Forget ‘netflix and chill’: Here's the top 10 most ‘chill’ video games to while away the hours in iso

Not what some would typically associate with “relaxation”, video games have nonetheless become a much bigger part of everyday life – particularly for the younger generations.

Take it from this mum of two boys approaching their teens, it can become an obsession – to the point where they don’t sleep!

Obviously those shoot ‘em up, bloody, kill anything that moves type of games are probably not what you’d consider relaxing.

But with the digital realm now such a big part of our lives, people are increasingly incorporating the online world into their relaxation time.

So UK-based price comparison service and switching website Uswitch has very neatly compiled this list of the top 10 most relaxing video games based on their “chill factor”.

The key factors considered in determining a game’s level of “chill” included building, nature, growing, achievement, problem-solving, reflexes and co-ordination, non-threatening environment and co-player/social aspect.

Simulation games in particular seem to be coming into their own, with three of the top 10 falling into that game genre. The action, adventure and action-adventure genre featured prominently on the list and role-playing also made an appearance.

Island paradise

Taking out the number one spot was Animal Crossing: New Horizons with a chill factor of 66 out of 80.

The Animal Crossing series is a Nintendo platform game that was first released in April 2001. Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which was released in March this year, invites players to create their own personalised paradise on a deserted getaway island.

Skill-building

The second most relaxing video game is The Sims 4, attaining a chill factor ranking of 57.

The Sims series is available on PC, Playstation 4 and Xbox and was first launched in February 2000. Nearly 200 million copies have been sold worldwide, making it one of the best-selling video game series of all time.

Players can create their own virtual people, known as “sims”, and build them houses, make them work to earn money, get them to socialise, make friends and a whole lot more.

Long-running favourite

It was probably inevitable that Pokemon was going to make an appearance in this list.

Number three spot goes to Pokemon: Sword and shield, with a chill factor of 56.

This franchise has been around for longer than the prior two, with the first Pokemon game released in February 1996 for the Nintendo Game Boy.

This new instalment, which has been developed for the Nintendo Switch, was launched in November 2019 and sets the scene for a thrilling adventure in the new Galar region, where players battle troublemakers and reveal the mystery behind the Legendary Pokemon Zacian and Zamazenta.

Action-packed cuteness

It’s not quite Mario Kart, but featuring arguably the cutest little spinoff of the whole Super Mario series, this one has made the cut at number four.

Uswitch awarded Yoshi’s Crafted World a chill factor rating of 55.

Yoshi became a video game star in his own right back in December 1991. This latest instalment, also developed for the Nintendo Switch, is number eight in the series and in just three days 1.1 million copies were sold, making it one of the top selling Yoshi games.

Players get to explore a “diorama-like” world made of stuff including boxes and paper cups, and clad Yoshi in collectable, protective, handicraft costumes as he makes his way through each stage.

Making slime fun

Claiming number five spot is Slime rancher, earning itself a chill factor rating of 51.

Like Animal Crossing and The Sims, this is a simulation game. An “early access” version was released in January 2016, which was followed by its official release in August 2017.

This game is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Xbox One and Playstation 4.

The game is centred on slime rancher Beatrix LeBeau, a young rancher who embarks on an adventure thousands of light-years away from Earth on the ‘Far, Far Range’, where she creates a living collecting and wrangling slimes.

Players get to build her ranch and explore the Far Far Range to collect, raise, feed, and breed slimes.

For the full list see below: