Dear community,
I’m looking for a similar (calm) game like Portal 1/2 or Firewatch that I can play on macOS with a similar vibe. The last time I played a game is years ago, and I wish I had at least once a week a nice single-player game that I can play 1-2 hours. =)
I enjoyed Portal because I had to plan out what I’m doing before I act (without being pressured to act), the atmosphere of the game was legendary and I liked that little robot following me. Firewatch had a calm amazing story, there was no ‘action’ but sometimes that feeling that something could happen. It was a nice exploring game.
Any ideas?
Update: Thank you for your input!
Surprised no one’s suggested Stardew Valley yet.
This was my recommendation. It’s as stressful as you want it to be.
FARM HARDER!
It can either be chill or (in the caves) a stressful race against the clock to get down levels and fight (in the beginning) :D
Games similar to portal:
- The Talos Principle 1 & 2
- Antichamber
- Superliminal
- Viewfinder
- Manifold Garden
Similar to Firewatch:
- Umurangi Generation
- Return of the Obra Dinn
Other stuff that might interest you that I haven’t seen already recommended:
- Journey
- Abzu
- Exo One
- Wytchwood
- Cairn (tentatively. This game can get stressful)
- Dinkum
- Untitled Goose Game
- A Lego game (Any of them. They all follow the same formula)
- Flower
No idea if any of those work on Mac though. If you have an intel based mac you can use bootcamp to dual boot windows, and unlock maaaaany games.
Another game thats similar to firewatch imo is “What remains of Edith Finch”
Animal Crossing is another good adition to the list.
Absolutely not playable on Mac, though. But other than that, a 10/10 recommendation.
Manifold Garden was great.
No Mans Sky is my chill game.
Sometimes I just build an outpost near animals, sit in my chair, and watch the world turn
A Short Hike
The Outer Wilds
Tunic
Exploration focused games that are pretty calm (for the most part). They are some of my personal favorites. I recommend not looking up much about them (especially Outer Wilds and Tunic. Learning mechanics from gameplay is part of the game for those two). Tunic is probably the most action oriented of the lot, (like old Zelda games) and it leans hard on the puzzle aspect, so if that’s not your favorite then it might not be for you.
The outer wild is NOT chill though.
Different strokes. I found it incredibly relaxing to fly around in my spaceship exploring. I can think of one specific planet that’s not very chill, but the rest were.
Without spoiling too much, maybe the time pressure gets to you? For me it’s long enough that I don’t really feel it for most of the game.
Did you perhaps mistake it for the other wotlds? That is a game which is definitely not chill. For wilds, I can’t say.
Tunic is fantastic, but not that chill. Its kinda “souls-lite” So much dying, though punishment is minimal.
Night in the Woods is mostly chill with some spikes of excitement. It is a good match for A Short Hike along multiple axes but I’d recommend caution as it dips into melancholy and mental health issues.
yeah, in retrospect, Tunic probably shouldn’t be on this list. I was fondly remembering the puzzles and exploration and less so the souls-like combat challenges.
Tunic is, however, fantastic, and should be played.
It does have a somber feel to it and I at least found that the combat mostly got out of the way at a certain point. Not trivial but getting there.
You are looking for cozy games or walling simulators.
Honestly I don’t know what’s on macos, but a quick search: stardew valley, my time on portia (i recommend sandrock if it’s available), slime rancher. For exploration: The Stanley Parable, Life is Strange.The Stanley Parable, Life is Strange.
This is what I’m looking for! :) Thank you
Life is strange was a fun series for me and my SO. We’re glass we played the oldest ones first, too.
Do you like civilization or other “builder/planner” style games, like Cities Skylines, or Surviving Mars. Raji was kind of fun and laid back, too.
- Blue Prince
- Chants of Senarr
- Outer Wilds
- Secrets of Blake Manor
Yes to all except Outer Wilds.
I love OW but it is not a game to recommend to someone who explicitly says they want a game with no time pressure. Time pressure is literally a core mechanic.
I was about to recommend specifically OW because I played in 1-2 hour sessions per week over many months (not every week). I left the game open with the PC sleeping quite a few times to avoid losing my current run (and each time a blackout happened lol) however I did my fair share of silly stuff and didn’t feel pressured.
You are correct good thinking
The span of time pressure is so long though you barely even notice it. And because it’s a core mechanic, it’s mostly inconsequential and doesn’t really feel stressful for me.
Suuuuper confused no one mentioned The Witness yet. Probably the best calm game of our time.
I just came here to suggest this. It’s a great game.
Yeah but it’s puzzles are hardcore. I really struggled with this.
For an even more chill time, there’s The Looker
It’s 100℅ a notebook game, preferably with graph paper. But it’s absolutely not a casual game — you really have to study the puzzles
Me too. I enjoyed it but reached a point where I just couldn’t figure out how to proceed. Must go have and have another go sometime.
I guess it takes a certain type of thinking muscle not everyone enjoys stretching.
I wanted to like that, but I remember it being janky as fuck.
That’s surprising. Maybe we have different interpretations of the word, because I couldn’t find a single thing out of place with that game.
You’ll definitely get stuck at parts, but the feeling of trying a solution and thinking there’s no way it’s this… and then it is that! You go from feeling dumb to smart so fast.
The Witness is polarising. People either think it’s incredible, or they think it’s dogshit. There is no in between.
(I am in the latter camp, sorry)
I enjoyed Portal because I had to plan out what I’m doing before I act (without being pressured to act), the atmosphere of the game was legendary and I liked that little robot following me
Portal 2 has two community made “Valve Quality” DLCs. “Portal Stories: Mel” and “Portal: Revolution”. Mel seems playable on macOS at least. Revolution is basically a Portal 2 presequel. (It’s also so long I would have payed for it.)
Monument Valley?
That would be a game I’d plan on my phone =)
Talos Principal 1 and 2. They are also story based puzzle games. I’m not sure I’d Talos 1 remaster or 2 are on Mac but I’m sure the original one is, which still holds up.
A Short Hike! Play as a little bird, climbing a mountain, flying/gliding, talking to quirky characters. Beautiful pixel art. Also Fez.
Loved this game so much! I just wanted more after I finished. I’ll have to look up the studio and see what else they’ve done.
Yes. I hope we someday get so many sequels to “A Short Hike”!
Edit: Since the protagonist is a Penguin, it just begs for “A quick swim.”
A quick swim! 😂 I love it!
Viewfinder is good if you want a game where you need to figure out how to get through each level.
Amazing! Thank you!
Looks very cool
In addition to these, I would add Superliminal. Do not confuse it with Subliminal, that one is not chill 🤣
My kid mentioned subliminal and I was like “oh, I just bought that for you, check your notifications”
Nope, I got superliminal, which is awesome, didn’t even know what subliminal was until he mentioned it. We’re going to go see the backrooms here soon, looks amazing.
I would recommend Stray but it has some areas where you’re running away from bad things for a bit.
Mostly it’s just exploring and meowing though.
Blue Prince
