@@Xlaxsauce I have stories about getting perfect cougar pelts, tracking and waiting. Amazing game for all the parts which force you to slow down and take it all in.
Flight Sim 2020 is the ultimate chill out/zen experience to me. Pick an aircraft, pick a start location and just fly. Anywhere in the world, wherever you want and for as long as you want. Haven't done this for years but creative building in Minecraft is also zen like, especially with the right mods given you more building options.
Funny I struggle to zen in flight sim because it takes too long to fly anywhere and I dont have enoughtime to really fly a full trip. It is cool though
@@AaronQ64 That's understandable. I find the trick is to put some music on, get level flight (or close enough) and then just go. You don't need a destination or even to land at the end of it. Simply fly until you've had enough, looking at the scenery and listening to your tunes. As long as you keep an eye on the screen, you can even do other things. I always do my weekly shopping list during a flight. :-)
It could be, but I get too anxious trying to get all my controls and things set up right and learning how to play it, and then it takes so long to get anyplace (because it's a simulator I know lol). There was a MS flight sim thing that was more arcadey that I found relaxing, but it closed down like 10 years ago whenever they shut down that windows live gaming thing (good riddance windows live lol). I liked to fly the Icon aircraft in it (and also like to fly the icon in MS flight sim lol, but it is also really hard on my PC, I want to see it on xCloud).
It was certainly beautiful and chill, and also incredibly emotional. I didn’t expect to be bawling my eyes out for the rest of the day though- granted what happens to the character happened to me IRL so there’s that.
so a fun fact about Gris. The entire game represents the stages of grief. Like *minor spoilers here* the first world you go into has that red tint, and you can be a big block. That's anger, and our tendency to harden up and block people out, while grieving. If you need further proof, just look at the names of the trophies/achievements for the game. I adore that game. Beautiful and zen.
I definitely agree on Ghost of Tsushima. I honestly just loved roaming around exploring and taking screen shots with the editor, super relaxing. I think the the constant threat of Mongols was a bit hard to avoid at times if you wanted an entirely Zen session. I would probably rank it above Biomutant personally though because Ghost tied it's exploration to tangible rewards as well. Hot Springs, Song areas, Fox Shrines, Sword & Hat locations, special duels, while a bit like a check list, it was less obnoxious than Ubisoft games and felt organic to me at least. I do really enjoy Biomutant's exploration as well, just a different take as a complete Zen experience for me.
Can’t wait to play the Directors cut again on the PS5 man. That had stunning and surreal visuals man. Felt like you were riding through a mythical land.
For me, the zen game that recently got to me is SpiritFarer. You got the every day routine but it feels so nice. Hugging the people, slowly building more of the boat and getting to know more and more of the ship feels great. It's just a great time overall.
Back then comment section is where people express their reactions to a content on the internet. Or maybe, to interact with the content creator. Now, people just trying so hard to be funny and probably don't even care with the content itself. That's so pathetic and cringey
Zen is more important in games because the fanbase is now older for gaming in general. We wanna relax, not play highly competitive all the time. Love you mate! Great reviews. For me, cities skyline on infinite money mode. Build away!
I absolutely agree. Currently my Zen gameplay is FFXIV (playing through dungeons) and Assassin's Creed Valhalla (exploring huge map). Tried CoD Bo4 and uninstalled after doing the specialist missions and a few matches.
Yup, I'm 39 and definitely enjoy my slower zen like games. I still enjoy Battlefield 1 occasionally but I don't play those games with the same competitive drive that I use to.
Man, it’s great to get a list like this from a guy like you, usually when you search RUclips for compilations like this you get a lot of garbage. An ACG list is solid gold, however! You’ve always been my most reliable source as to whether or not a game with a middling metacritic score is going to be up my alley or not, & the way you talk tech (that I admittedly don’t grasp all too well) is incredibly interesting. Keep up the good work, my dude!
My thanks they are fun and interesting to do but I don't like to just throw them out. not that others are. But they do take me a bit longer for a top 8-10 whatever.
As someone who loves hardcore shooting games and horror, I actually tried stardew valley because the graphics reminded me of Zelda for the SNES and I was hooked. So addictive.
My most recent "zen game" that I'm still catching myself thinking about, is, believe it or not, Death Stranding. I platinum'd the game within 2 months of its release and never touched it again, but I can still recall the whole map by heart, and all those little adventures I made for myself in between the Kojima insanity.
@@jasonalv7436 But that's what enhances the experience for me. The feeling when you get to a shelter after a long trek and some creepy encounters, take a shower, rest and restock, and then embark again is something I haven't experienced in another game to that degree (FFXV and RDR2 come close, in the way that after a hunt or a long trip you can camp or go to a hotel and relax/eat/refresh. It helps with the gamer's immersion in a cycle of hardship/reward).
I really enjoyed Everybody's Gone To The Rapture as a chill out game. Being totally alone but for the light particles and the final memories of the lost inhabitants, haunting and beautiful in equal measure. The rural English setting was just perfect.
I found steep to be a very relaxing game, perfect when you want to take a break from heavy action titles. And I am not even into relaxing games. I just wish we were given more vehicles from the start. I am very excited for Riders' Republic.
Red Dead Online has (surprisingly) become my go-to game for zen gameplay. Hunting, gathering, collecting, and riding through the west for generally simple objectives.
I loved Journey and played it through like 10 times but I never heard of "Sky (children of light)" until I googled it now to find out it is only on Nintendo Switch? Shame :(
Wildermyth has been a pleasant surprise. Despite the combat spikes, the evolving storytelling and how your characters lives play out is pretty cool thing to watch. Like being read a story before bed. If you like role playing like D&D, some X-Com strategy, and your parents didn’t read you enough pop-up books as a child, this is the game you never knew you needed.
Man No Mans Sky in VR is by far the best gaming experience to me. Just putting on an audiobook and exploring the universe, making an underwater base, creating a space farm etc. Is something to behold.
Over the years I think I've had four games that I've used for the zen-state. Forza Motorsport 4, followed later by The Crew 2. For the longest time I thought I wasn't a big fan of driving games, but seeing how these two make up for a huge chunk of my time spent relaxing with games in the past decade or so, I guess I am a fan after all. With Forza I spent a year slowly tweaking my Panda Trueno into the personalized drifting machine and then spent countless hours driving down a hill, whether with traffic or by myself, just chasing that cool looking drift that is millimeters from hitting the railings. With the Crew, I just grabbed a fun supercar and went on the longer races (27 minutes), put on a podcast and zoned out of the world. Neither game isn't designed as a zen-game, but man if it isn't exactly that when you pick your lanes and vehicles correctly and just get on the road. In between these two, Minecraft. Ever since the earlier beta versions, casual building and mining with friends has been something incredibly relaxing and fun. Sometimes you just want to go down that mineshaft and pick at stones, hunting for those metals. Sometimes you want to build up that farm that grows all the hundreds of crops from Pam's Harvestcraft. Then you can spend two weeks building an insane chemical laboratory, where from one end of the factory you input live pigs, tin ore and a bucket of water, and from the other end you get a bucket of blood and twenty cans of spam. Minecraft with the right mods can be incredibly zen, while at the same time scratch all those itches you have for whatever kind of gameplay a group of engineers may desire :D Last but certainly not least for me would be Elite Dangerous. It's the space exploration No Man's Sky wishes it had. It's the Eurotruck simulator, but with actually inspiring locations. It's the ultimate loner experience, charting your way through an empty galaxy.
Abzu is one of my favorite games. It feels like it gets overlooked way too often, and is underrated when discussing these kind of games. It's truly a unique experience. To say more would be spoilers.
I hope Spiritfarer gets a mention. Very easy farming/crafting, light platforming, no enemies, great story, and beautiful art style. Snowrunner was a great quarantine companion, only frustration was when I push my luck by going too fast down a snowy/muddy trail and flip my truck.
My wife just finished this. She was SOOOO ABSORBED in it. Played it 10 hours one day. Really cool, whimsical looking game with adult themes (non-sexual... mostly).
Bought Call of The Wild last week on sale after hearing Karak repeatedly shout it out for a couple years and I’m absolutely hooked. Beautiful, masssive maps that never force you into action but offer plenty to find if you’re on the hunt. I highly recommend to anyone curious about it.
Death Stranding. I'm an avid hiker/biker and that title gives same psychological endorphin hit I get when I do those activities. Between that and the shared sense of community it hits so many unique points I hadn't experienced in a game until that point.
@@RitaMaSTeR Skyrim's combat isn't really difficult even on the highest difficulty and you engage in battle very sparingly. Comparely to Biomutant, you'll spent more time walking and interacting with random NPC than fighting... then again I'm playing a heavily modded Skyrim which may had altered enemies behavior such as wild wolves to act like real animals instead of murderous monsters.
While watching this I kept thinking about *'Thomas Was Alone".* It has rewarding platforming, satisfying puzzles, and perfectly flowing level design. Added to that, some beautiful music with wonderful narration and "story".
May sound like a weird choice since it’s a post-apocalyptic game, but the settlement building in Fallout 4 has always been a relaxing and enjoying time for me.
If you enjoyed Abzu and Journey, Flower is a must play. I feel like it gets over looked way too much, but man is it a relaxing game. Other choices from me would be Himno, Ghost of Tsushima, Gris, Spiritfarer, Atelier Ryza 1 and 2, and Tokyo 42 just to name a few.
Death stranding for sure. I don't usually put much time in games to the level that I did for DS and No Mans Sky. I have 300 in Death Stranding and 200 in NMS. I'm a mail carrier, and I find my job zen at times. So delivering packages just goes with the flow of the third of my life I spend working
Power Wash Simulator. $20 early access on steam, that has been my go to game when I need to unwind. It's like having one of those sand zen gardens. Such an underrated game and a hidden gem.
I LOVED Firewatch and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture. They made me realise I love "chill" games where I don't have to be the chosen one or go around shooting people.
Eastshade is so amazing, and far surpassed my expectations. Exploring the island, meeting new people, finding amazing vistas to paint, is so enjoyably relaxing.
Anno 1800. Can be a stressful nightmare of you're really trying to conquer every piece of land but if you just want to stop growing you can do that and just slowly improve your empire. And it's SO PRETTY!
A Zen game for me and series I greatly miss was Tokyo Xtreme Racer. Zero and 3 were so incredibly fun and I could revisit those games every year or two and enjoy the hell out of it. Wish it were still around. Edit. JRPG's in general as well. I have a PS3 in my bedroom loaded with PS1/2/3 titles, most of which are some of my favorite JRPG's and it's just the best to lay back in bed at the end of the day, follow a story and do some turn based combat.
Shadow of the colossus is a great zen game when you aren't killing innocent giants. It is also cool when you have the invisible cloak and just watch them move around. But since there is no music while exploring and you can go to the beach, I find it a very relaxing time. Also the horse is amazing.
I think this is the first zen games list to feature hunting, fishing, and mudding games. As you brought them up I thought, "yeah, that actually makes sense. Why haven't I looked into these games!?"
Islanders is a fantastic zen game. My wife and kids got hooked on it too. It can seem dull at first but as you figure it out more and more, building a perfectly optimized island becomes so satisfying
Its gotta be Kenshi for me. Weird post apocalyptic sim meets RPG where there are no quests or markers to follow - you are totally free to create whatever story you want. Its so organic
A favorite I've gone back to more than once is Song of the Deep. The play style, graphics, music, and narration are all wonderful. It's like playing a bedtime story your mom/dad read you when you were going to bed as a little kid.
@@psyched.shelby5391 no mods, mods, creation club, DLC parts, Vanilla. I’ve had fun in all ways building. Expect on survival. Building in survival mode is not fun. 😂
Really enjoyed this video, I’m a huge zen gamer. I often need to decompress after a stressful day at work/college. I absolutely LOVED ABZU, so I’m glad it made it on here! But I also loved Spiritfarer, it’s so wholesome and chill.
Journey, for me, is the greatest of all time. I've never been more concerned about a total stranger in a video game in my whole life, and I'll never forget that moment.
My go-tos are what my girlfriend mockingly calls my "Map games" so things like Stellaris and Crusader Kings. The moment to moment is rarely ever pressing, and watching the various stories unfold slowly before your eyes while sipping on a cup of coffee and listening to a podcast is the most relaxing weekend experience I can think of
Death Stranding was the Mudrunner of walking. And I know the BT’s can come out of no where and ruin your day, but I found this game one of the most relaxing experiences ever- and I didn’t even like the story or even the combat that much. But this game reinvented the wheel in terms of how you traverse and open world and get around it
This is a great list. My top zen games not mentioned are: 1. Surviving Mars - It's very slow pace allows you to really consider your options 2. Simulator Games like Car Mechanic Simulator and American Truck Simulator are very zen
Man, Snowrunner is my grab a beer and some music kind of game. I can just chill out after a long day and enjoy getting stuck in the mud. So glad it got a shoutout
I know it sounds weird but Doom Eternal makes me feel completely at peace somehow. Something is oddly relaxing about the flow of the combat, you just go in autopilot after you get the hang of it.
My go-tos if I want to chill and relax are REZ, Death Stranding and de Blob. REZ and de Blob are feel-good mash-ups of audiovisuals to loose yourself in, while in Death Stranding, hiking through well detailed environment and planning the delivery routes is somehow really relaxing.
There's a new game called Lake coming out pretty soon where you play as a mailperson. You literally drive around a small town on a lake delivering packages and letters, getting into conversations with the citizens. It looks beautiful.
Once you get past the opening missions and the world opens up, I found Ghost of Tsushima to be very relaxing. Just taking in the gorgeous environments as you wander either on foot or by horse around a landscape littered with, yes, enemies, but also secrets, like fox shrines and saunas. This game allows you to find especially chill spots and compose Haiku poetry! Its not a chill game ALL the time, but it definitely helped my anxiety a year ago.
I wouldn’t call myself a zen gamer and it isn’t something I’ve ever thought about. But after watching this video I’m gonna check some of these titles out. Awesome work dude.
![Coheed and Cambria - Searching for Tomorrow [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hDsYGLbmadg/mqdefault.jpg)
RDR2 just riding your horse through the open country between missions. Super zen and awe inspiring experience.
Amazing visuals but that's what also makes it boring for some ppl tbh..(the horse riding part)
@@dolurosu yea exactly right, I guess those ppl are just so used to vehicles/cars like in GTA and traversing via fast travel. Lol
did that with rdr and rdr2. I even found myself fishing or hunting in rdr2 for hours
@@Xlaxsauce I have stories about getting perfect cougar pelts, tracking and waiting. Amazing game for all the parts which force you to slow down and take it all in.
@@jamesvancam these people aren’t Zen
Timestamps:
0:30 Snowrunner/mudrunner
1:36 Firewatch
2:34 Hunter: Call of the Wild
3:47 Abzu
4:32 Pool Panic
5:38 No Man's Sky
6:44 Animal Crossing
7:45 Ultimate fishing simulation
8:44 Biomutant
Thanks 👍🏻
I like Flower better than Abzu
Pin this.
Can you please tell me what the game at 0:08 is?
I will never understand why he doesnt do this himself almost every other list video does this, thanks
Flight Sim 2020 is the ultimate chill out/zen experience to me. Pick an aircraft, pick a start location and just fly. Anywhere in the world, wherever you want and for as long as you want.
Haven't done this for years but creative building in Minecraft is also zen like, especially with the right mods given you more building options.
Funny I struggle to zen in flight sim because it takes too long to fly anywhere and I dont have enoughtime to really fly a full trip. It is cool though
@@AaronQ64 That's understandable. I find the trick is to put some music on, get level flight (or close enough) and then just go. You don't need a destination or even to land at the end of it. Simply fly until you've had enough, looking at the scenery and listening to your tunes. As long as you keep an eye on the screen, you can even do other things. I always do my weekly shopping list during a flight. :-)
It could be, but I get too anxious trying to get all my controls and things set up right and learning how to play it, and then it takes so long to get anyplace (because it's a simulator I know lol). There was a MS flight sim thing that was more arcadey that I found relaxing, but it closed down like 10 years ago whenever they shut down that windows live gaming thing (good riddance windows live lol). I liked to fly the Icon aircraft in it (and also like to fly the icon in MS flight sim lol, but it is also really hard on my PC, I want to see it on xCloud).
Shame it's a buggy mess for some, me included:((
That and I go for Euro Truck sim 2 (with multiplayer)
zen games are important, I learn to appreciate them more and more, especially at older age when you get off from long day at work :D
This is why "zen" games have become my favorite too.
Gris, probably the most beautiful and chill game i`ve ever played.
I should give it a other try. I dropped it after getting bored by all the walking.
I liked it and was also bored by it
It was certainly beautiful and chill, and also incredibly emotional. I didn’t expect to be bawling my eyes out for the rest of the day though- granted what happens to the character happened to me IRL so there’s that.
so a fun fact about Gris. The entire game represents the stages of grief. Like *minor spoilers here* the first world you go into has that red tint, and you can be a big block. That's anger, and our tendency to harden up and block people out, while grieving. If you need further proof, just look at the names of the trophies/achievements for the game. I adore that game. Beautiful and zen.
Ghost of Tsushima had that for me with it's amazing vistas, landscapes and skies. All that on a 4k hdr tv - oh boy
I definitely agree on Ghost of Tsushima. I honestly just loved roaming around exploring and taking screen shots with the editor, super relaxing. I think the the constant threat of Mongols was a bit hard to avoid at times if you wanted an entirely Zen session. I would probably rank it above Biomutant personally though because Ghost tied it's exploration to tangible rewards as well. Hot Springs, Song areas, Fox Shrines, Sword & Hat locations, special duels, while a bit like a check list, it was less obnoxious than Ubisoft games and felt organic to me at least.
I do really enjoy Biomutant's exploration as well, just a different take as a complete Zen experience for me.
Can’t wait to play the Directors cut again on the PS5 man. That had stunning and surreal visuals man. Felt like you were riding through a mythical land.
Agreed!
been searching for a game that gave me the feels this game gives me and its really hard to find.
For me, the zen game that recently got to me is SpiritFarer. You got the every day routine but it feels so nice. Hugging the people, slowly building more of the boat and getting to know more and more of the ship feels great. It's just a great time overall.
I was going to point this out too, since my wife has been playing it solid for the last week.
Valheim was certainly this earlier in the year. So much time just chillin' collecting resources and building the perfect viking town.
I liked this concept a lot, but I got burnt out on the graphics quickly. Idk why it bothers me bud it does.
I’d put Doom Eternal in there personally but it’s your list 🤷🏻♂️
I feel that
I suppose extreme adrenaline CAN be considered a form of relaxation
More like the intent workout more than zen for me, which is great.
I do agree with him
Back then comment section is where people express their reactions to a content on the internet. Or maybe, to interact with the content creator. Now, people just trying so hard to be funny and probably don't even care with the content itself. That's so pathetic and cringey
I found subnautica to be pretty Zen for the most part thought it can definitely have it's tense moments.
Outer Wilds absolutely belongs on this list. Despite the timer, the game is extremely relaxing to play and has several amazing locations to explore.
Zen is more important in games because the fanbase is now older for gaming in general. We wanna relax, not play highly competitive all the time. Love you mate! Great reviews. For me, cities skyline on infinite money mode. Build away!
Love these turn your brain off type of games lmao.
Minecraft is a big one for me, cities skylines is another great one. World of Warcraft can be really chill just questing.
I absolutely agree. Currently my Zen gameplay is FFXIV (playing through dungeons) and Assassin's Creed Valhalla (exploring huge map). Tried CoD Bo4 and uninstalled after doing the specialist missions and a few matches.
Yup, I'm 39 and definitely enjoy my slower zen like games. I still enjoy Battlefield 1 occasionally but I don't play those games with the same competitive drive that I use to.
Until the traffic gets you and no amount of lane tweaking with TMPE seems to be able to fix it 😅
Man, it’s great to get a list like this from a guy like you, usually when you search RUclips for compilations like this you get a lot of garbage. An ACG list is solid gold, however! You’ve always been my most reliable source as to whether or not a game with a middling metacritic score is going to be up my alley or not, & the way you talk tech (that I admittedly don’t grasp all too well) is incredibly interesting. Keep up the good work, my dude!
My thanks they are fun and interesting to do but I don't like to just throw them out. not that others are. But they do take me a bit longer for a top 8-10 whatever.
My first place is definitely Stardew Valley!
It was a miracle to find this game. Really helped with my PTSD.
Absolutely yes Stardew Valley 💯💯
As someone who loves hardcore shooting games and horror, I actually tried stardew valley because the graphics reminded me of Zelda for the SNES and I was hooked. So addictive.
I love Stardew but the time pressure really stresses me out.
My most recent "zen game" that I'm still catching myself thinking about, is, believe it or not, Death Stranding. I platinum'd the game within 2 months of its release and never touched it again, but I can still recall the whole map by heart, and all those little adventures I made for myself in between the Kojima insanity.
It's zen until time fall hits and BTs starts to appear
I agree. Very zen game.
@@jasonalv7436 But that's what enhances the experience for me. The feeling when you get to a shelter after a long trek and some creepy encounters, take a shower, rest and restock, and then embark again is something I haven't experienced in another game to that degree (FFXV and RDR2 come close, in the way that after a hunt or a long trip you can camp or go to a hotel and relax/eat/refresh. It helps with the gamer's immersion in a cycle of hardship/reward).
I platinumed it yesterday. Super Zen game. I avoided all the combat so i coould just ... walk/ride
100% agree. DEATH STRANDING is the most zen game I've played.
I really enjoyed Everybody's Gone To The Rapture as a chill out game. Being totally alone but for the light particles and the final memories of the lost inhabitants, haunting and beautiful in equal measure. The rural English setting was just perfect.
Very underrated title!
@@Weeeeee711Agreed, I get that it's not for everyone, but at that time I'd never played anything like it.
That was indeed fantastic...
@Lawrence Newmanyeah they did, it helped a little, I played most of the game just holding that button 😅
I tried this and was actually really disappointed by it. The exploration just didn't do it for me. But I loved the vibe.
Steep is totally Zen. Just ride down the slope and see some beautiful vistas.
I found steep to be a very relaxing game, perfect when you want to take a break from heavy action titles. And I am not even into relaxing games. I just wish we were given more vehicles from the start. I am very excited for Riders' Republic.
Well, I found Steep really assripin hard)
- The Talos Principle and its sequel, Road to Gehenna
- In Other Waters
- Elite Dangerous
I was thinking of Talos Principle but decided on The Witness instead. Similar games though!
Red Dead Online has (surprisingly) become my go-to game for zen gameplay. Hunting, gathering, collecting, and riding through the west for generally simple objectives.
Even the griefers understand and leave you alone when you engaged in that type of gameplay
Although i don't care for a single game on this list i loved watching this video. Please make more top tens.
Death stranding... that is when you're not being bombarded by exposition dialogues.
Do you even know what "exposition dialogue" is?
@@wawa6711 I know, do you?
Great call
Hey i like that exposition dialogue
Climbing those mountains and setting up/upgrading those ziplines is a great time.
I’d say Death Stranding, RDR2, and Ghost of Tsushima are all pretty zen and I loved every minute of those games.
Journey and the spiritual successor Sky. The very definition of zen.
I loved Journey and played it through like 10 times but I never heard of "Sky (children of light)" until I googled it now to find out it is only on Nintendo Switch? Shame :(
@@1nZaneR Platforms: Android, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Microsoft Windows, iPadOS, Macintosh operating systems
@@Khirashi10 w00t Windows?? where do you buy it? ms store? ipad/ios/android are no acceptable gaming platforms to me.
Wildermyth has been a pleasant surprise. Despite the combat spikes, the evolving storytelling and how your characters lives play out is pretty cool thing to watch. Like being read a story before bed.
If you like role playing like D&D, some X-Com strategy, and your parents didn’t read you enough pop-up books as a child, this is the game you never knew you needed.
Breath of the Wild is very zen if you play it in that way.
Yeah, just set out and see what is behind the next hill. It may seem empty, but if you look the right way it isn't.
Fez, Gris and A Short Hike are all excellent Zen games.
European Truck Simulator 2 - Just driving around listening to radio - doing so at night is especially relaxing (as long as you turn off fines lol)
Man No Mans Sky in VR is by far the best gaming experience to me. Just putting on an audiobook and exploring the universe, making an underwater base, creating a space farm etc. Is something to behold.
Subnautica, the base game. It is the embodiment of Zen when it isn't horrifying.
Yes! The opening hours and progression are wonderful
"When it isnt horrifying"... i love subnautica, but boy oh boy, is it a bi polar rollercoaster between relaxing and horrifying.
yeah I would definitely include Subnautica. The game has equal amounts of zen-like exploration as it does stressful moments of pure fear.
For me, it's always horrifying :(
Yes I agree I like subnautica below zero if my favorite game I skip the story line and make bases everywhere
Over the years I think I've had four games that I've used for the zen-state.
Forza Motorsport 4, followed later by The Crew 2. For the longest time I thought I wasn't a big fan of driving games, but seeing how these two make up for a huge chunk of my time spent relaxing with games in the past decade or so, I guess I am a fan after all. With Forza I spent a year slowly tweaking my Panda Trueno into the personalized drifting machine and then spent countless hours driving down a hill, whether with traffic or by myself, just chasing that cool looking drift that is millimeters from hitting the railings. With the Crew, I just grabbed a fun supercar and went on the longer races (27 minutes), put on a podcast and zoned out of the world. Neither game isn't designed as a zen-game, but man if it isn't exactly that when you pick your lanes and vehicles correctly and just get on the road.
In between these two, Minecraft. Ever since the earlier beta versions, casual building and mining with friends has been something incredibly relaxing and fun. Sometimes you just want to go down that mineshaft and pick at stones, hunting for those metals. Sometimes you want to build up that farm that grows all the hundreds of crops from Pam's Harvestcraft. Then you can spend two weeks building an insane chemical laboratory, where from one end of the factory you input live pigs, tin ore and a bucket of water, and from the other end you get a bucket of blood and twenty cans of spam. Minecraft with the right mods can be incredibly zen, while at the same time scratch all those itches you have for whatever kind of gameplay a group of engineers may desire :D
Last but certainly not least for me would be Elite Dangerous. It's the space exploration No Man's Sky wishes it had. It's the Eurotruck simulator, but with actually inspiring locations. It's the ultimate loner experience, charting your way through an empty galaxy.
Abzu is one of my favorite games. It feels like it gets overlooked way too often, and is underrated when discussing these kind of games. It's truly a unique experience. To say more would be spoilers.
I hope Spiritfarer gets a mention. Very easy farming/crafting, light platforming, no enemies, great story, and beautiful art style.
Snowrunner was a great quarantine companion, only frustration was when I push my luck by going too fast down a snowy/muddy trail and flip my truck.
My wife just finished this. She was SOOOO ABSORBED in it. Played it 10 hours one day. Really cool, whimsical looking game with adult themes (non-sexual... mostly).
Love playing them with movies on my tv playing in background. Elite dangerous is my favorite.
The Long Dark… keep coming back to it.. over and over and over, it’s my guilty pleasure
Dorfromantik!
Without question my favourite zen game. Seriously, give it a look!! Phenomenal little title. Very calming.
No Mans Sky and Tetris Effect are my prefered Zen games, sometimes Final Fantasy XIV as well depending on what im doing in the game.
Bought Call of The Wild last week on sale after hearing Karak repeatedly shout it out for a couple years and I’m absolutely hooked. Beautiful, masssive maps that never force you into action but offer plenty to find if you’re on the hunt. I highly recommend to anyone curious about it.
Mirrors edge and catalyst are peak zen for me. Nothing like the experience of running across rooftops while listening to the incredible soundtracks.
Astroneer - so chill and addictive I could play it all evening with my buddy and we just chat and chill
I think noclip has an awesome documentary up about the making of that iirc
Death Stranding. I'm an avid hiker/biker and that title gives same psychological endorphin hit I get when I do those activities. Between that and the shared sense of community it hits so many unique points I hadn't experienced in a game until that point.
Obvious honorable mention: Skyrim (no quick-travel)
You will get attacked every 2minutes, manage loot again and toss some stuff you would sell. Skyrim is not zen to me for long pkaysessions
@@RitaMaSTeR Skyrim's combat isn't really difficult even on the highest difficulty and you engage in battle very sparingly. Comparely to Biomutant, you'll spent more time walking and interacting with random NPC than fighting... then again I'm playing a heavily modded Skyrim which may had altered enemies behavior such as wild wolves to act like real animals instead of murderous monsters.
Agreed. I feel like I can play Skyrim for an hour and have been in combat for 5 minutes or less.
I adore Zen and cozy games! They are so relaxing and always give me a fun time, my favorite are Spiritfarer, cozy grove and littlewood!
Botw 100%
The chill exploration with the subtle piano music is just great
Everybody's Gone to the Rapture & What Remains of Edith Finch are both small masterpieces.
Stardew Valley and Euro Truck Simulator are my two go-to zen games
While watching this I kept thinking about *'Thomas Was Alone".* It has rewarding platforming, satisfying puzzles, and perfectly flowing level design. Added to that, some beautiful music with wonderful narration and "story".
PGA tour 2k21 is the perfect chill out game for me, few rounds of beautiful scenery with my Tony Soprano created character 👌
Good one
When you're not frantically trying to climb/hold on to/murder the titular Colossi, Shadow of the Colossus is a very relaxing game
It’s 3am here but definitely watching this in the morning
May sound like a weird choice since it’s a post-apocalyptic game, but the settlement building in Fallout 4 has always been a relaxing and enjoying time for me.
If you enjoyed Abzu and Journey, Flower is a must play. I feel like it gets over looked way too much, but man is it a relaxing game. Other choices from me would be Himno, Ghost of Tsushima, Gris, Spiritfarer, Atelier Ryza 1 and 2, and Tokyo 42 just to name a few.
"Lifeless Planet" is one of my favorites for a Zen-like experience.
Sup man hope you are doing well. That was the pass
Death stranding for sure. I don't usually put much time in games to the level that I did for DS and No Mans Sky. I have 300 in Death Stranding and 200 in NMS.
I'm a mail carrier, and I find my job zen at times. So delivering packages just goes with the flow of the third of my life I spend working
Power Wash Simulator. $20 early access on steam, that has been my go to game when I need to unwind. It's like having one of those sand zen gardens. Such an underrated game and a hidden gem.
Pilot Wings for Nintendo 64 is a peaceful experience. Sekiro would be a close second 😋
I LOVED Firewatch and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture. They made me realise I love "chill" games where I don't have to be the chosen one or go around shooting people.
For me Eastshade and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture are so relaxing to me.
Eastshade is so amazing, and far surpassed my expectations. Exploring the island, meeting new people, finding amazing vistas to paint, is so enjoyably relaxing.
Eastshade was seriously good!
Anno 1800. Can be a stressful nightmare of you're really trying to conquer every piece of land but if you just want to stop growing you can do that and just slowly improve your empire. And it's SO PRETTY!
The gran daddy of all of these: Minecraft
Facts!!
agree
Way late but I always found THPS 1+2 extremely relaxing, once you get good enough to basically do whatever combos you want
DORFROMANTIK!!!!
This! Super relaxing puzzle game
Shadow of the Colossus, yes the boss battles are pretty intense but everything in between is pure beauty and relaxation.
A Zen game for me and series I greatly miss was Tokyo Xtreme Racer. Zero and 3 were so incredibly fun and I could revisit those games every year or two and enjoy the hell out of it. Wish it were still around.
Edit. JRPG's in general as well. I have a PS3 in my bedroom loaded with PS1/2/3 titles, most of which are some of my favorite JRPG's and it's just the best to lay back in bed at the end of the day, follow a story and do some turn based combat.
oh ho you ROCK. Those games were incredible.
@@ACGreviews no you! Thanks ACG!
Shadow of the colossus is a great zen game when you aren't killing innocent giants. It is also cool when you have the invisible cloak and just watch them move around. But since there is no music while exploring and you can go to the beach, I find it a very relaxing time. Also the horse is amazing.
Well, wish Stardew Valley was in here.
That's why he leaves two slots empty, so you can fill in your own. :-)
@@Elwaves2925 Yeah, also I don't think Stardew needs more publicity xD It's already quite well-known.
The combat isn't very zen, but then again it's quite avoidable.
@@thegrayyernaut Because no one has ever heard of No Man's Sky...
That game is for your baby or small child.
I think this is the first zen games list to feature hunting, fishing, and mudding games. As you brought them up I thought, "yeah, that actually makes sense. Why haven't I looked into these games!?"
This is the kind of upload I love! Lists! Such dopamine!
Islanders is a fantastic zen game. My wife and kids got hooked on it too. It can seem dull at first but as you figure it out more and more, building a perfectly optimized island becomes so satisfying
"like rods into that reactor" pretty sure rods actually stop the nuclear reaction and cools things down. Unless I've misunderstood what ACG said.
Depends on which rods.
Control Rods - Yes
Fuel Rods - No
Its gotta be Kenshi for me. Weird post apocalyptic sim meets RPG where there are no quests or markers to follow - you are totally free to create whatever story you want. Its so organic
Aye I’ve been looking for more games like these.
A favorite I've gone back to more than once is Song of the Deep. The play style, graphics, music, and narration are all wonderful. It's like playing a bedtime story your mom/dad read you when you were going to bed as a little kid.
Building a settlement in Fallout 4 is zen to me.
Very true, download some settlement mods from the nexus and just build for hours. Good times
I started playing recently and I totally get that
@@psyched.shelby5391 no mods, mods, creation club, DLC parts, Vanilla. I’ve had fun in all ways building. Expect on survival. Building in survival mode is not fun. 😂
I really enjoyed that part of Fallout 4 too, especially with the Vault-Tec DLC which lets you build structures that don't look like a slum. 😂
Really enjoyed this video, I’m a huge zen gamer. I often need to decompress after a stressful day at work/college. I absolutely LOVED ABZU, so I’m glad it made it on here! But I also loved Spiritfarer, it’s so wholesome and chill.
Loved Firewatch. Have played it multiple times.
Journey, for me, is the greatest of all time. I've never been more concerned about a total stranger in a video game in my whole life, and I'll never forget that moment.
I found zen games with voice overs are less zen. A short hike is a great zen game. Gris as well
I played Gris while high awhile back. Was an awesome and at one specific moment terrifying experience.
Gris and Cloudpunk come straight to mind. Journey was also amazing, especially when you met someone else
Flower and Disco Elysium
My go-tos are what my girlfriend mockingly calls my "Map games" so things like Stellaris and Crusader Kings. The moment to moment is rarely ever pressing, and watching the various stories unfold slowly before your eyes while sipping on a cup of coffee and listening to a podcast is the most relaxing weekend experience I can think of
What do you mockingly call her social media addiction?
Death Stranding was the Mudrunner of walking. And I know the BT’s can come out of no where and ruin your day, but I found this game one of the most relaxing experiences ever- and I didn’t even like the story or even the combat that much. But this game reinvented the wheel in terms of how you traverse and open world and get around it
It had some of the most stunning moments of coming over a mountain top to reveal a lush green valley. Oh and the MUSIC was so GOOD
ETS2/ATS and Valheim. These do a great job of letting you kick back and take in the scenery whilst you go about your tasks at hand.
What's the running game 10 seconds in?
same I need to know
it’s KINGS BIRD , I’m playing it right now !
@@AzureBlaq Thank you much
This is a great list. My top zen games not mentioned are:
1. Surviving Mars - It's very slow pace allows you to really consider your options
2. Simulator Games like Car Mechanic Simulator and American Truck Simulator are very zen
I don’t see enough people saying Minecraft. That’s a huge zen game
Satisfactory is such a zen game, especially when you get things working just right and you can stand back and appreciate your work
I love biomutant so much!
Bio is the #1 game I wish was cheaper so I could justify buying it
@@undeadbydawn6257 so you sailed the 7 huh. Mad respect
@@undeadbydawn6257 I'm sure it must be going on sale soon with all the mediocre reviews. I've definitely gotten my $60 and more
@@sonicandroxas ?
Man, Snowrunner is my grab a beer and some music kind of game. I can just chill out after a long day and enjoy getting stuck in the mud. So glad it got a shoutout
I know it sounds weird but Doom Eternal makes me feel completely at peace somehow. Something is oddly relaxing about the flow of the combat, you just go in autopilot after you get the hang of it.
Yep, any game you feel comfortable playing can be very Zen. GR Wildlands for me. Just choppering around and taking out bases.
My go-tos if I want to chill and relax are REZ, Death Stranding and de Blob. REZ and de Blob are feel-good mash-ups of audiovisuals to loose yourself in, while in Death Stranding, hiking through well detailed environment and planning the delivery routes is somehow really relaxing.
It's burnout paradise for me
There's a new game called Lake coming out pretty soon where you play as a mailperson. You literally drive around a small town on a lake delivering packages and letters, getting into conversations with the citizens. It looks beautiful.
When I want Zen, I go with a classic… Minecraft.
When you say classic, I think more of Minesweeper.
Once you get past the opening missions and the world opens up, I found Ghost of Tsushima to be very relaxing. Just taking in the gorgeous environments as you wander either on foot or by horse around a landscape littered with, yes, enemies, but also secrets, like fox shrines and saunas. This game allows you to find especially chill spots and compose Haiku poetry! Its not a chill game ALL the time, but it definitely helped my anxiety a year ago.
You convinced me to get Snowrunner hahaha
I believe it’s on GamePass if you’re in that ecosystem
A Short Hike is just so perfect
How can you not mention sea of thieves! Playing a calm sea shanty whilst bobbing along on a sea seemingly on fire from the glorious sunset.
Until some Brig decides to hunt you for an hour.
I wouldn’t call myself a zen gamer and it isn’t something I’ve ever thought about. But after watching this video I’m gonna check some of these titles out. Awesome work dude.
Haven and The Pathless, 2 very overlooked and amazingly zen like games. They have been some of my favorite ps5 experiences
for me, nothing nothing turns my brain off like delivering packages in death stranding while listening to a podcast