Long story short I started watching the Handmaid’s Tale, just finished episode 3 and it’s terribly depressing and too real for me. I’ll keep watching but I need to counter all this negativity.

Hence why I’m looking for some “aftercare” games that will help me cope. Something easy, where I don’t have to think and just follow along good vibes.

I have played the following games, which kind of fit what I’m looking for:

  • a short hike
  • carto
  • frog detective (all 3)
  • islanders
  • helltaker
  • spec ops the line (just kidding)
  • mini metro / motorways
  • dave the diver

Thank you !

  • blomvik@sopuli.xyz
    311·
    3 months ago

    If you like english humor, check out “Thank goodness your here”. Alternatively “Tiny terry’s turbo trip” or “Untitled goose game”.

  • Telorand@reddthat.com
    11·
    3 months ago
    • Lost in Play - adorable game about two siblings and their imagined adventure…or is it?
    • Tinykin - platform puzzler collectathon with zero enemies. Just cozy vibes.
    • Freshly Frosted - Want to feel personally encouraged by a soothing narrator while making donut machines?
    • Tiny Glade - make cute castles. That’s it!
    • KeyWe - kiwi mail delivery. Literally.
    • The Were Cleaner - werewolf janitor.
    • Little Inferno - silly game where you burn things to get more things to burn. Also, Sugar Plumps!
    • A Hat in Time - puzzle platformer collectathon that’s cute and creative
    • Dangeresque: The Roomisode Triungulate - silly point and click adventure. Looks like I’m gonna have to jump…!
    • Hidden Through Time - Where’s Waldo but more animated.
    • Thomas Was Alone - platformer where Thomas might not be as alone as he thinks (in a good way).
      • donio@lemmy.world
        1·
        3 months ago

        A nice aspect of survivor games on the deck is that you can play them single handed (for the most part). I like to clone the left stick onto the right one so I can play with either hand.

        Brotato is my current pick for this.

  • SwordInStone@lemmy.world
    7·
    3 months ago

    Spiritfarer, it’s the most chill game I’ve ever played.

    Oh, yeah and Dredge, one of my favourite games.

  • coronach@lemmy.sdf.org
    5·
    3 months ago

    spec ops the line (just kidding)

    I’m imagining someone cozying up with a blanket, a lap kitty, some tea, and the horrors of mankind.

  • zqwzzle@lemmy.caEnglish
    4·
    3 months ago

    Various levels of puzzle/chill:

    • A little to the left

    • Viewfinder

    • Unpacking

    • Bonfire peaks

    • Moncage

    • Chronescher

    • Humanity

    • Superliminal

    • Manifold garden

    • Gridroad

    • Dredge?

    • Far (lone sails and the second one)?

    • Vampire therapist (maybe)

  • the_crotch
    4·
    3 months ago

    I expected to open this thread and see 30 recommendations for stardew valley but I don’t see any. So stardew valley.

  • BroBot9000@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    3 months ago

    Some great games being listed already! Here are some nobody mentioned yet: Hoa, Abzu, Toem and Donut County.

    Take it easy and pace yourself with the depressing stuff. We’re all in this together.

  • Ech@lemm.eeEnglish
    4·
    3 months ago

    Sayonara Wild Hearts. I love that game and often load it up when I’m feeling out of sorts.

    • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      2·
      3 months ago

      Fantastic game that does not get the love it deserves. I think it was on sale for a few bucks recently.

      I have an urge once or twice a year to play through the game again and it makes me cry every time. Just played it last week actually. Still have some of the music stuck in my head.

  • Static_Rocket@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    3 months ago
    • Sable - but you’ll want to use protontricks to install dxvk
    • Stonefly
    • Far - 1 & 2 are both good, but I still prefer the first one
    • Vane
    • Lightmatter
    • rotopenguin@infosec.pubEnglish
      1·
      3 months ago

      I don’t think that dxvk is a thing that you’re supposed to pull in on its own. Any recent version of Proton (and especially ProtonGE) brings its own up-to-date copy of it.

      • Static_Rocket@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        3 months ago

        That’s certainly news to me. I suppose it just really needs the latest version. There was a noticeable improvement to stuttering and fps.

        That game is interesting though. Some things the community sees as bugs, like the audio glitches, have been claimed as an artistic choice.

  • archonet@lemy.lolEnglish
    3·
    3 months ago

    Someone else mentioned Superliminal, and I second that recommendation. Very cool puzzles, very nice message.

  • kartoffelsaft@programming.dev
    3·
    3 months ago

    TOEM is usually the game that I suggest for this sort of genre. I got it from someone who had an extra key from a humble bundle, and in hindsight I wish I bought it because they deserve the money.

  • Fubarberry@sopuli.xyzMEnglish
    3·
    3 months ago

    I would recommend grabbing this bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/safe-in-our-world-charity-bundle-2025 It’s got a kinda weird mix of games, but a lot of the games are great and several are fantastic for what you’re asking. Of particular note:

    Edit: unfortunately that bundle is out of stock, and I just realized it. Sorry. My recommendation for the following games is still valid though:

    • Little Kitty Big City - play as a cat doing cat things and exploring a japanese city. Very chill, fun animal characters, real fun experience.
    • Thank Goodness You’re Here - very well animated adventures in a british town. Less of a game and more of an experience, but very enjoyable.