17 relaxing video games to help you destress

Recent years have brought an influx of self-proclaimed “cozy games,” video games explicitly designed to invoke good vibes. That said, being cozy isn’t the same as being good. To aid those who'd like some help winding down after a long day, we’ve rounded up a few chill games that strike the right balance: ones that purposefully deemphasize fail states, violence, overwhelming grinds, intense competition and other aggressive urges, but aren't overly cute for the sake of it or so stripped-down that they're boring. ​​Here are some of the best relaxing games you can play on your Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC or smartphone.