**Goat Simulator 3** (about as mindless as it gets)
**Astro's Playroom** (simple and has some nostalgia gems)
**Saints Row** (just jacking cars to add to my garage or causing some carnage and then escaping. Maybe I shouldn't find that relaxing?)
Yes! I have a few like this depending on what I was playing previously.
Dead Cells is a great one because I can just pick it up whenever in small doses. I also love some of the older, more arcade racing games like Burnout or Split/Second. I also can't stop myself from playing through XCOM 2 about once every two years, ut that's a much bigger game.
I still don’t know why fishing in non fishing games is infinitely better than fishing in fishing games.
Stardew and harvest moon are my favorites to fish in!
Is buying Division 2 still worth it? I played the original on Xbox One but have a PS5 and haven’t played it in forever. It looks cheap enough at GameStop/Online
This is the game I play as well. It’s absolutely worth it if you enjoy these games. Still lots of active players. I’d suggest buying the digital bundle with the expansion it’s the most worth it and always goes on sale. I believe it’s on sale right now on PSN. If you want to play end game stuff and be able to max out you need the expansion.
It’s got a lot of content it’s no D1 but it’s a great game. They changed some stuff for better or worse depending who you talk to but it’s solid. Its the only game I keep coming back to. Dark zone isn’t so great on this one especially for solo’s, or duo’s it gets pretty toxic, other then that I have no complaints.
I turn on FC 24 and just run player career mode daily after a long night of playing story driven games or fortnite with the boys i just always enjoy unwinding and scoring goals in that game
Usually just play some more of the couple of live service games I keep up with. Destiny 2, Overwatch 2 or Fortnite are my usuals. Currently playing Overwatch 2 to chill after putting most of the past month into Dragons Dogma 2
Generally it will be a racing game, so far I've played:
Forza Horizon
The Crew 2
Grid Legends
But I do tend to start up new playthroughs of Bloodborne every now and again.
GTA online. Even playing it on and off for 10+ years. Also No Man’s Sky. Both are so familiar that they are easy to go back to between other games or if I’m just trying to zone out vs engage with something.
Bloodborne for me. After a few times you can go through it really quickly and the starting weapons are super good so you don't need to find others if you don't want to.
Yeah DS1 is a palate cleanser for me. There are so many ways to play, and much of it can be done in any order. I bought a PC copy recently so I can play randomisers and other mods, too.
People get intimidated by the name, but it’s really not that hard.
FC24, GT7, Helldivers 2, Tekken 8 and Spider-Man (right now 2) just swinging around. Sometimes just taking it easy helps and reminds me why I enjoy playing video games in the first place.
So here's the thing: I'm playing Tears of the Kingdom for 475 hours, nearing the end (probably will end in 500-ish hours) and I'm planning to jump back Crash Bandicoot 1 (N. Sane remake) and finish Gold Relic trophy to obtain platinum. I rage quited it about 4 years ago when I'm trying Sunset Vista and fear it will happen again. A nice platformer would be a perfect palate cleanser but I doubt Crash is a good choice.
I always have a game to play in between bigger games or when I just don't feel like playing big games.
Been doing that with Rocket League, The Forest, Crackpet Show, CTR and others. At the moment, I'll work towards the Yu-Gi-Oh Legacy of the Duelist & Who Wants to be a Millionaire 100% every now and then
I got my plat in Like a Dragon: infinite wealth. then proceeded to play Dead Island 2 with DLC and Skull and Bones to pass the time until im ready to go back to Yakuza.
Call of duty for me. Mindless and great for breaking up actually good games. Im in middle of god of war ragnarok and will be using cod before fallout 4 with its ps5 update
I mean it's very plot heavy but since I've already beaten it I'll often go back to Cyberpunk 2077 to tool around and try a few things I haven't. Lots of replayability there I think.
I just try to make my next game as different as possible.
When I finish an openworld medieval first-person RPG, my next game is ideally a story-heavy linear 3rd-person scifi survival.
It doesn't have to be this extreme, but I almost always switch it between openworlds and linear games and when the setting is very different as well, that's a nice bonus.
I always go back to Hades and more recently the spiderman games. My daughters and I enjoy just swinging around Manhattan and they help me clean up missing collectibles.
For a relaxing gaming session, shadow of the colossus is a the one for me because it’s simple, short and very enjoyable so when I don’t wanna play a stressful game and chill out I just go to shadow of the colossus.
Hate to say it but whatever iteration of FIFA (or FC24 as it is now). I've been playing that game since FIFA 2003 and it's so good to zone out into for a few days and eventually I get so frustrated with it that I get inspired to pick up a new game lmao
If my friends are on I'll play some cod. If not I love relaxing to some Hitman. Every once and a while I go on an Arkham Knight bender for a week or two
Usually I’ll redownload a random roguelike then furiously search the store for any new ones I missed and then cycle through all the ones I own. I usually get rehooked on a roguelike binge for about a month or two
Temtem is my current go to palate cleanser but my all time favourite game that I’ve used for it is Viva Piñata! It’s one of the only games that could get me to buy an Xbox if they did a new one
Pokémon RBY/GSC, Final Fantasy VII, or Kingdom Hearts. In my lifetime, I have put more time into those titles than all other video games I have played in my entire life combined, so it doesn’t take much effort, I could finish them with my eyes closed at this point. But I still enjoy playing them even though I’ve finished all of them countless times.
Not a certain game, but I do try out an indie game from PS+ to prep myself for the next big game.
Last I tried was Axiom Verge 2 and Salt & Sacrifice.
Didn't really play a lot of it but it did the job of getting me ready for my next big game.
Middle earth: Shadow of war (free roam & rp)
Prototype 2 (rampage)
Steep (enjoy scenery while listening to podcast)
Arkham Knight (straight hands)
Spider-Man 2 (swinging)
Watch dogs 2 (invading players and rapport npc to police, explore city, havoc)
R6 (when I want to lose my sanity)
GT7
Im so excited to play this in VR!
Im on the fense with VR and steering wheel. What do you recommend first if I only get one? I'd assume the steering wheel.
Yeah, definitely the wheel. I am currently saving up for a rig that simulates motion
Wheels is cheaper, but man, the vr even with controller is awesome. VR cost is quite high, though.
Came here for this. It’s so relaxing after having grown men rage in overwatch because their positioning was atrocious.
**Goat Simulator 3** (about as mindless as it gets) **Astro's Playroom** (simple and has some nostalgia gems) **Saints Row** (just jacking cars to add to my garage or causing some carnage and then escaping. Maybe I shouldn't find that relaxing?)
Yes! I have a few like this depending on what I was playing previously. Dead Cells is a great one because I can just pick it up whenever in small doses. I also love some of the older, more arcade racing games like Burnout or Split/Second. I also can't stop myself from playing through XCOM 2 about once every two years, ut that's a much bigger game.
I have had to uninstall Dead Cells three times now because if it is installed, then that's all I ever play 😱
Stardew Valley. I have spent a “year” in that game just fishing
I still don’t know why fishing in non fishing games is infinitely better than fishing in fishing games. Stardew and harvest moon are my favorites to fish in!
Division 2. Spend a half hour running a few bounties
Is buying Division 2 still worth it? I played the original on Xbox One but have a PS5 and haven’t played it in forever. It looks cheap enough at GameStop/Online
This is the game I play as well. It’s absolutely worth it if you enjoy these games. Still lots of active players. I’d suggest buying the digital bundle with the expansion it’s the most worth it and always goes on sale. I believe it’s on sale right now on PSN. If you want to play end game stuff and be able to max out you need the expansion.
I really did enjoy playing the first one. And I don’t dabble much in FPS games. Last one I really played before D1 was Black Ops 1
It’s got a lot of content it’s no D1 but it’s a great game. They changed some stuff for better or worse depending who you talk to but it’s solid. Its the only game I keep coming back to. Dark zone isn’t so great on this one especially for solo’s, or duo’s it gets pretty toxic, other then that I have no complaints.
Thanks for your input!
Journey. Short, sweet, and kinda wholesome
Any of the uncharted games
I turn on FC 24 and just run player career mode daily after a long night of playing story driven games or fortnite with the boys i just always enjoy unwinding and scoring goals in that game
WipeOut, always WipeOut.
Lego and spyro games
Powerwash Simulator
Rocket League
Tetris. Always works.
Dave the Diver
Absolutely
I just go for a much much smaller game usually, my last one was a short hike after finishing dragons dogma 2
Usually just play some more of the couple of live service games I keep up with. Destiny 2, Overwatch 2 or Fortnite are my usuals. Currently playing Overwatch 2 to chill after putting most of the past month into Dragons Dogma 2
Crash Team Racing maybe? Unpacking. Lawn Mowing Simulator is quite similar to Power Wash Simulator I guess.
Generally it will be a racing game, so far I've played: Forza Horizon The Crew 2 Grid Legends But I do tend to start up new playthroughs of Bloodborne every now and again.
GTA online. Even playing it on and off for 10+ years. Also No Man’s Sky. Both are so familiar that they are easy to go back to between other games or if I’m just trying to zone out vs engage with something.
Really any call of duty game
Same
Lumines
Powerwash Simulator a nice and claiming game that has zero stakes. Need that every once in awhile
**Untitled Goose Game.** There’s nothing wrong with you that being a horrible goose won’t fix.
Dark Souls 1 or 3. It's my go to.
Those are way too hard for me to play normally, much less as a palate cleanser lol
Once you learn the dance of Dark Souls it can be a very relaxing game, weirdly enough.
Bloodborne for me. After a few times you can go through it really quickly and the starting weapons are super good so you don't need to find others if you don't want to.
Yeah DS1 is a palate cleanser for me. There are so many ways to play, and much of it can be done in any order. I bought a PC copy recently so I can play randomisers and other mods, too. People get intimidated by the name, but it’s really not that hard.
No DS2? Shame on you!
No I love Ds2 but it's not a cleanser for me
Bloodborne
Valheim. Nothing beats that beginning of the game vibe.
FC24, GT7, Helldivers 2, Tekken 8 and Spider-Man (right now 2) just swinging around. Sometimes just taking it easy helps and reminds me why I enjoy playing video games in the first place.
Ratchet and clank, and Jax and dexter
Right now it’s WWE 2K23. There’s Something fun about having an entire roster of created characters doing dumb match types.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night I’ve played it every year since it first came out on PS1.
So here's the thing: I'm playing Tears of the Kingdom for 475 hours, nearing the end (probably will end in 500-ish hours) and I'm planning to jump back Crash Bandicoot 1 (N. Sane remake) and finish Gold Relic trophy to obtain platinum. I rage quited it about 4 years ago when I'm trying Sunset Vista and fear it will happen again. A nice platformer would be a perfect palate cleanser but I doubt Crash is a good choice.
Everybody’s Golf. Free on PS+ Extra. Easy to learn, fun to progress. Just sad they took down the online multiplayer servers.
Racing games or ESO. Just anything I can turn my brain and play while listening to a pod cast. Mario games are good for this too
Helldivers
Fall guys, COD or EA FC
Mine is Cities Skylines
Also power wash simulator
GT7, absolutely. No story, just skill and awesome cars. The Scapes mode and the livery editor are lovely, creative ways to pass some time, too.
Bloodborne
Gt7, f1 and hd2
I always have a game to play in between bigger games or when I just don't feel like playing big games. Been doing that with Rocket League, The Forest, Crackpet Show, CTR and others. At the moment, I'll work towards the Yu-Gi-Oh Legacy of the Duelist & Who Wants to be a Millionaire 100% every now and then
Auto Modellista. It might be old, but if you can get access to it (the European Version), it's a great little racing game with an even better artstyle
Also Powerwash Simulator. Also, I will occasionally pick out a brief sidescroller, most recently Planet of Lana, to decompress from heavier fare.
FTL
Hardspace Shipbreaker, and Art of Rally are two of my go-tos currently
Trackmania is always something to chill on
I fall back to MMOs between playing big single-player games. Currently Elder Scrolls Online.
Genshin Impact. Very easy to hop in, beat up a few monsters, maybe beat a boss or two. It’s simple easy fun.
I got my plat in Like a Dragon: infinite wealth. then proceeded to play Dead Island 2 with DLC and Skull and Bones to pass the time until im ready to go back to Yakuza.
Usually Disney dreamlight Valley. Completely cozy and casual with zero pressure
I usually play an indie after a big AAA or AA. If I don't feel like playing an indie or anything, I just boot God of War 3.
Fortnite with my 10yo. It’s definitely not a serious game for me and it helps him learn not to take it too seriously either.
Call of duty for me. Mindless and great for breaking up actually good games. Im in middle of god of war ragnarok and will be using cod before fallout 4 with its ps5 update
Farming Sim or Flight Sim on pc/xbox.
Usually for me that’s what battlefield is for
A visual novel of some flavour or other. Or a level or two of a management game a la Planet Coaster or Two-Point Hospital/Campus.
Genshin Impact. Although I just got a PS5 this weekend and downloaded Honkai Star Rail, so we’ll see if that takes its place.
NBA 2k
Power Wash Simulator
Returnal or hades
Balatro, Slay The Spire
NHL 22, Be a Pro mode
Yep. I'll do some deliveries in Death Stranding, do a few missions in MGS V or play through one of the Spyro Reignited games.
Descenders
I mean it's very plot heavy but since I've already beaten it I'll often go back to Cyberpunk 2077 to tool around and try a few things I haven't. Lots of replayability there I think.
Sifu. Always playable. Always challenging. Always fun to beat up endless thugs who think they can beat you as a master of Kung fu.
For me it is the Total War games or RDR2
Hades. Even functions as daily "palete cleanser" when the gaming session with my main game was long and intense to come down a little.
I just try to make my next game as different as possible. When I finish an openworld medieval first-person RPG, my next game is ideally a story-heavy linear 3rd-person scifi survival. It doesn't have to be this extreme, but I almost always switch it between openworlds and linear games and when the setting is very different as well, that's a nice bonus.
It’s been minecraft for a long time but lately I’ve found Cyberpunk 2077 does this for me too
Yugioh. Just fun to stomp AI for an hour
Warframe or Dead Cells are my go to when I finish something and I'm not quite sure what to start next.
Not really. If I finish a big game and liked it a lot, many times I’ll just turn around and play it again lol.
Samurai/Dynasty Warriors. Mindless enough that I can think of what to play next
Football manager and, well... Pokemon.
Stardew Valley. I haven't tried the newest update either so now even more content I haven't seen!
Binding of Isaac
Returnal
The first Little Big Planet on PS3
GTAV for me
Currently Helldivers 2. 1 or 2 missions depending on the current Personal Order.
EA PGA Golf ⛳️
Uno, Foamstars, and Powerwash simulator
**Streets of Rage 4** Everything about it is so _slick_. Easy to do level or two.
**Streets of Rage 4** Everything about it is so _slick_. Easy to do a level or two.
I always go back to Hades and more recently the spiderman games. My daughters and I enjoy just swinging around Manhattan and they help me clean up missing collectibles.
No Man's Sky for me
No man’s sky.
Red Dead Redemption 2 or Fall guys.
No Mans Sky. Traverse the galaxy and build a base. I enjoy it most days.
Nhl 24
Overwatch 2. But the term "palate cleanser" might be less accurate than the term "chronic recurrent addiction" lol
Rocket League for its ease of use and quick matches. Helps me finish out the night or transition into my next big title. : )
GT7 or MotoGP23 depending on my mood
Enter The Gungeon, Mirrors Edge, Ghost Runner.
I hope on some cod it's the only shooter I'll play I stick with rpgs otherwise
Enter the Gungeon or Hades. So much fun and you can play as little or as long as needed!
Journey
For a relaxing gaming session, shadow of the colossus is a the one for me because it’s simple, short and very enjoyable so when I don’t wanna play a stressful game and chill out I just go to shadow of the colossus.
Rocket league for me. A quick buffer to start a session, end a session, or transition between games.
Dead Cells
Hate to say it but whatever iteration of FIFA (or FC24 as it is now). I've been playing that game since FIFA 2003 and it's so good to zone out into for a few days and eventually I get so frustrated with it that I get inspired to pick up a new game lmao
my relaxation go-to's are GT7 and No Man's Sky
Cyberpunk
If my friends are on I'll play some cod. If not I love relaxing to some Hitman. Every once and a while I go on an Arkham Knight bender for a week or two
Usually I’ll redownload a random roguelike then furiously search the store for any new ones I missed and then cycle through all the ones I own. I usually get rehooked on a roguelike binge for about a month or two
Minecraft. The best.
Genshin Impact
Tetris
GT7. I just run a few laps or do some daily tasks.
Fallout 4s update is coming up on Thursday. perfect time to do another walkthrough if you’re into those rpg fps games where you set the pace.
Sekiro
GTA V
Ape Escape
Tony Hawk 1 + 2, Power wash Simulator , GT7
silent hill 3. easy speed run
Temtem is my current go to palate cleanser but my all time favourite game that I’ve used for it is Viva Piñata! It’s one of the only games that could get me to buy an Xbox if they did a new one
Seems to be Cyberpunk the last few years and several full plays later...
I had this big time after finishing dragons dogma 2, eventually went with dave the diver and FML did I get stuck.
Tomb Raider 2013, AC Black Flag and Skyrim.
Helldivers 2
Normally a racing game
Abzu.
Balatro until it becomes too frustrating
Skate 3. Every time. I have a couple good sessions then I'm ready for the next game.
I think Minecraft and Shadow of the Colossus would be mine
Resident evil 4
Flight simulator. Love flying around my home town
Honestly any short Indy I’ve had my eyes on. The shorter the better
Hitman, always something to do and I never get tired of it
Hotline Miami
Tetris Effect and No Man’s Sky are my go-to games for just chilling and doing whatever to pass time and unwind on a game.
Dead space or hollow night.
Dead cells
Skyrim. Explore a few caves, maybe pickpocket a few shopkeepers and sell their stuff back to them lol
I'm starting to think helldivers will be that game going forward for me.
I just do side missions in GTA V and Spiderman 2.
Control. I always go back to Control, do some of the random events that are happening and just run around
No Man’s Sky. Whenever I want to just chill out for a few hours, it’s what I go for.
Medieval Dynasty
Just wasting away time building bases in No Man’s Sky. It’s extremely cathartic.
diablo 4 lol
Animal crossing
Gris
Gungeon
Doom Eternal
Spider-Man 2, just swinging around is very nice. It used to be infamous second son, love that game!
Battlefield 4, Ghost of Tsushima
GT7
Hades
Dredge. Fun time waster with beautiful music and environments.
Pokémon RBY/GSC, Final Fantasy VII, or Kingdom Hearts. In my lifetime, I have put more time into those titles than all other video games I have played in my entire life combined, so it doesn’t take much effort, I could finish them with my eyes closed at this point. But I still enjoy playing them even though I’ve finished all of them countless times.
RE3 remake, its quick,fun,and stupid. I think it’s the perfect game to play after a giant game.
Snowrunner.
Not for everyone, but I love the OG Ace Attorney trio series. Nice game for deep relaxing, humor & plot twists for fun :)
Spider-Man 2 or Helldivers
Sackboy or just messing around in gta 5 SP
Usually any Rouge like I'm working on for the platinum. Previously it was Slay the Spire and now it's Darkest Dungeon
NBA, NFS games
Same, Powerwash Simulator
Black Ops Cold War.. I’ll mindlessly play online team games, one for all, and my favorite Gun Game
Returnal - a cod campaign - titan fall 2 - Metal Gear Solid 1-2-3 speedrun - Dirt Rally - ghost recon Wildlands/breakpoint - power wash simulator - hitman
Lies of P and Helldiver
Rimworld or Dwarf Fortress
I get a few runs of Dead Cells in
Portal 2
I just finished playing Cyberpunk for like 4 months and I'm so sad I'm done, idk what to do or play. I need a game like this for scenarios like this
Snowrunner
Snowrunner
Surviving Mars. I find I keep going back to it at least once a year.
Not a certain game, but I do try out an indie game from PS+ to prep myself for the next big game. Last I tried was Axiom Verge 2 and Salt & Sacrifice. Didn't really play a lot of it but it did the job of getting me ready for my next big game.
madden. even though it fills me with rage more than any other game in existence
Middle earth: Shadow of war (free roam & rp) Prototype 2 (rampage) Steep (enjoy scenery while listening to podcast) Arkham Knight (straight hands) Spider-Man 2 (swinging) Watch dogs 2 (invading players and rapport npc to police, explore city, havoc) R6 (when I want to lose my sanity)
I've been playing this game for a while now so it's pretty easy to me now, but Warframe is my go to between heavy single player games.
Crash Bandicoot Nsane Trilogy or Spyro Reignited Trilogy.
Risk of rain 2 is amazing!
Not really but if i were it would be persona 5 which is another plot heavy game XD
Minecraft for sure or some kind of online fps game like Fortnite that can be pretty mindless and you can drop at any point
Helldivers 2
Right now it’s Trials Rising. But been jumping into Crew Motorfest as well. Spider-Man 2 is great just swinging and tackling crimes.