Comfort Games

[Nemoide]

NiGHTS into Dreams

After thinking about it I think I can safely add these to my list:
Metal Slug 1 & 3
Bust-A-Move 2
Space Harrier (especially the SMS verison)
Gradius 1 & 2

[arcadifvid]

alot of nes titles (the usual ones, we know what they are)
other than that, almost any iteration of street fighter

back when i still had my ps2, super robot wars...@2,@3,mx, z ,,,i played them again and again and again...it was really all my ps2 was for... good times... i really miss playing them

[Sload Soap]

I've got a small handful, depending on mood. If I want something nice and easy I go with the Mega Drive/Snes Aladdin games or Super Mario Land 1/2.

If I want something to waste a rainy weekend it'd be the latest Civilization game. And if I want something I can play while listening to something else it'll be a sports games, likely SWOS or Pro Evolution Soccer.

Then there's a few classics I always love to replay like Mario Kart 64, Super Mario 64, Lylat Wars and Ocarina Of Time.

[Sarge]

So, for me, it's usually NES games that I'd played many years ago, and that I still play now. I used to be an RPG fiend, but now, it's the higher-quality platformers and action games on the system. The one I always come back to consistently is Contra. Which is weird, I used to not like that game at all. But then, I was the same with fighting games until I developed a proficiency for them. Capcom vs. SNK 2 and Marvel vs. Capcom 2 are great comfort games.

Also, Chrono Trigger, because duh! I also replayed Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time quite a few times. As of late, I've really been cottoning to the Natsume NES games, particularly Shatterhand and Shadow of the Ninja, and I always seem to find a reason to replay Zelda II when I get a chance.

Oh, and Demon's Crest. I play that one every couple of years. Ditto Symphony of the Night.

EDIT: TECMO. SUPER. BOWL. Geez. How could I forget that?

[strangenova]

So I'm seeing a lot of people saying super mario bros 3 and world, tmnt arcade and early zelda's and final fantasies. These games truly must represent nostalgia wrapped in a bosom of happiness.

[phaheem]

Monopoly on the NES just never gets old, and the AI is still very challenging

[laurenhiya21]

It took me quite a while for me to think about this, since I hardly ever replay games. There's just too many for me to play but not enough time to play them all... However, I've found that it's very rare for a game to keep my attention for more than an hour at a time (I unfortunately get distracted VERY easily) so I'll mention the ones that I've easily been able to play for many hours at a time (in no particular order)...

Suikoden (PS1) - I played this all day, every day until I beat it lol
Banished (Steam)
Atelier Rorona Plus & Ayesha (PS3)
Deadly Premonition: Director's Cut (PS3)
Ar Tonelico: Melody of Elemia (PS2)
LoZ: Twilight Princess (GC) - Mostly the early to mid parts
Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life (GC)

Also I seem to lose track of time with a well written visual novel. And yeah it's mostly newer things, but my old consoles either have to live in boxes for a while or they break :l Quite frustrating.

[Soldier Blue]

Ah..forgot about Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Love that one. Definitely one of my favs.

[strangenova]

Banished

I only recently started playing this game but it is very comforting to play. The peaceful sounds and simple gameplay are amazing. Even while all your villagers die of starvation.

[BogusMeatFactory]

As for games that comfort me, I would choose the Animal Crossing games. Nothing is more soothing than just relaxing and playing around in that world. Even more so, because my wife plays as well so there is also something changing and happening.

Other games that I can play over and over and over and never get bored would include Shenmue and Shenmue II as the world itself is so lush and full of life. I am always finding something new in these games and it is always a treat to play.

Another great game that I love to play is Myst Online: URU Live. It is the MMO of URU: Ages Beyond Myst and features a lot of content not featured in the retail release. It is free and again there is so much detail packed into this game that you will always find something new and interesting to see. It is filled with a Tolkien level of world building and so much attention to detail. Everything you see is deliberate and with reason to the world around it. Add to it being able to play with other people. Changing the world and solving puzzles with friends adds a different perspective that you don't really think about. It is hard to explain, but let me give you an example.

In one of the ages you visit, there is this building. In it are these floor tiles that need to be walked on in a certain order. To get them to work properly, you need to power up the room by pushing this button a certain number of times. If you have a friend in the age with you and they are outside the building, they see the building morph and change as you press that button, a detail that would be completely lost on someone if they played alone.

Man such a good game.