12 Games That Can Make You Sleepy

Highlights

• Discover video games that can help you relax and fall asleep at night, with features like calming music and simplified controls.
• Pokemon Sleep relies on a sleep schedule, while Just Sleep offers guided meditation for stress reduction.
• Brain Age 2 has a sleep-inducing minigame, and Tomodachi Life lets players peek into the dreams of their characters before bed.

When most people think of video games, they usually think of the video games with the most action to their names. Even now, some of the most popular video games today, such as Final Fantasy 16 and Fire Emblem Engage are well-known for their action-packed stories and exquisite combat systems.

But amid the action, which is sure to hype up players, a handful of games will help players relax and fall asleep at night. Presenting various tactics to improve one’s sleep schedule, players can count on the following games to help them get some much-needed sleep at night.

Updated May 10th, 2024 by Russ Boswell: There are a lot of great games out there that can help promote sleep or put you into a more restful state of mind before bed. That said, there are also quite a few titles that aren’t meant to enhance sleep but can still help players unwind after a long day as they make their way towards bed. Quiet, calm, and whimsical releases like Palia and Spiritfarer are a great way to relax after an exciting day and can help players reduce anxiety and engage in wonderful stories before bed. To better help players pick games that can help them relax, the following guide has been updated with more entries.

1 Palia

Palia can be a great way to relax after a particularly stressful day or just a great way to reduce anxiety and progress towards a restful state of mind. The free-to-play release allows players to join a magical land filled with mystical creatures and other players. They’ll become part of a mystical community and receive their very own plot of land where they can build homes, gardens, and other structures. There are tons of decorations and recipes to unlock and quests for players to take on.

Built to be an online multiplayer release, players will see each other when in the overworld but have their own personal home plots that they can decorate to their liking. That said, players are still able to visit one another’s homes and can even help each other build if given permission. Overall, Palia is a great community-based game that is supremely relaxing and can help players unwind.

2 Spiritfarer

There are a lot of great games out there that offer a great story and relaxing gameplay elements. Spiritfarer is a prime example of a release that will help players unwind after a long day but still offer them a great overarching storyline. The construction and simulation adventure game has gamers building and creating specialized spaces for a slew of spirits in an attempt to make them comfortable during their journey towards the afterlife. Spiritfarer is a heartwarming adventure with a robust storyline but still has many moments of “downtime” in which players will simply be building, farming, cooking, and performing many other relaxing tasks. It can be a great game to relax with before bed.

3 Pokemon Sleep

Google Play Rating: 3.4/5

Compared to the other spin-off games that the Pokemon series has produced, Pokemon Sleep is less demanding and story-centered. Instead, the game takes a stress-free approach to the goal of completing their Sleep Style Dex, a variation of the signature Pokedex. In addition to learning more about Pokemon and their mannerisms, players also have a chance to learn more about the unique sleeping patterns that each Pokemon possesses.

True to the game’s name, Pokemon Sleep relies on the player’s sleep schedules for certain Pokemon to appear. The game even features a log in which to record how many hours players have slept. The more hours players sleep, the more Pokemon that share the same Sleep Type as the player will appear.

4 Just Sleep – Meditate, Focus, And Relax

Steam Rating: 79%

Arguably the most hands-off game here, Just Sleep is designed not only for players with insomnia or other sleep-inhibiting conditions but also for players who have other distracting issues such as tinnitus. Needless to say, this game is dedicated solely to reducing stress and helping players improve their mental health and fortitude.

For helping players get to sleep, Just Sleep features a combination of calming environmental noises and soothing imagery, both of which players can customize however they please. But one of the most helpful features this game has to offer is a guided meditation program narrated by renowned mindfulness expert Diana Watson.

5 Brain Age 2: More Training In Minutes A Day!

Metascore: 77

The second installment in the Brain Age series, Brain Age 2 vastly improves upon its predecessor by adding brand new minigames and a new mode solely for sudoku puzzles. Otherwise, the goal of testing the player’s brain age through logic and mathematical puzzles as well as a daily Brain Age Check remains the same.

While this may seem like a taxing game, it is in Brain Age 2’s Virus Buster minigame where players may genuinely unwind. Virus Buster is a Tetris-esque minigame in which the player must match as many same-colored viruses together while listening to a sleep-inducing cover of some classic Nintendo songs.

6 Tomodachi Life

Metascore: 71

Though it is not as popular as other lifestyle simulators like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley, Tomodachi Life is still worth playing due to its simple premise and relaxing atmosphere. The premise of the game is straightforward: look after the Miis in the apartment complex and create a thriving community on a deserted island.

Though the game has many things to do during the day, things truly start to wind down at nighttime. With few activities taking place at night and most of their Miis falling asleep around this time, players can unwind as well by peeking into the odd but soothing dreams of their Miis, allowing them to drift to sleep on a humorous note.

7 Sheep Sleep – A Hardcore Game

Google Play Rating: 4.4/5

If there was ever a physical adaptation of the counting sheep expression, then Sheep Sleep would be the closest thing to it. Though the game is described as “a hardcore game,” which is somewhat supported by the first few minutes of gameplay, there is also a Sleep Mode that is far more casual and may help players go to sleep.

The premise of Sheep Sleep is to help the in-game child go to sleep by counting as many sheep as fast as they can before time runs out. While the sheep usually come at extremely fast speeds, the game’s Sleep Mode drastically lowers the speed to lull the most likely exhausted player into falling asleep.

8 Harmony: Relaxing Music Puzzle

Google Play Rating: 4.5/5

Due to centering around a variety of puzzles, Harmony may seem to be fast-paced and tedious, much like the typical gameplay from Sheep Sleep. But unlike Sheep Sleep, Harmony is inherently relaxing, acting as a means to combat sleep deprivation and anxiety.

In Harmony, players must engage in a test of symmetry; puzzles are completed by finding each glowing tile’s opposite. With no restrictions on how fast these puzzles must be completed, players can finish as many puzzles at their own pace while enjoying the soothing classical music the game offers.

9 Sun Haven

Steam Rating: 88%

Following in the footsteps of Stardew Valley, Sun Haven sees the player constructing their ideal farm within the local community, which is Sun Haven. However, not everything is what it seems in this community, as the player is immediately tasked with protecting Sun Haven from dark forces threatening to corrupt it.

When not fighting dragons and monsters, however, players may partake in activities typical of any farming simulator, such as tending to their crops, cooking delicious meals, and even making their own jewelry! Players may also interact and bond with the locals of Sun Haven and learn about their interests, making this game a surefire way to decompress.

10 ASMR Slicing

Apple Store Rating: 4.6/5

It should come as no surprise that a game with ASMR in the title would be relaxing due to the relaxing nature of ASMR itself. But true to its name, ASMR Slicing provides a satisfying experience with its simple but rewarding gameplay, pleasant visual presentation, and utterly gratifying sound design.

For each level, players are required to slice a different item in a certain way. Some cases may require the player to slice the object into several pieces, while others require them to reach a certain weight. Players are also given a selection of blades, including the iconic Star Wars lightsaber and the Buster Sword from Final Fantasy 7.

11 Dream Hopper

Google Play Rating: 4.7/5

Much like Harmony, Dream Hopper may seem tedious due to how the game is supposed to be played. Players are tasked to jump from shape to shape and reveal various colorful images. But the ambiance brought on by the game is assured to have players nodding off during their technicolor dream experiences.

In essence, Dream Hopper functions as a typical rhythm game due to players having to sync their actions to the beat of the soothing music available. But easily the game’s biggest selling point is the various images unlocked during gameplay, which boast a magnificent array of colors that can best be described as a rainbow at night.

12 SpinTree – Tap Tap Tree

Apple Store Rating: 4.8/5

Available as a free-to-play game on the Apple Store, SpinTree – Tap Tap Tree boasts some colorful and vibrant graphics that one might see in any popular video game title. Upon closer inspection, however, these colorful graphics are very simple, which greatly contributes to the game’s purpose of helping players relax.

As the game’s name suggests, the objective of SpinTree is to grow as many trees as they can by spinning them, which can be done by simply tapping the screen. The easy-to-learn gameplay coupled with the soothing soundtrack and relaxing noises are sure to have players falling asleep in a matter of minutes.