Summary
Not all gamers crave an adrenaline-fueled, stressful gaming experience that leaves them on the edge of their seats. Some gamers preferamore relaxed kind of game, or even a game that plays itself, where they can simply watch. Often, these arecasual gamers, people who can only commit to short playing sessions and want to play something simply for some light entertainment.
Strategy games,with their slower gameplay, are obvious choices for these types of gamers. Most strategy games have a pause function, or they progress so slowly that the player can spend long periods away from the keyboard with no detrimental impact. Beyond that, there arestrategy games that strive to be more relaxing than other games in the genre, such as the games listed below.
Games don’t come much more relaxing thanRusty’s Retirement,an idlefarming strategy gamewhere much of the gameplay can be left to take care of itself automatically. That being said, it is possible to play the game normally, instead of letting it play itself.
There is a story-driven narrative that players can choose to follow. This involves helping Rusty work out what has happened in relation to a number of odd local events that have interrupted his quiet retirement. Due to the fact the player can play this game for long periods AFK, it can easily become background noise for a relaxing afternoon.
Save The Ecosystem
Terra Nil
Terra Nil is a game about transforming a barren, lifeless landscape into a thriving, vibrant ecosystem. Turn dead soil into fertile grassland, clean polluted oceans, plant sprawling forests, and create the ideal habitat for animals to call home. Then recycle your buildings and leave no trace that you were there. Reclaim the wasteland.Use advanced eco-technology to purify the soil, creating plains, wetlands, beaches, rainforests, wildflowers, and more—then efficiently recycle everything you’ve built, leaving the environment pristine for its new animal inhabitants.Procedurally generated landscapes mean no two playthroughs of Terra Nil will ever be the same. Plan your build around randomized, challenging, and unpredictable terrain, including snaking rivers, mountains, lowlands, and oceans.Each region of Terra Nil progresses through phases, with the ultimate goal being leaving pristine wilderness behind. Levels are not about infinite growth, but rather balancing and nurturing the environment before leaving it in peace.Lush hand-painted environments, relaxing music, and an atmospheric ambient soundscape make Terra Nil a peaceful, meditative experience. When you’re done, use Appreciate mode to bask in the natural beauty of the ecosystem you have restored.
The player beginsTerra Nilfacing a barren, desolate landscape, and are faced with the task of rebuilding a healthy,sustainable ecosystem. There is no combat in this game, and players are free to relax and enjoy the experience at their own pace.
There are several different biomes for the player to progress through and rebuild their ecosystems. This is done by procuring strategic resources, researching eco-friendly technology, and building the infrastructure needed to nurture nature back to life. The game is deeply relaxing, despite its existential themes, due to its slow gameplay and pleasantly engaging take on environmental issues.
5City Bus Manager
Manage A Bus Company
City Bus Manageris a laid-back, relaxed management game where the player has to keep a bus company in business and make a profit doing so. This means setting up routes and schedules, buying and upgrading vehicles, and managing customer satisfaction.
The game is made more difficult by small setbacks such as traffic jams, low demand for service, and even the weather. This is an oddly compelling little game, simple to play but engaging nonetheless, and it’s perfect for gamers who want a relaxing time without having to deal with constant mouse clicks and notifications of more involved strategy titles.
4Fabledom
A Charming City Builder
Strategy game fans who like a relaxedcity-building experiencewill findFabledoma good fit. This is a game that has been designed to be fun and amusing, and doesn’t take itself very seriously. The characters have, well, character, are often quirky and entertaining. The city-building and aspects are very well-defined too.
The setting is what really shines in this game though. The player inhabits a fairy tale fantasy world, alongside neighboring factions. These factions can be engaged with via trade and limited diplomacy. This is a surprisingly deep game considering its relaxed nature, and is well worthy of a place on this list.
In this strategy simulation game, the player is tasked with designing, constructing, and then managing a complete, planet-widetheme park. This involves landscaping the ground, planning and building rides, and maintaining a high satisfaction score with park visitors. Of course, the park must make a profit as well to keep running and growing.
Planet Coasteris a relaxing game on so many levels. The pace of gameplay is set by the player, and they can build their amusement park as slowly as they like. Furthermore, it is relaxing, and almost hypnotic, to sit and just watch the park functioning and visitors enjoying the rides. The game’s unhurried pace alone makes it a relaxing experience.
This city-builder requires the player to plan a city strategically to ensure that facilities and amenities are available city-wide. This takes some careful placement of core infrastructure for efficient infrastructure. This laid-back, cerebral style of gameplay can be relaxing for some people.
Every city needs proper zoning. Public services need to be established, and supporting infrastructure constructed. Once the city has begun attracting residents, ongoing issues such as poor traffic flow need to be addressed as well. This is a complex game, improving considerably over the first game,Cities: Skylines. The key to success is building a financially viable, sustainable urban area that needs minimal maintenance. The speed of gameplay can be as slow as the player wishes, making it a perfect choice for people looking for a relaxing strategy game.
The Settlers Are Back
The Settlers: New Allies
The Settlers®: New Allies is a strategy game with an in-depth build-up experience and real-time strategic battles.- Fully reimagined from the ground up, with stunning graphics and detailed animations.- Choose among three factions: the Elari, the Maru, and the Jorn. Each has a unique look, playstyle, and background story.- Experience a story-driven campaign set in the world of The Settlers, or go for the special Hardcore mode and its additional challenges.- Play online with up to eight players in thrilling skirmish battles against other players or AI for long-lasting fun.
The Settlers: New Alliesis an up-to-date title that is based on the popularSettlersfranchise, which has been dormant for the last few years. As with most otherSettlersgames, the player is tasked with leading a small group of settlers through the process ofestablishing a colonyand expanding their realm.
All of theSettlersgames have been relaxing, with laid-back gameplay and little urgency.The Settlers: New Alliesis a little more complex, with more advanced features than previous games, but it is still a relaxing experience. It’s always good to see an older franchise still alive and kicking, but when it’s latest entry is as well-put-together as this, it’s even better.
