Share This Article
These days I’ve been finding myself in a weird place. There’s a bunch of great games on my backlog, from Monster Hunter Stories 3 to Wild Hearts, and I’m even contemplating finally starting Pragmata.
But I’m just not in the mood for any of these. However, thanks to a certain game I’ve been holding off on for far too long, I know exactly what I’m looking for right now on my Switch.
Relaxing games!
Before sleep or during a break at work, I just want to start up a game where I can shut down part of my brain with mundane tasks and admire the beautiful scenery, all while listening to a soothing soundtrack.
With this in mind, I dug up not just all the games that fit the bill in my backlog but also brand-new games I would eagerly purchase straight from the eShop.
So, with this said, here are 12 relaxing Nintendo Switch games, starting with the one that inspired this entire post.
1. Endless Ocean: Luminous
Endless Ocean: Luminous is a controversial title with mixed reviews, and that’s precisely why I decided to purchase it a while ago, since I now have a YouTube series where I go over what went wrong with certain titles.
While I agree with the criticism it got, I also find it to be a perfect game to relax. You dive in a randomly generated ocean, scan the fish around you while learning more about them, and continue to do it until there’s nothing left to explore on the map.
Usually before I knew it, I would be dozing off and ready to fall asleep. So, in that regard, it is truly doing its job.
2. A Short Hike
Just as the name suggests, A Short Hike is a short hike. But a perfect one! There’s an entire mountain to explore, and you have all the time in the world to step into every nook and cranny of it while helping fellow hikers.
And, while doing so, you’ll unlock additional abilities that’ll make available areas that weren’t reachable before. The hike might be short, but I’ll remember it for years.
3. Abzû
Being able to dive deep into a beautiful ocean and uncover its mysteries while listening to a fantastic soundtrack results in one of the coziest and most relaxing games I’ve ever played—even more than Endless Ocean.
I’ve played this game numerous times on different types of consoles, but playing it on Switch is still my favorite choice. It’s one of those games that I like to have installed all the time, just in case I need a game to relax.
4. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Although my time with Animal Crossing: New Horizons has passed, I can’t leave it out of the list due to how important it was to me during Covid.
Everyone was stuck at home, and Animal Crossing made it possible to connect with friends and strangers in a meaningful and memorable way.
Doing my daily chores while building my small paradise always put me in a state of pure relaxation and made me forget how bad things actually were in the world.
I still believe Animal Crossing still has this power, and if you haven’t played it yet, what are you waiting for?
5. Cozy Grove
Cozy Grove is a weird one for me. I love the aesthetic and the premise of helping ghosts that inhabit the island, but the gameplay got me wanting a bit more.
It’s definitely one of those games where you can jump in for a quick, relaxing gameplay session, but for the most part you will be running around the island and gathering items to complete the ghost’s requests.
In small bursts it’s fine, and it is encouraged by the game’s mechanics, but I played it like a madman for a couple of days and eventually burned out. I came back to it recently for this list and was pleased to see it was updated with a Switch 2 Edition for free.
Which means I started a new save file so I can enjoy it at a slower pace this time around. And so far, it’s been great!
6. Pokémon Café ReMix
Pokémon Café ReMix is a fun and cozy puzzle game that you can pick up and play without much commitment.
In this game you run a café where you prepare meals by solving puzzles, and of course, your Pokémon helpers are there for you.
Just like any other free-to-play game, your progression will start to slow down, and you’ll feel obligated to reach far into your pockets.
I’ll be damned before I fully recommend a predatory free-to-play game, but if you’re in the mood for a colorful Pokémon puzzle game, then this might be for you. Just don’t spend any money on it, please.
7. Sky: Children of the Light
From the same creators of Abzû, I present to you Sky: Children of the Light. Where instead of exploring the depths of the ocean, you’ll be soaring through the vast skies, and the view from up there is gorgeous. It’s not a difficult game by any means, and you can enjoy the story at your pace or at the pace of a friend or two.
This is a perfect game to play with your significant other if you own a separate system. You can soar through the skies together, glide through grassy hills, and help each other complete puzzles, all while holding on to each other.
If this doesn’t sound relaxing and wholesome, I don’t know what does.
8. Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a super deep game, and as such it can be played in multiple ways.
I first approached it as a hardcore gamer, where I had to clean up and build my farm as quickly as possible to generate the most amount of revenue possible.
So, after 20 hours, I was probably the richest mayonnaise producer in town. In turn, it allowed me to equip myself with better gear, explore deep into the mines, and start building my relationship with others.
This method of playing isn’t very relaxing, so at one point I decided to slow things down, much like I did with Cozy Grove. There are a bunch of things that I want to achieve in this game, but I’ve stopped treating them like a checklist.
There are no strict deadlines in the game, so playing at my pace is definitely the way to go if I want a relaxing gaming session from Stardew Valley.
9. Tomodachi Life
Tomodachi Life isn’t just relaxing—it’s fun, and I’ve wanted to play it fully ever since I finished the demo. But unfortunately, I’m at a stage where I need to pick wisely what I play.
This quirky simulation game would probably destroy my entire schedule.
Tomodachi Life is the type of game that will have you grinning, laughing, and thinking “WTF” every few minutes. Everything is so unpredictable, and you never know what weird thing will be thrown at your screen. And this can be not just addictive but also relaxing.
You are the overseer of your island, and you can check what each individual Mii is up to, and just seeing them go about in their life is enough to leave me smiling like an idiot.
10. Pokopia
Pokopia is Nintendo’s favorite child of 2026, and I still haven’t played it. But it still deserves a spot on this list for the same reason as Animal Crossing and Tomodachi Life do.
It’s a game where you can express yourself by building and creating to your heart’s content and at your pace—which by now I’ve realized is the most important part of a relaxed and stress-free gameplay session.
It is a very long game that requires dedication, but even in small bursts you’ll see your perfect Pokémon Route come to life with your ideas and the Pokémon that inhabit its world.
11. Unpacking
For someone who has moved houses 2 times in the past 4 years, I would never expect a game about unpacking boxes to be so relaxing. And it’s probably because it skips the moving part altogether.
Unpacking is a calming puzzle game where you unpack boxes and organize items in different rooms. Slowly you’ll start seeing the story unfold without even realizing it, turning this simple game into a much more profound experience.
It’s definitely a game I’d recommend if you’re into small, relaxing puzzle games. And it might even give you the boost you need to unpack some boxes you might still have scattered around. I know I do.
12. The Day I Became a Bird
Next we have The Day I Became a Bird, a game I’m afraid will fly over people’s heads — pun intended.
It came out not long ago, was reviewed great, and it’s perfect for a relaxed gaming session after a stressful workday.
It’s a short game where you play an illustrated story following Frank around while completing puzzles as he discovers more about himself and what it means to be in love at this age.
Not only that, but it’s a great coming-of-age game that also just happens to be a super relaxing experience.
Were These the Most Relaxing Nintendo Switch Games?
I know there are many more relaxing games on Switch and that I am missing a ton of them. But these are the ones I know I can recommend 100% based on my experience and gathered information.
I also want to add Spiritfarer in the future, but I’m trying to find out if I feel relaxed or depressed while playing it.
So, for now, these are the most relaxing Nintendo Switch games for me!
As usual, if you see a game deserving of a spot here, please let me know through Substack, Threads, email, or any of my available social media.
Thanks for reading!
