All of us have our comfortable locations: someplace – actual or in any other case – to flee, calm down, and replenish away from the stresses of the trendy world. Maybe yours is in nature, misplaced within the reverie of a spirited hike up a windy hill, or sweatily squatting your cares away amid the pounding Daruda Sandstorms of your native health club. Maybe your calls for are easier: the decision of an excellent guide and an escape into the realm of creativeness, or the acquainted celluloid embrace of a favorite movie, or – as I lastly drag this intro into relevance – the soothing rhythms of a beloved online game. And hopefully it is the final one, as a result of that is what we’re speaking about at the moment.
As you may need observed, it is Optimism Week right here on Eurogamer – an opportunity, at a time it is not at all times simple to recollect, to replicate on how particular video video games will be. And to have fun the event, we’re reviving The Large Query to deal with one other topical speaking level earlier than wafting it lovingly over to you. And this time: what’s your online game comfortable place?
Do you favor to take solace within the cosy idylls of the farming life, sinking dreamily into the comforting mundanity of turnip whispering? Maybe your gaming comfortable place is certainly one of nostalgia, the heat of a retro favorite of previous. Because it occurs, I’ve already written about certainly one of my very own favorite comfortable locations: the huge procedural universe of No Man’s Sky, the place I can amble serenely with the vaguest of functions, tweak my infinitely increasing base, dip into its splendidly variety group, or idly tinker with its newest toys. However I’ve obtained different comfortable locations, far eliminated: harsher, crueller worlds to discover.
FromSoftware’s Souls video games may not be what you’d usually name stress-free, however their exquisitely forlorn areas are so meticulously, utterly realised, I discover it exhausting to not get misplaced in all of it. However greater than that, they virtually drive you right into a meditative state; demanding calm, cautiousness, and clear-headed focus in the event you’re to outlive their cruel worlds. No one ever beat Ornstein and Smough by being impatient, in any case (however I am now prepared to learn in any other case within the feedback!) So that they’re my comfortable locations, however what about the remainder of the Eurogamer workforce? We have requested, they’ve answered, after which it is over to you!
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 3DS)
There is a very particular home in Hyrule Citadel City. A home stuffed with pots. Pots you’ll be able to smash. The guard inside won’t ever cease you from smashing them. You’ll be able to smash, smash, smash away to your hearts delight. Go away the home solely to return and the entire pots can be again in place. Slip into an nirvana of pot smashing. – Lottie
RuneScape (PC, Mac, iOS, Android)
I’ve celebrated a really particular anniversary this 12 months as 2026 marks my twentieth 12 months of enjoying RuneScape. One thing I positively did not anticipate after I made my first account on an April afternoon many, many, many moons in the past.
Certain I’ve taken a break – a month right here, a month there every time the brand new content material hasn’t me or I merely have not had sufficient time – however I’ve at all times come again, as a result of I merely love the world of Gielinor. Generally I log in, to not play the sport, however to easily go for a stroll – be it the farmlands of Misthalin or the mountains of the Fremennik Province. Whether or not it is RuneScape 3 or Outdated College RuneScape, I really feel like a part of me is tied to Gielinor and listening to the opening rating as the sport boots up appears like going house. – Lottie
Tremendous Mario 64 (N64, DS, Change)
Whereas it was tempting to say that Silent Hill is my comfortable place (which, actually, it kinda is), I figured I would go for the subsequent neatest thing that is barely extra cheery; Princess Peach’s Citadel in Tremendous Mario 64. As one of many first video games I keep in mind enjoying, and one of many few video games I revisit and replay commonly as an grownup, returning to Peach’s Citadel appears like going house in a approach. Whether or not I’m racing Koopa by means of Bob-omb Battlefield or being jump-scared by the flying books in Large Boo’s Hang-out, in every single place (that is not an underwater stage) is a really comfortable place for me; stuffed with nostalgia, Toads, and flying slide-kicks – which I might by no means pull off as a baby, however accomplish that with delight now. – Kelsey
Rollercoaster Tycoon Traditional (PC)
The joyous screams of a working park, the clack-clack-clack of chains pulling a rollercoaster prepare to its peak, and the cha-ching of cash rolling in as friends flood in. The premise is straightforward – make a working and worthwhile theme park – however the way you do it (and even in the event you do it) is totally as much as you. Whether or not I am making literal demise traps, or malfunctioning rides, I by no means tire of it. After making my first fundamental park, I hold discovering new challenges and new construct strategies to strive. – Marie
Spyro Reignited Trilogy (PS4)
Just about each Spyro sport is my comfortable place, and this version comprises three (therefore why I’ve chosen it). It is the place I flip every time I want a sport that’s acquainted, that I haven’t got to assume too exhausting about, and it nonetheless fills the ‚I want entertaining however I do not need it to be too troublesome‘ hole in my library. Seeing the purple dragon race throughout my display whereas charging sheep to get butterflies to feed Sparx, or utilizing his flame to blast away Rhynocs and setting Gnasty Gnorcs underwear on hearth, or no matter else he could also be doing, it is but to change into uninteresting. I merely love this little purple dragon and being part of his adventures, and away from the Reignited Trilogy, there are such a lot of extra. – Marie
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (PS5)
It is a yearly custom at this level. Listening to the opening titles, punching Lurkers, Daxter’s sarcastic quips if you die, powering up with eco… I might go on and on however will go away it at this: it makes me comfortable! – Marie
Quake 3 (PC)
It is good to really feel good at one thing is not it? And there is one Quake 3 map I am assured I can say that about: Q3DM17, also referred to as The Longest Yard. It is the one with the soar pads on; the one with that perilous leap out to the solitary platform within the spacey distance the place the railgun spawns. The sitting duck leap.
I am assured about being good at that map for 2 causes. One, as a result of I’ve performed it so many instances – lots of, probably hundreds of instances – that I do know the place the entire spawn factors are, such that I can hearth rockets to those places to reach when somebody spawns. And two, as a result of as soon as upon a time, we performed Quake 3 within the Eurogamer workplace and I trounced everybody on that map – and there have been some very aggressive Quake gamers right here!
Nevertheless it’s solely that map: I am ineffective at the entire others. And it is that map specifically as a result of it was accessible in a free demo model of Quake 3 that was all I had entry to after I was youthful. After I wish to really feel good at shooters, I boot it again up. It by no means fails to cheer me up. – Bertie
Hades 2 (Change 2)
This has change into my present comfortable place sport! I am shocked as a result of I wasn’t that ‚in‘ to Hades 1; I type of glanced off of the floor of it. However this one, I am all in on. I feel plenty of it being a contented place sport has to do with the round design of Roguelite video games. Their being designed to be replayable in hour-ish chunks means they’re actually snackable, such that I discover them rather more tempting to play once more than utilizing that hour to get into a brand new sport. In any case, I’ve already finished all of the heavy lifting – I do know what I am doing now.
However an equally massive a part of it has to do with the sport being Hades 2. It is simply such a beneficiant bundle. It is like a move the parcel sport that by no means stops unwrapping; each time I play, there’s one thing new to do. And the enjoying of the sport itself is beautiful – the velocity, the snap, the chewy theorising over builds. I have been dabbling in all of it 12 months and see no cause why that’ll finish any time quickly – Bertie
Crucial Position (internet sequence)
Bending the foundations a bit right here however Crucial Position constitutes a gaming factor and it is actually change into a contented place for me, so I movement for it to depend.
Just a few years in the past, I would not have predicted I would change into a ‚Critter‘ – I would not have thought I would watch numerous four-hour episodes of individuals enjoying predominantly Dungeons & Dragons. However right here we’re. And I am now so excited in regards to the present sequence helmed by Brennan Lee Mulligan that I genuinely sit up for a brand new episode greater than possibly every other TV present.
There’s heaps I really like about it – admiring actors‘ deep character work and their improvisational cool-heads to create tales on the spot; the laughs; the sense of group; the mutual assist; the inclusivity – however one thing I come again to time and time once more is simply the presentation of the factor. One digicam angle, largely, and a relaxed, storytelling ambiance. It makes for a refreshingly calming factor to look at in a world of strobe-like hyper-cut TV exhibits. I find it irresistible – Bertie
Misplaced Odyssey (Xbox 360)
This was the primary RPG I imagine I ever performed, and you actually cannot beat your first proper? The story was maybe too good for my teenage mind, however one thing in regards to the world, in regards to the music, captured me. Like many others my age I used to be enjoying Halo and Name of Obligation: Black Ops, however my coronary heart was caught with Kaim and the gang.
I keep in mind swapping out the 4 discs on my Xbox 360 again within the day, and being genuinely unpleasable when the disc tray on my console broke. It saved me from my favorite sport (and Lifeless Area 2, one other honourable point out I will sneak in right here). I had to make use of a screwdriver to pry it open, which solely labored for thus lengthy. The nice ol‘ days.
This sport is actually lovely, and I nonetheless now and again return to revisit this traditional. It pulls at your heartstrings, it is obtained some lovingly-crafted prose threaded all through, and on high of all that it is obtained a killer turn-based RPG system underneath the hood. Nicely value enjoying if you have not had the possibility – Connor
Guild Wars 2 (PC)
Gosh, this actually might be my favorite MMO of all time. It was a fierce competitors between this, Maple Story, Outdated College RuneScape, and Traditional World of Warcraft for some time however I feel I am touchdown on this one. The world is so lovely, the gameplay so enjoyable. I feel I might play this sport for an additional 5 years and be comfortable all through.
It is simply, there’s a lot to do and all of it feels significant. I really like amassing an achievement right here and there, and filling out the wardrobe. I really like attempting out new weapons and seeing how they play. The story is nice, the gamers are variety. It is a real masterclass of MMO design and I am comfortable it is nonetheless fashionable even now. – Connor
Too Human (Xbox 360)
This sport is not among the finest. Nevertheless it was there at simply the proper level in my life. Everybody I imagine has a sport they know is not wonderful however has a spot near their coronary heart. I feel among the higher-end armour and weapons seemed cool – I am unable to imagine this was meant to be a part of a trilogy. I’m wondering what Dennis Dyack is doing at the moment. – Connor
Soccer Supervisor (PC)
One of many issues that makes Soccer Supervisor really feel like one thing of a protected area to me is the actual fact it does not actually really feel like a online game. There are one million methods to play this sport however to me it is a sport of optimisation. Absolutely the best spend in a switch window, and most optimum plan for upgrading a workforce over time (high tip: substitute the weakest beginning participant with the strongest signing every window for the utmost common achieve.)
It is the place I can inspire a workforce completely. The place I can replay a dialog that did not go properly (do not decide me – in actual life you’ll be able to name folks up and apologise!). The place I can formulate and execute my plan precisely. Or nearly precisely, as gamers are in the end outdoors your management. And that is what it is actually about, for me: a spot to retreat to the place the world is smart, the place doing issues the proper approach is rewarded, the place I can establish issues with the world after which truly resolve them.An influence fantasy of its personal. – Chris
FTL: Quicker Than Mild (PC, iOS)
I’ve plenty of comfortable locations, if I am sincere. After Soccer Supervisor I might’ve put a childhood sport right here. A traditional Pokémon sport with a bit of recent tidying-up – a HeartGold or FireRed possibly – or Crash Staff Racing, or Daybreak of Warfare. Faux I wrote heaps about these as properly. However there may be simply one thing about FTL that even now, after years of writing about it, I wrestle to actually put down. Possibly it is the isolation. There’s one thing to the gap in FTL, the areas between sectors, jumps, your ship and the others. The pauses between the battles the place you simply grasp there, the chaos immediately silent and your crew simply fortunately at their stations, engines slowly coming again on-line. That is my meditative silence, simply making choices and taking care of my little guys and inevitably crumbling when it will get too robust, after which going once more for an additional silent ramble by means of the celebrities. – Chris
So that is the Large Query, and that is our gaming comfortable locations… now it is over to you!
