The 8 Most Relaxing Games to Start 2020 With

With 2019 behind us, gamers will be looking at all the titles they want to start playing. The sheer amount of releases over the last 12 months means that many will have a big backlog to tackle. The beginning of a new year marks a great time to start making some progress on the games you’ve neglected.

Yet, no one wants to start off 2020 with frustratingly difficult or long-winded games. Kickstarting the next 12 months with a collection of relaxing games is the best idea. They will help to make the beginning of the new year a more chilled out experience. Of course, they will also act as something of a palate cleanser before the big AAA releases that are arriving in 2020.

Here are the most relaxing games to start 2020 with.

A Short Hike

The premise of A Short Hike is simple. You are a small bird called Claire who wants to use her smartphone. Unfortunately, your Aunt has taken you camping to a park and the only signal can be found at the top of a mountain. So begins a quest to reach the peak so you can receive a phone call.

A Short Hike is completely open, allowing you to take multiple paths up the mountain. It also does not require you to do anything you don’t want to. Instead, the game allows you to explore at your own pace, taking in the charming world and beautiful visuals at your pleasure. Talking to the cute characters and unearthing hidden treasures is a true delight.

My Time at Portia

My Time at Portia is a kind of cross between Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon. Players have to take over the family business, which involves gathering materials and making products. At night, you can venture into dungeons to battle monsters and get access to rarer loot. While there are lots of quests and enemies to fight, spending time in the game never feels frustrating. The bright and colorful world is inviting, making you want to visit everywhere and talk to everyone. Thankfully, much of the action doesn’t tax you too much while still being interesting enough to not become boring.