Chilling Digitally

Hello, and welcome back to Silver Linings where I chillax with the maligned and forgotten.

Let's face it; gaming can carry stresses of its own. Whether you're getting your face stomped in by a Dark Souls boss, or getting teabagged by some jerk in an online round of Halo, gaming these days provides the kinds of headaches that can almost be worse than the normal crap in the real world. Even I experience that kind of thing often. Hell, last week, I almost felt my brain snap when I lost my last life when I was close to getting a tough star in Super Mario 64.

Fortunately, not all games are like that. There are games that can be... dare I say it... relaxing. They're games that don't have fail states, vicious bosses, or cheap mechanics, and yet they're engaging. They're games that may not be adrenaline-charged, but they're not boring, either. They're games that can be a good palate-cleanser when you're tired of failing the same Grand Theft Auto mission over and over again. Before you swear off gaming out of frustration, relax with these simple joys.

'Awkward' - PC, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Switch

If you want something less brain-taxing than Family Feud, this indie joy is for you. This little party game revolves around surveys like the Feud, but has the "match your partner's answer" mechanics of The Newlywed Game. Unlike a lot of party games, this one's also fun to play alone, as you try to match the community's responses. Just reading the crazy questions gets me laughing without fail.

'Broken Sword' (series) - Just about everywhere

Point-and-click games are some of the most leisurely paced games in existence, and the Broken Sword series provides some of the best in the genre. George Stobbart and Nico Collard are likeable protagonists, the games provide globe-trotting adventures with gorgeous artwork, the puzzles make sense, and the games all have a great sense of humor. The games can be found on PC and various consoles dating back to the original Playstation. Hell, the first game in the series Shadows of the Templars can even be played on your phone!

'Everything' - PC, Mac, Playstation 4, Switch

Everything defies description. It's a game where you can freely wander the universe taking the form of anything from a microbe to an entire galaxy. Mixed in with the wandering is listening to the thoughts of various creatures and philosophical theories provided by Alan Watts. Aside from filling out the checklists for becoming everything in the game at least once, there are no real objectives. This is more about the experience of seeing the universe in a new way.

'Fez' - PC, Mac, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Vita

On the surface, Fez looks like a simple platform game. In actuality, it's an ingenious puzzle game, revolving around a 2D character experiencing a 3D world for the first time. The puzzles can get quite tricky, but there are no game overs, allowing you to try anything. Phil Fish's world is a joy to explore, the music is atmospheric and gentle, and finding one of the dark cubes is worth cheering for.

'Firewatch' - PC, Mac, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Switch

Walking simulators have become a very popular genre for telling a story, and Firewatch is one of the most lauded examples. It follows a new forest ranger as he investigates a mystery with his only contact being on the walkie-talkie. The conversations between the characters all feel very natural, and this rendition of the Shoshone National Forest is a joy to look at. Its story must be good if it's being made into a movie.

'Glass Masquerade' - PC, Mac, Smartphone, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Switch

There are plenty of digital jigsaw puzzles out there, but none like GlassMasquerade. Instead of just putting together a normal jigsaw puzzle, you're assembling art deco-styled stained glass windows piece-by-piece. The artwork is gorgeous, and the mechanics work flawlessly even with a controller. A sequel just released on Steam; let's hope it comes to consoles soon!

'Gone Home' - PC, Mac, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Switch

This is the game that started the glory days of walking simulators. The whole story (which I won't spoil) is told through exploring an empty house, and reading journal entries left around. There are even fun moments that make use of the physics engine to do things like shoot hoops. It won numerous game awards for good reason; check it out.

'Late Shift' - PC, Smartphone, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Switch

Despite being the bane of early CD systems like the Sega CD and 3DO, FMV games have made a major resurgence recently, and Late Shift is one of the best entries in the renaissance. An interactive movie, which follows a parking attendant who gets caught up with a gang of thieves, the story holds you throughout, and the active choices that direct the plot form the standard that would be adopted by shows like Black Mirror on Netflix. It's the only time I know of where a game was lauded at film festivals.

'Luna' - PC, Playstation 4, VR

Luna is short and sweet. It's equal parts solving puzzles by connecting dots, and building terrariums. The construction paper artwork is charming, and even the narration sounds like the friendliest nature documentary. I didn't get a chance to play this in VR, but I'm sure it's one of gentlest reasons to put on those goggles.

'Myst' (series) - Just about everywhere (again)

This is it, the end all be all of laissez-faire puzzle adventure game series. Myst and its sequels all involve dropping the players into largely deserted worlds, and having them solve puzzles to explore. While the puzzles can be devious, there's never any pressure; you can solve them at your own pace. Just about every device capable of playing games has a Myst game or two. Even the infamous Jaguar CD got it! The series is legendary for a reason; check them out!

'Oxenfree' - PC, Mac, Smartphone, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Switch

Usually a story about a group of teens going to a forbidden island means wholesale slaughter by a serial killer, but that's not the case in Oxenfree. This adventure isn't as much about the ghosts and time loops as it is about the coming-of-age for the characters. How the characters act toward each other dictates where the story goes, and the interactions all feel completely natural. It's a lot like the movie Stand By Me, and that's a VERY good thing.

'Root Letter' - PC, Smartphone, Playstation 4, Vita

Visual novels have been a big thing in Japan for a long time but have only recently begun to get attention in the West. Of the ones I've played, √Letter (as it's shown on the box art) is one of the best. This story about a search for a missing pen pal goes much farther than just hitting X to move to the next text box. Thorough searching can reveal points that can provide new story directions. This is what all visual novels should aspire to be.

'Strata' - PC, Smartphone

As much as the now-defunct Steam Greenlight program screwed up, this was one of the best surprises to come out of it. I reviewed this game on the TrueSteamAchievements forums a while back. This is still one of the best, most relaxing puzzle games I've ever played!

'Syberia' (series) - Just about everywhere (yet again)

Let's face it; too many point-and-click games are too convoluted with their puzzles. The Syberia games keep theirs very simple and logical, while still giving your brain a gentle massage. The story which follows a lawyer helping an eccentric inventor realize his dreams, runs the emotional gamut with light humor balancing the moodier moments. All three games are available on the current gen consoles including the Switch, and all three are worth playing.

'The Unfinished Swan' - Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Vita

The Unfinished Swan showed advantages games have over other media for telling a story. A boy who recently lost his artist mother gets drawn into a world that needs filling in. Throwing ink to see the world never stops being amusing, and the puzzles never go beyond finding the right path to move on. Simple elegance is on full display, and it works so well.

'The Witness' - PC, Mac, Playstation 4, Xbox One

For those who found Myst's puzzles too convoluted, but still wanted to explore a new world, The Witness has you covered. Unlike Jonathan Blow's previous game Braid, there are no warped mechanics or cheap deaths that need to be reversed. You're just lost in a world full of line puzzles that get more and more creative and challenging as you move on. It's amazing how much mileage you can get out of drawing lines on grids.

'You Don't Know Jack!' (series) - Just about everywhere (EVEN THE FREAKIN' OUYA!!!)

This is the one game series where you may have more fun when you're screwing up! You Don't Know Jack and its many sequels and spin-offs (including the Jackbox Party Pack compilations) are some of the funniest games in existence. The crazy questions and Cookie's wiseass remarks can get any party going. Who cares about actually winning the game?!?

What do you think? Any other games that take the stress out of gaming? Let me know! Peace!