Our very own editor Mr. Wapojif is autistic as all hell, so we’re here with a special guide on the best video games for autistic adults. We’ve played games for 35+ years and they’ve been a bedrock of excellence for us, helping us through the good and bad times. Thus, this feature has extra special meaning for us.

The Very Best Video Games for Autism

Right, the criteria to be met here is for titles that offer:

• Enjoyable sensory stimulation
• Positive repetitive reinforcement (stimming etc.)
• Escapist enjoyment
• Mental health boosts
• Fun!!!

Therapeutic benefits, in other words. And these are far-reaching and beneficial, not just on a neurodiverse spectrum but also for everyone in society (i.e. neurotypicals).

The below titles are big on inclusivity and that’s something to celebrate. But the best video games for autistic adults also have unique gifts to take advantage of.

Autistic Indie Game Magic

Getting started with the indie game scene (check out our guide to the 100 best indie games ever), let’s dive on in here gosh darn it.

Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien

Reasons: Sensory stimulation, repetition (stimming), stress relief, belting music, escapism, life-affirming fun

It’s fair to say we fell in love with endless runner Runner2 (2013) when we got it for the Wii U. It’s a rhythm game about timing, repetition, more timing, and more repetition.

Runner2 is super addictive and rewarding. The real joy is the looping, edifying sense of achievement as you get button presses right and send Commander Video (the protagonist) right to the end of the level.

Repetition is a big part of its appeal.

That’s the reason we’ve got it at the top of our list of best video games for autistic adults, as Runner2 ticks every obsessive box available. A magnificent game to turn to for positive stimming release.

SPACEPLAN

Reasons: Repetition (stimming), stress relief, belting music, solitude

The first time we played this we took to it like an astronaut to space. Which is handy. SPACEPLAN (2017) is a clicker with a deliberate plot of misunderstanding Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time.

This one has repetition (the clicking), big numbers going up on a rapidly escalating scale, invigorating music (see the best indie game soundtracks), humour, and it’s so very addictive.

Flat out, we’d say it’s one of the best video games for autism. It’s compelling stuff and had us going through the roof with hyper appeal.

Celeste

Reasons: Sensory stimulation, repetition (stimming), stress relief, belting music, escapism, mental health plot

This is a game about mental health battles such as chronic anxiety. Wrapped around that liberating plot is some of the best platforming we’ve ever experienced.

Celeste (2018) is a magnificent and challenging platformer.

It’s tough. But you’ll be rewarded with the constant repetition of areas and pushing yourself ever higher up the game’s fictional moment. Oh, and the music is awesome.

Jusant

Reasons: Sensory stimulation, repetition (stimming), stress relief, belting music, escapism

This one is like a 3D version of Celeste, but with a heavy focus on rock climbing. Jusant (2023) offers solitude and the joys of being a loner.

You scale a massive tower thing and must plot and plan your climb, thinking adaptively as you look for grip points and other ways to scale the thing. Very good indeed!

FAR: Lone Sails

Reason: Solitude

When we first played FAR: Lone Sails (2018) it was like the game was made specifically for us. It’s very much about silence, space, melancholy, and wistfully traversing a desolate landscape.

You control a bizarre locomotive and most power it towards the right, which has a lot of repetitive and calming aspects to it.

But it’s a game steeped in solitude that you can lose yourself in for a couple of hours. Then start it all over again on repeat.

Cocoon

Reason: Abstract puzzle solving

This one is all about remarkable puzzle solving. COCOON (2023) is like a world within another world, where you must move orbs around within each world to progress.

Some of the level design for this is genuine genius and makes the jaw drop. It’s a fantastic game and one for fans of critical thinking.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Reason: Emotional immersion

An enthralling experience, Moon Studios’ Ori and the Will of the Wisps (2020) is a very emotional and tragic world. But it’s a phenomenal gaming experience.

With beautiful graphics, a fantastic protagonist in plucky little Ori, and the most gorgeous music imaginable, this is one to fully immerse yourself into.

Start playing and all your concerns will vanish as you’ll just become fully immersed into this incredible world.

Owlboy

Reasons: An emotional time of it with a knowing nod to disability and mental health battles

The more often we revisit Owlboy (2016), the more we realise how special this game is.

It’s about a mute owl in a floating village community who, bullied by a village elder, overcomes his disability to flourish.

Along with its stunning art design, Owlboy has an amazing soundtrack, and it’s just a very emotional story. One of our favourite indie games ever and it’ll welcome autistic players into its feathery reach.

Unpacking

Reasons: Repetition (stimming), stress relief, escapism, life-affirming fun

Oh my days, this one is a must. A relaxing Zen puzzle experience, Unpacking (2021) is about… unpacking things!

What may sound tedious is, in fact, highly therapeutic. It’s very rewarding just getting stuff put away around the digital rooms. Do not miss out on the opportunity to unpack stuff!

SteamWorld Dig

Reasons: Repetition (stimming), stress relief, rewarding

There’s just something very compelling about SteamWorld Dig (2013).

You dig downwards, hurtle back to the top to cash in loot, power-up Metroidvania style, and repeat ever deeper into the earthy depths.

It’s one of the few games we’ve excelled at with speedrunning. It’s a manic rush if you want to set in-game records and the sense of repetition and exploration are very rewarding.

Spiritfarer

Reasons: Cosy, beautiful, relaxing, and inclusive

This beautiful game from Thunder Lotus Games is all about channelling your emotions and dealing with life’s difficulties. It’s a simulation game meets platformer, where you channel spirits across an ocean and help them enter the afterlife.

Emotional as all hell, relaxing, moving, and many other things, it’s a total gem of a title. It’s fantastic fun designing your boat from the ground up, all to the backdrop of a wonderful artistic style, and composer Max LL’s swoonworthy Spiritfarer score.

The Alto Collection

Reason: Relaxation!

This consists of the two Alto games, which first launched on smartphones. The Alto Collection (2020) is an endless runner snowboarding romp based on a Zen time of it.

As Alto you plunge down huge mountains and vistas with the option of completing missions, or just snowboarding away, whilst enjoying the view.

Full marks for relaxation, this is a must if you want a safe sensory space.

Other Indie Notables

Here are a few more recommendations in bullet-point form:

• Factorio
• Minecraft
• Downwell
• Yoku’s Island Express
• Dead Cells
• Stardew Valley
• A Short Hike
• Mr. Saitou
• Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly
• Vampire Survivors
• Dome Keeper
• World of Goo
• Gris
• Stray
• Trombone Champ
• Thomas Was Alone
• Minit
• SteamWorld Heist
• Townscaper
• Sea of Stars
• Supraland

There are so many wonderful indie games out there it’s really about picking what genre you like best, but for us we found the above to all be glorious.

Amanita Design’s Adventure Games

This small indie studio in the Czech Republic is quite the marvel.

Amanita Design creates surreal, engrossing adventure games with a big focus on abstract puzzle solving. That’s a fabulous thing if you seek a neurodivergent escape.

Samorost 3

Reasons: Abstract puzzle solving, idiosyncratic, glorious music

It’s fair to say the weird and wonderful world of Samorost 3 (2016) is a peculiar time of it. Enter the cosmic environment of this world and enjoy being baffled!

The best thing about Amanita’s games is nothing works as you’d expect it to.

You have to think in an abstract, bizarre way to complete puzzles. And that’s just fantastic for any autistic adult. It’s not the neurotypical norm many have to deal with day-to-day that gets so exhausting.

Another plus to this game is composer Floex’s fantastic soundtrack. It’s a weird world to enter. But a fabulously welcoming one, too.

Chuchel

Reasons: Funny and welcoming stuff

If Samorost 3 is a little too weird for you, then the lovely Chuchel (2018) is Amanita Design’s most accessible little number.

In this one you go on a hunt for a cherry. That’s it! A wacky cast of characters and (again) abstract puzzles unfolds, just in more fun and friendly fashion.

This one is great for kids, too, just as an FYI.

Nintendo Games and their Autistic Value

Nintendo’s various franchises offer some of the best video games for autistic adults. Their titles are accessible, offer clear objectives, and glorious rewards.

They’re very upbeat and life-affirming, too, and not usually burdened with OTT plots and complex in-game mechanics. This goes for anyone, of course, Nintendo’s genius is how its titles can appeal to anyone of any age and deliver a merry time of it.

Mario Kart 8: Deluxe (or any Mario Kart experience)

Reasons: Sensory stimulation, repetition (stimming), stress relief, escapism, life-affirming fun

For our money one of the best games ever, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017) was adapted from the Wii U original. It’s one hell of a good game.

The whole Mario Kart series is just about fun.

It doesn’t matter if you know anything about video games or not, you pick up, play, and enjoy the thing big time. And for autistic people it’s a stimulating, enthralling, and joyous mix.

From the madness emerges some order. Dedicate yourself to any entry from the storied series to embrace what video games are all about.

Super Mario Platformers

Reason: FUN!

You can pick any game from the Mario series (the first being from 1985) and you’ll have a great time. The clip above is from the incredible Super Mario Odyssey (2017), arguably the best entry from the franchise.

But whether it’s a 2D or 3D Mario platformer you go for, you can guarantee life-affirming, joyous, relentless fun.

The games are totally free from any socio-political standings, embrace one-and-all, and are just about throwing yourself into an absurd world to discover its happenings.

The Legend of Zelda Series

Reasons: A glorious sense of solitude and wonder

Launch yourself into any game from the Legend of Zelda series and you’ve got a grand scale adventure on your hands.

We’ll point you towards Tears of the Kingdom (2023) as it’s very possibly the best game ever (maybe out outright favourite ever). Just being in Hyrule and walking across its enormous fields and mountains is an incredible, peaceful experience.

The action-adventure games offer buckets of charms, rewarding exploration, and vast worlds where it’s you against the elements.

Tetris 99

Reasons: Sensory stimulation, repetition (stimming), stress relief

Tetris is now famous in scientific circles for promoting all manner of mental health benefits. It’s very good for your brain.

And Tetris 99 (2019) is one of the very best adaptations of Alexey Pajitnov’s original concept. That means blocking drop puzzle piece placements whilst battling 98 other people from around the world.

It’s frantic stuff and your brain needs to work fast to survive.

But this is a total joy for anyone with autism, as it requires rapid problem solving placements with instant and gratifying results.

F-Zero 99

Reasons: Competitive, repetition, addictive

Launched in September 2023, this immediately became one of our favourite games of the year. Over two years on (November 2025) and we’ve logged 800+ hours into it (check out our guide to being fast in F-Zero 99).

It’s you versus 98 other players in a battle to win.

Once you get past the simple sounding concept, you realise how remarkable it is the level of intricacies Nintendo has applied. There are all these tiny little adjustments to make to your racing that’ll give you the chance of victory.

If you want attention to detail, and thrashing it out over and over across riveting futuristic tracks, this is the one to go for.

Other Notable Nintendo Titles

Here’s a batch more for your consideration, too:

• Pokémon
• Captain Toad’s Treasure Tracker
• Animal Crossing
• The Metroid series
• Luigi’s Mansion 3
• Yoshi’s World
• The Pikmin series
• Labo
• Super Mario Maker 2

Lots to dive into there, eh? Don’t forget Nintendo’s vast back catalogue of titles from the likes of the Wii, Super Nintendo, N64, and Game Boy, too, as there’s a lot to love there.

Retro gaming is a big joy, too, don’t be put off from the likes of the SNES Donkey Kong Country trilogy. There be plenty of joys to be found on the classics.

AAA Games From Recent Times and Yesteryear

Here’s a brief selection of major releases we’ve enjoyed over the years. You’ll likely know more about these if you’re a gamer, if you think of the Grand Theft Auto games or whatnot.

But we’re picking a selection that gave us the most outright joy. Innit.

Rayman Origins

Reason: Just bloody wonderful

We still think Rayman Origins (2011) just doesn’t get enough love. It’s just so instantly accessible, charming, joyous, funny, and ridiculous. You can’t help but love it.

The 2D platforming shows an incredible breadth of imagination.

You’ll be drawn in, want to play every minute of it, and it really somehow manages to appeal to every autistic pleasing point imaginable within the confines of a deliberately silly side-scroller. Quite the achievement, Ubisoft.

The Curse of Monkey Island

Reasons: Charm overload with buckets of dry humour

If you like sardonic wit and puzzle solving fun, then the miraculous gift that was The Curse of Monkey Island (1997) is for you.

There’s just something very calming about being in this ridiculous world with a cast of loveably bizarre characters. That includes the demonic Murray the Skull and the truly insane Captain Blondebeard. Plus, there’s the Flying Welshman and his irrational fear of Skull Island (which actually looks like a duck).

And we think that’s the thing. It’s a world populated by idiosyncratic individuals who don’t fit into their society and it’s all the better for it.

Skyrim

Reason: Exploration in fantasy land perfection

Yes, so The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim (2011) is one of the most famous games of all time. You’ll likely know all about this.

If not, your best bet is just to buy it and immerse yourself into this landmark title’s vast world of quest solving and exploration.

Definitely one of best video games for autism, we’d say, if this type of sprawling Medieval environment takes your fancy. Don’t look back. Just enjoy.

Final Fantasy VII

Reason: Mesmerising RPG that fully engrosses

Our first experience of Final Fantasy VII (1997) was in 1998. We got it on the PC and instantly fell in love with its incredible story and dramatic sweep.

There’s since been a remake with fancy updated graphics you can try, but for us it’ll always be the original we turn to.

Any autistic adult will lose themselves in this one. The game will make you laugh and cry, plus fight the good fight for AVALANCHE to save the planet.

The Best Video Game System for Autism

On a final note, what’s the best video game system for autism? Well, we can’t say there’s a definitive answer there.

If the individual has a serious impairment then you can turn to the UK charity Special Effect for assistance. They have video game setups especially designed to help overcome disabilities.

However, if it’s more of a casual requirement then get whatever you fancy.

Steam is a must for sure, if you’ve got a laptop or PC. It’s free to download and gives you access to many 100,000s of games.

Console wise, take your pick!

PS4 or PS5, Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S, or a Nintendo Switch. They all have fantastic games to pick from and won’t disappoint.