What video or board game is your go-to comfort game?

Video games impact people differently and provide more than just entertainment to players — they give us a space to form social or emotional connections, memories, and attachment. Just as important, games provide us a unique avenue for comfort and relaxation. I have always used video games as my outlet to relax, de-stress, decompress, whatever you want to call, especially this time of year when the weather is getting colder and the need for something cozy and comforting arises.

Games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing come to mind when one mentions a cozy game (and they are great games!) but these are the select few that I go to whenever I feel the need to be in a place that is familiar, cozy, or comforting:

• Spyro the Dragon (original and Re-Ignited Trilogy)
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• World of Warcraft Classic

My feeling of comfort is rooted in exploration and discovery, largely due to the original Spyro the Dragon series. Spyro was the first game I remember playing and, even as a child, there was something uniquely satisfying about exploring the different worlds in the search of gems, dragon eggs, and dragon statues and watching the guidebook slowly tick towards 100% completion. When the Spyro: Re-Ignited Trilogy released in 2018, I was excited to go through it all again and immediately bought it for the Nintendo Switch so I could play anywhere, anytime.

While it is not the original incarnation and is still technically recent, World of Warcraft Classic is another game that touches the need for exploration and discovery that resonates within me. I wasn’t able to play the original World of Warcraft and I originally go started in retail World of Warcraft a few years ago so being able to experience Classic has provided me with that sense of mystery and wonder.

When I really need to feel grounded, I’ll play The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. I play Skyrim habitually throughout my college years and in to the present, even though I know where everything is and how everything plays out. The soundtrack is my favorite component of the game, so when I feel like I’m in a familiar place, I like to just walk around and listen to the ambient sounds and background music while gazing at the in-game sky.

What about you? What is/are your comfort game(s)? What about them do you find comforting?