Vidya Comfort Food

[PKT]

Are there any games y'all play cause it feels comforting? Like the video game equivalent of comfort food. Doesn't have to be strictly retro but I'd imagine for most they will be.
For me it's primarily older RPGs like FF3, 5, 6, and 9, Mother 1 and 2, or Etrian Odyssey 1. The RPG genre is always cathartic to play for some reason, so I often find myself playing random ones from time to time.
As for non-rpgs Mystical Ninja Goemon is up there, brings back memories of playing my old N64 (I had Mario Party growing up so RIP to all of my controllers, need to buy new ones). Any Metroid, Zelda, or Igavania as well. In recent times classic Mega Man has become a comfort food series, real easy to boot up and play for a bit.
What about y'all?

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Minecraft, GTA: Vice City, Panic Bomber!, Dragon Quest IX... the list goes on.

 

[DunkeyKong]

Ah comfort games, incredible kind of games too like the Kirby Dreamland series (or Kirby in general), Animal Crossing, Pokemons, Journey, Abzu and any exploration games

 

[gk_ishy]

Etrian oddysey if my 3ds didnt break. The ds emulation on android is really good but i dont like the feel of it.

It used to be pokemon then it just stop being fun. I even replayed gen 3-6 maybe 2 years ago.

Now its ffxii or berwick saga for the ps2.ffxii has a lot of content for being mmo like. It also runs buttery smooth on my phone. Was really surprised when i finished the game without any problems.

 

[Fenneko]

The remake of Resident Evil 1 is a comfort game for me, I've played it so many times I don't have to think very hard and I enjoy going through the mansion, it's a relatively quiet game too for the most part

 

[KVC]

Are there any games y'all play cause it feels comforting? Like the video game equivalent of comfort food. Doesn't have to be strictly retro but I'd imagine for most they will be.
For me it's primarily older RPGs like FF3, 5, 6, and 9, Mother 1 and 2, or Etrian Odyssey 1. The RPG genre is always cathartic to play for some reason, so I often find myself playing random ones from time to time.
As for non-rpgs Mystical Ninja Goemon is up there, brings back memories of playing my old N64 (I had Mario Party growing up so RIP to all of my controllers, need to buy new ones). Any Metroid, Zelda, or Igavania as well. In recent times classic Mega Man has become a comfort food series, real easy to boot up and play for a bit.
What about y'all?

Monster Hunter 4U, Monster Hunter P 3rd G, Dark Souls 2, Skyrim, Pokemon Black 2, Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

 

[RageBurner]

Monster Hunter and classic Sonic are examples of what I'd classify as comfort food games for me.

 

[werewolfgimmick]

The 2D Metroids and early Resident Evils are some I often come back to for similar reasons to what Fenneko expressed

The remake of Resident Evil 1 is a comfort game for me, I've played it so many times I don't have to think very hard and I enjoy going through the mansion, it's a relatively quiet game too for the most part

They are short and sweet, although REmake in particular I find way more stressful than the PS1 entries due to crimson heads Q~Q
Other than that, there's Mega Man X 1 and 4, I have all the secrets memorized so it's really easy to just jump into them and beat them in an evening.
There's also the classic Armored Core games. A series with incredible game feel and tons of replayability thanks to the in depth customization, you can always try to optimize completely different build.
Lastly, the Shin Megami Tensei series has the core gameplay loop of exploring, fighting, recruiting, and fusing demons that i find highly addictive and comforting.
All these examples feel familiar, I'm really used to them, I Know them, I can kind of turn my brain off and enjoy myself on pure ID when I play them.

 

[RageBurner]

The 2D Metroids and early Resident Evils are some I often come back to for similar reasons to what Fenneko expressed

They are short and sweet, although REmake in particular I find way more stressful than the PS1 entries due to crimson heads Q~Q

Yeah those Crimson Heads should have been an option screen toggle, if you ask me!
other than that, you cited some great examples, I definitely forgot to mention the X series for me, especially X1-X4 like you said. Shinobi and ESWAT (Megadrive/Genesis versions) also fit the bill.

 

[Stingy Perry]

Well for me rpg and fighting games I’m bad at platformers.

 

[RageBurner]

Well for me rpg and fighting games I’m bad at platformers.

Interesting. Fighting games demand a lot of precise execution, moreso than most platformers, even. If I could recommend a platformer, try Fallen Leaf, I think it's pretty great and the difficulty is chill.

 

[wakka]

I think the most important thing to me when choosing a 'comfort' game, apart from familiarity, is atmosphere.

I'm currently replaying Snatcher on the Mega CD which is a very relaxing experience. I love the music and graphics in this. It feels so involving and yet moves at a comfortable pace.

My number one comfort game though would have to be Shenmue. An incredibly cosy experience. I know the in-game Dobuita like the back of my hand - not difficult, it's not very big - and I love the vibe. The game's pacing is also key. I really like having to kill time between appointments, by visiting the konbini or the arcade.

An honourable mention would also go to traditional Resi games like others have mentioned. There is something so umami and satisfying about clomping around the mansion, police station or secret Antarctic base solving the puzzles.

 

[Yousef]

3d platformers
JRPGs
GTA and some other sand box games
That’s kinda it

 

[Darklink]

I'd say Pokemon is a pretty big comfort game series for me, especially the GBA entries.

I also feel pretty good playing Mega Man games, basically any of the 2D ones.

 

[Skeetos]

Been going through assorted Crash Bandicoot stuff recently. always play at least one of those a year. GTA2 or 3 have a strange but enjoyable vibe. Madness Project Nexus is chill and engaging at the same time. Gotta drop the goat Oni. That game has a great vibe.