10 Best Relaxing Video Games in 2022 (Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, and More)

Start your new life on an uninhabited island. You'll need to gather resources, build your home, and get to know the new island residents. The game's time of day and seasons also match real life!

The biggest complaint from reviewers is that you can only make one island per console. There's also no split-screen, so playing co-op on the same console means all players must follow each other. However, up to eight players can live on the same island.

Despite the issues, most reviewers love that this game is fun for adults and children alike. They like that there are so many activities that you can do at your own pace, like crafting, fishing, or visiting other islands to recruit new residents.

The Sims 4 is a highly-customizable life simulator and sandbox game. When you start the game, you create a unique "Sim" and build a home for it. You can make your sim do anything you want in the world, like work, chores, or date other sims.

Many reviewers complain that there are too many DLCs, some of which cost more than the base game alone. Reviewers also dislike that the game must launch through Origin when playing on PC.

On the other hand, most reviewers love that this game is highly detailed and colorful, along with a great character customization interface. They like the freedom of choice within the game as well as the detail in which they can build things!

You inherit your grandfather's old farm and set out to start your new life in Stardew Valley. You must grow crops, raise animals, improve your skills, and become a part of your local community. You can also build relationships with different characters and even get married!

Some reviewers dislike the gift-giving function being the only way to build relationships with other characters. There's also no way to manually save your game, instead, you must wait until the end of an in-game day.

Most reviewers love that this game lets them be who they want to be. They like that there are lots of relaxing activities to do, such as farming, fishing, mining, and falling in love.

In an unsuspecting village, you are an evil goose. Your goal is to fulfill a checklist of "evil goose tasks". These tasks include pulling pranks, stealing belongings, and honking at people. Basically, you must make your way around town to ruin everyone's' day.

A few reviewers had issues playing this game with a keyboard and mouse. They recommend using a controller to play. Some reviewers also think that the amount of content in the game is on the low side.

Other than those things, most reviewers love this game for its slapstick humor and variety of objectives. They say this game is very cute and really brings out their inner child.

Journey is a wordless story. You're a nameless traveler who spawns near a small sand dune in a large desert with a mountain in the distance. As you head towards the mountain, you'll meet other creatures and discover the secrets of this world.

The main complaint from reviewers is that this game is quite short for its price. However, most reviewers find this game's minimalist world a true gem for peace and escapism. They say that Journey is more of an experience than a game. Its visuals are praised above anything.

Eastshade is like an open-world RPG without any combat or violence. You play as a traveling painter on the island of Eastshade. You use your artist's easel to compose paintings. There's also crafting, quests, and fully-voiced conversations.

Some reviewers complain that objectives are unclear and the characters in this game are not the most interesting. They also state that you don't really paint that much in the game.

Regardless of these issues, most reviewers praise this game for its beautiful scenery and atmosphere. They like the voice acting, the soundtrack, and the exploration aspect.

Donut County has been taken over by raccoons with remote-controlled holes. You play as BK, a hole-driving raccoon who must swallow things to earn prizes. As you swallow more, the hole grows bigger each time. You can also combine objects and catapult things back out.

Some reviewers complain that this game is too short. A few also say the game is too simple and easy. Despite these complaints, though, most reviewers find this game ageless and hilarious. They enjoyed the entertaining story, characters, and soundtrack.

Good Pizza, Great Pizza is a casual management game where you're the owner of your own pizza shop. You must compete against your rival, Alicante, by upgrading your equipment and recipes.

A few reviewers dislike how the customers are not always clear on how they want their orders. Many reviewers add that the mobile version is completely free.

Other than those issues, most reviewers think this is a cute game to pass the time with. They like the dialogue and the variety of interesting customers. They also like the many different recipes and customizable decorations.

Islanders is a game about building cities on colorful islands. There's an infinite number of ever-changing islands to build on. Every building you place rewards you with points that can refill your inventory and unlock new buildings.

Some reviewers complain that this game is too simple and has little direction. However, most reviewers praise this game for its minimalism and peacefulness. They say that it's less of a city builder and more of a puzzle on figuring out the best scoring arrangements.

When the Past was Around is about a young woman named Eda. Eda had lost her way pursuing her dreams and finding love until she met The Owl. This is a point-and-click game about letting go and moving on, which makes for a relaxing playthrough.

The main complaints that reviewers have are that this game is too short. Due to its length, some reviewers also say the story is underdeveloped.