Feeling down and looking for stress relief activities to unwind?
Stress relief is important to maintain your mental and physical well-being. As daily life and work can get more demanding and lead to burnout and anxiety, taking your time to unwind after a long day could help you improve your focus, emotional balance, and creativity.
There are many activities to manage stress, and ultimately, what works best depends on you. Approaches to stress relief include meditation, spending time with loved ones, exercising, or engaging in hobbies—like gaming.
How Stress Reduction Games Work?
Reaching for your controller or launching up Steam is something many look forward to, after a long day. But why? Gaming can result in the release of the feel-good chemical, dopamine; it also can be meditative, alternatively known as the creation of a flow state. Alternatively, stress reduction games can be a vessel for creativity and art—the age-old method to de-stress.
Games for stress relief not only can help you relieve stress by engaging in interactive experiences but also in some ways, such as:
Pulling your focus away from real-world worries to break from overwhelming thoughts.
Exploring a new virtual world to express creativity and improve on strategy
For simple stress reduction games, they can help in promoting relaxation
9 Stress Relief Games to Help You Relax
Here’s some games for stress relief:
1. Puzzle Games: Superliminal
Initial release date: November 12, 2019
Genre: Puzzle Video Game, Walking simulator, Adventure
Platforms: macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Android, iOS
Developer: Pillow Castle Games
Playing puzzles can be one of the activities to manage stress. Moreover, puzzle games create a sense of accomplishment, release dopamine and refine focus—but how does the latter help reduce stress? To put it simply, when your brain is set on trying to figure out a solution to something, it is distracted from the negative external forces one may face.
Superliminal is a great stress relieving game if this genre is up your alley. Instead of traditional puzzles where players would have to match up colours or shapes, Superliminal plays with optical illusions, forced perspectives and physics. Its premise surrounds a main character, who is partaking in a dream study. But the dream loops, and players are stuck in a seemingly endless cycle. The goal of the game is to wake up.
This stress reduction game is played in first person, with a unique mechanic central to gameplay. Essentially, to solve otherwise impossible puzzles, players must change the sizes of objects they pick up. If you hold an object far away—making it look smaller due to perspective—it shrinks. The game scales items to sizes that players have last viewed them as.
2. Cosy Games: Frog Detective
Initial release date: November 22, 2018
Genre: Adventure, Comedy
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
Developer: Worm Club, Thomas Bowker, Grace Bruxner
Cosy games are a broad genre in the industry. It could be a farming game, a management simulator, or a city builder, but ultimately, these calming games are designed to be relaxing—they have low stakes, cute graphics, and little to no violence. It’s perfect for a person who wants to immerse themselves in a world outside reality.
In Frog Detective, players play as an endearing andromorphic frog. It’s set on a small island, with light-hearted characters and cheerful visuals. Despite the name of the game, there isn’t much mystery-solving to be done.
Do simple tasks, explore the map, and speak to quirky residents. You cannot die or lose—while you do have an overarching goal, the main takeaway from this game is to engross in the lively world of Frog Detective.
In the first game, the Frog Detective gets a call from their superior about the appearance of an apparition on an island. So, the Detective sets out with their trusty magnifying glass to the haunted island. Your objective is to find the ghost, if there really is one, by meeting several people and collecting trinkets. This game is suitable for you who are looking for stress relief activities.
3. Horror Games: The Haunting Ground
Initial release date: April 21, 2005
Genre: Survival horror, Puzzle Video Game, Action-adventure game
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2
Developer: Capcom
Playing a horror game when you’re stressed may sound counterintuitive—but it works for a few reasons. Most notably, you aren’t in any real danger when you’re playing this game, so despite the horrifying positions you are situated in, you are still in control. Your body and mind know this—the nervous system releases feel-good hormones when it recognises that we are, in actuality, safe and sound.
There are many great horror games to choose—Rule of Rose, Resident Evil, and Darkseed. But The Haunting Ground is an overlooked game, that is a near-perfect stalker horror. It involves well-fleshed-out antagonists, a complex player character named Fiona, and Hewie—a White Shepherd that is highly integral to both gameplay and endings. Run, hide and evade from the enemies that Fiona cannot attack—that Hewie can. However, note that the damage done is only temporary.
As you explore the castle that The Haunting Ground is set in, stalker enemies can appear randomly. Fiona has limited stamina and can fall into panic attacks, in which the screen and music will be affected, making it harder to escape from enemy attacks. But that’s not the only way the game instils tension in you.
Stakes rise if you hide in the same spot too many times—enemies will learn and find you more easily. As with other stress relief games in this list, The Haunting Ground has miles more to the game than what is summarised, like how your canine companion has to be trained, the puzzles to be solved, and alchemy. So, to find out more—pick this stress reduction game up on your desired platforms.
Relevant article: 5 Games that Undertake the Theme of Mental Health
4. RPG Games: Baroque (original Saturn ver.)
Initial release date: May 21, 1998
Genre: Roguelite, Adventure game, Japanese role-playing game
Platforms: Sega Saturn
Developer: Sting Entertainment
Movies, music, books, and games have one main thing in common—they’re all a form of escapism. However, more specifically, role-playing games (RPG) force their players to completely assume the role of a character in a fictional universe. It detaches you from your temporal worries and places you in a world where your stressors do not exist.
Baroque is a roguelite RPG dungeon crawler. Roguelites specifically are only partially like Rogue, still staying within the bounds of the main three qualities of the original game: Randomly generated levels and permanent death. However, it may diverge in areas like meta-progression or a lack of turn-based combat.
Baroque is set in a post-apocalyptic world, where the main action takes place in the Neuro Tower. You can find unique weapons, items and... worms. And just like any other great roguelite, the more you play the more you learn—enemy attack patterns and all.
When you first enter the game, you play as a character who is part of an organisation. Its collective goal is to eliminate the deity that resides at the bottom of the tower. The world is riddled with mutants called Grotesques, which you will find in abundance during your descent to the Neuro Tower.
It’s a complex videogame, with a plot just as layered—so any further explanation will spoil the rest of Baroque. If anything piques your interest, it’s highly recommended that you check this game out for yourself.
5. Comedy Games: Earthbound
Initial release date: August 27, 1994
Genre: Japanese role-playing game, Adventure game
Platforms: Super NES, Game Boy Advance
Developer: HAL Laboratory, Ape, Inc.
Laughter can be the best medicine for stress. It’s been researched extensively, proving to improve mood, stimulate organs, improve circulation and more specifically, reduce stress hormones. Levels of cortisol fall when you laugh!
Earthbound is an offbeat JRPG. It’s a classic in the genre, praised for its art direction and writing. Moreover, it’s subversive and humorous, while dealing with themes of nihilism and inner disturbances.
This stress relief game takes off when a meteor lands by one of the four main characters, Ness. You learn that you must collect eight melodies, from sanctuaries around the world, to harness enough power to defeat the universal cosmic destroyer, Giygas.
Part of the Mother series, its humour lies in its absurd world and absurd situations, in which characters are nonchalant too. The video game breaks the fourth wall and doesn’t take itself too seriously—yet it doesn’t go overboard, making the humour in the game feel relaxed and unforced.
Gameplay-wise, Earthbound doesn’t stray too far from traditional 2D Japanese role-playing games—combat is turn-based, exp is awarded after battles and you can put points into player stats. This classic is perfect for someone who seeks a good laugh, alongside solid gameplay and story.
More Stress Relief Games We Recommend:
Puzzle Game: Candy Crush Saga
Puzzle Game: Candy Crush Saga
Initial release date: April 12, 2012
Genre: Puzzle game
Platforms: App Store, Google Play, Windows Phone Store, Windows, macOS, Linux
Developer: King
This legendary stress relief game offers match-3 puzzle games that is easy and fun to play anytime. Loved by millions of people around the world, this game offers a trillion levels that you can enjoy while de-stressing from work or taking a break in between. With cheerful background music, you can find the best combinations of candies to rise to another level.
Classic Game: Bejeweled (Series)
Initial release date: In 2000
Genre: Puzzle game
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, Windows Phone, Windows Mobile, Mac OS X, iOS, Android, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Wii, Java ME, Adobe Flash, Palm OS, Symbian^3, PlayStation Vita, Online, Arcade
Developer: PopGames
This is another classic match-3 game that you can play whenever you want. Available in many platforms since it was first released back in 2000 for browsers, one of the series comes in 6 different modes, you need to do gem-matching, from the fast-paced, time-based Lightning, to the gem-driven Flushes.
However, the best mode to help you relieve your stress is the Zen mode. This mode comes with subliminal positive affirmations, breath modulation, and even different visual and sound effects, with a unique soundtrack. In Zen mode, there are no Bomb Gems, Doom Gemes, or Locked Games that will appear during play. Only the planetary backdrops appear during the game.
Dinkum
Initial release date: July 14, 2022
Genre: 3D open-world RPG
Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC)
Developer: James Bendon
The best therapy can look like having a dream home with a big, lush garden, on an island inspired by the Australian outback. You can roam through the tropical landscapes, embark on an adventure in the forest, and discover charming wildlife inspired by Aussie.
To gather resources, you can start hunting, mining, fishing, and foraging to attract new businesses. Playing this game can help you unwind and cool your mind whenever you need to be grounded and be present. A cosy, stress relief game after a long day.
Tsuki Adventure
Initial release date: 2018
Genre: Story-based adventure
Platforms: Android, iOS
Developer: HyperBeard
If you are looking for a casual mobile game that is both fun and relaxing, this game is perfect for you. In Tsuki Adventure, you will join Tsuki on a new journey to discover the beauty of the countryside and appreciate life’s simple pleasures. Previously, Tsuki was lonely and stuck in a stressful job, but everything changed when a letter from Tsuki’s grandfather arrived, leading to a new beginning.
You will accompany Tsuki on various adventures, from fishing with Yori the fox and reading books with Chi the giraffe to enjoying a delicious bowl of ramen made by Tsuki's good friend, Bobo the panda. Playing this game helps you become more mindful, cherish every moment, and appreciate the little things in life.
How TESSR Project Management Software Could Help You
As stress builds up, it can block your creative thinking, reducing your focus span, and burnout. Stress reduction games can help you manage your stress level and find more emotional balance. Not only by engaging in some stress relieving games, but with the right tools, such as TESSR project management software, it could help you in planning, executing, and improving workflow and collaboration.
If you’re an artist or creative looking for solutions to manage your projects better, feel free to explore our project management product by clicking the link here.
Conclusion
Each of these stress reduction games has its own charms and quirks, so pick one—or all—to unwind after a hard day. But remember, these calming games are just one way to de-stress. Games indeed are stress relievers to many, but if it doesn’t completely work for you, don’t stop looking for what works for you.
Instead of feeling overwhelmed by deadlines and some projects on your plate, you can focus more on doing your work with more efficiency. Then, let TESSR help you organising your workflows so you can have better time management that leads you to have more mental space to create.
Author Bio
From Malaysia, Leia Emeera is a writer at TESSR, and a published author. She has been putting pen to paper ever since she learned how to, and has an anthology to her name, titled 'Ten'. Leia loves music, games and her beloved labrador retriever, George. She aims to further her studies in English Literature and Creative Writing the moment her gap year ends. 'Till then, you will find her sitting behind a desk, writing with TESSR.
Connect with her on LinkedIn: Leia Emeera
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