While it's true that all video games improve certain skills including concentration, critical thinking, and fine motor skills. However, few games go even further in improving their players' cognitive skills and widening their knowledge about history and culture. Those players who are looking for relaxing video games can also find impressive options that help increase their emotional intelligence and work on their social skills.
These impressive games are educational and entertaining while being visually pleasing at the same time. Players can explore immersive worlds with interesting stories and unique characters who make every minute of the gameplay fun. The creators went the extra mile and in some cases used the help of world-leading scientists to make these games more authentic. This means players can choose from some of the most scientifically and historically accurate video games to increase their knowledge in one of the most fun ways possible.
8 Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
Thanks to Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey players can explore the land of Africa starting 10 million years ago and helps its players understand human evolution as they learn how to grow and advance their own clans. Players get to craft their own experiences as they learn how the world works around them similar to how humanity's ancestors had to.
This open-world survival game is visually stunning with a beautiful but dangerous world the players get to discover freely. Players will have to hunt, craft, and interact with other characters while the goal is to evolve your first clan of Australopithecus. It's a fairly slow game but also an informative one that will help players deepen their knowledge about one of the most important parts of human history.
7 Spiritfarer
Spiritfarer is one of the best indie games of recent years that was highly praised by critics and gaming fans alike. It's a visually stunning and cozy adventure simulation game about dying and goodbyes with a unique art style and atmospheric music. The players get to control the character Stella who is a Spiritfarer. As ferrymasters players will have to explore the world and befriend the spirits they're caring to the afterlife.
It's a surprisingly emotional game despite having the same elements as most builders. So players will have to cook, craft, fish, and mine just like in other management games. Even though the game deal's with one of the darkest themes possible, death, it always stays feel-good and carries a positive message that can help players improve their emotional intelligence and deal with this difficult subject better.
6 Children Of A Dead Earth
Children Of A Dead Earth is one of the best space games ever created and is praised as the most scientifically accurate space warfare simulator ever. This means that players can learn about space, rockets, physics, and engineering while engaging in the game's exciting true-to-life space warfare simulation.
Space fans will have to use real-world technologies while designing their spacecraft and learn about leadership by commanding their fleets during the solar system's biggest war. The game has a great story and thanks to its colorful, atmospheric world and difficult space combat it'll keep players challenged and entertained at the same time.
5 Gris
Gris is an emotional adventure puzzle game with a one-of-a-kind art style that takes its players on a memorable journey. Players will have to solve puzzles, use their powers, and fight but in unusual and refreshing ways. The story follows Gris a young girl who's dealing with her life's painful experiences while staying hopeful.​​​​​​​
Her emotions and depression are manifested in her dress in a stunningly breathtaking way. It's also where Gris gets her special abilities that ultimately help her navigate through these hard times. Thanks to its charming graphics and thought-provoking messages this hopeful game can help its players increase their EQ and overcome emotional difficulties while staying positive in the face of adversity.
4 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is one of the most detailed and impressive open-world games set in a single city. It's also one of the most fun games that will help players learn about Renaissance Italy. This open-world adventure game is actually historically accurate in most ways, similarly to other games in the Assassin's Creed franchise. This means that while players explore its impressive and detailed world they can also learn a lot about history, architecture, and the social structures and etiquette of this period.
It's a fairly difficult game but has a great story and stunning graphics, and it takes its players to 1500s Rome. Players get to control the warrior Ezio who has to find a way to defeat the Templars while rebuilding the Assassin Brotherhood in Italy.
3 The Last Campfire
The Last Campfire is one of the best adventure games with charming graphics, beguiling music, as well as a relaxing and easy gameplay. Players get to control Ember, a cute creature who is lost in a weird world and is trying to find his way back home. Ember's journey is fun and joyful and while the puzzles aren't necessarily difficult, they're always imaginative and fun.
During their journey players also have to find ways to help depressed and lost souls find their purpose once more. Thanks to its unique story and considerably easy gameplay it's a great game for beginner and advanced gamers alike. The game's whimsical story can help gamers learn how to find purpose while searching for meaning in life.
2 The Gardens Between
The Gardens Between is one of the most visually stunning mobile games that'll help its players relax and unwind. This puzzle adventure indie game has a beautiful style and is filled with wonder and imagination. Players will have to manipulate time to solve puzzles while discovering the secrets of the game's islands.
The game's story is about two best friends, Arina and Frendt who have to explore colorful and dreamlike islands that are filled with objects from their childhood. It's a calming game that can help with restlessness and impatience while also helping players become better friends.
1 Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue is one of the most beautiful swimming simulators ever created that'll help its players learn about our beautiful underwater ecosystem while helping them relax at the same time. The game's graphics are beautiful and realistic and players can explore its beautiful environment through the eyes of Mirai, a deep sea scientist.
Some of the game's creators also worked on BBC's award-winning nature documentary, Blue Planet II, and helped make the game more scientifically accurate. The gaming experience is further improved by the mini-documentaries that feature original footage and interviews with leading ocean experts. Beyond Blue is a considerably easy game that makes it perfect for beginner gamers too.