Top 5 Comfort Games

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Inspired by this thread on Slashdot.
What are your top 5 comfort games?

― treefell (treefell), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 07:18 (nineteen years ago)

My top 5 are:

Tetris
Scrabble
GTA: San Andreas
Mario Kart
Sensible Soccer

― treefell (treefell), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 07:19 (nineteen years ago)

Doom
Doom
Doom
Doom
Hexen 2

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 07:24 (nineteen years ago)

The reason they're comfort games to me is that you can just switch your brain off and relax into the games. Except for San Andreas which is great as a stress reliever if you just drive around causing havoc for a while.
xpost.
Doom used to be a comfort game for me, but I just got too familiar with the levels and it got to be a bit too rote an experience.

― treefell (treefell), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 07:27 (nineteen years ago)

(in order of preference obv)

Vice City
San Andreas
GTA 3
GTA LCS
1942

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 08:27 (nineteen years ago)

CS Source
Doom (but not Doom2 or Doom3)
Elite/Frontier/First Encounters
Civ1/Civ4
Pro Evo series

― teh_kit (g-kit), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 08:45 (nineteen years ago)

-Civilization - Because it's a game that you play at your own pace.

-Pro Evolution Soccer - Can be as involved (Team Management etc) or as Arcade as you want it to be.

-Tetris (Original Gameboy one only, don't like the DS version) - Just good mindless, yet puzzl-y fun. Played this so much I can get pretty high scores and pass a lot of time without even concentrating.

-Super Mario Bros. 3 - Reminds me of better times. I think I got it on my 9th or 10th birthday. I must have played this game to completion more than any other game I've owned.

I don't really have an all-time 5th. But at the moment I'd probably be stuck choosing between Shadow of the Colossus and Need for Speed Most Wanted, as they're two games I go to just to pass half an hour or so at the moment.

― Craig Gilchrist (Craig Gilchrist), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 11:03 (nineteen years ago)

Final Fantasy VII
Minesweeper
Mah Jong
Black and White
Oh what the hell, San Andreas

― Cressida Breem (neruokruokruokne?), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 12:27 (nineteen years ago)

My comfort game-playing also encompasses playing games to completion repeatedly. Delta Force 1 and 2 are installed and completed everytime I get a new system.

I'm going to look forward to replaying San Andreas for the third time soon, huge wonderful game. I remember wading all the way through GTA3 in a weekend, purely for comfort sake. bliss.

I'd love to play Zelda Ocarina again soon, if a certain somebody would give me my system back.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 12:57 (nineteen years ago)

Oh man. I forgot about Ocarina of Time. I haven't played that for a while, but there was quite a long time where it was never off my 'list of games I'm playing at the moment', though I've only completed it once.

― Craig Gilchrist (Craig Gilchrist), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 13:22 (nineteen years ago)

I love zelda games but I find I get a bit too obsessed with them to count them as comfort games.

― treefell (treefell), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

1. Red Dead Revolver
2. Tetris
3. CS Source
4. Super Mario 2
5. World Of Warcraft

― Darramouss (Darramouss ftw), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 16:00 (nineteen years ago)

Madden
NBK2K6
Guitar Hero
Super Mario Bros 3
Katamari

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 16:09 (nineteen years ago)

1. Civ 2
2. Civ 3
3. Civ 4

I have this weird pathological thing with starting new games and just kinda running around and exploring and starting cities. I rarely get further than the medeival era and get distracted and go do something else. Then the process just repeats itself over and over.

― Stuh-du-du-du-du-du-du-denka (jingleberries), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 16:10 (nineteen years ago)

GTA: SA
GTA 3
Bubble Bobble
Freecell
Nethack

― Doctor Jaggernathy (noodle vague), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 17:51 (nineteen years ago)

the only games i've gone back to consistently for over 10 years now would have to be the civ series i guess (counting them all as one game).

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 18:24 (nineteen years ago)

Dark Forces
Gabriel Knight 1
Madden
Master of Orion 1
Civilization 1

― adam (adam), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 18:28 (nineteen years ago)

MAME (anything on MAME really)
Civ

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 19:07 (nineteen years ago)

Mega Man 2
Mega Man 2
Dr. Mario
Dr. Mario
Doom

And maybe FFVII or Resident Evil 4, which are the longest games that I've played more than once, but they're not good for just sitting down with on a whim.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 21:01 (nineteen years ago)

I just remembered another of my old-comfort games. Flashback. The first three (maybe four) levels were so amazing. It's one of those games I can always go back to, always remember how to do everything and always enjoy.

― Craig Gilchrist (Craig Gilchrist), Wednesday, 11 October 2006 14:36 (nineteen years ago)

I heart flashback :) I was actually going to post Another World to this thread, but couldn't think of four other games. The only problem with Flashback is it stops being a comfort game when you get to the level with the password "bubble" and meet those guys who morph out of the floor/ceiling. I never did get past that one :(

― melton mowbray's APOCALYPTO! (adr), Wednesday, 11 October 2006 15:33 (nineteen years ago)

Freecell
Super Mario World

― c('°c) (Leee), Wednesday, 11 October 2006 16:56 (nineteen years ago)

Smash Bros Melee
Link's Awakening
Katamari
Bust-a-Move
Kirby Superstar

― lemin (lemin), Wednesday, 11 October 2006 18:21 (nineteen years ago)

Mario Bros. 2
Any Pokemon handheld
Dragon fucking Warrior (I-IV)
Theme Hospital
Lemmings

― Abbott (Abbott), Wednesday, 11 October 2006 21:56 (nineteen years ago)

Oh man I have to get Lemmings again had it on the Amiga.

― Darramouss (Darramouss ftw), Wednesday, 11 October 2006 23:06 (nineteen years ago)

Tetris
Electroplankton
Guitar Hero
Rez
Super Mario Brothers

― Christopher Costello (CGC), Thursday, 12 October 2006 00:35 (nineteen years ago)

Simcity 4
Animal Crossing DS
Sims2 on the PC
Brain Training (esp the Sudoku games)
Zelda Minish Cap, i suppose

― Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 12 October 2006 00:39 (nineteen years ago)

mortal kombat 2

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Thursday, 12 October 2006 01:41 (nineteen years ago)

x 5

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Thursday, 12 October 2006 06:34 (nineteen years ago)

rollercoaster tycoon
all tony hawks
colin mcraes rally
sonic
vice city

― sunny successor (katharine), Thursday, 12 October 2006 12:42 (nineteen years ago)

shit, why isn't THPS2 in my list? that game is total comfort to me.

― teh_kit (g-kit), Thursday, 12 October 2006 12:51 (nineteen years ago)

How can you guys list any GTA game? That is like instant anxiety for me like when I'm getting mowed down by the army or whatever when I'm trying to get more wanted stars or trying to get a four-star chase happenin' that is some ARRGH poofaraw for the old Leeester.

― c('°c) (Leee), Thursday, 12 October 2006 15:25 (nineteen years ago)

Like treefell said up there, cos you can just mooch around GTA doing stunt jumps or sniping civilians or just messing about.

― Doctor Jaggernathy (noodle vague), Thursday, 12 October 2006 16:02 (nineteen years ago)

sometime i just like cruising around vice city looking at all the pretty neon and listening to Fever 105

― sunny successor (katharine), Thursday, 12 October 2006 16:58 (nineteen years ago)

that is pretty relaxing

― sleep (sleep), Thursday, 12 October 2006 17:01 (nineteen years ago)

katamari
smb3
gradius/parodius games

― sleep (sleep), Thursday, 12 October 2006 17:03 (nineteen years ago)

Any Tony Hawk game (though it's frustrating when you try to do moves from the later ones in the earlier ones, so that doesn't qualify as relaxing. So any Tony Hawk game with the revert, let's say.)
Arkanoid.
GTASA, especially listening to the radio while flying the Cessna.

― antexit (antexit), Thursday, 12 October 2006 18:46 (nineteen years ago)

GAMES I HAVE PLAYED WITH A FOOT WHILE EATING SOUP:

Final Fantasy
Dragon Warrior
Katamari

― got yourself a fish biscuit! (nickalicious), Thursday, 12 October 2006 19:01 (nineteen years ago)

Okay Katamari actually took 2 feet.

― got yourself a fish biscuit! (nickalicious), Thursday, 12 October 2006 19:12 (nineteen years ago)

Dude, I think a person could be comatose and still play Dragon Warrior. It's so repetetive and borderline pointless that it puts me in an extreme meditative state. An extreme meditative state full of golums and wolflords.

― Abbott (Abbott), Thursday, 12 October 2006 20:31 (nineteen years ago)

And the all important GOLDMEN without whom you could never afford anything.

― got yourself a fish biscuit! (nickalicious), Thursday, 12 October 2006 20:38 (nineteen years ago)

Flow
Banjo Kazooie
Final Fantasy Legend
MarioKart
Flash-based miniature golf

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 12 October 2006 21:58 (nineteen years ago)

For a while, GTA:SA, just becuase I could cruise around the countryside and/or run down random folks.

― kingfish prætor (kingfish 2.0), Friday, 13 October 2006 01:08 (nineteen years ago)

sometime i just like cruising around vice city looking at all the pretty neon and listening to Fever 105

GTA:SA, just becuase I could cruise around the countryside

OTFm big time.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Friday, 13 October 2006 07:54 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah I think I spent 90% of my GTA gameplay time just cruising around on bikes - PCJ-600 or NRG-500. I used to make sure the garages in every house I owned had at least two bikes in. And maybe a Stinger.

― ledge (ledge), Friday, 13 October 2006 08:39 (nineteen years ago)

GT:SA

That's the only one I can think of. Just so big and so much to do/kill/jump off that it is always worth turning back on!

― Kv_nol (Kv_nol), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 07:42 (nineteen years ago)

i played it for comfort on Sunday, been feeling sad lately and hangoverness hasn't helped. So I fired up SA and just drove around for hours. and when i drove around in a boat i found another oyster, hurrah!

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 08:01 (nineteen years ago)

Oh Pro Evo.....

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 08:19 (nineteen years ago)

You're still looking! You mentalist. How many left!?

― Kv_nol (Kv_nol), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 08:23 (nineteen years ago)

2 oysters left, probably about 2 horseshoes, got me tags and photos though.

still have the paramedic to do, this is all on ps2. did it on xbox but it started going crazy and not saving games, so gave up.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 08:32 (nineteen years ago)

I never finish games, I think I'm still on the model plane missions in GTA:SA. I really should go back to it.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 08:35 (nineteen years ago)

I never finish games, I think I'm still on the model plane missions in GTA:SA. I really should go back to it.

If it was on PS2, don't bother. It appears that people have heart attacks from the stress of it all.

Ste. I salute you for your completist nature!

― Kv_nol (Kv_nol), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 10:22 (nineteen years ago)

That model plane mission is just a total pain in the arse. The model car & model helicopter one that comes after it is, remarkabley, even less fun.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 10:25 (nineteen years ago)

super mario bros. (or super mario all-stars)
the legend of zelda -- the most replayable zelda
mega man x (or x2 or x3 -- they're pretty much the same game)
sonic 3 and knuckles -- i seem to be alone in prefering it over sonic 2
simple sudoku

― a.b. is a child of the late 80s and early 90s (alanbanana), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 13:10 (nineteen years ago)

I salute you for your completist nature!

thanks. I really hope to 100% both SA and LCS before the next big GTA game comes out. Time is running out.

I'm actually finding replaying random levels in Half Life 2 quite comforting, with no pressure to complete them I can just casually strole around constructing towers out of furniture and such.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 18 October 2006 13:43 (nineteen years ago)

I really hope to 100% both SA and LCS before the next big GTA game comes out. Time is running out.

Go on, get a brady guide. You know you want to...

Nah, fair play. There must be no mysteries remaining in the world of San Andreas for you! Except certain object's locations naturally :)

― Kv_nol (Kv_nol), Thursday, 19 October 2006 15:07 (nineteen years ago)

DON'T GET A BRADY GUIDE. Because I don't believe in spending money.

― c('°c) (Leee), Thursday, 19 October 2006 15:33 (nineteen years ago)

And they have lots of mistakes. Go to gamefaqs or somewhere, it's free and written by obsessives who know the game better.

― Cressida Breem (neruokruokruokne?), Thursday, 19 October 2006 16:47 (nineteen years ago)

One Must Fall: 2097
Klax
Bust-A-Groove
Fallout 2
Master Of Orion 2

― etc (esskay), Thursday, 19 October 2006 20:16 (nineteen years ago)

Marble Madness
Super R-Type with Kraftwerk's "Computer World" playing in the background
Marble Madness
Super Mario Bros.
Marble Madness

God, I really, really love Marble Madness. I think I may be the world's best player, definitely top 5.

― Zachary Scott (Zach S), Saturday, 28 October 2006 03:12 (nineteen years ago)

Uh, yeah, if you can get past level 3 of marble madness you kick fucking ass. But if you can beat it it takes all of 15 minutes.

― Abbott (Abbott), Saturday, 28 October 2006 03:54 (nineteen years ago)

Manhunt.

― Darramouss (Darramouss ftw), Saturday, 28 October 2006 08:22 (nineteen years ago)

Uh, yeah, if you can get past level 3 of marble madness you kick fucking ass. But if you can beat it it takes all of 15 minutes.

It takes a little over 3 1/2 minutes to beat. One thing that a lot of people don't know about Marble Madness is that there's a turbo button. If you hold it down, you go a lot faster, and somewhat paradoxically, get better control too. It's kind of like holding down the run button in Mario games.

― Zachary Scott (Zach S), Saturday, 28 October 2006 15:42 (nineteen years ago)

Breakout/Arkanoid
Any of the Soulblade/SoulCalibur games
Super Mario Bros
Pokemon Sapphire
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (haven't played GTA:SA yet)

― Tep (ktepi), Saturday, 28 October 2006 17:46 (nineteen years ago)

bust-a-move
bubble bobble
almost any mario
katamari
dotstream! this game is a future classic in the making

― zappi (joni), Saturday, 28 October 2006 18:04 (nineteen years ago)

I'm not familiar with dotstream. What is it?

― Zachary Scott (Zach S), Saturday, 28 October 2006 21:09 (nineteen years ago)

its a japanese minimalist 'bit generation' gba game, like a top down tron racing game where you control a coloured line - the catch is that to speed up you have to stay in as straight a line as possible, changing direction or crossing another line loses speed. its quite hard as well, with few powerups and good course design. there is also this mode called "formation" which is so weird, trying to control up to six lines at once with different button presses.
the music is amazing too, very 8 bit electro, alomst neu!like in places.

go here & click on the dotstream square for more
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/bit_g/index.html

― zappi (joni), Saturday, 28 October 2006 21:29 (nineteen years ago)

Silent Hill.

― Darramouss (Darramouss ftw), Saturday, 28 October 2006 22:46 (nineteen years ago)

Damn, bitstream sounds like a game I'd love. I love neu! too, so that's definitely a bonus.

― Zachary Scott (Zach S), Sunday, 29 October 2006 01:13 (nineteen years ago)

The best comfort game is Tropico atm. You can issue edicts on people that mean you no harm! Very Stress relieving.

― Darramouss (Darramouss ftw), Sunday, 29 October 2006 01:30 (nineteen years ago)

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