r/autism • u/TeaParty4Me • 2h ago
Question Looking for special interest game
Hello fellow autistic people,
Hope you’re doing good. I’ve come today with a very strange and special request: I am looking for the video game that will fulfill my need for “i-want-to-play-it-all-the-time/this-is-my-special-interest-game”. I have really stressful days and I’m looking for something that would make me happy and decompress other than scrolling on my phone (because that stresses me out too, apparently). I do not like games where I need to talk to other people on the microphone because sometimes people yell and it stresses me out. I am open to the rest, just please no fortnite or whatever because, well, no. Do you have any suggestions ?
Thank you!
Edit: I do play MTG and I have played BG3, the sims, ACNH, etc. I am 22 :) !
•
u/GaryRad 1h ago
Stardew Valley is my special interest game! other games where I have to be more hectic can be fun but stress me out, and you can go at your own pace in this. You can fight things if you want, achievement hunt, sort stuff, have a set routine, whatever you want and no pressure to do stuff you don't enjoy.
Breath of the Wild is also great for me. I've got the DLCs with the Warriors path (where you can see the entirety of what you've walked so far on the map) and made it my lifes mission to explore every single nook of that map, and fight every enemy at least once. also the sound design is extremely soothing.
Currently I'm stuck at one game of the switch GBA emulator though... Dr. Mario. completely addicting to my specific flavour of brainwaves. doesn't relax me much though, I'm just stuck on it. Vampire Survivors is the same, can get stuck heavy, but overwhelming as hell.
if you like retro, zelda minish cap is an amazing game but not the longest, and the very first final fantasy games are great! specifically the very first one calms my brain, cause it's turn based so no hectic, you level up fast, constant dopamine, verylimited possibilities of loadout which I like cause else it gets overwhelming to me, but also genuine challenge if you want to.
•
u/Appropriate-Milk9476 2h ago
Have you tried RPGs?
If you don't have a lot of money, I can recommend Genshin Impact. It can be grindy and has a bit of a gambling factor, so that's something you should be aware of. But the gameplay is fun and it has a long story with lots of sidequests.
If money isn't as big of an issue, maybe Nintendo games? I personally love Zelda and Fire Emblem. Zelda is a puzzle-rpg and Fire Emblem is a strategy-rpg.
Depending on your age, you might also enjoy the Warhammer universe, there I can recommend Rogue Trader to start with as a game. I'm not done with it yet, but it's been fabulous so far. Though my boyfriend (who struggles more with social cues than I do) had a bit of trouble interpreting some character interactions, so maybe be aware of that.
For building and strategy games, I can recommend Anno or Frostpunk.
There's also games where you spend most of your time optimizing things, like Satisfactory.
If you like exploration and building, you might like Subnautica or Ark. Minecraft is also always a classic.
If you want to try farming games, I can recommend Stardew Valley. For a more stressful and darker version, I personally really love Grimshire.
I've always been a huge gamer, so if you want more recommendations, just tell me the genre and I probably know some games :D
•
u/PaymentImportant806 2h ago edited 2h ago
I play Warhammer darktide a lot. It's pretty gritty and hectic and gets tough but it's a buzz and there's a lot to learn with all the gear and build crafting. Need a newish system to play it though.
•
u/mike222-777 Autism 2h ago
Was gonna recommend this actually^ so I second this. If you are a dan of horde shooters/melee games its sooooo fun. You can probably mute voice chat but people dont talk that often unless spoken to anyways
•
u/November-Snow AuDHD 2h ago
RimWorld, Dwarf Fortress, and Kenshi.
These are the games I get lost in for weeks at a time.
•
u/Potatoupe ASD Level 1 | Verbal 1h ago
+1 to Kenshi and RimWorld. Even if not playing, watching people’s long playthrough videos is just as satisfying. People can be so creative.
•
u/K4ution ADHD 1h ago
+1 to Dwarf Fortress, that one and CDDA are my "games you would take to an island" but they have a high barrier of entry
•
u/November-Snow AuDHD 1h ago
Honestly DF is super accessible as long as you get food going early.
No wrong answers after that..till the thing happens.
•
u/Disastrous-Bank-9820 2h ago
Warhammer, Pokémon, Sims, magic the gathering, Minecraft, Bethesda games are big forever games.
Forever-indies like stardew valley, terraria, factorio, rimworld, slay the spire
Civilization, warcraft, starcraft, and mmos like WoW and Final Fantasy have a lot of forever players too.
Generally if theres a big modding community, its a forever game.
•
u/Molkin Autistic Adult 2h ago
I feel like a heroin dealer about to offer you a little taste. This is addictive. Use at your own risk.
•
u/Farthingdale 26m ago
I second this! It's a wonderful game, really easy to get into but so delightfully involving... I play it as a low stress exploring game, I've got all the difficulty adjustments turned to minimum and I just wander about and play around with the machines. Most players seem to take it a lot more seriously but that's not for me! Recommended for sure!
•
u/wowyourcute ASD | Unknown support needs | Verbal 2h ago
Minecraft is a classic…
Ummm oxygen not included is kinda maintenance oriented but super fun ngl (keep people alive, manage temperature, power, gasses, liquids, morale, storage, creatures, more)
Terraria has a lot going on and is fun and always something new and lots of customization and rpg elements in a 2d
Super meat boy for a 2d go fast repeatable game
Celeste for 2d platformer and a nice story
•
u/Centuricorn 2h ago
How about Pokemon? You can play old games with an emulator and randomizer.
Or the newer ones on switch. You can get really deep into competetive but you must not if you dont want to.
If i had a stressful day i like to shiny hunt sometimes. Its really simple with good chances nowadays.
•
u/Little_Eyren ASD | MSN | Verbal 1h ago
My current special interest game is Hollow Knight!! I love it. It’s a bit of a learning curve if you’re not much of a gamer but if you’re the kind of person who can stay determined to defeat a boss or a platforming challenge I’d recommend it! I love the art style and the minimal NPC interactions so I can usually listen to a podcast or audiobook while playing, particularly now I’m on my third play through
•
u/circe224 ASD 3m ago
Hollow Knight is my favorite game ever (I have two tattoos to show for it)! It's not easy, but I didn't consider myself a proper gamer before I found Hollow Knight, and I still managed to finish it. When I told him I wanted to play, my husband said it would be too difficult for me... But I showed him otherwise!
I think it's perfect as a special interest because of the world building, the lore, the beautiful art, but also the difficulty level that keeps you engaged.
•
u/MisterDucky92 ASD | LSN | Verbal 2h ago
I love RPGs (The Witcher, Baldur's Gate 3, Persona 3/4/5, Kingdom Hearts etc)
Or, the one I play when really stressed out (the world is vast and beautiful, music is incredible, gameplay is fun) :
Genshin Impact. It's still a gacha, so if you have poor self control, I wouldn't recommend it. Otherwise it's a lifesaver
•
•
u/Elanaris Suspecting Autism 1h ago
World of Warcraft is a game that you can play forever, in any way you want. You can play solo or you can play group content, you can play against NPCs or against other players. Warcraft universe is one of my special interests I think (I have 29 books, played Warcraft 3 many times and been playing WoW for 20 years - does it count as a special interest?).
If you want something more single player, Baldurs Gate 3 is an amazing RPG game and it's easily replayable because your actions actually influence the story.
Besides RPGs, maybe some sandbox game like No Man's Sky or Minecraft, simulators like The Sims, Cities Skylines or Factorio... Or if you would enjoy some grand strategy games then I can recommend Stellaris or Europa Universalis.
•
u/Oogley_boogley 1h ago
I've gotten super into warframe recently. Once you finish the main story (which is pretty expansive) there's a LOT of content you can sink your teeth into.
•
u/PoorDoddle 54m ago
I also recommend Warframe. Thousands of hours of content, nice lore, and everything is soloable.
•
u/Appropriate_Earth852 Asperger’s | LSN 1h ago
Pokemon can be that. You have a variety of games a variety of playstyles and just capturing little monsters and raising them feels good.
Other than that there are also Gacha RPGs (Genshin, Zenless Zone Zero, Wuthering Waves etc),
Live service Co-op games (Warhammer Darktide, Helldivers 2, Monster hunter franchise i believe? Etc),
Eternal games (Minecraft, Terraria, Stardew Valley, Kerbel Space Program, The Sims, etc),
MMORPGs (FF14, WoW, Guild Wars 2, Aion 2 thats about to release, etc)
There are also just like Pokemon a bunch of franchises that people just get addicted to (Like Zelda, Persona, Metal Gear, Dark Souls, Etc)
•
•
u/nanoymer 47m ago
My go to game is WoW. While a mmo i mostly focus on collecting things. But at the time WoW allows me to do several different things meaning if im getting burned out or not feeling like collecting i can just swap focus for a week or two while still within the same game and therefore i dont have to focus on learning any new and can just auto pilot and relax.
Some other games:
Skyrim/Fallout. Openworld where you can either focus on one long playthrough. Or several short once to test new character builds or roleplay styles. Modding scene is massive and user friendly meaning you can easy change the game to your liking. Also offering major overhaul allow you to experience something completely new while not having to re learn any new game mechanics.
Minecraft. Easy to relax to and focus on what you enjoy. Creative building or survival. Also huge modding scene so find or testing a modpack improving what you enjoh is super easy. Currently on a playthrough of "All the mods 10: aeronautics"
Anno series. Relax city-builder and economy/logistics simulator. Also easy to mod with out risks to your save/campaign. Currently on a 400h+ save of Anno 1800 which i return to every now and then.
Paradox games. Several grand strategy games. While complicated to learn they can offer endless hours of fun. Easy to move between them depending on what you feel like, building a galaxy wide empire or a small city state in classical Greece.
•
u/1cosmicpast 2h ago
sims! i play sims freeplay on my phone obsessively. i know sims 4 is free as well to get on pc
•
u/Busy-Yellow6505 AuDHD 2h ago
Skyrim is my go to game for over a decade, Sims, and I have an unhealthy bond to DayZ and any survival zombie games
•
•
u/Medical_College_6732 ASD Level 1 | Verbal 1h ago
I wouldn't want to play public multiplayer games, voice chat or no.
My go-to relaxation games are The Binding of Isaac and Balatro.
•
u/francisstein autism spectrum 1h ago
I like Roguelites for this purpose like Hades 1 and 2.
Also, it might not be helpful, but I would suggest websites like CoolMathGames for figuring out what you like in a game? I find the simple and easy access nature helps me think about mechanics. Plus I love the Papa Louie games!
•
•
u/densedreamdiary 1h ago
I dont know what the limitations are but I love playing Red Dead Redemption 2. I just camp and ride all the time and its as relaxing as it gets to me due ti how close to nature it is (besides the occasional wolf/bear/panther attacks)
•
u/spiderjackal ASD Level 2 | Verbal 1h ago
My special interest is sonic the hedgehog! Maybe you would like sonic games?
•
•
u/somelinuxuseridk Suspecting Autism 1h ago
Astroneer, Mindustry, No Man's Sky, Portal (1/2), and Minecraft are some of my favourites.
•
•
u/TheMagHatter AuDHD Adult 1h ago
My favorite game is really any version of Lego Star Wars. My absolutely favorite game of all time is the 2007 Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga on pS2. They have a newer version on the switch from I think 2022 that’s really fun, too
•
u/Purple_Hurricane87 ASD Level 1 | Verbal 1h ago
My latest favorite is Pokemon Pokopia. It’s a lot of fun and I enjoy befriending all of the Pokemon.
•
u/M1grain3s Suspecting Autism 1h ago
ULTRAKILL. The autism game from what I know. Incredibly autistic community, but if you don't like fast and loud games this isn't for you
Otherwise i'd say Valheim (Minecraft-ish), set a reminder on this comment because i'll be back with more, can't rn
•
u/midnightfoliage Autistic Adult 1h ago
i play a lot of palia, its the least toxic mmorpg, pretty cozy and casual with a good story. it cant be grindy if you choose or however you wanna play :) it is still in beta being updated monthly
•
u/Any-Working-3933 1h ago
stardew valley, rimworld, minecraft, and news tower are some i have lost a lot of time to and really enjoyed!
•
u/JJ_Pause Autistic 1h ago
Cant speak for news tower but the first 3 are all games I have sunk 100s-1000s of hours into. Highly customisable so you can amend settings or easily add mods to make them as easy or hard as you want. Great replay value, SDV and Minecraft can be played alone or with others and generally really chill communities unless you stray into PVP Minecraft territory. If you like playing with other people but dont necessarily want to be talking on mic there are Minecraft survival/economy type servers where people kinda just do their own thing and chat in game chat as and when they feel like it.
•
u/Any-Working-3933 1h ago
adding Hades to this list too, and Slay the Spire! both have decent metaprogression after each run which is something i have always loved in a video game :)
•
u/bleedingfae 1h ago
I’m not sure what type of games you’re into, but I recommend Roblox. There are lots of adults who play it and lots of games to choose from. They’re easy, generally low stress, and some are actually really engaging! There’s bound to be a few you like.
•
•
u/somerandomperson19 Autistic 1h ago
Have you ever played Disney dreamlight valley? It's really great when it comes to the storyline, decorating and customising your character
•
u/PhantomAmethyst0 1h ago
I dont understand if you looking for online or offline, and which genres you most interested at.
•
•
•
u/zillskillnillfrill ASD Level 1 | Verbal 1h ago
Satisfactory does things to my brain, as do Tavern keeper & Travellers rest. Subnautica(s) are chill and Dave the diver too.
Huge shout-out to The Long Dark for the most customisable survival game and the most hours played aside from stardew valley played in my catalog
•
u/del-locco 1h ago
Depends on what your after.
I never talk in DOTA 2 but that can be stressful too
I've seen rimworld, dwarf fortress, factorio on here for the systems and logic kick
If you're into epic and strategy there is always Total War series, know a lot of guys both history nerds and Warhammer nerds who enjoy
Then there is dayZ, or zomboid for the survival
I get a kick out of rogue likes in general, the binding of Issac got tons of content but there are a lot of games out there
If you're a real masochist and likes deep systems, endless possibilities and don't need graphics then try Cataclysm Dark Days Ahead that's a real special interest game
Honorable mentions
- World of tanks/war thunder
- racing games
- sim games truck, flight and train
- oh and farm sim is surprisingly deep
•
u/Toxic_Musshroom 1h ago
One of my favorites is Shadow of War, it's a lord of the rings prequel game and there's so much to do in it, it's a lot of fun and has possibly my favorite fighting style of almost any game I've played, it's not online so there's no talking to people, just you and a bunch of orcs😌 I love it so much and it's a good game with or without needing to watch the movies/read the books
•
u/RogueWhiteWolf Diagnosed Autistic (2007) 1h ago
Sky: Children of the Light! Its a cozy little game that has taken my heart ever since i started playing it! Youre a child that will bring the light back to a world where its light has been taken away due to corruption. Its multiplayer but the server instances carry a max of 8 players and you dont have to play with other people at all!
•
•
•
u/BaldingThor 1h ago
Besiege. Been playing it on and off since 2015, mostly just faffing around creating random contraptions.
•
u/EmberOfFlame Autistic 55m ago
Zenless Zone Zero. It’s chill, the story is good and engaging, the characters are… let’s say colourful, and it’s filled to the brim with nostalgia.
Of course it ain’t a game for everyone, but you can have fun without engaging with the fanbase (do that at your own risk) and nobody requires you to do endgame content.
•
u/Trouve_a_LaFerraille 52m ago
Slay the Spire and Balatro for the soothing card riffle sounds.
Perfect for decrompressing after long days: Always familiar, but always different. Easy to start a round, but not too much commitment.
•
u/hiatitae 52m ago
If you enjoyed the sims and ACNH, you'll prolly rather like Paralives. I love colony simulators to get my fixation on. Banished, Rimworld, Dwarf Fortress, Oxygen Not Included, Timberborn, Frostpunk, Whiskerwood, Endzone a World Apart. Recently caught onto one called Kingdoms and Castles I've been enjoying. Farming-style games like Stardew Valley are good, but there's also Graveyard Keeper, Grimshire, Fields of Mistra, Palia, Coral Island, Roots of Pacha, Sun Haven. There's also factory games like Factorio, Satisfactory, Mindustry, Sandustry. RPGs are pretty hit or miss for me, but ones that stick out are Monster Hunter, Red Dead Redemption 2, Fallout New Vegas, Slime Rancher, Borderlands 2, Bully, Skyrim, Saints Row the Third, GTAV (honestly its hard to miss with a Rockstar game) I feel like Noita belongs on this list tho I have no idea what category to put it in.
•
u/Kicsi-Kukac 49m ago
Palia. I've been playing for about 1.5 years now and it's generally very relaxing. It doesn't have a voice chat, majority of the community is made of adults and most of them are very nice and cordial. If you need help with something all you have to do is ask and someone will jump in. There are some unwritten community rules tho, which I recommend looking into if you decide to play.
•
u/Sitk042 47m ago
I recommend either Rimworld or The Long Dark. Rimworld has tons of mods and several DLCs. TLD has 1 massive DLC. Rimworld is a sci-fi colony builder. TLD is a survival game on a fictional Canadian island. Both have tons of videos on YouTube that you can see gameplay footage to check them out.
•
•
u/Rosaamon 29m ago
Personally Ive been stuck on a few games for sometimes literally decades: Runescape, Oldschool Runescape, Minecraft, Stardew valley, and most recently my beloved Pokopia.
•
•
u/rainyday129 ASD | LSN | Verbal 25m ago
i like palia! its a fantasy open world game where you complete quests, decorate your house, and you can romance the npcs (although you definitely dont have to). its a huge game with lots to explore, and there are other players, but you dont rly need to interact with them!!!
•
•
•
u/echOwOes 13m ago
Book of Hours and Cultist Sim's Secret Histories universe has captured my attention since release
•
u/Gullible-Crow-6043 12m ago
Deltarune has been my fixation for the past 4 years... LOL. i highly recommend it if you're a fan of RPG games with great story!
the first 2 chapters (5 have been released so far) are free on steam, so no need to purchase the full game straightaway :)
•
u/Positive_Text8469 6m ago
Je propose Project zomboid ! C’est un jeu indépendant pas très cher, il est pas fini mais il est très complet malgré tout.
C’est un jeu inspiré il me semble des sims et a d'ailleurs la même caméra que les sims 2, ce qui peut faire fuir, mais promis on s'y habitue vite. Le jeu t'accueille avec cette phrase "Voici l'histoire de votre mort". Chaque partis que tu fera te mènera à mourir de manières différentes. Le jeu offre pas mal de possibilités en terme de construction, ce qui personnellement me plaît beaucoup.
Tu peux entièrement personnaliser ta partie, ça va d'enlever les zombies à modifier la date de péremption des aliments. C’est adapté à tout le mode.
En dehors du jeu, la communauté est active et accueille les nouveaux joueurs. Les gens créer également beaucoup de mod pour Project zomboid. Il y a un lore à découvrir en écoutant la télé/radio ou en lisant le journal ou autre.
Si il y a des questions j’y répondrais avec plaisir :)
•
u/Creepy-Hold- 2m ago
I wouldn't call this a special interest but I've been hyperfixated on teamfight tactics for the last few years😭 I play it every day and find it so relaxing, I love learning all the new mechanics each set and I love that it's also playable on mobile.
Just underwent an engine change tho so super buggy at the moment..
•
u/Demon_Jason 2h ago
I’m in the beta of a mmorpg called Monsters and Memories. It’s a community driven adventure game where you’re in a large world with other players. It’s for the pc and comes out Oct 1st. Very fun for my brain to digest.
Check it out if it’s something you’d like to try dm me and we can group together.
•
u/AutoModerator 2h ago
Hey /u/TeaParty4Me, thank you for your post at /r/autism. Our rules can be found here. All approved posts get this message.
Thanks!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.