Believe it or not, doing something you like while you are in the middle of a life mess. Is not a good idea. Doing something you have no interest in, is more logical.

Bad things stick in your memory better, due to the intensity of the events. It is more uncommon to be so intensely happy the same way you can get angry. Following the logic of this, you, performing a task or keeping busy with things that dont matter to you, will actually be better for your mental state.

Why? Because the things you dont care about will be associated with the anger or upset. Instead of the things you actually enjoy. So 6 months later. You arent still fixated on the crap that upset you. Because you wont be doing the stuff you had no interest in.

example:
Lets say you eat something, that is your favorite food, while angry. Every time you eat that food in the future tense, you will be reminded of the upset.

Persona hits the spot for me. While it has some dark, serious themes, there's also something about the life sim aspects of it. Hanging out with friends and building social links, drinking coffee, part-time jobs, all along with excellent cozy soundtracks.

The Forza Horizon games also works really well for me. The racing is simple enough that you don't have to think too much, without going into simulator territory like DiRT or WRC. You can drive around the map and do whatever, and spend time modding and buying cars. There's also a wide variety of radio stations that are nice to listen to.

Your comment is thought-provoking!

What if my bad mood is the root of the mess we're talking about?
Relying on "things I don't enjoy" doesn't seem like a good way to change things up. Plus, let's not forget those feel-good endorphins that come from doing things we love. I'd rather focus on positive emotions and how easily they engage me and others.
Honestly, I wouldn't be excited about an invite to iron five dozen shirts or wash the dishes five times in a row when I could be playing my favorite games to hit that zen mode.

That said, I get your point about the risk of using games as an escape when you're "not in the best mental state for whatever reason" as the OP mentioned. But I see this more as an extreme case of reaching for familiar games without thinking because they're comforting, not as a daily must-do

In response to the OP, I usually keep some of my favorite games installed throughout the year. That way, when something unexpected pops up, I can pick one that fits the vibe. I also like to start fresh each new year.

If I found myself in a tough situation and really needed to play a specific game that wasn't available because of a bad mood, honestly, I wouldn't play anything, just like Shmacky-McNuts said. I don't use games that way

Going for a long walk in a area you do not care about, is different than going for a walk in the bad side of town lol

I was talking about doing something you will be indifferent to. Because behaving in a way outside your normal behavior and keeping busy, with things you are indifferent to; Will make you less prone to future upset As the meaningless busy work will not be something you will enact after the bad times end. Thus the memories of that time are less likely to trigger a negative response. Because what you were doing disnt matter to you.

Like take up knitting. Learn about crap that is boring to you. Every time the negative event is thought of in the future, its saddled with boring crap that diffuses the negative event.

I get it, but I think the main issue still stands: lack of engagement and rewards over just distraction, fixation.
Plus, your suggestion also carries the risk of escape and a lack of presence the other has.

Heh, that interpretation is way off bud, but you take it as you please.

Definitely Tetris. Used to be pretty bad at it, but I've improved quite significantly since then. So every now and then I would just go back to the game whenever I'm looking to pass the time.

Ultima 7. The magic of the world, the music and everything.

Probably Heroes 3. I've played that game off and on for ... decades now. I can mostly turn my brain off and just enjoy the music and visuals.

The Trails series.

Here my preference for a comfort game goes to Heroes of Might and Magic IV. I’m one of these people who really like its unusual aesthetics, and it has in my opinion the best music in the series. The AI being quite weak means I won’t really be threatened and can play quite casually.

Another game I like to play in such situations is Renowned Explorers: International Society, for its simple gameplay and light setting and characters.

If I have a pending run of Morrowind (that does not happen often) I might start that one instead, mostly walking around peacefully and ignoring any kind of quest I might have. A bit like it were a walking simulator.

Finally Freelancer (not sold on GOG) can be an alternative to Morrowind, either exploring or trading goods between stations far apart. I won’t look for fighting missions if I am playing it as a comfort game.

I don't think I have any comfort game, but Mad Max is probably the closest to such thing. Driving around, looking for trouble, taking down a convoy, these things feel very satisfying when I want to unwind a bit.

For me it's "Just Cause 2" or "GTA".
Either walk around or destroy things. Easy, straight to the point.


Wait what, it was removed from your gog library or another store?

GOG, no help at all from customer support. Contacted them and they don't respond.

Sorry about that, I wouldn't want that to happen to me. It's a game that was delisted not that long ago, I think. I don't remember if others have had this issue, but I hope GOG 'll finally fix it.