Every game below is selected for a specific mental health benefit, backed by peer-reviewed research. Browse by what you need.
7 gamesin Stress Relief
Stress Relief
PC / Mobile
A Short Hike
A small adventure up a mountain on a fictional island. Explore, talk, and find what's important — in under 4 hours.
Mental health benefit
Short-session games with natural environments provide "micro-restorative experiences" that reset attentional fatigue. The low-stakes social interaction reduces self-conscious rumination.
Thompson C.E. et al. (2021). Nature-based gaming and psychological restoration. Games Cult 16(4):482–501.
Stress Relief
PC / Console
Abzû
A meditative underwater adventure. Swim through oceans, discover sea life, and listen to the rhythm of the deep — no combat, no fail state.
Mental health benefit
Natural environments in games replicate the restorative effects of real nature exposure. Blue-space aesthetics specifically lower heart rate and cortisol via colour-theory and biophilia pathways.
Berto R. (2014). The role of nature in reducing psychological stress. J Environ Psychol 38:1–8.
Stress Relief
Nintendo Switch
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Build and personalise your island community. Visit friends, catch bugs, decorate freely — on your schedule.
Mental health benefit
Large-scale survey during COVID-19 lockdowns found players reported significantly lower loneliness and higher daily life satisfaction than non-players.
Barr M. & Copeland-Stewart A. (2021). Playing video games during the COVID-19 pandemic and effects on players' wellbeing. Games Cult 17(1):122–139.
Stress Relief
PC / PlayStation / iOS
Flower
Guide a petal through meadows with wind. No enemies, no score — just colour and motion.
Mental health benefit
Clinically documented reduction in heart rate and anxiety. Designed as an "anti-game" after a USC study on restorative play.
Russoniello C. et al. (2013). Casual video game play as stress management. Games Health J 2(5):264–268.
Stress Relief
PC / PlayStation
Journey
A wordless adventure through an ancient desert. Float, glide, and discover meaning without combat or failure.
Mental health benefit
Produces measurable heart-rate and skin-conductance reductions. Players report a meditative state comparable to mindfulness practice.
Triberti S. et al. (2017). Psychological flow as a technology design construct. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw 20(2):76–81.
Stress Relief
PC / Console / Mobile
Stardew Valley
A farming RPG set in a peaceful valley. Tend crops, raise animals, fish, and build a life at your own pace.
Mental health benefit
Open-ended, low-stakes gameplay significantly lowers cortisol. The absence of failure states creates a rare "safe" environment for the nervous system.
Russoniello et al. (2009). The effectiveness of casual video games in improving mood and decreasing stress. J Cyberther Rehabil 2(1):53–66.
Stress Relief
PC / Console
The Long Dark
A survival game set in the frozen Canadian wilderness. Manage warmth, hunger, and fatigue — no enemies, just the environment.
Mental health benefit
Survival mechanics require active breathing and rhythm-regulation strategies. Players develop genuine self-regulatory routines under simulated threat — mirroring exposure-based stress inoculation.
Kaye L.K. et al. (2019). The impact of digital game environments on stress regulation. Comput Human Behav 97:50–59.