As the weather grows colder and wetter, more and more people will be stuck at home recovering from seasonal illnesses. While gamers may wish to use this time to enjoy their favorite hobby, many video games are not conducive to rest and recovery.
Certain games require significant focus, skill improvement, and effort, which can be extremely fun but can be more of a strain. Not engaging in activities, however, can leave the person bored and understimulated. Sick players must choose appropriate games, such as those with less grueling mechanics and more relaxing environments that can entertain without interrupting the healing process.
10 A Little To The Left Gamifies Tidying Up
A Little To The Left plays on the natural instinct for objects to be organized, symmetrical, and tidy. Each level is a new scenario that requires the player to restore order to a chaotic space.
Whether that is organizing a desk drawer, removing stickers from purchased produce, or straightening frames on an art wall, the satisfying gameplay and vibrant art style make for an entertaining game that doesn't require too much effort on the part of the player. They can enjoy A Little To The Left's atmospheric environments while focusing most of their energy on recovery.
9 Unpacking Is Short And Sweet
While in reality, moving is an incredibly stressful process that no one would ever wish to engage in while sick, Unpacking makes it meditative and enjoyable. This heartfelt indie title is relatively short, allowing the player to take in the entire game in one sitting for a complete experience.
As they follow the main character on her journey through different stages of life, they can observe her story through the places she moves into and the objects she chooses to keep with her. Unpacking also includes an option to turn off the puzzle aspect and place objects anywhere if gamers wish to exercise their creativity.
8 Powerwash Simulator Scrubs Away Boredom
Though some may find its content less than thrilling, PowerWash Simulator has seen tremendous popularity among gamers. Players run their own power-washing business, earning money from each task that they can then use to purchase better equipment. Each job adds new elements, such as different materials and more difficult angles.
Many gamers who enjoy PowerWash Simulator recommend it as a somewhat meditative experience that can be played while watching or listening to other media. Using this method could help sick gamers keep themselves entertained without too much exertion.
7 Among Us Connects Friends Remotely
One of the most difficult parts of being stuck at home sick is the loneliness. Of course, no one wants to pass their malaise on to their friends, but that doesn't mean they can't play games together. Among Us became incredibly popular in 2020 for this exact reason, as it allowed gamers to spend quality time playing with their friends from afar.
This viral hit is far from what it used to be, with a broad spectrum of new features and details for players to enjoy. However, the core gameplay remains as straightforward as ever, making it a perfect choice for gamers to enjoy while sidelined by illness.
6 Little Inferno Has A Remarkable Premise
For gamers who enjoy an in-depth narrative, Little Inferno is an excellent choice to play while recovering from sickness. Little Inferno tells an intriguing story about an alternate future plagued by snowstorms and frigid temperatures that force the citizens to remain isolated in their homes.
However, the gameplay centers on purchasing items from a catalog to set on fire in their Entertainment Fireplace. Each item has a unique effect as it burns, and certain combinations unlock new items for the player to experiment with and information about the world.
5 Stardew Valley Is Full Of Things To Do
Stardew Valley, the viral hit farming sim, has many activities for gamers to take on. Though the game initially focuses on teaching the player to manage their farmland, they can also mine, fish, cook, forage, and more as they unlock more content.
Stardew Valley's expansive unlockable content includes multiple new areas to explore, each with its own mine, and hidden secrets for the player to unravel using notes and journal pages they find throughout the environment. Rare events and additional challenges keep players engaged long after they've mastered the basics of farm life.
4 Donut County Enhances On Standard Gameplay
Almost anyone who plays video games has encountered a "drop objects into the hole to make it expand" game. From online flash games to unending mobile titles, this mechanic spread quickly within the industry. The best example of it, however, is Donut County.
Donut County explains the phenomenon within its story, explaining what happens to the materials and characters that fall into the mysterious holes. The game then turns the concept on its head, allowing the main characters to use the holes to fire objects back out instead of always dragging them in.
3 Baba Is You Is More Mentally Challenging
Baba Is You is a detailed puzzle-game surrounding wordplay and taking on the roles of objects in the environment. Though the levels start out quite straightforward, some later puzzles can be significantly more challenging. This game is best for players who are trying to conserve physical energy but require more complex mental stimulation to avoid tedium.
Baba, the protagonist, as indicated in the title, changes the rules to win by moving words and pieces around the space provided while avoiding deadly obstacles and backing themself into a corner.
2 Untitled Goose Game Embodies The Element Of Chaos
Untitled Goose Game is one of the best low-key games that is compelling without requiring too much effort on the player's part. They can cause endless mischief as a naughty goose running amok in a pleasant English village.
Though the game presents specific tasks for the player to accomplish, they can also experiment with their own goals, such as arranging items from different areas of the map into a pseudo-diorama. Even after the primary tasks are complete, there are plenty of details to experiment with and delight in.
1 Dorfromantik Lets Players Create A New World
A combination of a classic city-builder and a puzzle game, Dorfromantik tasks players with laying tiles to create the perfect village and surrounding landscape. As they draw from the procedurally-generated stack of tiles, players must consider what the most optimal placement for each tile would be and balance them with the surrounding elements.
Certain tiles initiate quests, requiring players to surround them with specific pieces. Gamers earn more tiles by completing these quests, allowing them to continue expanding their colorful realm.