Comfort Games Are Important

Comfort games are a very common part of gaming. Everyone has one. But what does it mean to be a comfort game? Can we define the genre? And why are comfort games important? Let's find out.
💬 SOCIALS 💬
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🎬 CHAPTERS 🎬
0:00 What Is A Comfort Game?
2:44 Factor 1 - Familiarity
6:09 Factor 2 - Satisfaction
9:35 Factor 2.5 - Catharsis
12:19 Factor 3 - Escapism
15:06 Factor 4 - Nostalgia
16:59 Why Are Comfort Games Important
23:52 Why We Need Comfort Games
25:39 Thanks For Watching
🎨 Background Art from The Jazz Hop Café ➜ fanlink.to/jhc
🎵 SONGS USED🎵
HOME - Above All
Artist Unknown - APOLOGIES
PYC Music - I Wonder
Full Katamari Damacy OST - Assorted Songs
Mick Gordon - The Only Thing They Fear Is You
Mick Gordon - Rip & Tear
DMC5 OST - Bury The Light
Mass Effect OST - Galaxy Map Theme
Uncharted 3 OST - Nate's Theme
Magic - Night Tempo
Saynoz - Dreaming
StereoPlastic - L o v e s i c k
Mitch Murder - Lit
Desired - Android Shelter
EVA - It Still Hurts
Mitch Murder - Sales Meeting
📌 TAGS 📌
#gaming
#comfortgames
#videoessay

[@maybelegal1177]

This stuck with me so much , particularly the end part. All my friends make fun of me for not watching Attack on Titan but I just don’t have the mental or emotional energy that show requires

[@Lextorias]

A lot of my friends don't like my show recommendations because my favorite shows were Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad and none of them could get into them because of how dark they were.

[@VillainViran]

@@Lextorias I can't get anyone to watch Monster for both how dark and slow burning it is. Gintama is positive and exciting but the first 30 episodes are meh before you get exponential returns

[@statz3697]

@@VillainViran you just reminded me I need to watch monster and gintama thanks

[@floricel_112]

Don't worry. Aot isn't that good anyway. Not really worth getting into it

[@VillainViran]

@@statz3697 hell yeah, just stick with it! They're self aware that it's kinda low budget at first lol

[@somerpg]

You know it's a great content video when you don't mind the ads.

[@Bluntz_]

Buy premium.

[@TylerGotAYTAccount]

I think part of that is not getting slammed with them as well. A frequency to content situation.

[@TheOneGreat]

I have had the YT subscription for years. I couldn't watch with adds. It would drive me mental.

[@quest6282]

or the opposite could be true u like the video so much that ur annoyed by the ads and just want more video

[@fishtacos293]

Honestly alot of work and time went into the video and he seems to genuinely care about his content it's refreshing !!

[@Skaroosh]

I think a big factor is being able to enter a flow state while playing, which is why you can consider both games like Doom or Dark Souls, as well as Minecraft or Skyrim, a comfort game. Being able to be transported and completely absorbed in a game world where none of the world's problems are able to distract and being present and immersed in the game in front of me is what I consider to be my comfort place.

[@xdouche3608]

"You're not trapped in a level with demons, they're trapped there in with you" Fucking nailed it! That's precisely why I love series such as DMC and Doom. Wonderful video my man! And the fact that Bury the Light played in it makes it automatically 1000 times better. Stay motivated bro.

[@stormwolf5848]

And Doom or Doom Eternal, one of them have a song called "The only thing they fear is you" so yeah you are not the one trapped!

[@legitplayin6977]

You know, this is is such a normal, basic take, past me would tear this comment up without any remorse. But I think I changed, so I’m glad you guys are having your fun. Keep going my little buddies and have more fun!

[@catypie_]

I think the best quote from the doom games to proof this is : "Rip and Tear until it is done"

[@legitplayin6977]

@@catypie_ I don’t want to be that guy (kidding I kind of do tbh) but that phrase originated from the Doom comic (Yes there was a comic and it’s absolutely hilarious if anyone wants to read it). And this line was originally about the doom marine wanting to “rip and tear” a cyberdemon’s guts. Spoiler alert: He fails, and goes to search for a really big gun. Sorry for the wall of text, but I do enjoy the comic endlessly and you were the unfortunate notification that brought up the topic.

[@panos21sonic]

Hahaha agree as well yesterday i was playing doom 1993 and was yelling die biatch at every little imp that confronted my shotgun.

[@TheWriterOnFire]

hades is my comfort game. perfect for putting down and picking up whenever you feel like. you can get the catharsis of tearing the flesh of the monsters in each level, and then you can stroll through the halls of Hades, ticking off each task and talking to each character, while the game gently leads you to your next heat.

[@BHanif1996]

Returnal is that for me. But Hades is becoming a close second.

[@frosthuntersnowy4008]

Weirdly enough my comfort game used to be fallout 4. It's just calming being high level popping heads to level up to unlock everything while listening to lone wanderer

[@cloudyyysan]

this man gets it

[@janjan1759]

Wandering the wasteland with dogmeat makes me calm

[@frosthuntersnowy4008]

Fair enough I usually as the song is titled wandering alone

[@cloudyyysan]

@@janjan1759 dogmeat is my virtual emotional support animal 🗣

[@tajbaber9425]

New Vegas for me as I grew up in Mojave near there 😁. Nostalgia, I guess. Though I like 4 too

[@theboywonderlol]

I don't think I'll ever feel the same amount of comfort from a video game as walking around areas like Kamurocho in the Yakuza series, they just have such a nice feeling to them and it's nice to drink in the scenery or do a side activity after an intense point in the plot.

[@ReiReiFoxy]

Not to mention the whole, you can pursue the story at your own pace and if you ever feel like you want to stop doing the story you can drop it there and then to do any of the minigames or substories

[@playversetv3877]

yeh i feel so relaxed playing golf in that game and just walking in a restaurant and EATING lol

[@koromau3854]

You can have your cake and eat it too with yakuza. Its serious but also wacky, and when you decide to take a break and do some side stuff your brain can recharge and you still progress at the same time!

[@mygetawayart]

what I can't stand about the yakuza games is 1: how small the maps are and 2: how you constantly get interrupted and harassed. I wouldn't say Yakuza is a comfort game. I would love a true comfort game, sort of slice of life either third or first person set in urban Japan but there's very little of that.

[@koromau3854]

@@mygetawayart Closest I can think of is persona 5, very cozy vibes in that.

[@Cumuleonimbus]

My comfort game is pkmn diamond. I played it as a child and hated the rival but loved my pinplup. I have over 999 hours on the original cartridge, 300 on legends Arceus.

[@lakeslake4122]

Kingdom hearts 2 is a comfort game for me. The relaxing mundaneness of its opening hours and it’s settings make you wish that it could go on forever. Very similar to how Roxas wishes his summer would last forever. The game rips you from this comfort and it knows exactly what it’s doing.

[@tardiswhisperer5764]

Kingdom Hearts 2 has to be my favourite game of all time, even if I know there are objectively better games out there. I have fond memories of 10 year old me playing it in 2007 for the first time and being devastated that Roxas wasn't the main character (never played KH1 before that. Continuity wasn't my forté)

[@BrandonL_00]

I know what you mean! I have fond memories of buying Kingdom Hearts 2 this one afternoon as a kid and just playing it for the rest of the day. I had such a blast exploring Twilight Town, the graphics, the scenery, the warmth.. it was wonderful. My parents even let me stay up extra late that night just to play. Man.... what a good day...

[@nineinchthread]

Kingdom hearts 2 also made leveling up fun I enjoy leveling up in general but kingdom hearts 2 did it amazing

[@jordanneedscoffee]

Wouldn't call it a comfort game because I haven't played in too long and never was able to finish KH3, but yeah I remember 10yr old me playing KH1 and teenage me still had a lot of fun with KH2.

[@mastersean51]

Same I can play that game over and over and never get tired of it.

[@UnfortunateWatcher]

I actually did not consider DMC5 a comfort game until you mentioned it. I keep going back to it to get better at beating Dante or the Blood Palace.

[@buckyhurdle4776]

DMC5 is crazy fun. I only got into it this month. I don't know why I waited so long, everyone has always said it has fantastic combat. I still haven't beaten the bloody palace, but each attempt has me glued to my screen. I have to sit back sometimes after a wave and shut my eyes for a minute cause I realize I wasn't blinking the whole time lmao

[@UnfortunateWatcher]

@@buckyhurdle4776 Oh yea, when you just start laser focusing on it you forget about time and just have fun.

[@Reldonator]

I'm really excited to play DMC5, but I have a personal goal to at least beat dmc1 first. But man, every time I pick it up I hit a brick wall of difficulty.

[@KunjaBihariKrishna]

I've had that game installed for months now and I still haven't launched it. It feels daunting somehow

[@theuzi8516]

I think games can be both fun and engaging, and Persona series are a great example of this: You've already touched on some of the comfort game elements but they also have moments of deep insight unusual for video game writing. Sure, they aren't philosophy masterpieces but between all the levity and sheer *style*, they provide rather interesting bits of commentary on the human condition, too. While I'll admit to not being a huge fan, I think the Persona series is remarkable for being able to pull off a great balance between escapism and depth.

[@TheManWithNoHands]

Subnautica is my comfort game, it's crazy how much satisfaction there is in walking around the ocean floor in a prawn suit looking for more while the sultry sounds of a deadly leviathan play in the distance

[@zors5188]

I love that the nostalgia part has a Skyrim background in the beginning. It’s such a nostalgia/comfort game to me, one of the first game that hooked me younger.. watching my dad play on the 360 was golden. I played a bunch on PC but it’s not on the same level.

[@charlodynatimberheart4860]

Skyrim was a staple game in my household. My dad picked it up on redbox out of sheer boredom and ended up buying it later and me and all of my siblings played it for years. My dad even still plays skyrim to this day.

[@prototypelq8574]

This channel is a textbook definition of 'hidden gem'. I am immensly happy to have found it - you have an awesome style, the subjects you cover in your videos are all great topics to discuss and the editing skills are just top notch 👌 Praying for the algorithm to work for you! It's fascinating how many different approaches are there for comfort games. I was very surprised to discover just how much comfort and sheer joy you get from playing DMC5, at some point after learning different moves your muscle memory just kicks in, and you're like, styling on every moving thing on the screen while your fingers are mashing a solo not unlike the guitarists' of the OST. (BTL jokes will never get old thank you, though my personal favourite is Subhuman). Death Stranding has very meditative gameplay with the combination of being over-the-top rewarding and praising the player. Every person you deliver to is always happy and thankful, and they will make sure you don't forget that. I saw a couple of times the opinion that the praise is almost satirical, but personally I don't think so. Also, when tou take a break and let Sam sleep the game will tell you "Sam is resting, maybe you should go to" and it's really nice. I find a lot of comfort in, well, making my characters are comfortable. Sometimes it takes the form of not taking my favourite companion on a mission I know they wouldn't like in a bioware game, or, if the game allows it - in taking care of the protagonist. There were times when I just, let Sam take a break and enjoy the waterfall or leave him to have a good time in a hotspring and just went to do some chores or cooking. Same goes for Arthur in RDR2. (spoilers for chapter 3 I believe? middle game) So, there is a mission after which Arthur is hurt, he had to save himself, and after getting back to camp he recovers off-screen. And this was so Infuriating to me. Like, the gang always call themselves a family, but some undisclosed amount of time passes, which you learn in a black screen after a cutscene, and then everyone is like Arthur's fine. I was not! I, as the player was absolutely not fine! Black screen and a smily sticker won't cut it for me after what you put that man through, where is the support and comfort Arthur (and I) needed? I can't just go out in the world after that like nothing happened. So, I pretty much went fishing and light horse walking around the camp for like, a week of game-time. If the game won't care for Arthur, I sure as hell will. (also, I really think a lot of games would benefit of even small systems like this - let the players make our protagonists be nice and comfortable, they shouldn't run around 24/7 no sleep on our every whim) P.S. This is a universal recommendation - play Outer Wilds. P.S.S. this is kind of long, thanks to everyone who stuck till the end

[@alfie9662]

It worked i got it in my recommended now subbing

[@JeffGranja27]

Agree, I subbed on the first video I watched, which oddly enough was the video about open world games and I loved most of the games he said were repetitive, I mean, he was right and I like the points he makes in is videos

[@jacksfacts20]

I 2nd the hidden gem description

[@Kitsu_Worm]

when you put it that way. I have something in mind. maybe someone are fun to play god of war and the last of us part 2. but they're so tired of how much the world push you out that make you feel worse. so I think about this. not only the comfort game is fun. but it's optimistic? like maybe it's have obstacle and dark story. but it doesn't make you go down by it. NO, it's make you wanna live more to see the happiness of character, NPC, and world. is it that make something truly a comfort game? you could make me fun to play RDR2. but doesn't make me feel comfortable with how the world push me through. but I really feel out to wanna make my life more enjoyable because NPC I just help. gave me that warm smile and thank you very much on how you can make her more happy? I think that does have a connection.

[@prototypelq8574]

@@Kitsu_Worm with the mindset 'I will feel better if I can help some NPCs' Death Stranding plays like a balm for the soul

[@johnperez1723]

I think all games can be comfort games to the right person, undoubtedly I love to relax to some fire emblem when I need to unwind.

[@spikey556]

The Normandy SR-2 was my favorite game hub ever. It really felt like my command, and that reveal cinematic when you escape the medical facility at the start of ME2 gives me goosebumps every time, and finishing the whole trilogy in the definitive edition gives me the same melancholy I get from finishing a good show or game, that feeling of "what the hell do I do now?" every time

[@AaIsForAaliyas]

As fromSoftware games have been my go to as far as comfort games, lately I've been playing a ton of Monster Hunter World Iceborne as my go to for comfort. Love all dark souls and elden ring including sekiro and bloodborne. However MHW is a bit different all the while feeling similar when it comes to enemy patterns and of course difficulty. Great video Lex.

[@aceknight6622]

OOH a fellow monster hunter fan!! I love world

[@BrandonL_00]

Overwatch and Final Fantasy 15 have been my comfort games since 2016. I was going through a painful time in my life with an eating disorder and constantly in and out of doctors offices.. it wasn't fun. I was 16/17 and just felt so alone. It was so hard.. and I still think about it all sometimes. Those games just made all the pain melt away, especially Final Fantasy 15. The way they built the friendship bond between the boys was so pure and special, it felt genuine. Ever since 2020, Dragon Age Inquisition has been a comfort game for me. I just love everything about, whenever I'm going through a rough day, it's just my go to. It always makes me feel better. But this video perfectly explains it all, I love it. Please stay safe everyone. ❤️

[@aceknight6622]

OMG another person that liked final fantasy 15!!!

[@cbandit7715]

Mine is oiter wilds probably

[@ncascini01]

I've played and watched so much Overwatch that the sounds from the game are comforting to me. I fall asleep to streams sometimes.

[@heck8607]

Bloodborne is my comfort game and you are my comfort youtuber. Whenever I'm tryna sleep or just zone out while chilling I throw on one of your videos on the background and it is super chill to listen to.

[@lisztresurrected9438]

I play a lot of horror games as comfort games. And I think it's just because I grew up with horror movies and games. So Dead Space and Evil Within are kind a like watching a Christmas movie but with murder.

[@matthewniederberger9367]

I finally beat Evil Within for the first time last year and I love it. May even be a favorite of that gen now. Cant wait to play it more and really get good at it. I like it for a lot of the reasons I love resident evil 4. It does that fast paced tense gameplay so well but with nice new twists. Currently playing through the 2nd one now and it is good but it seems more like generic modern open world game so far. But with really cool enemy designs lol. I hate that match dropping is missing and Sebs lantern. idk theres just a charm of the first EW that the 2nd doesnt seem to have so far. I'm on the 7th chapter now maybe my opinion will change by the end🤷‍♂️ A 3rd game in the series more in line with the first game would be sick.

[@Delstrom2]

This explains so much about why it's so hard for me to boot up so much of my game collection these days. I've spent forever looking for games that have great stories or a particular brand of gameplay, but I've never stopped to think about if I felt comfy when I was playing them. When so many games have systems so ridiculously complex that they feel impossible to learn, are filled with pointless repetitions, or perhaps are simply games with a level of polish that makes you wonder if your controller is filled with peanut butter, it's so easy for me to leave a game feeling even more stressed than you did when you go into it. And as much as I hate to admit it, I don't have as much time or energy to give to games as I did when I was younger. Perhaps that's why, in spite of all of their flaws that I can't help but notice again and again, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom were able to suck me into so many hundreds of hours so easily: because I don't have to stress about doing exactly the right thing or worry about the game engine fighting me back, and instead I can just get lost in the gameplay and feel alive.Thanks for helping me put something I never knew how to phrase into words, I'm going to have to think about this for a while.

[@flyinghoudini4151]

Dude, your dry sense of humor that isn’t too much and your perfect timing of relatable references makes me happy I started following you, and you’re the first KZbinr I’ve ever wanted to support outside of the limits of this space. Keep up the amazing videos!

[@jessirarara]

Absolutely love this! My comfort games a definitely Stardew, Minecraft, and ACNH. Agree with every point you made and this was an amazingly put together and thoughtful video. I also wanna add my two cents. 1) I have a couple of comfort games that are stressful as fuck. Them being stressful though is why they are a very specific kind of comfort game. When I am super stressed it is usually over something I have no control over. A situation I can't fix. During those times I pick up Frostpunk or Oxygen Not Included. Because they are stress with a solution. It's a relief to have the games stress me out and then get the serotonin from solving whatever situation I am dealing with in the game since I can't control the real life shit. 2) On the subject of emotionally taxing "engaging" games. I love those kinds of games because sometimes I need a good story. Sometimes I need a game that will make me cry or leave me questioning life at the end. HOWEVER the problem with a lot of AAA games, to me, that are doing this is that they are WAY too long. It's why I love "engaging" story driven indie games. Cause I can beat them in like 6 hours. I'm never going to finish a 30+ hour "engaging" game because that is WAY to long to be "engaged" in an emotionally taxing mental state. Compared to Last Day of June that made me deal with some old scars in a very cathartic way... because I didn't play it long enough to get burned out. I beat it in 3 hours.

[@YouTubeGetsWorseEveryUpdate]

This channel is going to be big. Not even 2 weeks ago he thanks us for 10k subs and now it's 4 times that amount. You deserve it! Found your channel last night and binged all your videos.

[@IansPoorChoices]

I can tell there is so much editing effort, well done

[@MrFuego200]

This man's channel is a fucking banger

[@lesbean2262]

omfg the emotional investment point. That literally sums it up for me. it is TOUGH to start new shows and especially new games, which require the additional effort of learning their mechanics. I have a job, a social life, hobbies i desperately want to keep up with.. i cannot be arsed to start a new game except once in a blue moon, when the correct vibe magically hits me at 2am. And yeah, your video popped up while i was playing my Comfort Game of all time, rimworld. couldn't not watch. need to binge the rest of your stuff now.

[@fignuts1982]

I love Destiny 2 because depending on what activity you're doing it is either a relaxing power fantasy or a tense test of skill. It can go both ways.

[@KamikazeeAliens]

Touche, except for crucible currently

[@prototypelq8574]

One word: Dresstiny

[@Fran-mr5gz]

@@prototypelq8574 that feeling when you boot up the game, spend 30 minutes dressing up your character and then quit immediately after

[@bruhmomentum8302]

@@KamikazeeAliens I hate crucible 😭

[@cbandit7715]

Yeah its really fun. I have around 2000 hours lol. Wouodnr call i my comfort game bur deifdetnly my most olayed

[@theuzi8516]

Just to add some non-From games to the hard comfort game phenomenon: Mine are Vermintide 2 and Nioh 2.

[@Loothansa]

I did have this video on in the background and while it is not stimulating all of my senses it is stimulating just in the right way. I love honest discussions like this that dont overtly try to push anything on me. Instead you eloquently explained some feelings I have always had and could never quite put into words. Very engaging and fun. I have been struggling to find a new comfort game recently. Nothing just quite fits the bill of being simple to play, yet rewarding to master. My comfort game over the years have been Battlefield League of Legends, Forza, NBA 2K. Simple but rewarding mechanics, a lot to learn every time I play and yet familiarity with the core gameplay. Active communities also. But they have become stale and or have changed so drastically that I cant bring myself to play them anymore.

[@psychopathsnope_9039]

Hey, found your channel and I honesty really appreciate how you keep some level of positivity in your videos. It's honestly relieving, you could say it's comfortable.

[@deadngl]

I already know this is gonna be good

[@Depression156]

bro i dont like being called out for having you on a second monitor... playing minecraft lol. you deserve more views and subs. great video keep it up!

[@YourPalKindred]

instantly saying yes comfort games are mega important. I've been playing runescape and just relaxing on my days off and man, it's just such a good vibe

[@DuffyTheGander]

Nostalgia is so powerful. One of my comfort games is Mariokart Double Dash. I remember being 8 or 9 and going to a friend's birthday party. We watched Ice Age the meltdown, played that flash game where you are a platforming stick of gum, and 4 player double dash where the winner got to stay in and the rest rotated. It's funny how vivid those memories are

[@kurthokej2238]

The unexpected game this applies to is S.T.A.L.K.E.R. If you look past the endless horrors of The Zone, the atmosphere is paradoxically mellow and cozy for such a hard and depressing game. Especially if you're Eastern European you will feel some melancholic nostalgia for the familiar landscapes and guitar tunes...

[@timdavis4852]

I was actually joking about this the other day. My friends were teasing me when we came to the realization that my comfort game is the Ace Combat series. I had been trying to figure out why, but I think you kind of summed it up for me. Thanks!

[@aaronhille9927]

my top comfort games are Celeste, Minecraft, and the Bungie Halos - specifically Halo 3. They just make me feel warm inside and fill me with immense joy, and they feel so good to play through whenever I go back to them. I also used to play the Bungie Halos with my brother, mainly 3 and Reach, all the time on the Xbox 360 through the campaigns and on local multiplayer (we weren't allowed Xbox Live). These games will never get old for me, and I always see myself coming back to play them.

[@grimdorables4094]

There's a main hub area in vermintide 2 named Taal Horns Keep. I've often spent time parkouring about the castle and trying to break the invisible walls while my friend was busy testing builds. I've grown to know that location so well, I had a dream once on how I was stuck in the castle and had to reach the exit. Even while asleep, I knew every little bit, shortcut and passageway of that castle. I still keep confusing my home town streets, but that castle's layout is carved into my brain. I sometimes boot up the game and just chill on one of many beautiful spots in that main hub area.

[@doyleclayton]

DMCV was the first game that came to mind when I read the title and I assumed it wouldn't be discussed as it doenst fit the initial idea of a "comfortable game". Really glad to see it's inclusion as it's incredibly comfortable and while the combat is oceans deep once you have it down it never really leaves. I can put it down for 6 months come back and be right back at it in minutes.

[@notaninquisitor7274]

I imagine that DMC supports a sort of rhythmic flow. Once a player gains muscle memory for the commands they can disengage active thought and feel the "flow". It is a type of meditative trance.

[@BHanif1996]

DMC is my favorite series. But rougelikes are what I get to for comfort.

[@GreatRaijin]

I 100% agree on the fun vs engage segment, most triple A games stopped being fun simple games a while ago and thats why they typically suck now, even the new God of war like you said isnt about simple fun anymore, while i think the new god of war games are good, theyre easily the worse in the series for me, i like having simple fun, i like games like doom and dark souls, triple a games now are trying to turn into video game movies now, i dont need a cutscene every 5 min, i just want to kill things Fun > Engaging

[@Lextorias]

I love the new God of War games. I think they’re amazingly made and I had a great time my first playthrough. But I also have no interest in replaying it like I might with the OG trilogy.

[@InternetPitstop]

The amount of times I’ve stared at my over 100 games I need to play list only to then add even more to my 1000+ hours of dark souls with yet another play through is ridiculous.

[@ibisskb]

My personal comfort game is Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky and I can't help but find all the reasons in it: Familiarity: If you are a Pokémon fan, everything will feel relatively familiar to you because well, every living being there is a Pokémon. The playability is a bit different but easy to pick up. Satisfaction: The game gives you loads of challenges, ranging from the easier to the most difficult, making it part of the game. And due to it's random nature, the joy of finding good loot in the dungeons or getting to recruit every single soul from a dungeon is simply great. Catharsis: Sometimes the post-game achieves this. If you get to a dungeon where your stats are far over, you'll be a literal killing machine. And you can speed up your pace by running all around. It's fast paced if you are willing to go auto. Escapism: The immersion of the game is great. Simply every aspect lines up right, and the plot is engaging even after you've played it like 47 times. The music is pretty good. Nostalgia: Yeah, I played Rescue Team like 16 years ago and Pokémon is a big part of my childhood. That says it all. Though I'd add a extra point. Subtle Variability: The fact that you can choose a different species for your partner, the dungeons you'll go will be subtly different and so on. Basically, a game that gives you more of the same. Different enough to be new content, but not different enough to change the game radically. That surprise Monster House may be frustrating, but that's a experience on it's own. Perhaps a dungeon has the worst loot ever, or blesses you with absurd amounts of money. No playthrough is exactly the same, but in a way, they are similar enough to not break your comfort.

[@Chronyxt]

This video is of amazing quality with insightful info into the definition of comfort games. And normally I struggle with lengthy videos but I believe you perfected pacing to such a degree that it was very easily engaging enough to not be distracted. Keep up the good work and hope to see more content like this! 👍

[@munteddew6061]

this is really great video. i was more engaged then comforted with a background. good job.

[@jameswright2623]

Bungie's halos are my personal favorite comfort games. They were a huge part of my childhood and even after not playing them for months or even a year I can sink back into them with ease.

[@GreenestTrampler]

Harvest Moon Magical Melody. I've always loved that game, and now that I finally broke down and bought a Gamecube again, it's been amazing getting back to it.

[@Dep_Ice_Cream]

Another super impressive video, keep up the grind bro!

[@JaKL1999]

Hi, This video has been recommended to me and I really enjoyed everything about it Here's a list I like to share the comfort zen indie games I played this year: ABZU Among Trees Beyond Blue Brothers A tale of two sons Forza Horizon 4 or 5 Journey Lake Lost Ember Portal 1 & 2 It's just that I played so much violent, shooting, action & multiplayer games in my 20yrs of gaming so I'd like to take a break and play something different by finding cozy, relaxing & peaceful for me in feeling and mind

[@LPanic.]

You are actually on my primary monitor right now, and I have my ANC headset on, fully engaged in what you are saying! It's for some reason really comforting for me, listening to you talking about comfort-games. Thank you for this video!

[@ThePsh07]

Dragon’s Dogma is my comfort game… and yes - I was playing it while watching this video. ☺️

[@Ryszard000]

I think kingdom come deliverance is a perfect example of what not do in a comfort game. It requires so much of your attention that it can feel incredibly overwhelming within the first hour or two if your not focused 100% on it at all times

[@mygetawayart]

i wanted to try it out because so many people recommend it. I was overwhelmed in the first hour with so many complex and deep mechanics and lore that i uninstalled it immediately.

[@dooroflight4156]

I wonder if there's something wrong with me for not having a 'comfort game' I'm always playing single player story games. I don't really like re-playing games, I would feel like I was wasting my time if I replayed a game I already beat.

[@Lextorias]

that's interesting. I've replayed my comfort games less when I have less free time, because I feel like I should be spending it on something 'new'

[@dooroflight4156]

@@Lextorias For sure! I obviously have exceptions, like childhood games I have replayed once or twice from nostalgia but yeah. Im usually consuming 'new' content and anything I've already consumed loses my interest. I specially have issues with roguelike games like Hades where you replay the same type of content over and over to try to get to the end but lose progress when killed. I almost beat the game once and reached the final boss but didnt manage it. Yet soon after I lost interest and didnt want to 'keep grinding until you get strong enough or good enough.' I had seen all the maps and everything was just dungeon rng each play after that. I just couldnt force myself to try to beat the final boss, even when the gameplay was fun. Who knows how many runs and hours it could have taken me to get lucky enough. I feel kind of shitty that I put it down but thats how it goes sometimes. Maybe one day a roguelike will actually manage to keep me playing but so far I havent managed. I also tried Stardew valley for a little while (about an hour and half) but couldnt really get into it. Like fundamentally in my head I come in with the desire to enjoy these games but I cant seem to find the fun other people take out of minecraft and chill games. It kinda sucks

[@dooroflight4156]

On another note I love FromSoft games and never quit one. I beat all the ones I have played (Bloodborne, DS1, Elden Ring) Those games have some wicked magic to get you invested and enjoy the content. In fact I got the platinum trophy for elden ring. Literally did every single piece of content in the game, scoured the whole map for every little secret, and without a guide. it was great. I wonder what makes fromsoft's games so special that they keep me engage when they barely have a story told. Is the gameplay loop so enjoyable that it can carry the whole game? Is there some magic in exploring well crafted game worlds? A question to think about...

[@dustincompton992]

I would ask then if you have a particular series you always look forward to then. Like, my favorite genre is JRPGs. And while there are many interesting series out there, I’d consider Dragon Quest and the more modern Atelier games to be comfort games, even though for the Atelier games at least I don’t replay them. But I still know that when the next one comes out I’ll be able to have something to help me relax after work for a while. And with Dragon Quest, while some criticize them for being too basic and similar, that’s one of the appeals to me. They’re something very familiar to me that I can find nostalgia and comfort in, even if it’s a new game in the series.

[@dooroflight4156]

@@dustincompton992 oh yeah I've always been into kingdom hearts. I played every single game. Even the mobile one. And I'm always looking forward to the next crazy game. It's too bad the games aren't very long

[@joeymontana1014]

Honestly walking around in persona 5 just hits different, perfect comfort game

[@milkevgaming]

Overwatch & Minecraft have been my go to comfort games for a very long time, but the last few months they have both started to lose that comfort, i still enjoy them, its just not... comfort, anymore. I hope everything you said here can help me find another comfort game i can enjoy and chill out in.

[@Reldonator]

Man, the other day I was tired, emotionally drained, and was staring at my steam library looking for something chill to play. I realized every game installed was either horror, action, or difficult. I decided to boot up Skyrim for the first time since it came out. XD P.S. Holy cow you quadrupled subscribers in 9 days since you made this. Big congrats dude!

[@bruhmomentum8302]

Don’t blame you. I’ve done it too. Just walking around with the calming music and killing some enemies feels great

[@callummc1988]

The Tony Hawk games fit everything you've described to a tee for me. Grinding through goals until you achieve enough to unlock new levels is a great dopamine boost. And they are all full of bangers while you do it

[@heatherharrison264]

This is an interesting concept, and it certainly resonates with me. I've been around for a long time, so I have accumulated quite a few of these over the years. I still play some of the games that are among the first I ever played, such as Adventure on the Atari 2600 (the one that has dragons that look like ducks). Seven Cities of Gold on the Atari 800 is another one. Sometimes, I'll boot up the old Atari, let it create a new procedurally generated world in Seven Cities of Gold, and spend some time exploring it. I've never been much of a fan of combat (especially action combat), so I'll often gravitate toward games that have little or none, or to games in which combat difficulty is trivial (i.e. Bethesda games in the easy mode). In Seven Cities of Gold, combat is a possibility, but peaceful interactions with the natives are generally a better approach. These days, when I play video games, I'm usually looking for a relaxing experience after my brain is fried from work, so I'm typically not interested in a serious challenge. The ranks of my "comfort games" have come to include essentially an entire genre - city builder/simulation games. They usually feature little or no combat, and those that have raid mechanics (i.e. RimWorld and Factorio) are often customizable to allow raids to be reduced or turned off entirely. I almost always play RimWorld and Factorio with raids disabled so that I can allow my creativity to run wild. Games like this allow me to be creative without having to worry about defending things all the time. Other city builders that make for a nice, relaxing time include Dawn of Man, Children of the Nile, Factory Town, SimCity 4, and Urbek. Cities: Skylines also works, but it has become so bloated that frequent slow-downs, crashes, and lock-ups are starting to detract from the experience. Valheim has turned out to be a good choice, though I intensely despise the combat and therefore have to use the cheat console to insta-kill any monsters that show up - all I care to do is explore and build. With the cheats enabled, it becomes a great comfort game. Without the cheats, I find it unplayable. Stardew Valley is a good one too, though I wish it had less emphasis on combat. A mod to add an elevator to the Skull Cavern is a helpful time and annoyance saver. I'm mostly interested in organizing and building up the farm. Though the combat is fairly easy, I don't want to spend loads of time murdering monsters. Finally, although I'm not a fan of combat, I do get into a destructive mood from time to time. Silly, pointless, wanton destruction with no particular goal in mind is a great comfort after a particularly frustrating day. For this purpose, I have not found a game better than Goat Simulator.

[@myrasoonge]

My personal comfort game growing up was Majora's Mask. It let me feel loss and grief so I might cry openly. Which felt so cathartic in a time I had no real way to be so. My current comfort games are Stardew Valley and Sims 4.

[@muujina]

Skyrim has been my comfort game ever since I first played it in 2013. The music, the familiar faces, the world itself and just the feeling of "being somewhere else" for a few hours... they're enough for me to go back to it every year. I guess nostalgia also plays a huge role in this. When I first played Skyrim, I was at a time in my life where I didn't really have to worry about anything aside from doing my homework for school and studying for tests. It was a relatively stress-free time. I think, as an adult with responsibilities, you sometimes want to have that feeling again, even if it's just for a few minutes or a few hours.

[@prototypelq8574]

I believe you touched on a Big issue with the Fun vs Engaging debate. Really wish more people talked about it.

[@YLR222]

My comfort games definitely are Hollow Knight, the witcher 3, rdr2, the Fallout series and lately Cyberpunk and Sekiro/Elden Ring. They’re the most immersive games I’ve played lately. Also i couldn’t tell you how many hours I’ve put into minecraft or forza horizon just chillin and listening to music.

[@Hanayuni]

Anyone else feels like people just talking about video games is comforting too? The past few years, I've gotten into the habit of watching video essays about games and listening to more and more podcasts. I dunno why, it brings me so much peace xD

[@RAVE_ZERO]

Perfect description of DooM, it's me who becomes the monster in the room, when the metal music boosts my activity, and there is no escape for anyone, very relaxing and satisfying when I'm done, it's like a weird rage venting therapy 😂

[@poke-mxxn.is.broken3625]

This video was great ! I love hearing about everyone's comfort game, it's super interesting. I would say that my comfort game is Genshin impact, this game became part of my daily routine. As someone who needs routine in my life to bring me safety, Genshin is the perfect game for that. I can boot it up, do the daily tasks that doesn't take too much time or energy, I do it everyday and listening to music while doing it. And when I have some more time, I can go do some exploring or do quests. It's relaxing and brings comfort !

[@kaisokusekkendou1498]

I'm happy this video was made to break down the concepts behind this, because it's something I've noticed lately in my gaming habits. I was worried I had an aversion to "playing anything new", because I can look at my recently played history and see a TON of 2 hours or less total time played in most games. And I mean a lot.. between free games, sales and monthly humble bundles, I have a stockpile measured in the hundreds. But then I look over at my favorites and see that I have 20 more hours tacked onto one or two of my go to games. Like that weird sensation of "I don't have time" to watch -> spends 10 hours rewatching all of Firefly, etc. However, I recently got Skinwalker Hunt.. and immediately sank 40 hours into it. Right now, I know I could go back and play a round of that game, despite having no further things to discover, or unlock. It just feels fun and satisfying. So these games are still out there for me.. Comfort games, built on being fun.

[@LeDoctorBones]

Stardew Valley is funnily enough a game I had to stop because it was too stressful. The day cycle makes me want to optimize each day or else I feel like I haven't played well enough, so even though the only thing I currently lack for 100% completion is the gold clock that needs 10M which is by far easiest obtained by simply skipping time while doing some few farm tasks of a couple of minutes each day, I still play to fill the day completely, which often makes me spend almost an hour for a single stardew day.

[@its_just_seb]

i think my biggest comfort game at the moment is Witcher 3, but specifically on death march difficulty. Having played that game multiple times already, cranking up the difficulty makes it feel new and fresh, and a someone who has read the books, it makes it feel more accurate because the monsters can very easily take you out if you're not careful. It makes me think like a witcher, and that in turn gives me a huge sense of accomplishment when i get through a fight. Open world games are often much more comforting to me than linear games, because growing up i would so often get stuck in a linear game either due to not knowing how to progress, or simply not being skilled enough to progress, and the frustration that comes with that still clings to me, and i dread it. So having a game that tells me hey, if you're stuck on the main objective right now, there's a whole world you can explore, with lots of other things to do until you feel ready to come back, is insanely comforting to me. I don't feel like I'm in a head to head skill measuring contest with the game devs in order to make progress. Another comfort game is Attack on Titan 2, because it is actually so much fun. The story is whatever, it gets told better in the manga and anime, but the gameplay? Ridiculously fun. It combines the free swinging mechanic from spider man with the excitement of taking down enemies much larger than the player character in just a few (or, if all goes well, one) hits. There is a lot of customisation you can do for your gear, which makes the game adapt to individual play styles. I love just getting whatever's fastest with the highest damage and then go to town. It makes me feel like a badass.

[@ashhancox1931]

The Last of Us Part 2 is my comfort game, I just find it so arty and after i beat it on grounded once I realised it’s so fun to just obliterate the game over and over. I got it for Christmas in 2021 and I think I’ve beaten it maybe 12 times.

[@trlopzzz6722]

Unfortunately I must inform you that is a sign of serious mental illness… I would know from experience😅

[@TheDerpOfHolland]

For me Genshin Impact has been a source of comfort for a long time. I know it's a rather mixed bag (the fandom especially) but I'm familiar with the world, story, characters, lore, and the music. Even when I get slightly burnt out I always find myself coming back to it just a few weeks later for the content updates.

[@serafeather4507]

My comfort games are: •Patapon 2: Funny simple gameplay, cute characters and banger music •Kingdom Hearts: Plain old nostalgia, also fun gameplay, characters I love and banger music •Devil May Cry 3: Killing demons helps me vent all the stress I have from the day •Rune Factory 3: Farming game in the day, action RPG in the night. Perfect balance for relaxing and venting Edit: I hope someone gets to play them. I recomend them a lot

[@kresimircosic9035]

I heard a saying from my landlord when I was in the US; "familiarity breeds contempt". It's 110% true.

[@Alkerae]

I feel called out by the ending, I found your channel by chance, and picked this episode to aggressively angrilly clean my room to because, I don't have a comfort game, and I wish I did. Anything I used to have that I could have described as a comfort game have either changed (updates) or isn't available to me anymore. I'm having a really bad night, I just need something comfortable, and I don't have the patience or ability to follow an epic story or take risks with like a movie or something, so I desperately picked a video essay to just, be talked at, because I guess I've always had a thing for video essays. Way to earn my sub, I'm binging you tonight.

[@dashman8499]

So happy I found your video on fan service as you have become one of my favorite youtubers right now. Great stuff!

[@JoshuaRose-fw3oe]

Thanks for the 4th wall break bro 😅you were spot on ,mowing the lawn listening about old comfort gems 🎉

[@joelociraptorgaming80]

I've noticed that the games that are "movie quality" are the games I really enjoy the story of but have no desire to replay. I loved The Last of Us 2, God of War & God of War Ragnarok but I have no desire to replay any of them. They're fun games but when I finished these games I felt relief that it was done rather than being sad it was over. Death Stranding was one of the comfort games for me recently that I could get lost in and play for hours and hours, which is weird because you just walk around and explore.

[@aikopianochan8351]

Really good video, love how more analytical and discussion type videos about gaming are coming out now

[@fox-fluffl9002]

My comfort games are, as you explained, the ones that I understand and also don't take too much of my energy to play. WolfQuest AE is my favorite game rn because I know exactly how to play and everything that could happen due to spending almost 600 hours in it. It's a beautiful world I can just sit down in for ten minutes, an hour, six hours, and just be a wolf. No school, no stress, just being a wolf taking care of my pups in Yellowstone. The music is also so amazing, even lazing around the den and watch pups chase each other can be so engaging and relaxing after dealing with people all day.

[@jwilson544]

A big comfort game for me is, surprisingly, zelda twilight princess. Between the horror dungeons, the lovecraftian bosses, and a story that ranges from crushing depression and cosmic horror, theres a million small, slow paced moments that let you reflect on the characters and surroundings. There are full dialogue options between npc's that update between every dungeon you complete, which are easy to miss and not at all mandatory. I also find the side games super relaxing. Fishing, boating down the river, even collecting the bugs has its charm. But honestly, its the tone and esthetic that does it for me. Throughout the game, theres this sense of being in a town close to open nature. I love that. Its something I wanna revisit again soon

[@theblubus]

37.8K new subscribers in 30 days!!! UNREAL! You deserve every one. The quality and depth of what you bring to the table is profound and I'm proud to be along for this ride! Another great video! and congrats on the recent success!! ONWARD TO 100K!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MisterGoose]

Kerbal Space Program has to be my go to comfort game, but I really wish it wasn't since it's so hard to share with anybody.

[@KaiyaArtFox]

Thank you for this amazing video! The difference between "fun" and "engaging" I feel really put some of my feelings into perspective about games. I have been feeling pretty distant from games these days and now I think I know why

[@jereboy2005]

I have 3 comfort games that I always come back to: Pokémon Fire Red, Rome Totla War, Dragon Age Origins. And I seemingly play at least 1 of them once a year at min. They are all over 10 years old and are games I played many hours of and can replay over and over. I think for me the biggest factor is the nostalgia, but also some immersion too.

[@thatoneguy229OG]

My favorite comfort games all revolve around resource gathering. Right now it's Garden Story, but two years ago it was Slime Rancher, and eight years ago it was Minecraft.

[@Reven_Reynolds]

The fact you said "you probably have this on in the background" and I'm like "nooooooo I'm totally not playing NFS Unbound while watching this video" (I also watch videos that are 4+ hours and just play a game cause why not)

[@senrey6625]

What you said about engaging with shows alongside video games really clicked with me. Thanks for the great videos :)

[@thelel6591]

Ive replayed fallout 3 so many times. It was my first open world game. I know every side quests and the music just hits so hard taking me back to 2008 when i finally had a xbox 360.

[@_Vagg]

Your video essays are really enjoyable man , that’s a sub , keep it up

[@Jzdano]

Best KZbinr for me atm keep it up man !

[@brianbutler4097]

The Windwaker remake became a comfort game for me because they gave you an upgrade that made the boat go twice as fast. Madevthat game WAAAAAAY more playable and made exploring the seas 'fun' instead of feeling like I was gonna waste a massive amount of time if I missed and sailed past my target.

[@lavengiggles]

lol thanking for 10k when you’re nearly at 30, nice growth. High quality, interesting, humorous content. I likey

[@afriendlyfox]

Osu is my comfort game. Even though it stresses you out like hell when you are like 30 seconds away from a perfect full combo, but at the same time it makes me enter this weird state of relaxed focus, kinda like a meditation

[@XEPHOURIA]

One of my biggest comfort games is actually a genre -- fighting games. Practicing combos and playing against AI is the ultimate mindless satisfaction i enjoy when i dont wanna do other things. It feels like the perfect balance between feeling GOOD at something and mundanity. I don't get the rush of slaying demons but the tactile feedback from pressing the buttons on my hitbox and watching the things i wanna happen, happen, is magical.

[@npcsonlybeyondthispoint]

Just found this video thank you for posting it, my comfort game is wow, but when it did work it was and still is legend of mana, they are nostalgia and heavy comfort, i cannot help invest myself even if i havent played in a long time, its so nice to be able to return to them when i dont feel good or in high amounts of pain, thank you again for making and posting this

[@emb3rzzz]

Great video! Love your monologues!

[@hulkingbean4972]

Taking me through all these games made me feel just as comfortable. Talking about mass effect makes me a little nostalgic and comfortable, but then the music from the galaxy map cuts in and it just washes over me. I haven’t even played any of them in years, but it just hits. Also another type of game that wasn’t talked about is factory building games. Satisfactory and factorio can take all of my stressors and depressing thoughts and throw them out the window. I love them so much

[@sqid42]

another banger video, i enjoy watching your videos everytime they come out!

[@ovnimoss]

My comfort game is Halo Wars. Every so often I'll take a day to replay the campaign or mess around in skirmish mode. It's one of the first video games I remember playing, and it's been a consistent favorite of mine. The soundtrack is also amazing, Spirit of Fire and Flollo are permanently burned into my brain. Flollo feels warm and comfy to me, it reminds me of waking up early in the morning and seeing snow on the ground in winter.

[@migueldc6845]

Stumbled upon your videos, great man! Keep going