Inspired by a similar question on reddit:

What games do you replay regularly/annually? (No shame if you skipped a year or two.) I am especially interested in 'comfort' games.

Only rule is, you should have played the game for the first time at least 5 years back.

My list:

  • Street Fighter 2 in all variations/on all platforms I have access two. I guess I have been playing it regularly for more than 25 years by now. No Street Fighter after the Alpha/3rd Strike ever captured me like this.

  • Contra / NES This one I play regularly for more than 30 years (at least), to this day my favorite action game and the ultimate benchmark (I played all NES/SNES/Genesis Contras and Operation Galuga, nothing comes close.)

  • Slay the Spire: Hits 5 years of being released, I played since the early access and wasted too much time on this, still fun and perfect on smartphones

  • Doom I/II: I cannot tell you what it is, there are obviously better FPS than Doom I/II, but sometimes, if I just want to blow some steam, Doom is the only thing that delivers. (I think I never played trough all episodes of either Doom I or Doom II

  • UID_Zero@infosec.pub
    ·
    8 months ago

    Zelda 2.

    It's divisive, but I like it. I have fond memories of playing that game with my dad when I was young. When we reached the great palace, I died so quickly that he once got up early and started playing at 5am to farm extra lives for me. I went into the palace with 26 extra lives.

    ...I didn't die at all on that run.

    I still play it about once per year. In fact, I just finished it again about a week ago. I want to play the remade fan game, I just haven't had time to sit and get it setup.

  • douz0a0bouz@midwest.social
    ·
    8 months ago

    Rimworld. You can do everything from hedonistic hobbit type colonies to the most despicable humans to have ever lived. Very relaxing to me.

    When I’m feeling nostalgic, Shining Force II for the Sega Genesis.

  • Kory@lemmy.ml
    ·
    8 months ago

    This may be surprising, but Subnautica is my comfort game, even though the game isn't purely relaxing and has some scary parts. But the gameplay loop is so satisfying, the story is nice even after several playthroughs and there is beauty in these alien underwater biomes. I just wish it was longer, now that I know where to find what, it gets quite short :)

    Second comfort game is Terraria but I also play that for entertainment/when I feel a rush of creativity for building stuff. And it's just so nice to dig your way through a large world and find all the hidden items.

  • soli@infosec.pub
    ·
    8 months ago

    Mirror's Edge - I usually turn the voices off and just run. Once you're in the flow it's so calming, and it doesn't overstay it's welcome.

      • soli@infosec.pub
        ·
        8 months ago

        Just a heads up if you do try it, I mean the original not Catalyst. The sequel constantly kills that flow state with all the annoying intrusions you'll see from other AAA open world games. It's not the worst game ever, I did finish it, but it was the last time I bought something on release.

        The original is just a short collection of levels. It's extremely minimalist. The only diversions from the flow is a simple story linking them and a handful of hidden collectibles.