For a lot of gamers, like myself, video games are an outlet. They enable us to explore vast, open worlds, become an anti-terror operator, and/or quite literally kill our problems with extreme prejudice. Sometimes, though, we need to take a break from pitched combat with The Soul of Cinder, or from all the loud kiddies shouting curse words on Fortnite. Seriously, where are their parents? I don’t know either, but maybe they’re playing of these 5 Best Games for Relaxing. Check ‘em out!

Disclaimer: for each and every person, there’s a different set of rules to relaxation. So, for the purpose of this article, let’s assume relaxation means: Casualness, Easy to Grasp, and Good Fun.

1. They Are Billions

Okay, so the first game on this list maybe isn’t relaxing to some people, but hear me out. The whole theme of the game is zombie hordes. Okay, maybe I’m not helping my argument. Anyway, the player takes control of a town tall type building where the purpose becomes to generate resources and build defenses. Think Starcraft, or Civilization, but with a turn limit for survival. Then, as the turns progress, increasingly more difficult waves of enemies come crashing down on your perfect slice of heaven (I call my base Woodbury, ha). The kicker, though, is how simplistic the game is on the outside. They Are Billions sports a sort of “difficulty slider” where you can adjust both the number of zombies on the board and the time limit for survival, making your level of filthy casual completely customizable. Talk about relaxing! The best part is that the strategies for victory are endless and it offers a large degree of creativity, one of the best tools for making a game good fun. 10/10 Would be the Governor again.

2. The Sims 4

Scoff all you want at the king of casual titles but never doubt its magical quality. The Sims series is beloved by many, including myself, and for good reason. If your life ever feels heavy, like mine sometimes does, I encourage you to step into a second world that is entirely subject to your will. You’re their God. You can be as merciful or wrathful as you like. Or, you can roleplay the heckin’ crap out of your own avatar, shamelessly, in the dark of your messy urban apartment. This time, Karen from Accounting won’t deny your request for mileage reimbursement; no, she’ll be 40 pounds heavier and living alone with cats. You’ll be the eternal vampire that harasses her until her dying day, and then you’ll move into her old house and torment her ghost. Should’ve just paid out the $32.50, Karen. This is one of the most relaxing video games on the market, and maybe, I’ve heard some interesting stories about the extremely active modding community. You know, if your tastes linger on the fringe of the wild side. Go ahead, play God.

3. Plague, Inc.

• In this next title, the player character takes control of a deadly disease bent on destroying all of humanity. You can choose anything from bacteria to fungi and also some unique scenarios. As you spread from country to country, you’ll be able to evolve accordingly to increase your overall effectiveness as an end-times plague. Along the way you’ll meet resistance from wealthy countries combining their research efforts into a cure and varying climate conditions. The game is extremely easy to pick up and play and it has tremendous replay value. It functions as a high level clicker-type with some shallow strategy elements. Overall, the game can get a little repetitive, but sometimes that’s exactly what we need. As an added bonus, you can destroy the world from multiple platforms, including ones right in your hand. What are you waiting for? Unleash Ultraherpabola Flu upon the world, start with Greenland.

  4. To the Moon

  

  Do you want to dehydrate yourself through hysterical crying? Great, go play To the Moon. I have to sort of watch what I say here because the story doesn’t have any real replay value. So, let’s just say the story is about Two Doctors who are trying to grant the wish of a dying old man named Johnny. They specialize in an operation that allows people to fix the mistakes they made in life through memory altering tactics. Essentially, the process allows people to live life over again in their heads, granting deep wishes. The game has no combat elements and is exclusively an adventure mode based on exploration and minor puzzles. The graphics are styled like a retro RPG and the soundtrack is incredibly tear-jerking. What makes it so relaxing is the combination of all these simplistic elements that reveal the beautiful story of a life at its end. I’m not crying, you’re crying.

  5. Audioshield (VR)

  

  The final entry on the list is a VR title that can be extremely relaxing. I wanted to include one VR title on this list because the technology has so much untapped potential. Ultimately, Audioshield is a rhythmplague game, which have always been good for generating good vibes and chilling out with friends. Slow paced video games are great, and this can definitely be that if you choose, but some people relax with a little bit of movement as well. It allows the player to pick up two colored “shields” and basically beat the living hell out of their own music, while simultaneously looking like a complete idiot, of course. Colored balls fly at your position, red and blue, and you must color match by striking the appropriate ball with the appropriate shield. Sometimes, you’ll need to combine them for a purple ball or chain. That may seem uneventful, but it is incredibly good fun and addictive. Also, it has helped players all over the world lose weight without even feeling like they’re working out. Any music you can find on Youtube can be beat down for its lunch money. I’m partial to instrumentals, like the ones found in Disney fireworks shows. If you’ve got the dough to drop on a VR system, pick it up and flail like a moron for all your friends. Or, just put on your most relaxing music and gently tap the balls into the next world. Either way, it’ll do wonders for your tension.

  We all relax in different ways and I hope that after checking out this list you’ve got a few new ways! What do think about this list? What are your best video games for relaxing? Let us know in the comments below!