Looking for some non-grimdark, simply fun games to relax to and get lost in over the lazy summer months. Notice that lighthearted and pure fun doesn't mean super easy. Got any recommendations?
Some examples I'll offer:
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Also see: the first game. But personally I preferred SMG2.
I spent pretty much my whole time playing Super Mario Galaxy 2 enveloped in glee and awe. Amazing game, challenging yet relaxing, beautiful world...it kicked my ass without ever stressing me out. Still to this day the most pure fun I've EVER had with a video game. I looked forward to getting lost in this game every night for the ~2 weeks it took to power through it all. I hope some day I can find a game that tops it.
Recommended: Stick it out for the later levels which get amazingly creative and deviously challenging. It seems like a retread of Galaxy 1 at first but opens up significantly later and tops its predecessor.
Rayman: Origins
A close, close second. Same deal: beautiful art, challenging yet never frustrating or stressful because the game is just so damn laid back. Probably the best co-op gaming experience I've ever had. Hoping the sequel is as much of an improvement as Galaxy to Galaxy 2 was. Got sucked into it every time I played.
Recommended: Do the chest chases. They'll give you a taste of how creative the game can be until it actually kicks into gear around the third or fourth world. Before that the game feels a bit standard. Last half of the game is amazing.
Super Smash Bros: Brawl
Whether or not it's 'better' than Melee for competitive fighting, I enjoyed Brawl way more because it took the whimsical fan service of the first two games and cranked it up all the way with shitloads of bonus content. Best competitive multi-player game I own, still...end up busting it out with friends all the time. It can be frustrating or relaxing depending on how you play it. I find if I don't take it too seriously and just turn off the more annoying items (golden hammer...cracker launcher) I can get lost in it.
Recommended: Don't judge the game based on the super shitty Subspace Emissary mode. Power through it to unlock everything and then never touch it again. Modes like Classic, Brawl, and Home Run are where it's at.
Team Fortress 2
When I'm losing badly in Counterstrike, I rage. When I'm getting my ass kicked in Team Fortress, I tend not to care. Why? The game is the complete opposite of serious - I'll get competitive when I feel like it, otherwise I can fuck around with strange unlockable weapons or play support classes like Medic and Engineer. If you're on a good server you can shoot the shit with the other super cool dudez(tm) who play Team Fortress. Still, there's a limit to how much I can 'relax' into Team Fortress since I am, you know, trying to kill people.
Recommended:Payload. By far the best mode in the game. Followed closely by Capture Point.
Sonic Generations
I'll just leave this here. Not up to par with the above games but I loved the hell out of this game in spite of some of its poorer qualities.
Recommended: Play it on PC. Use D3DOverrider because for some reason the ingame V Sync option causes stutter.
Other good examples:
All classic Sonic & Mario platformers
Maybe Dead Rising 2, depending on how you feel about that game.
BAD examples:
All of the Lego: ___ games. They're dead easy, boring and repetitive after just a few hours.
Games that are boring easy in general.
Games that are 'whimsical' and fun but you can't really get lost in (e.g. Peggle. Love it, but it's no Super Mario Galaxy).
Games that are stressfully difficult (e.g. Super Meat Boy. Love it, but I can't relax with it)
Discuss! Give recommendations!
Some examples I'll offer:
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Also see: the first game. But personally I preferred SMG2.
I spent pretty much my whole time playing Super Mario Galaxy 2 enveloped in glee and awe. Amazing game, challenging yet relaxing, beautiful world...it kicked my ass without ever stressing me out. Still to this day the most pure fun I've EVER had with a video game. I looked forward to getting lost in this game every night for the ~2 weeks it took to power through it all. I hope some day I can find a game that tops it.
Recommended: Stick it out for the later levels which get amazingly creative and deviously challenging. It seems like a retread of Galaxy 1 at first but opens up significantly later and tops its predecessor.
Rayman: Origins
A close, close second. Same deal: beautiful art, challenging yet never frustrating or stressful because the game is just so damn laid back. Probably the best co-op gaming experience I've ever had. Hoping the sequel is as much of an improvement as Galaxy to Galaxy 2 was. Got sucked into it every time I played.
Recommended: Do the chest chases. They'll give you a taste of how creative the game can be until it actually kicks into gear around the third or fourth world. Before that the game feels a bit standard. Last half of the game is amazing.
Super Smash Bros: Brawl
Whether or not it's 'better' than Melee for competitive fighting, I enjoyed Brawl way more because it took the whimsical fan service of the first two games and cranked it up all the way with shitloads of bonus content. Best competitive multi-player game I own, still...end up busting it out with friends all the time. It can be frustrating or relaxing depending on how you play it. I find if I don't take it too seriously and just turn off the more annoying items (golden hammer...cracker launcher) I can get lost in it.
Recommended: Don't judge the game based on the super shitty Subspace Emissary mode. Power through it to unlock everything and then never touch it again. Modes like Classic, Brawl, and Home Run are where it's at.
Team Fortress 2
When I'm losing badly in Counterstrike, I rage. When I'm getting my ass kicked in Team Fortress, I tend not to care. Why? The game is the complete opposite of serious - I'll get competitive when I feel like it, otherwise I can fuck around with strange unlockable weapons or play support classes like Medic and Engineer. If you're on a good server you can shoot the shit with the other super cool dudez(tm) who play Team Fortress. Still, there's a limit to how much I can 'relax' into Team Fortress since I am, you know, trying to kill people.
Recommended:Payload. By far the best mode in the game. Followed closely by Capture Point.
Sonic Generations
I'll just leave this here. Not up to par with the above games but I loved the hell out of this game in spite of some of its poorer qualities.
Recommended: Play it on PC. Use D3DOverrider because for some reason the ingame V Sync option causes stutter.
Other good examples:
All classic Sonic & Mario platformers
Maybe Dead Rising 2, depending on how you feel about that game.
BAD examples:
All of the Lego: ___ games. They're dead easy, boring and repetitive after just a few hours.
Games that are boring easy in general.
Games that are 'whimsical' and fun but you can't really get lost in (e.g. Peggle. Love it, but it's no Super Mario Galaxy).
Games that are stressfully difficult (e.g. Super Meat Boy. Love it, but I can't relax with it)
Discuss! Give recommendations!
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