Gaming is a very social time of it, despite some longstanding notions it turns gamers into loner weirdos. It’s always been an opportunity to catch up with friends, have a laugh on multiplayer games, and these days you can play against people anywhere across the world.
However, sometimes you may want to step back from that. Gaming is an escapist pursuit as well and there are some games that cater to that in emphatic fashion. That’s the beauty of modern gaming—every personal preference is completely catered for.
But whilst it may seem old hat in modern gaming to want to play alone, we’re here to wax lyrical about why it’s our preferred form of play.
Finding Some Peace and Bloody Quiet in Gaming
This week, after a few years away from it, we returned to the beautiful FAR: Lone Sails (2018). It’s a very peaceful game, with a central focus on cruising to the right with a curious looking locomotive.
You have no interaction with anyone (other than the occasional wildlife) and it’s a seemingly bleak, empty, but striking world. We’ve never seen a game before that revels in so much grey.
If you put the video below to the 13 minute mark, you might get what we’re on about here.
For us, the oceanic sequel FAR: Changing Tides (2022) went a step further.
That gives us a chance to nod to our recent why we love water levels feature. But yeah, this series is heavily rooted in the sense of being alone and finding peace in all of that.
Again, it’s you the player against the elements. A lonely figure battling on simply to survive, free from any other obstacles and a clear goal ahead.
The Swiss dev behind those two FAR gems, Okomotive, is working on a third title now describes its style as “atmospheric journeys”. One of our most hotly anticipated games for 2025 is its next project, which is called Herdling.
Similar vibes abound here, even if the the dev is now moving away from the FAR series.
The goal? Simple, really, you’re herding a batch of beasts up a big old mountain.
A lot of these peaceful, serene gaming experiences revel in simply concepts like that. But more complicated games can still have their moments of tranquillity. You think of the extreme violence in Red Dead Redemption II (2018) and this enormous game and its complexities can just part way to incredible sunsets and the like.
In fact, the favourite part of that game for us was just riding around on horseback in the Wild West listening to crickets and taking in the sights. Still as one of the best looking games we’ve ever seen, it’s a marvel.
This sort of playing style is our preference, as we don’t play too many online games these days. That type are very popular with gamers, with PC, Xbox, and PS consoles offering highly social voice chat aspects and other stuff like that.
Interestingly, for this generation with the Nintendo Switch, Japan’s legendary gaming behemoth has stepped away from that. On the Switch, you can’t message people you’re “friends” with on the console or chat to people in-game.
That’s a very unusual step and one that’s annoyed some gamers. However, we love that.
It gives way to the two glorious, splendorous outings in The Legend of Zelda. You’ve got Breath of the Wild (2017) and Tears of the Kingdom (2023).
These two titles are drenched in moments of quiet wonder. They positively insist players take time out to just enjoy the moment, the entire worlds you inhabit are built around that. It’s a common feature in any open-world game, we suppose, but Nintendo made this so naturalistic and important.
You can just spend hours in the game ignoring the main plot and just taking in the views.
Naturally, we most nod to the sprawling brilliance of Bethesda’s iconic Skyrim. This is a complicated game to get to grips with if you’re new to this type of thing.
Once you’re into it, though, the sweeping grandeur of the title’s endless snowy peaks, chill, and exploration draw you in. You’re very much alone and, hell, there’s even a city called Solitude to visit—backed up as it is by the jaw-dropping Jeremy Soule score.
Oh, but, of course, the game is (like many from the world of gaming) also insanely violent. Hurray!
Gaming: A History of Violence
Video games get an unfair reputation in the international press. Often used as a scapegoat for violence in culture (instead of, like, you know, having actual gun control laws in the US or something), it’s easy for non-gamers to look on and sneer at the shooty boom boom violence of games from over the last 30 years.
Granted, there are plenty of violent games. But then there are plenty of violent books, movies etc. etc. Every cultural medium offers more than one thing.
Take Euro Truck Simulator 2 there above. The game is, yes, just about driving trucks from one place to the next over many hours as an ultra-realistic, real-life simulation.
That may sound stunningly dull for you, but one of the main reasons a lot of play video games is for the relaxing escapism. And who’s to judge from bloke or gal, after a long day of work, getting home and choosing to drive a virtual truck from Sweden to Greece?
Point-and-Click Peace and Quiet—Gaming’s Most Chillout Genre?
Okay, we’re making the argument that point-and-click gamers are very probably the most relaxing genre of games. The Monkey Island series is mega for all of this, with Curse of Monkey Island (1997) remaining our favourite, with the game’s incredible soundtrack now adapted for ambient chillout videos (see above, human person).
The thing about this genre is there’s no rush.
You get a bunch of puzzles (often abstract ones) to solve and must wander around the in-game world to work everything out. No rush, just take your time and interact, listen to the music, think.
Amanita Design has perfected the concept with its surreal games. The cosmic Samorost 3 (2016) blends all manner of strange sights alongside a strangely relaxing time of it.
In the section below, we’ll list out some relaxing titles to consider. We mention that here as some gamers may suggest the atmospheric journey-based genre titles like Journey are the most relaxing.
Well, we guess that’s subjective. But for us, point-and-clicks just have that perfect merger of a sedate pace alongside an opportunity to take in some scenery.
REVEL IN THE PEACE AND QUIET, GAMER!
Nodding to the landmark Journey (2012) again here, it’s a breathtaking game and one steeped in solitude. You can get it on PC, consoles, and even your mobile.
For non-gamers wanting to give this sort of thing a whirl, it’s a brilliant place to start. The controls aren’t complex and your natural urge to explore is supported with an intuitive path from the developer.
Another non-gamer friendly romp is the beautiful Alto Collection (comprising two games from the series). This is an endless runner that sees you skiing endlessly own a mountain and taking in the sights.
That’s the most accessible of everything listed here and you can get it for your smartphone. It’s pick-up-and-play and if you have your earphones in we can guarantee a relaxing time of it here.
As this is one side of gaming you may (non-gamers) be unaware of.
The side away from all the blowing stuff up with guns. The serendipitous little moments where you can just take a step back, recognise the artistic integrity of the gaming world, and revel in being a part of that.
