fish by the lake and you chat with the locals of Pelican Town. The game grabs you by the feelings and wraps you in a bubble of sweetness from start to finish.
💾 That little feeling of going back to your roots, somewhat like Harvest Moon on SNES, and perfectly calibrated without the frustration of older titles in the genre : Stardew Valley truly understood exactly what we were missing.
You move forward at your own pace, with absolutely zero pressure, without any timer stressing you out. A genuine breath of fresh air, and probably the most highly recommended game on this list as it has converted so many people to the cozy genre.
Terraria : The Sandbox Of Freedom
Often summarized as "2D Minecraft", Terraria is actually much deeper than that. You land in a procedurally generated world, and you are completely free to do whatever you want. You can spend hours digging to unearth rare minerals, build the house of your dreams, or craft completely insane armors for yourself.
If you just want to listen to the exceptional soundtrack while building a little cabin by the water, the game will let you do it in total peace, without ever forcing you to rush toward the next boss. That is exactly the strength of this sandbox game : you decide the pacing.
Starbound : The Space Road-Trip
Take the concept of Terraria, and launch it into the stars. Starbound puts you at the helm of your very own spaceship. Your home world has been destroyed, so you travel from planet to planet to explore, gather resources and build new colonies. The soundscape is masterful, tinged with a sweet melancholy that clearly invites you to daydream.
💬 Watching a sunset on a newly discovered alien planet, it provides a sense of peace that no loud triple-A title will ever manage to match.
Graveyard Keeper : The Macabre Yet Cozy Management
We wrap things up with a perfectly balanced touch of dark humor. Graveyard Keeper takes the Stardew Valley mechanics, and slips you into the shoes of a medieval cemetery keeper. You clean up the graves, you organize the funerals, and you run your little business, maintaining a deliciously cynical tone from beginning to end.
The visual atmosphere is gorgeous, and the management aspect is so engaging that you spend hours on it without even realizing it. An excellent way to gain some perspective on your own terrible day : at least, you do not have to manage a medieval graveyard.
The Final Word
These five games have very little in common on paper, between scuba diving, farming, a cemetery and a spaceship. They all share the exact same philosophy : letting you breathe. No timer stressing you out, no opponent taunting you on voice chat, just a relaxing and rewarding gameplay loop at your own pace. And given their sweet price tags, there is absolutely no reason to hold back.
And you, what is your go-to comfort game after a terrible day ? Tell us everything in the comments !
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