what is the most relaxing, easy to play, 8 or 16bit type games?

[Ackman]

No RPGS, please discuss.

[AB Positive]

This might be skewed, as I find NetHack relaxing...

8-bit -

Reggie Jackson Baseball (SMS) - my favorite baseball 8-bit game, just ahead of Baseball Stars. With practice one can get up a good string of constant doubles... and when you hit that zone where you hit Double-in-a-row #10 it's rather Zen-like.


Yoomp! (8-bit Atari homebrew) - Trailblazer meets a bit of Rez in a trippy ball-bouncing good time. I love the soundtrack and after a while you almost feel one with the music. Or at least you bounce your head in time to it. Either or.


Qix (pick a system) - Very minimalist but easy to learn.

Klax (pick a system) - awesome puzzler with great sound effects. It is the nineties...



16-bit:

Toejam and Earl (GEN) - While certainly not boring it is a 'laid-back' game. Even when it gets frustrating I never actually *feel* frustrated.


Kirby's Dream Course (SNES) - It's kirby mini-golf with a bouncy twist. Just a must-play game.





On an aside, it's technically arcade but it IS 16-bit... Neo Turf Masters. Yes, a golf sim but just try it. Protip - use the German.

[Drixxel]

When I think "relaxing", the first games that spring to mind are fishing, golf, billiards.. NES Lunar Pool has been a longstanding favourite, although there are better billiards games. Side Pocket on Genesis is pretty good.

The ultimate for me, though, would have to be Sim City on SNES. ..haha, at least when things are going right, otherwise it can be a stressful period of emergency city replanning.

EDIT: I definitely second Kirby's Dream Course. Fantastic game, very laid back but a great sense of technicality and skill about it.

[Flippy8490]

I personally think that eight bit games are overall better for relaxing, unless it's something crazy hard like ninja gaiden.

[TonyTheTiger]

One 16-bit game I find incredibly relaxing is Donkey Kong Country. The game is relatively easy with the exception of a couple of stages and the atmosphere is very soothing. While the sequels are a lot more frantic, the first game has a calming effect.

[thom_m]

You'll probably find it odd, but I find fighting games to be pretty relaxing (as long as I'm good on it and don't get stuck). Nothing reliefs the pressures and frustrations of the day then kicking some virtual ass.

That, and Tetris.

[Ed Oscuro]

On top of what triple-T just said, I'd nominate Ecco the Dolphin, with the Sega CD / PC soundtrack anyway (I'm assuming these are the same thing). Never did like the Genesis version's music, of course.

[eskobar]

You can count on TETRIS, preferably on a GameBoy. This game is easy to get into and most people forget everything when they play it.

Also, Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario World have a good learning curve and it's not very difficult.

[Sanriostar]

Pac-Man, Pac-Man, Pac-Man.

An Adventure speed run.
I'd also go with the 2600 version of Super Breakout; the Paddle controller is Zen, and the sounds become music soon enough.

For 16 bit, it must be Super Metroid. Great music, controls and movement that skirt the level of poetry, and has a challenge for any level of player: new at it? Beat it. Beaten it once? Get under 3:00. Have you gotten 100%? ect.

[thom_m]

On top of what triple-T just said, I'd nominate Ecco the Dolphin, with the Sega CD / PC soundtrack anyway (I'm assuming these are the same thing). Never did like the Genesis version's music, of course.

Really? 'Cause Ecco really annoys me. The atmosphere is so calm, it makes me nervous, just like an Enya song. :) I only played the Genesis verison, though.

[boogiecat]

It depends on the game but i prefer the 8-Bit Games..

[Gameguy]

Really? 'Cause Ecco really annoys me. The atmosphere is so calm, it makes me nervous, just like an Enya song. :) I only played the Genesis verison, though.
I like the Ecco games, though I really haven't had a chance to play them for very long.

I really misunderstood the question when I first read it. I thought it was asking which type of games were most relaxing, 8 bit or 16 bit. Listing specific games seems much better instead. The ones I find to be most relaxing are ports of board games.

[Cornelius]

Really? 'Cause Ecco really annoys me. The atmosphere is so calm, it makes me nervous, just like an Enya song. :) I only played the Genesis verison, though.

Thanks, this made me laugh (the bit about Enya). It isn't something I was ever consciously aware of, but I know exactly what you mean now that you say it.

Bubble Bobble fits the bill for me when it comes to relaxing. It isn't hard and I can play it for hours or just a couple minutes. Contra works, too, if I pop in the konami code and just cruise through. I can always chill with some Joust as well.

[Cobra Commander]

I always found Pilotwings to be very relaxing. Especially the rocket-pack stages. I always felt so free flying anywhere I wanted to go.

[HYB]

Dr. Mario, I can play that game for hours, especially the 8-bit version.

[aclbandit]

For 16 bit, it must be Super Metroid. Great music, controls and movement that skirt the level of poetry, and has a challenge for any level of player: new at it? Beat it. Beaten it once? Get under 3:00. Have you gotten 100%? ect.

Really...? I always found Metroid (especially its music) to be about the creepiest an old game could get.

[tom]

Fluid, but it's a 32-bit game, so it doesn't count.

[AMG]

I actually find many older games relaxing.

Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Zelda, Metroid, CastleVania and Punch-Out!! are a handful of game series that really stand out.

[Haoie]

Call this a generalisation if you must: Older games are often more frustrating [for whatever reason] than more modern outings.

[Nirvana]

My friend and I had a 2 hour long conversation while alternating between levels while playinf Tetris. I honestly think that's the most relaxing game ever.

[skaar]

Tetris is very relaxing for me too.

As is Zelda II, but I'm weird like that.

Vote for Kirby's Dream Course and SimCity as well - both are good chilling games.

Super Bowling for SNES was good too - as long as you had the music off ;)

[j_factor]

Panic! is strangely relaxing. All you ever do in the game is choose one of several buttons, press it, and watch what happens.

[SpaceHarrier]

This is probably more a personal choice, but I find Super Black Bass (SNES) to be really relaxing.

[Vectorman0]

bit Generations: Orbital for GBA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTktCOAxxQg

[Ed Oscuro]

Aleste / Power Strike for SMS

[muchomojo]

Dr. Mario

When I used to get bad panic attacks I would pop this in and after ten or fifteen minutes I would be fine. I'll also put in a vote for DKC.

[Game Freak]

16 bit all the way, the music is very soothing in the games i play, although i will give some NES games credit (like Family Fued and Wheel of Fortune)

[Tron 2.0]

Neo Geo
League Bowling
Neo Turf Master

TG16/PCE
Alien Crush
Buster Bros
Devil Crush

Famicom
Metroid:Though the serise in gerenal is like that to me.
The Legend of Zelda

[bangtango]

Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle on NES is very relaxing. I attribute it to the soundtrack, graphics and style of play. Plus it is a pretty long game from start to finish, so you can settle in and kill a fair amount of time.

I can see where fishing games are relaxing, until you get ahold of a fish. I've never seen an 8-bit or 16-bit fishing game in which you could catch fish consistently without getting overly stressed out.

[racecar]

duck hunt

also the jungle book for genny cause of the sweet soundtrack

[kaedesdisciple]

Pitfall II on the C64 is extremely relaxing for me. The pace is pretty relaxed, the action is good but not frantic, the graphics are simple yet functional and the music I find very soothing. I can get lost in that game for quite some time.