Whats the polar opposite of "cozy" games like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley?

[QuiioQ]

Seen a trend with these relaxing games online and was curious what the complete opposite would be.

 

[wegweg90]

Doom and Dark Souls for sure

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

Doom for sure. Its the adrenaline, but also the ripping and tearing.

 

[neogunhero]

Anything that requires fast responses and twitch-reflexes. Quake, DOOM, the revival of “boomer shooters”, all of those I’d say is the complete opposite. Not to mention they often have some pretty bleak and desolate settings. Running at 100mph and shooting everything within 0.5 seconds of seeing the enemy is not what I’d describe as “cozy”.

 

[Colif]

this stage in Doom

 

[McStabStab]

Anything that's competitive and sweaty EG. Rocket League, Valorant, Escape from Tarkov, etc. Devil Daggers comes to mind as well.

I'd argue that Dark Souls can be kind of chill in a way.

 

[Zed Clampet]

Just within the games that I play, I would say having an oxygen meter removes a lot of coziness, but I can't think of any that I would describe as hectic.

The most ridiculously stressful and hectic game that I've played recently was Outlast Trials, particularly in the highest difficulty levels. Unlike a lot of the other suggestions, Outlast Trials doesn't require twitch reflexes or shooting skills, although they can be helpful. What Outlast Trials really takes, though, are crazy on-the-fly planning and stealth skills, and when that inevitably fails, a great sense of direction and the ability to flee and hide, often from multiple enemies at the same time. I've had rounds that lasted 45 minutes and I probably spent almost half that time running for my life, and the other half praying not to be detected. It is not cozy.

 

[Smellincoffee]

Doom or one of those intense/complex simulators like Civ 6 or Hearts of Iron, I'd think.

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

I'd argue that Dark Souls can be kind of chill in a way.

I was going to say that as well, its mostly timing not fast reflexes. I can see why people would think the games are stressful but that isnt whats good about them IMO.

 

[Pifanjr]

Doom or one of those intense/complex simulators like Civ 6 or Hearts of Iron, I'd think.

I do think games like DOOM can be relaxing in a way because they allow you to turn off the thinking part of your brain and just rely on reflexes and muscle memory, whereas complex games like Civ 6 or XCOM on high difficulty require a lot more thought and planning.

 

[Zloth]

Llamatron. From back in the days before we had epilepsy warnings.

View: https://youtu.be/xNHl0jG0mug?si=DikccwMlV7jQ0fQs&t=267

Note: this is the only game to have killed me with a Mandelbrot set.

 

[Frindis]

This is quite the opposite of relaxing. You'll be able to play the demo also, so buckle up Dorothy, because you'll be screaming a lot.

The Mortuary Assistant on Steam

Alone with the dead... Embalm corpses, banish demons, save your soul.

store.steampowered.com

 

[Emily_Whittle00]

Haha good one! 😄 I’d say games like Dark Souls or Escape from Tarkov are the total opposite pure stress instead of chill. I even noted a few contrasts.

 

[Zimbaly]

Peggle. The madness!

 

[Rolfil]

One of the Pinball games were you need good reflexes. That or juiced map running in Path of Exile where your screen is just full of so many effects you really can't tell what is going on.