Ever had one of those days where you just don’t have the energy to do anything? The idea of going back to bed, no matter what time of day it is, can feel awfully tempting. Still, if you’d rather try to have a bit of fun in your blah state of mind, there are some low stakes games that won’t sap the remaining life force out of you. Why gaming? The immersion of gaming experiences is just the thing to take you out of your funk. Who knows, you may even find yourself recharging a bit.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing is an extremely cozy game for the Nintendo Switch that’s all about fishing, gardening, hunting for bugs and fossils, collecting and crafting items, and designing your own island, just the way you like it. Seasons and the time of day are true to real life so you get an ever-changing list of fun activities and shifting landscapes. There are countless things to do and you get to focus on the areas that are most appealing. It’s easy to get lost in a friendly world of nature and creativity. Plus, there is so much to do you’ll definitely never get bored.
Stardew Valley
This game has a lot of similar vibes to Animal Crossing, but in a more farm-based atmosphere. You live in a small town, get to develop what kind of farm you want, and interact with the colorful locals. It does have a bit of drama and even beautifully sad moments from time to time, which sets it apart from Animal Crossing. You can also build a life with one of the NPCs if you can sway them to like your character. There’s something longingly magical about this game, and there’s a reason it’s special to so many people. The representation of a simple, beautiful life so many of us crave. Perhaps the icing on top is the calming, gorgeous soundtrack.
Online Slots
That’s right. We jumped from farming games to online slot machines. There’s something about the simplistic stimulation of online gambling that can really help chill you out. Plus, you might even get lucky and win a bit of money. The interfaces and rules are especially easy with slots, and you can try your hand from the comfort of your own mobile device, wherever that may be. Here’s a great place to start if you’re new to the game and want to find safe, professionally vetted online slots in Canada. As with any type of gambling, it’s important to take precautions and only use trusted sites as well as set spending limits.
Untitled Goose Game
“It’s a lovely morning in the village and you are a horrible goose.” The game’s tagline seriously says it all. You basically play as a goose, running around and hassling unsuspecting villagers to your heart’s content. You can steal their hats, you can honk at them and pester them and steal things and make such a nuisance of yourself that you drive them to distraction. There is a to-do list of objectives, such as stealing certain objects or tricking humans into doing things, but it’s all rather fun and simplistic stuff. That’s the sheer beauty of it. If you’ve had a truly awful day you can whip out this game and be truly awful to any human who crosses your goosy path.
I Am Bread
If you haven’t heard of this lesser-known platforming game, the premise is this. You’re a piece of bread and you’re trying to become toast. Done. Of course, it’s not that simple. You have to use different abilities like sticking to things or solving puzzles, all while avoiding pets, dirty floors, toilets, and other such lovely stuff. It’s silly, fun, and sometimes a bit challenging but not in a complicated, rage-inducing way. If you want a low-energy game that still stimulates you, go ahead and start working your way to the toaster. We wish you the best of luck. If you want to get super meta while you’re at it? Make yourself a piece of toast before you start.
Conclusion
Hopefully, these low stakes games help you to chill and get your energy back. That said, what works for some might not work for others. If you feel like these games do not help you with your stress then here are some recommendations from the CDC for reducing stress.
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