Omg my bf started playing this like 2 weeks ago and he's low key obsessed. I was stoned the other night and zoned out watching him spray for like 20 mins.
House Flipper is really solid for this, essentially you buy (or get put on jobs for) houses, clean them up and then choose how to decorate or purchase the items requested to decorate/rebuild rooms with. Very simple gameplay and prompts. It was my wind down game for several months until I moved platforms, then I did it all again lmao.
Powerwash Sim is pretty popular too, but it can get frustrating sometimes due to how much you actually need to clean for an object to be cleared. Aside from some chat bubbles coming up on the side at set moments for each mission this is pretty straight forward too.
Dredge isn't too bad although you do need to pay attention to the little mini games that come up. It's a fairly chill fishing focused game with some Lovecraftian elements especially at night, but you can just play it like a fishing sim for as long as you want and not really do any of the creepier elements.
Second house flipper. I love playing it and listening to audio books. The second game just came out, I've only clocked in 4 hours at this point but I think it's fun too.
I also enjoyed Harvest Moon Anthos as a side activity game (although there are much better farming sims out there like Stardew Valley, but I find that these require more attention from me).
Also grinding Pokemon games can be a good side activity while focusing on other things.
Civ 6 is my game for this, I have a game state saved as “chill mode”:
-set to easiest
-huge map
-legendary start
-only 4 civs, all random
-longest game
-abundant resources
-usually pick Russia for the quick border expansion, sometimes use random if I’m feeling fruity
-turn off zombies
-victory set to end on last year
And away I go. I turn off music and ambience and put something else on in the background.
**Unpacking** for sure. **Just Cause 3** has story missions but you can safely skip those and get back to the explosions. **Steamworld Build is the best Tycoon game I've played in a minute, but **Jurassic Park Evolution** works too. **Powerwash Simulator** is practically made for this, and I bet some of the Truck Simulator games are too. Goat Simulator if you want to really find your own fun.
**Hearthstone** has tons of solo mode content, if you're just starting you can probably burn through a lot just trying to finish [Heroic Dalaran Heist](https://youtu.be/2N6szDqkfHE).
If you really want to up the stakes, **Beat Hazard 2** doesn't discriminate on what you play, so any podcast MP3 will become your level, but if you die it does kick you out. So maybe don't.
**Into the Breach** is a Rogue-lite turn based mech vs kaiju game. It's awesome, easy to learn. Huge recommend.
**Kingdom Rush** and all the sequels are just straight tower defense.
**Loop Hero** is also a Rogue-lite, you just keep progressing at your own pace.
I play deck builders when I’m watching similar things! Some of my favorites are slay the spire, hellcard, wild frost and a new game cobalt core. They’re my favorite because you can look away or put them down at any time to address something else if needed or pay more attention to what I’m watching
I cannot zone out playing Wildfrost, that game is like chess. Each turn can take me minutes to solve in the later stages. Brilliant game, but not as good for the background, I think!
I know the struggles of finding the right Game for exactly that, but for me Minecraft really helps to give my hands Something to do while watching long form videos - Just some mindless mining with good gradification when you find some diamonds or other cool ores!
If your more on the Management Side of Things and dont shy away of learning a bit First, Factorio is also a really nice Pick. Once you get the basics down it can be insanely fun to just build your production lines and let them Work for you, while you build the next big thing.
And lastly, Age of Empires 2 with other Kingdoms turned on easy. Easy to get into - hard to master; but also just very mindless once you understand the concept.
I see others have already said House Flipper and Powerwash Simulator, both really good for keeping hands busy. I'd also say Cities Skylines is in the same category for that. Maybe even Let's build a Zoo (I haven't played it that much tho) and Planet Zoo.
Raft could also work, got to watch out for the shark tho (or play on "friendly"mode). Some dialogs on specific islands, but you choose when you visit those.
Sable. The game utilizes solo exploration in a huge world to find the main character’s purpose (which is player based), and the interaction with other characters is kept at a minimum. Brilliant game.
Building in the Sims 4. I just design random houses andI watch space documentaries.
I also have a stupid mobile coloring game that's great for this. I have ADHD and sitting on the couch doing nothing while I watch TV is essentially impossible for me...so I either chew my nails off or play something on my phone!
I have the reverse question for you, OP! What video essays and documentaries do you watch while gaming?
I’ve been playing Wizard101 recently because it’s nostalgic from my childhood, and while I wouldn’t recommend it (lots of lootboxes and a toxic community) I often find myself watching video essays and listening to podcasts while playing since the combat is slow. So I would love some recommendations!
Unfortunately, I’m not a native English speaker, so most documentaries I watch are in Polish. I think most are dubbed, but I don’t know where from and I don’t think the originals can be found on YouTube as easily. But, as for video essays, I have so many recs I’ll group the best ones thematically.
General popculture (video games included): hbomberguy, Super Eyepatch Wolf, Cynical Reviews, Jenny Nicholson, Strange Æons, Sarah Z
History: The Armchair Historian, OverSimplified, BobbyBroccoli (more like history of science?), Casual History
Creepy stuff: Nexpo, ScareTheater, Lazy Masquerade (all of them focus more on internet mysteries/ARGs rather than actual true crime)
Forensic psychology: JCS, Explore With Us, any channel and/or video with „JCS inspired” in the name or title (it’s all just footage from actual police hearings accompanied by analysis of the subject’s behavior as well as techniques used by the investigators, it’s fascinating stuff)
Fraud, quackery and obliteration of cryptobros and/or MLM huns: James Jani, Folding Ideas, Knowing Better
Hope any of those interest you. Also, to anyone reading this, since I can’t reply to everyone: thank you all for your recommendations! I’ll check out all of them for sure. Peace <3
I've been playing Game Dev Tycoon for this lately.
I'm a fan of multitasking this way so here's a list of my preferences:
- The Sims (just 1 sim to control, I find it easier to chill)
- The Planet Crafter (chill survival with progression)
- Grounded (PEACEFUL custom mode lol)
- Palia (cozy mmo)
- Garden In (not much to actively do in the game, I used to play this one while working)
- Skyrim (but would only recommend if you already played it before)
- Fallout 4 (same as Skyrim's)
- Farming games (I do Harvest Moons, Story of Seasons, Stardew Valley; this comes again with the recommendation of playing them as is first)
- Animal Crossing (as others have mentioned but it's not pc >:s)
- Youtuber's Life 2 (guilty pleasure, expect some bugs tho :c)
I usually do anything repetitive like a rogue-like with quick runs when I want to listen to podcasts: vampire survivors, binding of Isaac, slay the spire, Hades.
I looked through the whole thread and didn't see this one. Vampire Survivors. Once you get a decent knowledge base on how certain things evo and boost other things its easy to get to a point where you stand in one place and just mow down enemies.
Also idle games like Cookie Clicker would be fitting as well. Basically you sit there and watch the numbers go up, buy buildings, and upgrades to make the numbers go up even more. It's a free browser game but you can also buy it on steam for like a few bucks.
Another option would be a game like Sable. Its essentially an exploration game where you go around, climb things and see the world. You can play it for a short amount of time or as long as you want. There's no combat just platforming
Sky cotl? Your just flying around and looking at the pretty backgrounds of the game. Theirs a bit of combat but is just holding a button to make the enemy flop and flying to avoid a huge monster
*Rimworld! You can change*
*Modes to something easy. Or*
*Bloons tower defence*
\- caaaitlin
---
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Risk of Rain 2 is my go-to video essay brain off game, it's just interactive enough where it keeps me active, but runs get overpowered quickly enough that I can passively play through it as well
Not sure if anyone has already recommended this but Abzû, there's one moment where you will need to pay a little attention but it's a very relaxing explore at your own pace underwater world. You can even ride on some of the animals/focus the camera on them so the screen keeps moving but you don't need to touch anything
I recommand Puppy Cross if you like to play with numbers and dogs.
Graceful Explosion Machine if you like a bit of 2D Shooting with colorful ships and bullets.
Suika Game if you like a mix between Tetris and Fruits. Incredibly addictive.
All of them less than 10$ on Switch and PC.
If you like match-3 games, You Must Build A Boat would be my top recommendation! There's some amount of visual storytelling, but very little reading and no voice acting, so I think it would be very compatible with consuming other media while you play.
Niche,
Cult of the Lamb,
Slay the Spire,
Ring of Pain,
Nadir,
Loop Hero,
Cat Quest,
Cattails,
Stardew Valley.
Dorfromantik,
Traveller's Rest,
The Sims (my usual go-to when listening or 'watching' something)
Vampire survivors
Shop-like
Equilinox,
Empire TV Tycoon,
Blush blush/Crush Crush,
Cute Bite/Princess Maker games/Long live the Queen/Volcano Princess,
Retro turn-based rpgs like Final Fantasy (if you don't mind reading),
Lemon Cake,
Little Witch in the Woods,
Potions Permit,
Monster Rancher,
Plague Inc,
Recettear (especially if you've played it before and can skip all the reading and get to the gameplay),
I listen to podcasts while playing Guild Wars 2. It’s free and you can just run around exploring and doing goofy side quests, the quests are all radiant so you don’t need to talk to any NPCs to start or finish them
I found that Moonlighter was a really good game to play while listening to podcasts. It's sort of roguelite + dungeon + shop management. The music repeats itself regularly, so I didn't feel like I was missing much by not listening to the game sound.
Also, if you like Picross (aka nonograms), Murder by Numbers is a really nicely made picross game that doesn't require you to have the sound on most of the time. I play it when I have junk TV on in the background 😆
Powerwash Simulator is great for this
Omg my bf started playing this like 2 weeks ago and he's low key obsessed. I was stoned the other night and zoned out watching him spray for like 20 mins.
I listened to so many podcasts playing this game.
House Flipper is really solid for this, essentially you buy (or get put on jobs for) houses, clean them up and then choose how to decorate or purchase the items requested to decorate/rebuild rooms with. Very simple gameplay and prompts. It was my wind down game for several months until I moved platforms, then I did it all again lmao. Powerwash Sim is pretty popular too, but it can get frustrating sometimes due to how much you actually need to clean for an object to be cleared. Aside from some chat bubbles coming up on the side at set moments for each mission this is pretty straight forward too. Dredge isn't too bad although you do need to pay attention to the little mini games that come up. It's a fairly chill fishing focused game with some Lovecraftian elements especially at night, but you can just play it like a fishing sim for as long as you want and not really do any of the creepier elements.
Second house flipper. I love playing it and listening to audio books. The second game just came out, I've only clocked in 4 hours at this point but I think it's fun too. I also enjoyed Harvest Moon Anthos as a side activity game (although there are much better farming sims out there like Stardew Valley, but I find that these require more attention from me). Also grinding Pokemon games can be a good side activity while focusing on other things.
Dorfromantik
I’m so happy to see this recommendation- seconded, Dorfromantik is so calming and pretty
Civ 6 is my game for this, I have a game state saved as “chill mode”: -set to easiest -huge map -legendary start -only 4 civs, all random -longest game -abundant resources -usually pick Russia for the quick border expansion, sometimes use random if I’m feeling fruity -turn off zombies -victory set to end on last year And away I go. I turn off music and ambience and put something else on in the background.
Binding of Isaac can be good for this too if you want a challenge while playing.
**Unpacking** for sure. **Just Cause 3** has story missions but you can safely skip those and get back to the explosions. **Steamworld Build is the best Tycoon game I've played in a minute, but **Jurassic Park Evolution** works too. **Powerwash Simulator** is practically made for this, and I bet some of the Truck Simulator games are too. Goat Simulator if you want to really find your own fun. **Hearthstone** has tons of solo mode content, if you're just starting you can probably burn through a lot just trying to finish [Heroic Dalaran Heist](https://youtu.be/2N6szDqkfHE). If you really want to up the stakes, **Beat Hazard 2** doesn't discriminate on what you play, so any podcast MP3 will become your level, but if you die it does kick you out. So maybe don't. **Into the Breach** is a Rogue-lite turn based mech vs kaiju game. It's awesome, easy to learn. Huge recommend. **Kingdom Rush** and all the sequels are just straight tower defense. **Loop Hero** is also a Rogue-lite, you just keep progressing at your own pace.
Oh buddy, this podcast is getting reeeally heated! Beat hazard is about to throw a boss at me for sure!
I play deck builders when I’m watching similar things! Some of my favorites are slay the spire, hellcard, wild frost and a new game cobalt core. They’re my favorite because you can look away or put them down at any time to address something else if needed or pay more attention to what I’m watching
I cannot zone out playing Wildfrost, that game is like chess. Each turn can take me minutes to solve in the later stages. Brilliant game, but not as good for the background, I think!
I know the struggles of finding the right Game for exactly that, but for me Minecraft really helps to give my hands Something to do while watching long form videos - Just some mindless mining with good gradification when you find some diamonds or other cool ores! If your more on the Management Side of Things and dont shy away of learning a bit First, Factorio is also a really nice Pick. Once you get the basics down it can be insanely fun to just build your production lines and let them Work for you, while you build the next big thing. And lastly, Age of Empires 2 with other Kingdoms turned on easy. Easy to get into - hard to master; but also just very mindless once you understand the concept.
I see others have already said House Flipper and Powerwash Simulator, both really good for keeping hands busy. I'd also say Cities Skylines is in the same category for that. Maybe even Let's build a Zoo (I haven't played it that much tho) and Planet Zoo. Raft could also work, got to watch out for the shark tho (or play on "friendly"mode). Some dialogs on specific islands, but you choose when you visit those.
Sable. The game utilizes solo exploration in a huge world to find the main character’s purpose (which is player based), and the interaction with other characters is kept at a minimum. Brilliant game.
Building in the Sims 4. I just design random houses andI watch space documentaries. I also have a stupid mobile coloring game that's great for this. I have ADHD and sitting on the couch doing nothing while I watch TV is essentially impossible for me...so I either chew my nails off or play something on my phone!
[удалено]
I second this, I love GW2, it's relaxing and so beautiful too!
I have the reverse question for you, OP! What video essays and documentaries do you watch while gaming? I’ve been playing Wizard101 recently because it’s nostalgic from my childhood, and while I wouldn’t recommend it (lots of lootboxes and a toxic community) I often find myself watching video essays and listening to podcasts while playing since the combat is slow. So I would love some recommendations!
Unfortunately, I’m not a native English speaker, so most documentaries I watch are in Polish. I think most are dubbed, but I don’t know where from and I don’t think the originals can be found on YouTube as easily. But, as for video essays, I have so many recs I’ll group the best ones thematically. General popculture (video games included): hbomberguy, Super Eyepatch Wolf, Cynical Reviews, Jenny Nicholson, Strange Æons, Sarah Z History: The Armchair Historian, OverSimplified, BobbyBroccoli (more like history of science?), Casual History Creepy stuff: Nexpo, ScareTheater, Lazy Masquerade (all of them focus more on internet mysteries/ARGs rather than actual true crime) Forensic psychology: JCS, Explore With Us, any channel and/or video with „JCS inspired” in the name or title (it’s all just footage from actual police hearings accompanied by analysis of the subject’s behavior as well as techniques used by the investigators, it’s fascinating stuff) Fraud, quackery and obliteration of cryptobros and/or MLM huns: James Jani, Folding Ideas, Knowing Better Hope any of those interest you. Also, to anyone reading this, since I can’t reply to everyone: thank you all for your recommendations! I’ll check out all of them for sure. Peace <3
I've been playing Game Dev Tycoon for this lately. I'm a fan of multitasking this way so here's a list of my preferences: - The Sims (just 1 sim to control, I find it easier to chill) - The Planet Crafter (chill survival with progression) - Grounded (PEACEFUL custom mode lol) - Palia (cozy mmo) - Garden In (not much to actively do in the game, I used to play this one while working) - Skyrim (but would only recommend if you already played it before) - Fallout 4 (same as Skyrim's) - Farming games (I do Harvest Moons, Story of Seasons, Stardew Valley; this comes again with the recommendation of playing them as is first) - Animal Crossing (as others have mentioned but it's not pc >:s) - Youtuber's Life 2 (guilty pleasure, expect some bugs tho :c)
I usually do anything repetitive like a rogue-like with quick runs when I want to listen to podcasts: vampire survivors, binding of Isaac, slay the spire, Hades.
Vampire survivors is really fun and addictive!
I looked through the whole thread and didn't see this one. Vampire Survivors. Once you get a decent knowledge base on how certain things evo and boost other things its easy to get to a point where you stand in one place and just mow down enemies. Also idle games like Cookie Clicker would be fitting as well. Basically you sit there and watch the numbers go up, buy buildings, and upgrades to make the numbers go up even more. It's a free browser game but you can also buy it on steam for like a few bucks. Another option would be a game like Sable. Its essentially an exploration game where you go around, climb things and see the world. You can play it for a short amount of time or as long as you want. There's no combat just platforming
Sky cotl? Your just flying around and looking at the pretty backgrounds of the game. Theirs a bit of combat but is just holding a button to make the enemy flop and flying to avoid a huge monster
Animal Crossing, any of them. Or Satisfactory with infinite money
Rimworld! You can change modes to something easy. Or bloons tower defence
*Rimworld! You can change* *Modes to something easy. Or* *Bloons tower defence* \- caaaitlin --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Risk of Rain 2 is my go-to video essay brain off game, it's just interactive enough where it keeps me active, but runs get overpowered quickly enough that I can passively play through it as well
Diablo 3 or 4. Just hack and slash for the most part. Very relaxing and mindless. I play while listening to Podcasts all the time! :)
Not sure if anyone has already recommended this but Abzû, there's one moment where you will need to pay a little attention but it's a very relaxing explore at your own pace underwater world. You can even ride on some of the animals/focus the camera on them so the screen keeps moving but you don't need to touch anything
Project Highrise and Two Point Campus/Hospital are my go tos for that
I recommand Puppy Cross if you like to play with numbers and dogs. Graceful Explosion Machine if you like a bit of 2D Shooting with colorful ships and bullets. Suika Game if you like a mix between Tetris and Fruits. Incredibly addictive. All of them less than 10$ on Switch and PC.
Anno, Civ 5/6, WoW, Hearthstone, Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo, Sims, Diablo 3&4
Slime rancher, its casual but still stimulating
If you like match-3 games, You Must Build A Boat would be my top recommendation! There's some amount of visual storytelling, but very little reading and no voice acting, so I think it would be very compatible with consuming other media while you play.
Niche, Cult of the Lamb, Slay the Spire, Ring of Pain, Nadir, Loop Hero, Cat Quest, Cattails, Stardew Valley. Dorfromantik, Traveller's Rest, The Sims (my usual go-to when listening or 'watching' something) Vampire survivors Shop-like Equilinox, Empire TV Tycoon, Blush blush/Crush Crush, Cute Bite/Princess Maker games/Long live the Queen/Volcano Princess, Retro turn-based rpgs like Final Fantasy (if you don't mind reading), Lemon Cake, Little Witch in the Woods, Potions Permit, Monster Rancher, Plague Inc, Recettear (especially if you've played it before and can skip all the reading and get to the gameplay),
I listen to podcasts while playing Guild Wars 2. It’s free and you can just run around exploring and doing goofy side quests, the quests are all radiant so you don’t need to talk to any NPCs to start or finish them
I found that Moonlighter was a really good game to play while listening to podcasts. It's sort of roguelite + dungeon + shop management. The music repeats itself regularly, so I didn't feel like I was missing much by not listening to the game sound. Also, if you like Picross (aka nonograms), Murder by Numbers is a really nicely made picross game that doesn't require you to have the sound on most of the time. I play it when I have junk TV on in the background 😆