In the world of video games, even the most mundane chores can be a source of entertainment. In the real world, farming and construction are exhausting, but in a video game, these tasks can be downright relaxing. The best slice-of-life games aren’t about world-shattering events and impossible feats. They’re about taking boring tasks and turning them into something addictive.

If you’re worn down by your real-world responsibilities, and you’d like to trade them in for some video-game chores, these cute slice of life games will help you unwind.

Staxel

If you’re burnt out on Minecraft, and you’ve played your fill of Stardew Valley, it might be time for you to move on to Staxel. In this voxel-based game, you’re asked to tend a farm that’s just outside a budding village. As you play, you can reshape the world, customizing everything from the farm to the village to the land around you. Since Staxel also offers online co-op, you can even invite your friends to move into your neighborhood.

Staxel is available on PC, Mac, and Nintendo Switch.

The Good Life

If you’ve ever daydreamed about relaxing in Twin Peaks or the village from Hot Fuzz, The Good Life might be the game for you. Described as a “Debt repayment RPG,” this charming little game balances magic and mystery with the mundane and relaxing. You’ll spend most of your time exploring the surprisingly large town, snapping photos of whatever catches your eyes, and hanging at the local pub. You can even grow veggies in your garden, work on your cooking, or ride across the plains on the back of a sheep. In The Good Life, life is whatever you want it to be.

The Good Life is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

The Atelier Series

atelier ryza 1 pc

For me, no games have ever captured the comfy charm of slice-of-life stories better than the Atelier series. While the series has featured many characters and settings, the core premise is always the same: You’re an alchemist living a cozy life in a cute town. Sure, you might have to slay a dragon or fight a king, but you’ll spend most of your time gathering materials, crafting items, and hanging out with your friends.

I’m a big fan of the Arland and Dusk trilogies, but you really can’t go wrong with any Atelier game. Since there are so many titles in the franchise, there are games available for nearly every system. There’s even a free-to-play title, Atelier Online, for Android and iOS.

Kitaria Fables

When I first saw Kitaria Fables, I was instantly reminded of one of my all-time favorite slice-of-life games: Fantasy Life on the 3DS. Now that I’ve played it, I’d say it’s closer to Rune Factory. In this ultra-cute action RPG, you’ll become the protector of Paw Village, a town that’s filled with friendly animal citizens. You’ll spend plenty of time exploring and fighting off monsters, but you’ll also be able to relax at home, grow some crops, and help out the townsfolk. If you don’t want to venture into the wilds alone, Kitaria Fables also offers couch co-op.

Kitaria Fables is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal crossing marshal sweater

It’s hard to imagine what 2020 would have been like without Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Being able to enjoy and develop an island was essential during quarantine. While the game has lost some of its luster since then, exciting new updates like cooking, a coffee shop, and the Happy Home Paradise expansion might be enough to bring the old magic back. Sure, it’s just a game, but for a lot of Half-Glass Gaming staffers, our islands feel like home.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available on Nintendo Switch.

Kynseed

Kynseed is still in Early Access, but it already feels like something truly special. While most of the titles on this list capture a slice of life, Kynseed lets you play through one life after another. In this sandbox life sim, everyone grows old and everyone dies. Thankfully, the game doesn’t end there. Instead, you play through one generation after the next, passing your farm, business, and even your skills down to your children. In one lifetime, you might open a tavern. In the next, you could focus on adventuring. Even though the game isn’t finished, there’s enough content here to keep you busy for generations.

Currently, Kynseed is only available on PC, but the devs plan to bring it to Switch when the game leaves Early Access.

Haven Park

Games don’t get much more comforting than Haven Park. In this heartfelt title, you play as Flint, a young bird taking over his grandma’s campsite. As the park’s caretaker, you’ll get to know the campers, take on quests, and repair areas that have worn down over the years. Haven Park won’t keep you busy for long — you can finish it in around five hours — but you’ll treasure the time that you spend here.

Haven Park is available on PC, Mac, and Nintendo Switch.

Travellers Rest

There are plenty of games that will let you live out your farming fantasies, but in Travellers Rest, you can explore a different dream: life as an innkeeper. Of course, this management sim isn’t for anyone averse to agriculture. You’ll need to grow crops, brew beers, and build relationships with your customers if you want your tavern to be a success. Travellers Rest is still in Early Access, but if you check it out now, you’ll find that there are enough craftables and customization options to keep you busy for quite a while.

Travellers Rest is available on PC and Mac.

Night in the Woods

Night in the Woods Switch gameplay

A lot of slice of life games are fairly open-ended, but if you’re looking for something more linear and story-driven, you can’t go wrong with Night in the Woods. The characters in this adventure game might look cartoony, but they’re surprisingly relatable, and the world is incredibly immersive. Although some fairly heavy themes crop up, this is still a relaxing title that will stick with you long after the credits roll.

Night in the Woods is available on PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, and Nintendo Switch.

Littlewood

Littlewood begins at the end of a grand adventure. A great evil has been defeated. The world has been saved. What comes next? As the amnesiac hero that saved the world, it’s up to you to explore, rebuild, and make sure that your town is a wonderful place to be. There are no deadlines to worry about, and there’s no doom lurking on the horizon. You’re free to manage the town at your own pace.

Littlewood is available on PC, Mac, and Nintendo Switch.

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