Not going to lie, I have not been coping all that well with *gestures to the dumpster fire that is the United States right now*, and to cope in a way that wasn’t doom scrolling for hours on end, I have been playing video games. I know a lot of my readers also play games, so I thought I would recommend a few I have enjoyed recently. By the way, all of these games are at least on PC since that is where I play games.

• Love, Ghostie– This is a game where you play a match-making ghost who runs a boarding house. In this game, you partner up people in the boarding house by giving them gifts from the other person and setting them up on dates. The game is super cute, low stress, and every pairing is possible. There are lots of little Easter eggs and nods to other media that I really enjoyed.
• Spilled!– THIS GAME IS VERY SHORT, but it’s also cheap. It’s a basic game where you pilot a boat and clean an oil spill. The game is one of those you can easily play when you’re anxious and just want to give your brain something to focus on that doesn’t require a lot of higher thinking. You also rescue animals and clean up a pretty pixel landscape.
• Minami Lane– This game is also semi short, but it also has a no rules, play as long as you want mode. In Minami Lane, you build up a town and try to make the residents happy. It’s interesting because you have to balance the needs of older and younger people, which most games don’t care about. It’s like a much lower stress Rollercoaster Tycoon or games like it.
• Botany Manor– It’s a first-person exploration puzzle game where you play a botanist who goes through pieces of her house to grow about a dozen fantastical plants. While you solve these puzzles, you learn more about the main character’s life and show where she’s going in the future. The scenery is gorgeous. If you are directionally challenged like me, you will spend a lot of time in the landscape, and it is worth the time loitering. If you like a subtle narrative with plenty of serene puzzles, definitely check this one out.
• Lost But Found– This game is still in development but is playable, so it will be a little buggy. It’s more stressful than any of the games mentioned above while still being far lower stress than most games. You work at the lost and found at an airport, so you have to quickly give things back to the people who show up. It’s a lot of sorting while also being like a search and find game. If you only play on a laptop, it is difficult without a mouse as it sometimes lags.
• Urban Jungle– Another plant-focused game that is similar to Unpacking but with a score/puzzle element involving plants. You can end up grinding a bit if you are trying to collect all of the plants (like I did), but the story is very sweet and well done. It makes me hope they make a second game involving the character’s brother. It’s about becoming the person you are and nurturing yourself (and your plants) in order to grow.
• Coral Island– This is the longest game on the list as it is open-ended. Coral Island is a farming sim like Stardew Valley, but what sets it apart is the styling of the game and the emphasis on pollution/cleaning up the ocean. You can romance SO MANY characters, but there are also mines, a town score you need to raise in order to unlock many things, and an ocean world to explore and clean up while fighting off a mega corp. I am many, many hours deep into this game, and I cannot recommend it enough for staying sane during trying times.
• Spirit City– This is less of a game and more of a working/learning tool, but Spirit City is worth the money. It is a game that helps you body double, do pomodoro timers, keep track of your goals and more, all while creating a cute avatar, playing with your creatures, and customizing your space. The customization in this game is chef kiss, and it helps a lot if you are struggling to stay focused. It also comes equipped with lofi beats and many helpful tools.

If there are any games you think I would like, please leave them in the comments!