Simulators for when you want to switch off

Some evenings I don't want to be tested, I want to potter. That's where relaxing simulators come in, and the best ones drop the fake urgency.

Greenhouse Days nails this by having no real-time timers pushing you to return. You plant, arrange, expand, and leave whenever you like. It's the anti-stress design I wish more sims used.

When testing this genre, I check whether the game punishes you for stepping away. If it does, it's not relaxing, it's a chore with nice art.

Pair one of these with a quiet moment and it does its job: ten calm minutes, no notifications required.