A Short Hike, Stardew Valley, Haven – These works show that a video game doesn’t have to be pessimistic or violent to be great. These titles are great for distracting yourself for a few minutes or long hours.
Let’s start with a certainty: better to be a detective frog than to be human in 2021. In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic and the various disasters (ecological, democratic, etc.) that are brewing in the world, the rise of ” healthy games It may sound strange. Or, on the contrary, it can be considered very logical. the healthy games appointed benevolent, warm and comforting video game experiences, without being stupid or naive. Popularized by American developer Matthew Taylor in 2019, the term has spawned a veritable online community. ” Often the most popular video games are those that address dark themes and have a pessimistic view of the world. », we read on the collective’s website. « But there is a whole universe of optimistic video games that tell beautiful and rich stories. »
Therefore, exit the first person shooters Violent or scary dystopias and pity for sad spirits who are sorry that video games have become too easy. Because the other advantage of healthy games is that they are generally available to the general public, not just experienced gamers. If you’re looking for a getaway for a few hours or a virtual blanket to hide in every night, here are our favorite healthy games.
Our five feel-good video games to distract yourself
A short walk
A short walk, the joys of walking without blisters on the feet // Source: Adam Robinson-Yu
At the beginning ofA short walk, his heroine sighs: ” I need a break “This is exactly the experience that this video game offers. We play Claire, a bow tie who comes to rest for a few days at her aunt’s vacation home, in the heart of a natural park. Our protagonist expects an important phone call, but He cannot find a net. His only solution: to go around the island and climb a mountain, to reach its highest point. On his way, he will meet other hikers, solve puzzles and even find some treasures.
A short walk it is a relaxing experience from start to finish. Its handling is very simple, its graphics adorable and its soundtrack perfectly accompanies our adventures. It is also an adventure à la carte: if there are a few puzzles to be solved to finish the game, the others are more or less optional, depending on the player’s wishes. Will you become a beach volleyball champion with a stick? Can you unearth an old forgotten treasure? Or maybe you prefer to learn to fish? At the end ofA short walk, we feel renewed, without having sore feet.
Available in : PC, Mac, PS4 and PS5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Stardew valley
In Stardew Valley, you can find love or become best friends with a hen. // Source: ConcernedApe
Animal crossing is often cited as the essential example of healthy game. But it is about forgetting a bit quickly another heavyweight of the genre, less known to the general public. Within Stardew valley, we play as a person who has just suffered a burnout in a company that looks strangely like Amazon. Then we moved to Pelican Town, a quiet country town, where our grandfather left us an old farm. It is up to us to …….