Games are one of the best ways to soothe anxiety thanks to the wide array of fun and creative game options that help players get into a playful mindset and relax. Depending on the gamers' needs they can choose to play with games that'll help them relax, focus, or try adrenalin-boosting competition games. From imaginative games set on abandoned islands to whimsical sims, players can try all kinds of games with different activities to increase their neuroplasticity and optimize their dopamine levels.
Fun games that help with anxiety can be new VR games or comforting classics with meaningful stories and well-crafted characters whose stories can help their players with trauma and recovery. These joyous games can positively impact not only players' mood and psychological development, but how they see their mental health issues by normalizing them and teaching them how to give support and more importantly, how to ask for help when it's most needed.
8 Flower
Flower is one of the most simple yet effective games that help with anxiety by relaxing its players. It's a visually stunning open-world game in which players will have to control the wind and fly flower pedals through beautiful meadows and other lush landscapes at any pace they like.
It's a deeply atmospheric and family-friendly game that'll easily relax and calm beginner and advanced players of all ages. This surprisingly emotional game lets its players interact with the ever-changing environment and help them find balance and harmony in all the things that surround them.
7 Night In The Woods
Night in the Woods is one of the most beloved and charming games that can help its players deal with change, feeling of emptiness, and other mental health-related issues. Despite its deep themes, it's a hopeful and entertaining game with plenty of quirky characters, a beautiful world, and an intriguing mystery.
Players will be controlling Mae, a college dropout, who moves back home to reconnect with old friends and get back to her old life. However, she soon realizes that everything has changed, and that strange things are happening after dark in the nearby forest. Players will have to interact with fun characters, uncover the mystery, and learn fun facts about Mae while getting lost in the vibrant world of this inspiring game.
6 Gris
Gris is one of the most imaginative and atmospheric games that deal with psychological issues in a creative and hopeful way. Through, story, character development, movement, and sounds Gris helps its players learn how to deal with their own painful experiences in real life.
This stunningly beautiful hand-drawn puzzle game transports its players into a fantasy world in which they will have to help a young girl, Gris, overcome her anxiety and depression and bring colors back to her life. The game has light puzzles that are more fun than difficult, yet the game provides an exceptionally entertaining and calming experience for gamers of all levels.
5 Carve Snowboarding
Carve Snowboarding is one of the most visually stunning and entertaining sports games that'll help its players relax and get a bit of exercise without leaving the house. It's one of the most intense VR games that's both challenging and relaxing.
This visually beautiful game transports its players into a realistic mountain hill where they will have to learn all the ins and outs of snowboarding while enjoying the breathtaking environment. Thanks to the game's detailed world and creative modes players will have to fully focus on learning something new in a fun and surprisingly relaxing way while also enjoying a bit of workout.
4 FlOw
FlOw is one of the most relaxing games that's also free to play. Thanks to this meditative puzzle game's dynamic difficulty adjustment all players can enjoy and explore the game's enchanting environment at their own pace no matter what their gaming skill level is.
FlOw is also one of the simplest yet most effective games that help with anxiety. Players can choose to control 5 creatures who each have their own unique environment. Then gamers will have to explore this hypnotic universe and go on an emotional journey that'll help them de-stress and unwind while helping their creatures swim, evolve, and survive in this deep abyss.
3 Smile For Me
Smile For Me is the funniest and weirdest puzzle game that helps its players learn how to deal with and unload their emotional baggage while staying positive during difficult times. This story-rich and weirdly wonderful game have well-crafted, relatable, and gossipy characters who need cheering up.
Players will have to control a character whose job is to help this surreal world's residents overcome their anxieties and depression while uncovering a dark mystery and revealing Doctor Habit. While the game deals with deep themes like morality, the true meaning of friendships, and identity it always stays positive and inspiring.
2 Portal 2
Portal 2 is an atmospheric sci-fi action game with great puzzles and hilarious characters. It's also one of the most entertaining games that teach computer science in an accessible way for beginner and advanced players alike.
Gamers can choose to play alone or with a friend since Portal 2 has a really fun co-op mode too. The game's two portions are very different and players can experience different stories, and face unique challenges during their adventures. While the game has its challenges it never gets overly difficult, and it can help brighten players' moods, improve focus, and memory as well as help them learn how to cooperatively work towards goals.
1 Spiritfarer
Spiritfarer is one of the most wholesome games with an imaginative and highly emotional story that's set in a beautifully hand-drawn fantasy world. Players will get to control a character named Stella who is a young ferrymaster and have to help spirits enter the afterlife. Gamers will have to build, manage, and customize the boat, the character, and even her cat.
It's another stunning and thought-provoking game that can be played solo or with a friend in co-op mode. Players get to relax, manage, and explore this imaginative world while having conversations with the spirits they transport. While Spiritfarer deals with death, loss, and grief it's an uplifting and weirdly mood-boosting game that will help players learn how to say goodbye to loved ones and how to cope with pain once they're gone.