Sometimes you may forget that your smartphone is good for more than just taking calls from the boss or stressing out about the news. It can also serve as an escape from the real world and a way to lose yourself in relaxing experiences. In these cases, everything beyond the screen disappears completely, at least for a few minutes.
Video games are great for entertainment purposes, and despite their reputation for being action-packed or stressful, not all games are created equal. To prove our point, we’ve found five relaxing games that let you have fun at your own pace. No pressure. No hordes of enemies to kill or confrontations against other players.
The goal: to escape from everyday problems
You’ll be alone in front of your screen, enjoying a moment of peace and quiet with these relaxing games, whether you’re playing a unique chef, solving puzzles or hurtling down a hill on a snowboard. The goal is to escape from everyday problems with an activity that relieves some stress and helps you move forward with more peace of mind.
Although they offer in-game purchases and perks in exchange for watching ads, all of these games are free. You won’t have to dig deep into your pocket if you don’t want to, and you can turn hellish subway or bus rides into your own haven of peace.
Miya’s Everyday Joy of Cooking
If you’re a fan of manga and cute Japanese aesthetics, with this game you’ll be in seventh heaven. You’ll play the charming Miya as she prepares different recipes through a series of puzzles. All you have to do is tap on the screen to get rid of the ingredients that are found together.
When you’ve completed a recipe, you can upload a photo to Instagram and follow Miya’s story. You’ll also be able to get special advantages using a roulette wheel and enjoy fun minigames. This Cookapps production will also let you decorate the main character’s home, although it won’t take you long to figure out that the real star of the game is her cat. [Download]
Kami 2
Origami and puzzles come together to create a unique experience with clear Asian influence, beginning with the beautiful music that will accompany you throughout the game. Switch between the different colors to completely change the appearance of each puzzle through a limited number of actions. At first, this relaxing game may seem too easy, but it won’t take you long to realize that it has more depth than it may appear to have at first glance.
If you get stuck, you can request a clue, although these are limited and to get more you’ll have to watch ads or pay real money. Kami 2 is perfect for playing short rounds with only one hand. [Download]
Alto’s Adventure
Your llamas have escaped, so you’ll have to grab your snowboard and track them down, while jumping over obstacles like rocks and ravines, grinding over cables and collecting coins.
The controls in Alto’s Adventure couldn’t be simpler and the experience of sliding down the hill is extremely relaxing. Plus, the game includes a Photo Mode and will let you perform all kinds of stunts on your board, in a simple way. [Download]
OCO
OCO is a relaxing and visually stunning game. It’s a platformer with an edgy style where you only have to use one hand to control your character, a square, while collecting the dots from the rotating structures.
It may seem pretty simple at first, but you’ll eventually have to take advantage of the areas that act as trampolines and the obstacles themselves in each level to change the direction of your block. Plus, the interaction between the graphics and the sounds is a real treat. [Download]
Interlocked
Here we have a digital adaptation of 3D wooden puzzles. All you have to do is touch the screen to rotate the camera around the structures to figure out where to extract the different pieces.
In this relaxing game it’s not about building puzzles, but about taking them apart, and it’s all wrapped up in wonderful music. Just remember, you need to constantly think spatially, because your eyes may deceive you. [Download]
Desertopia
If you’re looking for a more ambitious title, but without giving up a relaxing gameplay, this sort of God Simulator will let you take care of an island and restore its fauna and flora. With a clear environmental message, Desertopia will have you make important decisions that will determine the destiny of the island and the life forms that inhabit it.
In the beginning, everything is relatively simple and you’ll have to unleash the rain to recover desert areas. However, when life begins to flourish, you’ll have to deal with different events, like the appearance of the dreaded tourists. In addition to offering dazzling audiovisuals, Desertopia is surprisingly deep and you’ll get to unlock a collection of fauna with more than 100 creatures, including some very special ones that will only appear on specific dates. [Download]
