Ever since I was a little kid, I have always loved video games due to my older brother’s influence, as he is an avid gamer. Video games are one of the only things I can bring to UBC for a sense of comfort and nostalgia as an international student! For this reason, here are my 3 favourite games to play and relax with after a day of studying and working!
Stardew Valley
The appeal of a simpler life makes this video game popular! Stardew Valley is about becoming a farmer who moved to Pelican Town after being sick of their boring office job. Planting seeds, watering crops, and crafting scarecrows become second nature as you progress through the game. Additionally, an array of likable townies are present to befriend and romance! I have had the grandest of times running around town looking for my favourite character, Sam, while holding his favourite can of soda in an attempt to gift and woo him into marriage. I have this game on both my laptop and Switch. It’s amazing to have the option to play it on the go or as I am relaxing in my room!
Platform(s): PC/Mac/Linux, Nintendo Switch, Android/iOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VITA
Price: $6.49 CAD – $19.99 CAD
Keywords: Farming, multiplayer, exploration, living the life of my dreams!
Vibes: Cozy, pleasant

The Sims 4
The Sims has always been an all-time favourite gaming franchise of mine. I enjoy having the freedom to make my characters do whatever I want, and could not contain my excitement when they announced that the Sims 4 is now free to play on PC! My favourite part of the game has to be creating new and pretty characters. After that, I like to make them start from scratch by moving them to an empty lot, and other times into pre-built houses when I don’t feel like building! I also love perusing the internet for fan-made content to add into the game; the possibilities are endless!
Platform(s): PC/Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Price: Free!
Keywords: Life simulation, casual, they gave me so much power…
Vibes: Chaotic, creative

Cats & Soup
I was introduced to Cats & Soup by a friend of mine while we were out having soup for dinner. The game is very simple: you hire cats and they work together to make soup! Cats & Soup offers a lot of cute graphics. Various cat breeds run around chopping carrots, shelling acorns, and harvesting honey, all for the collective goal of making soup! These soup dishes are then sold, and the money goes back into more soup-making! I did not realize how much I love cats and soup (separately) until I played this mobile game. What’s more, it’s convenient to play as a student without much free time as the cats continue to make and sell soup even when I’m not online! It’s nice to log in once in a while and check how much passive income I’ve made. I highly recommend this low commitment game if you are looking for one!
Platform(s): Android/iOS
Price: Free!
Keywords: Idle, casual, cats and soup-making festive fun!
Vibes: Cute, calming
That would be my top 3 relaxing games in my collection! Are there any games in this list you’re interested in trying, or have played before? What other video games would you recommend to unwind? We would love to hear them, let us know in the comments!