baldur's gate 3 [link]
well this isn't low-stress. i have rage-quit chapter 3 more times than i can count.
i don't know how to review this game without either giving spoilers or overusing sentences you can and will find in contemporary media.
i just think it's gorgeous and the replayability is up there.
speaking of cute games, here's another one. it's controller-friendly, which means i can play it on my laptop from the couch, and i love the moral of cleaning the environment and making life better for our nonhuman neighbours.
the invincible [link]
psychological horror and thrillers are my jam. right up until i can't save everyone.
it does get a bit walking sim at times, but the atmosphere of dread kind of makes that okay.
rusty's retirement [link]
i like cozy games that sit at the bottom or the side of my screen while i read things, and i like little cute games. i'm pretty sure this one was my first.
i swear i still love rusty, but it was triggering some very ocd habits so i had to uninstall for a little while. just a little while.
cell to singularity [link]
so the art is neat, it's free to play, but mostly what i love about this game is that it strives to be as scientifically accurate as it can. learning things in small chunks whereever and whenever the urge strikes naturally appeals to me.
tiny pasture [link]
adorable. low-stress, almost but not quite an idler. doesn't interfere with other open applications.
i like to watch the animals run around at the bottom of my screen.
so far i have collected every coat colour of rabbit up to ✧✧
my little life [link]
another bottom-of-screen idler with the sweetest pixel graphics and little critters just living their lives. what can i say, i need company when i write.
i thought i was going to have a different relationship with this game, but it turns out my hesitations were early-launch bugs, that have been stomped.
the turning point for me was the zones update. at launch, zoning was a bit clunky and characters could only have one continuous zone to themselves, so no share housing or workplace/home separation which i imagine sucked for them simulated people as well as making my game experience less relaxing. but! since then, zones now can be placed in any configuration. it seems like a smallish change but it's huge, it's made me excited to open up my workspace so i can watch the tiny folks going about their pixel lives.
ropuka's idle island [link]
i am compelled to disclaim that i don't really like true idlers as much. however. the things i do like are everything else. ropuka requires no maintenance, but can be upgraded. the soundscape is customisable, which is great as i prefer my own music but like the ambient sounds. you can resize and move the window.