Hope you will be overflowed with good karma asap
Can't think of specific title. It may seem strange but I've played To the Moon while having really rough patch and I've cried like a baby while doing it but it made me feel really good so maybe it would work with you too.
Everytime I feel bad I'm starting to play some fps or other brainless game, it somehow clears my mind
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I've played a lot of games mindlessly on a loop recently, and while that takes my mind off things, it really does nothing in terms of the feel good department. If anything it feels worse when (inevitably) I fail in those games. Hence this slightly odd thread.
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I'm not that much of a racing game fan but damn did Burnout Paradise always lift my mood when playing it years ago.
An awesome soundtrack, cool cars, lots of different things to do...or just driving around having a good time.😁
Even just watching the Remastered Trailer just now gave me a good time and a better mood😀
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Another vote for Slime Rancher. Definitely helped me stay chill while I was going through some rough stuff. It's also really cute without gettingobnoxious, something that helps ramp up the feel-good factor.
And well, I also always feel good if I get a nice fat score in Pac-man Championship Edition DX. I'd recommend getting the "All you can eat" edition though. The extra levels are pretty good, and already more expensive if you buy them seperately. The extra skins & music are nice too (I really love the Rally X skin, but that's personal nostalgia weighing heavily).
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Well here's a chance to say that out of all the classic arcade games, the one that really never appealed to me is and will always remain Pac-Man. It's not the game's fault or anything, I do recognize why people consider it a classic, but it's just not my thing. Even Space Invaders, which is really too simple to keep my attention for long, I like better than Pac-Man.
Having said that, I recognize the thrill and good feeling that comes with setting a high score in an arcade game you enjoy (or even just getting far in the game), so thanks for the suggestion.
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but go hug the nearest puppy to work that out or something
But.. people get all edgy when I break into their house and tell them that it's to pet their pooch. :/
Bastion
As much as I enjoyed the game, I actually enjoy the song more. ...then again, every time I hear the song, I want to play the game. :)
Have you tried Pyre or Transistor, from the same developer, to see if those scratch the same itch for you?
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Unfortunately puppy hugging, like many other activities otherwise considered heartwarming, loses its charm and goodwill when not performed with the consent of all parties involved.
I don't make the rules, I just recite them with weary resignation.
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Hey, hey, HEY. What are you even saying? Of course I get consent first. I mean, how can I not assume I've been given consent when they smile wide at me, run up to me, and jump into my arms, all with their tail wagging? Seriously, I can't believe you'd think I wouldn't get proper consent first.
..wait, when you say all parties, you didn't mean the humans, did you? Ehhhh. What do they even have to do with things. They just get in between me and the puppy petting. So uncool of them. Noone even cares about their input. So long as the dog is happy, and I don't make too big of a hole getting into the house, what's even the problem?
(Also, I added a line a couple of seconds after your post, above.)
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Pyre and Transistor are both already on my wishlist, as they're highly rated and look fun to play (and in the case of Pyre, it's the unusual choice of making it partially a sports game that draws the eye). I didn't get a "feel good" vibe from either game from just the reviews, though. Do you feel like they warrant inclusion on that front?
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Honestly, I can't really find the point of connection between the games listed in the OP, so if those games are what you're considering "feel good" then I think our perspectives differ too much on what constitutes "feel good" for me to make any sort of assumption as to what would be suitable for your tastes. If Bastion was a game you enjoyed, then I just figured the other Supergiant games might be enjoyable enough for you to get a feel good-ish benefit out of playing them, given that Supergiant's games get more involving after Bastion.
But yeah, maybe I misinterpreted a bit. Were you or were you not saying you'd played those games that are listed..?
I do love the topic of "feel good games", as far as games that have an inspiring narrative go, since those are a high priority for me (and are damn hard to be found), but so far I haven't really gotten the impression that that's what this thread is leaning towards..? Even if it is, I'm not sure I have any games really worth recommending in that regard.
Oh, but more generally.. Beyond Good & Evil was an interesting blend of light-hearted and serious, and I found that game to be.. refreshing? Maybe that's a good option for what you're looking for. :)
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Just to be clear, the games in the list are not games that I'm sure will be "feel good", just games I'm going to consider based on people's suggestions and what they've said about the game in the thread, my own impressions of the art and the reviews. It may turn out that none of these games are actually what I'm thinking of, since I haven't played any of them at all. (Except for Little Inferno.) It's a "suggest new stuff' thread, not a "confirm my opinion" thread. I've split the list now.
I have played Beyond Good & Evil, though, and that would be a pretty good match for what I'm thinking of, provided it ends well. I've not actually completed it.
Basically, think "you've really won, everybody lives, the world is better, go to sleep satisfied tonight", or just "you'll leave smiling because everything in this world is intrinsically good and wonderful and you just can't stay mad at us". Any game can give you that feeling when you like playing it, but I'm looking for games that go the extra mile (without being too complacent about it).
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It's been a long time since I played it, since I played it close to its release, but I recall it was really cliffhangery? Like, things wrapped up and then they threw out a massive sequel hook? Again, it's been ages (wasn't it released in 93?), so I may be misrecalling a bit. I do know that I was itching hard for the sequel because of that lingering feeling of incompletion, but now that we've finally got the sequel coming, I've gotten the impression that it's.. going to be kinda different than expected. I mean, it looks fun, but not really a proper continuation of the first game, perhaps.
In any case, all the games with inspirational or positivity-driven content that come to mind are visual novels. Though, I have heard that The Last Of Us games are in that vein [ie, bringing positivity out of dark situations] (and they're very highly wishlisted on my part because of that) but I don't own any Sony console more recent than a PS2, so I don't have much insight into recent Playstation games. Detroit: Become Human might be an option if you're going the PS4 route, as well, given that it seems to be all about changing negative outcomes into more positive ones. Both those games seem to be on the darker side, though..
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I hear you on The Last of Us. It's one of the games I'd most like to play yet probably never will (unless they get emulators good enough to do it, but that's a long, long way off).
Detroit: Become Human on the other hand... well I'll just say "no" and leave it at that, because there's no point posting a diatribe about why I'm not going to play this game I've never played.
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here's no point posting a diatribe about why I'm not going to play this game I've never played.
No worries- I'm the rambly one, you can totally get by with a brief summary, if you're so inclined. :P
I'm pretty diehard on any narrative-heavy and plot-deep game, given that that's by far my main interest* in gaming (or film and books), so I'm pretty heavily into even the more deeply flawed efforts made in such a direction.
*Of course, from a technical standpoint, I'm totally a strategy, tactics, RPG, dice, card, and board game focused gamer. Those games are more for mindless relaxing, though, than for really drawing my full focus. Unfortunately, mechanics in RPGs and [non-kinetic] visual novels typically detract from narrative, rather than enhance or compliment it. (And, in the case of RPGs, narrative tends to be underemphasized in general.)
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I'm pretty diehard on any narrative-heavy and plot-deep game, given that that's my main interest* in gaming (or film and books), so I'm pretty heavily into even the more deeply flawed efforts made in such a direction.
We are soulmates and should optionally consider a short but stormy romantic relationship. (Don't worry, I'll shelve that option and just keep it around as a fond memory of something that never even was. It's better for everyone that way.)
No but seriously, I really like games that go heavy on the story too, even if the gameplay suffers for it, and even more so if the game achieves something new in doing so. I don't like most walking simulators that all but completely forego the gameplay just to tell a story, though -- I find that no more immersive than just reading a story. I disliked Going Home for that reason, and I'd put To the Moon at the low end of what's barely required in gameplay terms for me, and I loved Brothers for that one bit where it tells a part of the story through its controls at one point, which I'd never seen before.
Give me a game with a lot of meaty story and at least the competent illusion of choice (or better yet, actual choice) and you've pretty much sold me already. That's also a big draw for me in most western RPGs, combined with the tactics of combat. (And why JRPGs do far less for me, because they tend to be completely linear, with story disconnected from gameplay, and combat that's more grindy to boot.)
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you'll leave smiling because everything in this world is intrinsically good and wonderful and you just can't stay mad at us
I could definitely recommend you some anime with that vibe. :P
Not sure about games with that vibe. I feel like Nintendo'd be the place to look for that.
"you've really won, everybody lives, the world is better, go to sleep satisfied tonight"
So, the conclusion of most JRPGs, then. :P
I dunno. Story satisfaction isn't too rare, and I could recommend everything from several point and clicks to Tomb Raider as far as a sort of "overcoming and having a happy ending" conclusion, but coming up with something that's truly "feel good" is a lot harder to pick out.
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I could definitely recommend you some anime with that vibe. :P
I've not watched much anime (just some of the most highly rated stuff), so it may not be a bad idea for me to look around for some. No need to start the recommendations here, that's probably worth a thread on its own. :-)
So, the conclusion of most JRPGs, then. :P
That might be the case, except I find most JRPGs become completely baffling if not downright absurd in story complications before the game's halfway over, to the point where I'm not really motivated to see it through to the end -- and that's hoping the end's not just a deus ex machina where the power of friendship finishes off the supreme unbeatable evil. Combine that with a lot of grinding that JRPGs seem to love like no other genre and that's how you end up with a short list of zero JRPGs I've enjoyed so far. I'm sure that's not entirely fair to JRPGs, since there's probably a lot of cultural difference involved too, but hey.
but coming up with something that's truly "feel good" is a lot harder to pick out.
I know, I couldn't immediately think of games myself when I had the idea, and that's why I started the thread. I've seen worse threads start with worse motivations, so yeah :-)
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RPG narratives tend to be.. troubled, in general, yeah. It's why I've yet to find an RPG that I'd truly recommend in that regard (even though I've fond memories of the narratives of several). And, well.. can't really argue with the fact that JRPGs are flawed, but they do still far more typically trend toward having more involved narratives than western RPGs.
That said, the most prominent JRPG franchises (Eg, Final Fantasy) tend to be the most adherent toward tropes like weak narrative, grind-emphasis, etc, so I think it can be hard for someone who isn't involved heavily in the genre to really pick out the more unusual offerings.
I'm not troubled by things like grind, and am forgiving on games having some story weakness, so games like Final Fantasy X (with its excellent polish, music, atmosphere, and cinematics [for the time]) are still a lot of fun for me. I totally feel your pain when it comes to deus ex machina (or otherwise lazily wrapped up) story elements, though- the one at the end of Final Fantasy XIII was so awfully handled that it managed to sour the entire game experience for me. >.<
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but they do still far more typically trend toward having more involved narratives than western RPGs.
I wish there was more than one Planescape: Torment, and that Numenera had taken more risks instead of copying its predecessor's structure without achieving its greatness. (Although combat was miles better, and I still hope the dev team continues the efforts.)
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why you dont want a friend T_T he could help u make u smile what ever pay you food hahhaha :D i dont know any game to suggest like that one idk in game full of emotions only what i had was the walking dead and idk if even search that kind and u probably played it clementine ohh sweet sugar! <3
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chicken soup for the soul
steam should add this as a tag for "uplifting" "feel-good" games. also, very nice thread. i would say "useful".
you could try Lumini. just started to play it, tho.
found colors, lights and sounds to be something... warming, deep inside, just like that soup.
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Unfortunately I only half agree with you. It's too abstract for me to tickle my feel good bone in any way.
Steam is absolutely littered with puzzle games, and while they can be satisfying to chill with for a few hours, I can't recall any that were positive in and of themselves (though World of Goo comes close). Refunct is no exception to that, except for the "few hours" part...
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...you're not wrong, entirely, I mean I played the demo and it's definitely cathartic. Rip and tear!
Also no. Just no. I'm not judging, but no.
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I don't think I can name specific games to feel good. And above all, I think it's too subjective.
But I suggest two things :
-Try to play an old game you enjoyed a very long time ago: in my case, replay 'Baldur's Gate EE' bring me few old memories (both from IRL and the game itself) and a lot of positives feelings (there are funny quote I remembered and I really like the voices of the characters in my country). Rediscover a really old game that you had half forgotten can be really satisfying.
-Or choose a game with a great OST: 'Ori and the Blind Forest', the game itself is not happy but the OST is so beautiful and give me a lot of good feels.
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I like your first suggestion. The problem with it is that I have a pretty good memory, meaning that if I really liked the game, I won't have forgotten it at all, especially not the story, so it's hard to have a satisfying trip down nostalgia lane. Baldur's Gate happens to be a good example: I can not only give you the entire story of the Baldur's Gate series (well, except the lesser picked companions in BG1, admittedly), I can still regurgitate strategy, spell selection and builds that work really well, even though it's been more than 15 years since I played it. (Kensai/Mage is the most stupidly overpowered thing, but also quite satisfying if you like that kind of powergaming.)
It does work better for games with little to no story. I recently tried Descent again and was surprised at how well it still held up after all this time.
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Space Channel 5 (beating things in a dance off always makes me feel better)
Regency Solitaire (relaxing with uplifting story)
Cat Goes Fishing (cute and relaxing)
ABZÛ (pretty and relaxing)
Unholy Heights (cute and funny)
Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble! (taunt, flirt and fib your way to victory)
Stardew Valley (farm, fish and make friends)
Skyrim (pick flowers, adopt cute orphans and get married)
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This is purely personal, but I find these classic games immensely uplifting:
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All of those links should be going to GOG, though, it's the best way to enjoy them. :-)
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You're probably right, at least in terms of getting an even more uplifting DRM-free experience! :)
However, GOG seems to offer the same remastered/"specially edited" versions as Steam (although in case of Indiana Jones it's totally possible that GOG's version is better).
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I mostly said it because of the DRM. For these particular games, you're right that the Steam and GOG experiences should be on par, especially for remastered versions. (In general, if the game is truly old, the chance of the GOG version just running well out of the box is a lot greater than the Steam version doing the same.)
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I could suggest the Hero of the Kingdom trilogy, if you don't mind them being fairly casual (though of course that does add to the relaxness of going through them);
https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/779/Hero_of_the_Kingdom_Collection/
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I have some major issues looking at it:
In short, I think this is another category of casual games that really tick the box for some people and is really something I can enjoy about as much as a crossword puzzle. (I don't enjoy crossword puzzles.)
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If you are looking for single player fantastic experience then try these games:
1.Okami
2.Shenmue 1& 2
3.Metal Gear Solid 5
4.Uncharted Series (Sony)
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Late on this, but Faerie Solitaire is horrible. I once spent hours on it that I should have spent on something else. The end results weren't pretty...
I mean "horrible" in a good way. Still, I'm never getting that time back, and I'm not touching it (and any other Solitaire game) with a ten foot pole. I think I'll check out cocaine first, I think it's less addictive...
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Games that made me feel good at the end:
Okami
Nier:Automata
LiEat
Epistory
Forget me not: My organic garden is not everyone cup of tea but the ending made me feel nice.
Not really a "made me feel good" game but a "made me feel really philosophical" game that everyone should 100% play is INSIDE.
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Music is always great for a uplifting because of that i would recommend games with good music at the shop trailer and/or in the game itself....
Now it depens on your music taste or better how far away it is from my own...^^
You can buy the Outdrive music direct over the game but i found a bit more with digging very deep:
https://soundcloud.com/logic-puzzle
https://d-noise.bandcamp.com/releases
https://3force.bandcamp.com/releases
https://nammusic2.bandcamp.com/releases
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Argh! Tiny Echo is yet another game I already have but forgot to actually check out. Thanks for the reminder.
I'll put Figment on the list since it has a demo, which is always a nice plus.
I had no idea about Flipping Death, or its predecessor, Stick it to The Man. Not sure it fits the "feel good" theme, but I did add them to my general list to check out. Looks like the sort of thing any Psychonauts player would like.
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Uplay can go take a hike as far as I'm concerned, but I agree with you on Origins.
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I thoroughly enjoyed my playthrough of Milkmaid of the Milkyway.
It doesn't exactly deal with uplifting themes (although it's got its great sense of humour), but it's a peace of soul work, filled to the brim with charme and magic.
Edit:
Deep in a fjord, a girl and her bovine,
Western Norway, nineteen-twenty-nine.This is a story from Calf Ledge,
a small farm perched on a mountain edge.
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Dominique Pamplemousse.
No idea if it's your thing, it's quite niche. But the conclusion line of my review may fit what you are looking for.
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I've been going through a rough patch lately. Now now, don't get up, I know you're just overflowing with emotion right now, but go hug the nearest puppy to work that out or something. I'm good right now, I'm good.
However, it got me thinking about games that could offer some chicken soup for the soul, so to speak. There's plenty of books and movies that can lift your spirits when you're in a receptive mood, but what about games? I'm specifically looking for games that, when you play them, or possibly even just when you complete them, make you feel like everything's going to be alright after all, that you did a good thing. No, I don't mean the deep satisfaction you get from making four lines in Tetris, or refraining from brutally murdering someone in GTA even though you could have, I mean something a little more substantial.
Any ideas? Any games that do that for you, even if it's unconventional? I'm not saying I'll play any of it, but I do love making little lists regardless.
EDIT: to make it a little more specific, I'm looking for single player experiences. I know there are some great party/co-op/multiplayer games, but I don't have, or want, friends to play with.
EDIT: to make it even more specific, I noticed a few people have posted generic "I really like these games" lists. That's not quite what I was going for; I know there are lots of brilliant games and I've played quite a few, but far fewer games (even the great ones) actively create positive feels as part of the game itself, not just because it's fun to play or challenging.
EDIT: because it's my thread (MINE!) and because you might be interested, here's what I've got so far as games to possibly check out based on your suggestions. If it's not on here, it doesn't mean I thought your suggestion was bad, just that for whatever reason it didn't fit the theme, or maybe just that I haven't gotten around to it yet. You've produced a lot of titles, which is great.
Confirms (AKA I already played these games before and I agree):
Nopes (AKA honorable mentions, AKA I already know these aren't my thing, even if they might be for others):
The links go to the store, they are not giveaways. Just to clear up any understandable confusion. Don't think I'm not tempted to give them away.... Again, in some cases.
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