ANNA GAGLIANO
Copy Editor
Finals week is a stressful time for just about everyone.
Either your week is jam-packed full of exams or projects to complete, or you finished everything the week before and now you find yourself tasked with packing up all your belongings into a tiny car that never quite fits it all.
This time around, participate in some self-care by scheduling some free time and sitting down with a new video game.
Video games help relieve stress by disrupting one’s perseverative cognition, which is essentially just patterns of overthinking and worrying. When you’re focused on a game, your attention is being pulled from all the stressors in your life, and you are the one in complete control.
Here are some video games that are fun and calming to play when you’re feeling burnt out by finals week. I’ve played all these games before and they never fail to help me unwind. Don’t forget to give your eyes a break from the screen every 30 minutes!
1. “Pokémon Café Mix”
In this cute and colorful game, you’re the owner of a new café that caters exclusively to Pokémon. Different drinks and dishes can be prepared by playing a game where different Pokémon icons are linked together to clear the screen and reach objectives. As you play, you can unlock more menu items, add decorations to attract more Pokémon and level up your friendship with customers so they can be hired to help out. This game is perfect for taking a quick study break to enjoy some cute characters, adorably designed dishes and a simple yet fun puzzle game. Available for free on the App Store, Google Play and Nintendo Switch.
2. “Abzû”
“Abzû” is the absolute definition of a relaxing game, in my opinion. Swim through an open ocean while discovering secrets about the underwater world around you. The sea life and scenery are so gorgeous and vibrant, though, that you could always forgo the game plot and just swim around and explore. See glittering rainbow fish, hitch a ride on a sea turtle and immerse your senses in an underwater coral garden — all at your own pace. Available for $19.99 on Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and Steam.
3. “Fobia”
This is another puzzle-platformer game where you play as a young girl wandering a forest where anything could happen. It gives your brain a mini workout too, as you have to determine the right time to jump or make a move when it comes to certain obstacles. Within the first minute of the game you’re dodging falling logs, running away from swarming crows and jumping over deep ditches. The simple art and color scheme of the game make these efforts more relaxing than scary, though, and the background noise of a calm forest and crunching footsteps puts the player at ease. Available for $5.99 on Steam and $9.99 on Nintendo Switch.
4. “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate”
While this Switch-exclusive game isn’t as aesthetic or “peaceful” as the others in this list, it always lifts my spirits after a long day of schoolwork. Sometimes, to beat stress, you just have to battle it out! In this game, you can play as any number of characters from Nintendo games and other franchises like Sega. Each character has their own special move set, so you can pick your favorite and become an expert. The great thing about this game is that it has both a battle and adventure mode. In battle mode you can go head-to-head with a CPU or invite some friends over for a study break and battle against them. In adventure mode, you play by yourself in individual battles, trying to unlock more playable characters that have been separated from their spirits by the evil Galeem. Physical copy available for $49.99 and $59.99 to download.
5. “Animal Crossing: New Horizons”
You knew this one was coming, right? One of the most popular video games of 2020, ACNH is a true getaway from reality. In this Switch-exclusive life-simulation game, you get to build a town from the ground up, with plenty of cute animals to help you out along the way. You can create your own personal paradise island, find and become friends with adorable villagers, go fishing, plant a garden, dig for fossils and so much more. You can also connect to Nintendo Online and visit your friends’ islands for a virtual party, no masks needed! Physical copy available for $49.99 and $59.99 to download.
Good luck on finals, and happy gaming!