By relaxing I mean a game that you can play that is not simply a sandbox, but instead of stressing you or winding you up ... it soothes you. Of course, I know some of you are wired in a weird way and find "blowing sh*t up" relaxing.
Myself, I enjoy Osmos on the iPad with sound piped (bluetooth) to external speakers.
The game basically is one of physics and making your little bubble grow at the expense of absorbing other bubbles while avoiding bubbles than can absorb you. The physics vary between basic linear physics with mass, momentum, and acceleration, to at the high end, gravity and elliptical orbital mechanics. The mood music is new age and spacey with good sound effects. The game shines with the touch interface on an iPad and is a graphic feast. However, I've only seen it on the iPad2 (1024x768) and never on the iPad3 (2048x1536).
The game has excellent tutorials and many styles and levels of play. The levels can be randomized to increase replay value.
http://www.hemispheregames.com/osmos/
To me it's clearly:
Glory of the Roman Empire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UQvqspdjD8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UQvqspdjD8)
relaxing music, slow gameplay (but challenging) and nice setting.
MS Flight Sim 2004. Nothing more relaxing than taking the Cub for a spin around Hawaii.
ck2 - awesome music, some of which reminds me of Dominion 3, my pace, my path, my decisions - bliss
Bejeweled on the iphone.
Fallout New Vegas. Most of the time. Sometimes it's frustrating, but most of the time it's a great way to just enjoy some quiet time.
Minecraft on the 360
Quote from: DoctorQuest on July 31, 2012, 11:00:42 AM
MS Flight Sim 2004. Nothing more relaxing than taking the Cub for a spin around Hawaii.
I'll too have to go with MS Flight Simulator. There's something I find extremely relaxing and rewarding about landings and takeoffs.
Hoyle Card Games (even though it cheats at Gin).
Easily Osmos.
Bally Pinball on the Wii.
Combat Mission Beyond Overlord - short game on small map.
Doodle Jump on iPhone
Hrmm.. would likely have to be something turn-based so I don't have to worry about fighting a pause button. Also having to fight a 3D camera isn't relaxing either.
I think my text-based Football manager sims are probably the best fit for a stress-free relaxation game. My current one of choice is Professional Football Sim mainly because it's a lot easier to set your team's gameplan & such than the older Front Office Football '07 but still has a good amount of detail. It's not technically full-featured yet, however.
I've been finding Gratuitious Space Battles a bit relaxing, and easy enough to click on. You just primarily build starships, buy some for a fleet, sit back & watch the light show so there's nothing pressing to it. I suppose that philosophy could work for a lot of turn-based games, though, and I do often turn to a TBS when I want to relax.
I am the biggest, baddest, hungriest ... bubble in the universe! :)
From my game earlier today:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhome.comcast.net%2F%7Emarkshot%2Ftempimages%2Fosmos.jpg&hash=6d254b1c0cdcdf723577ace24a3293c5c9b2854f)
Mark how are you getting images off of your iPad?
Very easy ... you can screen capture anything. Press the HOME and SLEEP button simultaneously and it will snap an image of whatever is on the screen and put it in your camera roll.
Quote from: MarkShot on July 31, 2012, 04:38:40 PM
Very easy ... you can screen capture anything. Press the HOME and SLEEP button simultaneously and it will snap an image of whatever is on the screen and put it in your camera roll.
Ah cool. I didn't know this. Thanks.
I read about some APP a month or two ago that will actually capture video from the iPad's screen. However, I cannot remember the name of it.
However, the screen capture is really handy.
Minecraft can be relaxing as long as you don't go running around outside at night.
FSX. Although landings can be a bit tense, I am quite relaxed for most of the flight.... (to the point of boredom in long haul flights).
It's a nice balance between suspense and relaxation.
I used to find Orbiter pretty relaxing, but I don't have it installed anymore.
I have zero explanation for this, but I find the swedish rail commuter lines on Train Simulator oddly relaxing. There's just a enough to do (stop, wait, start again) to keep me from nodding completely off. And there's just something cool about trains.
And given my flight sim issues, being connected to the ground is probably an important point.
QuoteMinecraft can be relaxing as long as you don't go running around outside at night.
True :)
Children of the Nile
Quote from: Bison on July 31, 2012, 04:39:26 PM
Quote from: MarkShot on July 31, 2012, 04:38:40 PM
Very easy ... you can screen capture anything. Press the HOME and SLEEP button simultaneously and it will snap an image of whatever is on the screen and put it in your camera roll.
Ah cool. I didn't know this. Thanks.
And you can email the images directly from a tap on the image. Check out the ones from my iPad reviews on ACG.
Quote from: Bismarck on August 01, 2012, 06:40:11 AM
Children of the Nile
A close second for me...very relaxing indeed
Skyrim when not dealing-out death, or getting it dealt to me, I enjoy wandering around town or into the tavern, outside in the woods or watching a sunset.
Quote from: MarkShot on July 31, 2012, 10:39:46 AM
By relaxing I mean a game that you can play that is not simply a sandbox, but instead of stressing you or winding you up ... it soothes you. Of course, I know some of you are wired in a weird way and find "blowing sh*t up" relaxing.
I think most games soothe me. WitPae may be the most soothing. I'm never quite sure what's going on, but it's fun to watch the boats go here and there and see them get blown up.
All of the Total War games have been pretty soothing for me. I think the Third Age mod was the most soothing. Nice music. Lots of Orcs.
I think if a game isn't somewhat soothing, I stop playing it pretty fast. I won't enumerate those culprits other than to note that surprisingly I didn't like War in the East, which is sad.
Quote from: Bismarck on August 01, 2012, 06:40:11 AM
Children of the Nile
That's a cool 'ole game.
Some of those city builders can be quite laid back when you can sandbox 'em without a timer running & such.
Skyrim hands down. I have the enhanced weather and ambient sounds mods, and with the beautiful scenery sometimes I stop adventuring and simply go sightseeing, or splash along a riverbed hunting, fishing and gathering flora.
I find playing Kerbal Space Program (http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/) to be somewhat soothing for me...not so much for Jeb, Bob or Bill ;D
Quote from: Steelgrave on August 01, 2012, 01:36:35 PM
Skyrim hands down. I have the enhanced weather and ambient sounds mods, and with the beautiful scenery sometimes I stop adventuring and simply go sightseeing, or splash along a riverbed hunting, fishing and gathering flora.
Agreed that the enhanced weather and ambient sounds mods make a HUGE difference in the Skyrim Experience.
Unfortunately, I have yet to relax with Skyrim (and other RPGs). I feel too compelled to be doing something. It's a shame, because there is beauty in Skyrim.
Sodoku
You know, Tiger Woods 08 is fairly relaxing, too.