X3, Civilization and other turn based strategy games, Paradox strategy games, point and click adventure games, city builders.

Yeah, something about city-builders has always been relaxing to me. Hence my love of SimCity SNES. I've played the PC version of it but always liked the SNES version more. Love the music and the gently changing seasons.

The Tropico games by far. Fantastic sountrack and a game that can be played at your own pace.

You're making me regret not buying last weeks bundle :)

Most racing games on average difficulty can fit the bill.

Also, call me a masochist, but I find what people seem to call rogue-likes (like Rogue Legacy or FTL) pretty relaxing due to their tendency to be self-contained shorter play sessions. I don't have to worry about long term consequences for mistakes or keeping track of the time I play (I just look at the time between game overs).

Overall, I tend not to stress a whole lot about gaming. It's one of those activities that I can do even when I'm pretty tired. Been gaming since I was 6 after all.

I hate to say it, but yeah, you should regret that.

That depends on what you mean by relaxing. Casual titles can make you feel peaceful, rested. But for me that's something that would get tiresome rather than relax me. Some rounds of Dota 2, THAT's relaxing for me. It puts me in my happy place. :P

On that note, some other relaxing PC titles for me includes Eversion, GTA 4, Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition, and Neverwinter Nights. For older console titles Mario, Marvel vs Capcom, and Megaman Legends had similar effects. I could list games I think are better in some aspects or I enjoyed as much or more, but those weren't 'relaxing'. They put me in a thriller zone. For me these are all simple, immersive fun.

Proteus - you can not get a more relaxing experience in a game.

Any kind of point and click adventure does the job for me, works even better with a hot cup of coffee. Or Anno 1404, just watching the scenery can be quite relaxing.

But I think most games can actually be relaxing, at least partially, I remember that did ride around Azeroth on my mount just for the sake of it.

Bejeweled. The Sims games are relaxing at times -- mainly when the little buggers are asleep.

This.

Roller Coaster Tycoon 1 I find... err found... nothing better than just building an amusement park. It's quite... serene really...

If only I had now lol, college is stressful lol and parents think "investing in a game" does not count for stress relieving...

But I guess Bejewled would be second for me...
edit: I agree with you as well with Oblivion, the world coupled with the music just makes me so happy lol and relaxed... as well, skyrim in a way, seeing the northern lights dance across the sky... If you can't tell I love art.

Umm... in some ways Sim City... but mostly for me RCT 1... well if I get it lol, I remember it being very relaxing.

Another vote for the Tropico games. The music alone makes you feel like you're on holiday.

Any game that doesn't need quick reflexes should be fine.

For me, it would be any point n' click.

Oddly enough, Euro Truck Simulator 2. I find driving relaxing, so a game that let's me drive around Europe all I want, regardless of accuracy, is great for stress relief. There's no competition to stress over like in a racing game, and the radio system either streams internet radio or songs from your own custom built playlist. Also, if you ever feel a bit of rage, you can always ram cars off the road with your payload or smash right into oncoming traffic. You get fined, sure, but you easily make the money back by completing a job.