Best Feel-Good Games

While most games provide some form of escapism, many are intent on immersing players in intense situations. Other games focus more on their mechanics than narrative or atmosphere, generally providing more brain-teasing than fantasy.

Related

8 Coziest Open-World Games

These open-world games offer uniquely cozy experiences, and while some do still offer some conflict, they’re punctuated with relaxing moments.

Be it nostalgia, visuals, story, or a combination of the three, a great number of video games are able to provide decidedly feel-good experiences. These games are typically colorful, wholesome, and accessible, but not necessarily lacking in gameplay.

1

Spyro: Reignited Trilogy

Old-School Charm & Accessible Gameplay

Released

November 13, 2018

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Though certainly not the case for everyone, many old-school 3D platformers are likely to evoke a certain sense of nostalgia. Spyro is a particularly lighthearted experience, excelling with its colorful charm and accessible gameplay.

Related

Every Spyro Game, Ranked

How do the games of the Spyro franchise stack up against each other? Here’s the full breakdown.

The simple story and cartoon visuals both help to provide a feel-good experience, supported by creative environments. Best of all, the original trilogy was remastered and released in 2019 to positive reviews. This opens Spyro up to a whole new audience, allowing modern players to enjoy the trilogy without any prior experience.

2

Caravan SandWitch

A Wholesome Post-Apocalypse

Released

September 12, 2024

Publisher(s)

Dear Villagers

Caravan SandWitch is a distinctive title that features a total lack of combat. Instead, the game focuses its efforts on providing meaningful exploration and a heartfelt narrative, all taking place in a surprisingly hopeful post-apocalyptic setting.

The colorful visual style helps to sell the relaxed atmosphere, but Caravan SandWitch excels with its optimistic tone and peaceful characters. All of this is supported by a soothing soundtrack that helps to convey the peaceful nature of the game’s world.

3

Stardew Valley

A Cozy Farming Sim

Released

February 26, 2016

Developer(s)

ConcernedApe

Publisher(s)

ConcernedApe

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Stardew Valley is a decidedly feel-good farming-sim that offers a rewarding gameplay loop. In the game, players are tasked with transforming an overgrown plot of land into a fully-fledged farm, but there’s very little in the way of pressure or challenge to keep players from achieving their goals over time.

As a result, Stardew Valley is able to offer a relaxed atmosphere. The variety of NPCs also help to provide wholesome interactions, supporting the overall positive feel of the game. Furthermore, Stardew Valley presents a low-stakes environment for online play, allowing players to enjoy this feel-good experience in tandem.

4

Slime Rancher

Lightweight & Colorful Exploration

Released

August 1, 2017

Developer(s)

Monomi Park

Publisher(s)

Monomi Park

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Slime Rancher is a low-stakes monster-collecting experience that tasks players with wrangling an abundance of lively sentient slimes. Thankfully, taking care of these balls of slime is relatively stress-free, in keeping with the game’s soothing atmosphere and vibrant environments.

The cartoon visuals, comforting soundtrack, and general charm of the game’s critters make for a decidedly feel-good experience. Furthermore, Slime Rancher’s gameplay is tremendously low-stakes, supported by intuitive controls that ensure mechanical issues rarely get in the way of its charming atmosphere.

5

Cobalt Core

Charming Characters & A Winning Atmosphere

Roguelike

Digital Card Game

Systems

Released

November 8, 2023

Developer(s)

Rocket Rat Games

Publisher(s)

Brace Yourself Games

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Cobalt Core is a roguelike deck-builder that can be challenging at times, but it remains a feel-good experience throughout. This is thanks in large part to its ensemble of charming characters and soothing atmosphere.

Related

Best Tactical Games That Are Immediately Fun

These excellent tactical video games forgoes the slow onboarding typical in the genre, providing fun and engaging mechanics right away.

The bubbly, tranquil soundtrack brings a particularly peaceful ambiance to Cobalt Core’s tactical battles. The colorful pixel-art and wholesome character interactions also help, though, solidifying Cobalt Core as a decidedly feel-good experience well-worth checking out.

6

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

An Action-Packed Spacefaring Adventure

Platformer

Third-Person Shooter

Systems

Released

June 11, 2021

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

The Ratchet & Clank series has been known to provide lighthearted, spacefaring adventures across a colorful variety of locales. Often featuring a cast of wacky, wonderful characters and wholesome themes revolving around friendship and teamwork, these games typically provide feel-good adventures with accessible gameplay. Rift Apart is no different.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart wears its sentimental and often nostalgic heart on its sleeve; it’s a riveting adventure that propels players through its myriad locations at a breakneck pace, supported by excellent set-pieces and memorable NPCs that help to make the experience as charming as it is captivating. It’s the overarching themes of forgiveness and teamwork, however, that make Rift Apart such a feel-good journey.

7

LEGO The Lord Of The Rings

A Memorable Journey Through A Familiar World

Released

October 30, 2012

Almost any LEGO game fits the bill as a feel-good experience, but fans of Peter Jackson’s beloved adaptations of The Lord Of The Rings will get a particularly heartwarming adventure from this LEGO title. The sheer coziness of Middle-earth does plenty of heavy lifting, but it’s bolstered by LEGO’s tongue-in-cheek charm and the heartfelt story of the source material.

Related

Best LEGO Games For Co-Op, Ranked

Looking to play a LEGO game with a friend? Here are some of the best options.

While nostalgia might play a part in this, exploring Middle-earth is a particularly feel-good experience thanks to the timeless score and faithful adaptation of environments. Furthermore, as with all LEGO games, LEGO The Lord Of The Rings is perfect for co-op, allowing players to easily share the wholesome experience with friends and family.

8

HiFi Rush

An Exuberant Blast Through Colorful Environments

Released

January 25, 2023

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

​​​​​​​Hi-Fi Rush is a colorful, lighthearted adventure that stands out for its unique rhythm-based action and ‘Saturday morning cartoons’ vibe. However, its wholesome narrative helps the game to provide a feel-good experience, working in tandem with an invigorating soundtrack.

The game’s vibrant cast of characters are the backbone of Hi-Fi Rush, offering plenty of wholesome interactions and carrying the narrative forward with a great deal of heart. Despite its small scale, Hi-Fi Rush is a colorful explosion of lighthearted fun, meaningful narrative, and memorable characters, offering a rewarding experience that frequently evokes warm and fuzzy feelings.

MORE

Bright And Colorful Indie Games

These indie games are not only fun to play, but are also visually striking in a variety of creative ways.