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Real life is rubbish sometimes, and there?s nothing that video games can do about that. But I know that if I?ve had a particularly tough day at work, then sitting down at my PC and visiting a different world can often be exactly what I need to unwind.
There are two things I noticed when compiling this list of the 10 most relaxing games. One is that all of them have excellent mellow soundtracks, highlighting just how important audio is in deciding the tone of any game. The second is that the setting is almost always the star, not the plot or action.
In a lot of them, you don?t actually do much. Proteus, for example, is a glorified walk in the woods and Abzu is essentially a giant aquarium that you can swim around. But it works to their advantage. Without a clear direction, you?re free to explore, to sink into the world, and pay extra attention to the sights and sounds. It?s the perfect formula for forgetting your real-life struggles.
If you?ve got a particular game that helps you relax that didn?t make the list, then let me know in the comments.