Video games that actually help with algorithm fatigue

We all know that doom scrolling is bad for us and yet so hard to stop. Pulling out your phone when you have a moment and scrolling through your social media feed can be as easy as breathing; sometimes you don't even realize you're doing it. Still, it's hardly relaxing. Showing the horrors of the world on an endless, repetitive channel is a great way to de-stress.

Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.

Easy (5)Medium (7)heavy (10)

Start

Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.

Easy (5) Medium (7) Hard (10)Start

If you want to kick your bad habit and spend your time doing something more constructive or at least more relaxing, then video games can help. Instead of scrolling through another stream of mundane disasters, why not spend your time playing something that relaxes you, entertains you, and maybe even teaches you some new skills? That's exactly what these other games offer.

Tetris

Scientifically proven to help manage trauma and stress

It may sound dramatic, but doom scrolling is a traumatic experience. Not severely traumatizing or anything, but repeatedly exposing yourself to the horrors of reality every day will obviously have a negative effect on your mental well-being. The insidious thing is that scrolling will also show you positive things like cat videos and acts of kindness that allow the trauma to play out slowly rather than hitting you all at once.

When it comes to processing trauma, Tetris has been shown in several peer-reviewed studies to help individuals mitigate the effects of PTSD. I'm not a scientist so I won't try to explain it as it does, but the gist is this Tetris it engages the same parts of your brain that imprint the trauma on your memory and prevents them from focusing on that trauma. It is one of the oldest video games in the world and still one of the most popular, and it can also help you break out of that endless cycle of despair that comes from scrolling doom. How cool is that?

Promote

Turn screen time into a growth experience

Promote is more a collection of brain-training mini-games than a game itself, but its particular focus on improving writing and communication skills is perfect for breaking the habit of scrolling doom. Doom scrolling is inherently a solitary activity. Sure, you can share things you've seen afterwards, but at this point you're isolated on your device.

Goal with Promote is to improve your communication skills by having you play short, 3-5 minute games designed to hone a specific skill. Some games will improve your writing, while others will improve your ability to recall words faster, expand your vocabulary, or process information faster. You can then track your progress through the app and even compare your performance with other players. It is best to think Promote like a daily workout: log in, play your daily games, and then leave feeling better rather than stressed.

Momument Valley

Building new roads

The thing about a habit is that it repeats itself. Over time, you form a habit by doing the same thing often, creating well-trodden paths in your brain that you easily walk over and over again, and making it difficult to build a new path when the familiar one is right there.

The best way to create new pathways is to make your brain think in different ways, and things like optical illusions can support this. Monument Valley and its two sequels are puzzle platformers designed around various optical illusions. While the objective is simple – guide your character from one end of the stage to the other – the challenge comes when the stage creates the paths you need. Do you see the similarities? Completion of stages in Monument Valley it forces you to think in new ways, and if you can get better at it in-game, you can get better at it in real life.

Civilization 6

Just one more turn

If you just need something to get you out of your addiction to doom, and not actually rewire your brain, then Civilization 6 is a perfect game. This historical strategy sim is currently the best and most complete entry in the franchise, though Civ 7 is on the right track. Although it may seem daunting at first, Civ 6 it is very easy to learn, in large part due to how adaptable it is to the whims of each player.

Right at the start you choose your nation and then on a map that is mostly empty, you choose where you want to base your capital. You will then be able to build your kingdom as you see fit, be it a trading center or a military superpower. It's incredibly fun, but also addictive. The appeal of “just one more turn” is almost irresistible, and we've spent many late nights toiling away at the game's many random campaigns. With everything narrated by the famous Sean Bean, Civilization 6 is a friendly game that is full of depth and offers the perfect escape from the endless drag of social media.

Stardew Valley

Take off the load

For another kind of addiction, one that lasts months or even years, you could be much worse than Stardew Valley. This low-key farming sim will take over your life, but that's not a bad thing. There is nothing insidious about this game at all; no microtransactions, no crazy jumps in difficulty, and no content locked to continue. It's just an incredibly relaxing, incredibly satisfying video game that never stops giving you new things to try.

The main focus Stardew Valley is building a farm that your character will inherit from his grandfather. You will plant crops, build barns, raise livestock, furnish your home and much more. However, the game really shines in its social sim elements. The nearby town is filled with memorable NPCs, each with an entire relationship arc for you to follow if you choose. There are options for romance, gifts, and even storytelling to follow. All the while, your progress will constantly unlock new areas to explore and reveal new NPCs, crops and collectibles. Stardew Valley it's like the opposite of doom scrolling. It's an enjoyable and rewarding way to spend time that leaves you with a warm feeling when you put it down.

Unpacking

Everything in its place

Much like tetris, Unpacking is a game about putting things in a limited space. In this case, instead of placing colored blocks in a column, you place objects in the room. It is a game about moving to a new home, without the stress and tension of moving from an old place. Instead, just find places to store your stuff in different new houses.

Another thing that sets it apart Unpacking from Tetris is his narrative. Through subtle tidbits of information—like the things they brought or didn't bring from their last home—you learn about the evolution of a young woman's life from her first move away to her first big breakup. It's a very zen experience, making it the perfect way to relax instead of scrolling through endless updates on your feed.

Plants vs zombies

50 levels of Cute Little Shamblers

on the surface Plants vs. zombies it may sound a bit intense. Your task is to build an army of plants that can fend off waves of attacking undead. However, once you get your hands on it, you'll find that the game is actually quite charming. The zombies are very cute and often amusing in their slow, clumsy progressions, and the plants you can unlock to fend them off are all very cool and provide interesting tactical options.

It may be a tower defense game, but Plants vs. zombies is one of the best and easiest games in the genre. Sure, you'll be challenged on occasion, but it's never so difficult that you can't progress, and usually the second or third attempt at a level will bring success. There are 50 levels in the first game, but also a number of sequels and spinoffs to dive into if you want to keep the fun going. Plants vs. zombies is a far more satisfying and far less stressful way to spend time on your phone than being bombarded with daily horrors.