Whether you support the coup d’état or whether you are in favor of democracy, one thing is absolutely clear: we are all really tense and stressed in the last few months. So what can help, especially for the Passover holiday? We have put together ten games for you that include very little, if any, violence. These are non-competitive games that do not require intense concentration and effort – and you will not be able to get disqualified in them so easily. However, you will certainly be able to derive a lot of pleasure from them.
This farming simulator is one of the most relaxing games you can find. You don’t need to rush anywhere. The game will accompany you at your own pace. If you want to plow and sow, chat with the other villagers, fish and brew beer – this is the perfect game for you. On the other hand, you can also make your farm extremely efficient, but then the pace of the game increases and the game turns to a slightly darker storyline. A must play for those who long to escape to village life from time to time. The experience won’t end so quickly either. The length of the game, including the secondary storylines, is about 90 hours.
On which consoles is it available?
Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC
This is the newest game in Nintendo’s long-standing game series, and a very deserving claim to the crown of “most laid-back game.” As in previous games, you have to build a small town, grow crops, get to know your neighbors, fish, mine rocks, trap insects and dig for fossils. The game reflects the season and time you play. Therefore, some of the fish and insects you will find in January at six in the evening are not the ones that will be discovered in August at seven in the morning. The sellers and products also change from day to day. This way the game encourages the players to return to it again and again.
Everyone can find their own goal in the game: decorating the house, making friends with the townspeople or just completing relaxing and pleasant tasks. “Animal Crossing” entered the market at the outbreak of the Corona epidemic – and soon became a real therapeutic refuge for millions of people who were closed in their homes. But it’s not too late to try it out – or fall in love with it all over again, if you’ve already played it before.
On which consoles is it available?
Switch exclusive game
This is a perfect puzzle game for those who like to design pastoral landscapes by placing small tiles, creating a rural and green world map. The tiles consist of several types: forests, fields, rivers, railway tracks, village houses and so on. The goal is to connect the similar parts. The game progresses through small tasks to increase the number of tiles available to you. The result is a unique landscape picture in every game.
Although the level of difficulty increases slowly over time, “Dorfromantik” never rushes the players, but rather encourages slow thinking. There is also no end point to the game, so it is simply a light puzzle that will never take more than 20 minutes from you (at least I never managed to survive more than 20 minutes without being eliminated). If you just want to put together a landscape picture without limitations, the game allows that too.
On which consoles is it available?
If you’re in the mood for another mind game, “Unpacking” is the address. The goal is simple: you have to unload boxes along several transitions. In each house, you must place objects in their proper place: clothes in the closet, cutlery in the kitchen, toothbrush in the bathroom, and so on. The plot is conveyed almost without words, but the objects themselves tell the story. All the cardboard boxes belong to the same character, and each apartment symbolizes a new stage in her life. The plot, along with a subtle minimalistic soundtrack, gives the game a vaguely melancholy tone. Nevertheless, you’ll definitely feel successful when all the objects are in place. The game is only four hours long – much less than a real house move.
On which consoles is it available?
Switch, PC, PlayStation, Xbox
It’s hard to define “Townscaper” as a game. It is a kind of toy, a virtual Lego set that allows you to build your own worlds, from tiny and picturesque villages to winding and steep cities. Controlling the game is quite simple: left click to add a square, and right click to remove it. that’s it. There are other simulators, such as “Sim City” or “Cities: Skyline”, which give you more sophisticated tools to establish a modern and realistic metropolis. But that’s not the purpose of “Townscaper” – here you can let your imagination run free and build a seat that looks straight out of the pages of an old fairy tale book. The length is not specified, but from personal experience one can testify to countless hours of play.
On which consoles is it available?
Switch, iOS, Android, PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Those who want to go out into nature without wearing shoes (or wearing pants), may be satisfied with this candy. “A Short Hike” is, as the name suggests, a short play about a bird named Claire, who visits a small but bustling nature reserve. She needs to make a phone call (as birds usually do), but she will only find cell phone reception on the top of the mountain in the center of the nature reserve. The only goal in the game – which is two hours long – is to climb to the top of the mountain. On her way, the bird meets other travelers, and helps them to progress on her journey.
On which consoles is it available?
Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC
Despite being a survival game on paper, Astroneer has always felt more like a crafting game. The game follows the character of a determined astronaut, who explores new planets and has to tame the forces of nature. Each planet presents a different challenge than the previous one. Ostensibly, the danger you face is when the astronaut’s suit runs out of oxygen, but the game offers many opportunities to replenish the tank. Therefore, in practice “Astroneer” is a creative and enjoyable game for those who like to perfect tools and technologies and maintain their space base while managing resources and exploring the game’s colorful planets. The bright tones and soothing synthesizer soundtrack guarantee a rather peaceful experience. The game is also not too long: you can finish it in 20 hours, more or less.
On which consoles is it available?
If we face the truth, most mobile phone games are not very attractive. Most of them copy from each other and repeat the same pattern. But “Monument Valley” is one of the most prominent and fun games available on iPhone and Android. In the game, you have to lead Ida, a mute princess who patrols between mysterious buildings that are reminiscent of the cartoon paradoxes of Maurice Cornelis Asher. Along the way you will meet annoying crows, an intelligent totem and a mysterious spirit. The game consists of ten puzzles, each one an optical illusion and a beautiful work of art. The game is accompanied by a resonant and relaxing soundtrack, which will help you sharpen your thinking. This short pleasure will not take more than 90 minutes from you.
On which consoles is it available?
If we are talking about short games, “Wide Ocean Big Jacket” is an hour long game, no more. Most of it is quite simple, but the charming plot and lovable characters will leave you wanting more. The game follows a young couple; Mord, their 13-year-old niece and son, Mord’s friend. The game resembles a low-budget indie comedy. The dialogue is cute, funny and kind-hearted, full of sincerity and humanity without being tiring. The whole experience feels like a sweet memory, enhanced by the game’s bright colors.
On which consoles is it available?
To describe it briefly, the game is the digital version of the books “Where’s Effie?” In which we all browsed in our childhood. Each illustration is full of amusing details, of which you must identify some, like needles in a haystack. The black-and-white drawings are all handcrafted and all the sound effects give the game a light and captivating style. Those who try to solve the game in a flash may find themselves frustrated. The game requires you to be patient and take your time – about five hours, from start to finish.
On which consoles is it available?
Switch, PC, iOS, Android