When real life becomes too hectic, some video games are a great way to sit down, relax, and unwind. Organizational games are a great way to compartmentalize and allow players to clear their heads in a virtual world. There are some video games made especially for relaxing, allowing players to feel organized and refreshed. These titles have no time limits, so players can take their time and go at their own pace without external pressures.

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Their peaceful atmosphere, calming visual aesthetic, and soothing soundtracks are chilled and cozy for players to experience, and a delight to play. After all, players don't want to slice up foes and engage in high-pressure combat situations where their lives are on the line all the time. Sometimes, the idea of playing a title and not worrying about meeting goals or getting the highest score is enticing in and of itself, with many organizing games being perfect for fans of such experiences.

Updated June 8, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: There's something about simple and charming organization games that fans can't get enough of. The allure of such titles is hard to describe, with players loving the way these titles help them unwind and enjoy some low-stakes gameplay that doesn't have the fate of the world hinging on their actions.

This niche of gaming is occupied with several stellar titles, and players are spoiled for choice when it comes to a stressbuster that's easy to get into and features some nice organization gameplay to get that lovely dopamine rush when they arrange or build something in a tidy manner.

18 Cats Organized Neatly

Metacritic User Score: 6.8

Crazy cat people and lovers of feline friends will adore Cats Organized Neatly, a Tetris-inspired puzzle game all about fitting these adorable cats into their perfect position on the board. There are over 80 levels to complete to keep players engaged.

These kitty cats are gorgeously hand-drawn with meticulous detail and come in all different shapes and sizes. Cats Organized Neatly has easy-to-understand mechanics; all the player needs to do is place these cool cats onto a board, rotating them to fit as required. If that isn't enough, there's a similar game by the same developers, called Dogs Organized Neatly, for players wanting a puppy fix!

17 Sun Haven

Metacritic User Score: 7.0

Some cozy games let players mess around with multiple gameplay loops at their pace, making them a blast to get into if players want a jack-of-all-trades that lets them experience a game exactly how they want. Such is the case with Sun Haven, which is a title with a charming art style that lets players engage with tons of systems.

This makes for a great time as players build their farms, manage crops, form bonds with other people, and engage in some low-stakes combat from time to time. It's a great title that's perfect for players looking to unwind after a long day. The title's endearing nature adds to its relaxing nature, making it a worthwhile experience.

16 House Flipper

Metascore: 67

For people who aren't aware, the act of flipping houses entails that players renovate run-down properties via a myriad of functions before selling these improved domiciles at a profit. This is pretty common in the real estate market, making it all the more intriguing that a game strives to emulate this gameplay loop and succeeds somehow.

House Flipper is a fun game where players can take their time as they clean up houses, repaint walls, set up adequate flooring, and make houses livable once again. It's a simple game that doesn't demand too much from the player, with the sequel being a marked improvement in every way.

15 Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection

Metascore: 70

Zoo Tycoon is one of the most beloved simulation games out there, allowing people to form and manage their own zoo. Ethical reasons aside, there was always something entertaining about forming the perfect gym with great exhibitions while dealing with any events or dangers as they cropped up.

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While the 2013 Zoo Tycoon had its fair share of issues, it still had some charm left over from the classic 2001 release despite its unnecessary simplifications. The Ultimate Animal Collection adds more content to the game, letting players form the zoo of their dreams and attract as many visitors as possible.

14 The Sims 4

Metascore: 70

When real life gets too stressful, players can launch The Sims 4 and let all their troubles melt away. This free-to-play life simulation game allows players to take on a virtual life of their own, building houses, creating characters, and spending a lifetime with them.

The Sims 4 is about creating the perfect life, with every decision - big or small - entirely down to the player. For a relaxing experience, the player can create and organize their own house for as long as their heart desires and build their dream life from scratch. Sure, the game may have been disappointing at launch, but EA spent a long time patching its issues, adding new content via expansions, and letting the game stand out as a feature-rich life simulation game that has no equal.

13 My Time At Portia

Metascore: 73

A gem of a title that helps players immerse themselves in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is emerging from the underground to rebuild society. Exploring environments that are overgrown and setting up farms makes for a great time, with the zen nature of My Time at Portia making it clear why so many people love what this title brings to the table.

Players are under no pressure to slowly help rebuild society from the ground up, with the gameplay systems being easy to understand and a lot of fun to engage with. My Time at Portia may not be a revolutionary title, but the game executes its concepts with great finesse and helps players melt away their stress in no time.

12 RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Metascore: 74

RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 is a great game that needs no introduction. This game tasks players with creating a successful and bustling amusement park with its fair share of theme park rides, including the titular rollercoasters.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 can be pretty hectic for players who are new to this game, but people who know what they're doing can set up everything early on and just sit back as the dough comes rolling in. Slowly expanding the park and its facilities become easier over time, making this game pretty rewarding.

11 A Little To The Left

Metascore: 75

A Little To The Left is a methodical and relaxing puzzle game in which players must organize everyday household objects into aesthetically pleasing neat piles. However, players must keep an eye out for the crazy cat with an inclination for chaos! There are over 75 different puzzles to keep players entertained for hours!

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With its pastel color palette and pleasing soundtrack, A Little To The Left is one of the most relaxing organization games on the market. There is even a Daily Tidy Delivery task featuring a randomly generated puzzle every day for any players that thrive on that sense of satisfaction from tidying.

10 PowerWash Simulator

Metascore: 75

PowerWash Simulator is the perfect game to relax and unwind, offering a surprisingly therapeutic experience. The ultimate goal is for players to powerwash a variety of objects and environments, getting them squeaky and sparkling clean. Players can earn money per job completed and can purchase different tools and upgrades to clean every nook and cranny thoroughly.

Nothing parallels the sweet and immense satisfaction gained from power-washing a whole subway station and restoring it to its former glory. Although not a traditional organization puzzle game, PowerWash Simulator is still a satisfying game to scratch that itch for tidiness with its fundamentally simple gameplay and mechanics.

9 House Flipper 2

Metascore: 79

• Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
• Released: December 14, 2023
• Developer(s): Frozen District, Empyrean
• Genre(s): Simulator

The first House Flipper title was pretty fun to mess around with, even if there were some facets of the gameplay that needed to be polished up. So, it's easy to see why people who loved what this title strove to achieve would be more than okay with a sequel that fine-tunes these mechanics to make them more fun to get into.

House Flipper 2 is a major improvement over the first game, letting players engage with a wealth of interesting options as they save a house from the brink of ruin and turn it into a magical space to live in. There's something oddly addictive about decorating a house, setting up rooms, and making it look as amazing as possible that makes this title so relaxing.

8 Two Point Campus

Metascore: 83

From the people behind the RollerCoaster Tycoon series comes Two Point Campus, a game that serves as a decent sequel to Two Point Hospital and integrates fresh and engaging gameplay elements into a winning formula. Shades of Two Point Studios' past games are quite apparent in Two Point Campus, with this game being perfect for fans who want to check out a lighthearted simulation and organization game.

Setting up the best campuses to help students become masters of whatever field they wish to pursue makes for a great time. Two Point Campus may not reinvent the wheel, but that's a small complaint for a title that executes most of its gameplay elements to a T. It's the perfect game for players who want to make the campus of their dreams with a goofy twist.

7 Unpacking

Metascore: 83

In real life, packing up belongings and moving into a new house can be a stressful experience. However, indie darling Unpacking shows how moving into a new house can be relaxing. Described as a "zen puzzle game," Unpacking tells the wholesome story of an unnamed protagonist as they transition from childhood to adult life. Snippets of their personality are divulged through their belongings as players feel like they're growing up alongside them.

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The mechanics are simple and easy to understand, as the player unpacks a series of belongings, placing them in different rooms with no time limits - from the character's childhood bedroom to their teenage college dorm room! Some possessions need to go in specific places, and players can have great fun carefully organizing objects - books can even be sorted and placed in size and color order for those perfectionists out there.

6 Two Point Hospital

Metascore: 83

Two Point Studios have become one of the most beloved developers of simulation games around, with their work on Two Point Hospital catapulting the developer to new heights of popularity. The simple yet accessible gameplay mechanics make this simulation game a blast to play through as players construct the perfect hospital and help patients resolve their illnesses without too many problems arising along the way.

While the sequel is also quite engaging in its own right, the wealth of content and the unmatched charm of Two Point Hospital is impossible to ignore. The quirky nature of the diseases coupled with the many ways that a hospital can be constructed and optimized in the game makes it a blast to play through in every way!

5 Planet Coaster

Metascore: 84

When RollerCoaster Tycoon: World was announced, fans expected that the game would continue the amazing legacy of this legendary theme park simulator. However, instead of redefining the series, RCT: World ended up being a massive disappointment that forced many players to think that they would never be able to access the magic of this series ever again.

Thankfully, Planet Coaster came in the nick of time to plug this hole. Fans loved just how engaging this game was, allowing players to form the theme park of their dreams and construct massive rollercoasters that will take visitors for a wild ride. The sheer amount of content in this game can be a bit overwhelming early on, but it won't take players too long to learn the ropes as they get through this amazing title and experience its magic for themselves.

4 Spiritfarer

Metascore: 84

For a game that deals with the dead, it's amazing just how comforting Spiritfarer can be. Players have to build and upgrade facilities in their ships to appease the dead while bringing them to the afterlife.

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The game can be pretty sad at times, but its art style and charming writing take center stage more often than not. Players who want to manage a lighthearted game with a unique art style should look no further than Spiritfarer.

3 The Sims 3

Metascore: 86

The incredible impression made by The Sims 3 can't be stated enough, with many people loving how impressive and engaging the open world of this title was. Sure, the game launched with its fair share of technical issues and required a high-end PC to make the most of this ambitious sandbox, but this was a small price to pay for what was easily the best title in the series by a country mile.

A huge reason why so many people were disappointed by The Sims 4 was the removal of many beloved features from this game, with the lack of an open world being downright unacceptable for many people. While The Sims 3 may be pretty dated now, players who don't mind taking a few steps back in the visual department will enjoy the greatest Sims game ever made. People can spend all the time in the world uploading their custom textures to create works of art or hilarious domiciles that will make them crack a smile time and time again.

2 Stardew Valley

Metascore: 89

Stardew Valley is one of the biggest successes in the indie gaming scene, being made almost entirely by one solitary developer. The game's charming art style and calm atmosphere make for a great time as players use the many tools at their disposal to farm, mine, forage, and perform other such actions.

There's a ton of heart in Stardew Valley, especially regarding the many unique and engaging NPCs in the game. Players will love to unwind with this game, which is quite charming and zen to play through. That said, the game's farming mechanics are quite thorough and even challenging, at least when compared to other popular releases in the genre like Animal Crossing or Story of Seasons​​​.

1 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Metascore: 90

Animal Crossing: New Horizons was one of the biggest games on launch for the Switch, with the onset of the pandemic boosting this game's sales even more. It's a shame that Nintendo didn't support this title as much as other Animal Crossing titles, since the title had a ton of promise that ultimately wasn't built upon.

However, even with this drawback, it must be said that Animal Crossing: New Horizons is still a fun game to mess around in. Customizing the island makes for a great time, with players potentially spending hundreds of hours in the game as they form complex structures and interact with their fellow residents.

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