Video games that actually help with algorithm fatigue

We all know that doom scrolling is bad for us, and yet it's just so hard to quit. Pulling out your phone when you have a moment and scrolling through a social media feed can feel as easy as breathing; sometimes you don't even realize you're doing it. Still, it's hardly relaxing. Seeing the horrors of the world on an endless, looping feed is a good way to stress yourself out.

Rearrange the cases in the correct US release order.

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

Start

Rearrange the cases in the correct US release order.

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

If you want to break your doom-scrolling 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 worldly disasters, why not spend your time playing something that will calm you down, entertain you, and maybe even teach you some new skills? That's exactly what these next games have to offer.

Tetris

Scientifically proven to help manage trauma and stress

It may sound dramatic, but doom scrolling is a traumatic experience. Not seriously traumatic 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 sneaky part is that scrolling will also show you positive things like cat videos and acts of kindness, allowing the trauma to slowly take effect, 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'm not going to try to explain how it does, but the gist is Tetris engages the same parts of your brain that imprint the trauma on your memory, preventing 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 the endless cycle of despair that comes from scrolling doom. How cool is that?

Aggrandize

Turn screen time into a growth experience

Aggrandize is more a collection of brain training mini-games than a game in its own right, but its particular focus on improving writing and communication skills is ideal for breaking out of a doom scrolling habit. Doom scrolling is by its very nature a solitary activity. Sure, you might share what you saw in retrospect, but for now, you're isolated on your device.

The goal of Aggrandize 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 about it Aggrandize like a daily workout: log in, play your daily games, and then leave feeling like you've improved, rather than stressing yourself out.

Moment Valley

Building new roads

The thing about a habit is that it is repetitive. You form a habit over time by doing the same thing often, forming well-trodden paths in your brain that are easy to walk down again and again, and making it harder to build a new path when the familiar is there.

The best way to create new paths is to get your brain to think differently, and things like optical illusions can help encourage that. Monument Valley and its two sequels are puzzle platformers designed around a variety of optical illusions. While the goal is simple – guide your character from one end of the stage to the other – the challenge is getting the stage to form the paths you need. Do you see the similarities? Carry out stages i Monument Valley pushes you to think in new ways, and if you can get better at it in the game, you can get better in real life too.

Civilization 6

Just one more lap

If you just need something to break out of a doom-scrolling addiction and not actually rewire your brain, then Civilization 6 is the perfect game. This historical strategy sim is currently the best and most complete entry in the franchise, however Civ 7 is well on its way. Although it may seem daunting at first, Civ 6 is very easy to learn, largely due to how adaptable it is to each player's whims.

You choose your nation right at the start and then choose where you want to establish your capital on a map that is mostly empty. After that, you get to build your empire however you want, be it a trading hub or a military superpower. It's incredibly funny, but that's about it addictive. The pull of “one more turn” is almost irresistible, and many a late night has been spent tearing through the game's many randomized campaigns. With everything narrated by the famous Sean Bean, Civilization 6 is a welcoming game that is full of depth and offers the perfect escape from the endless pull of social media.

Stardew Valley

Unload a load

For a different kind of addiction, one that spans months or even years, you could do a lot worse than that Stardew Valley. This unassuming farming sim will take over your life, but that's not a bad thing. There is nothing sneaky about this game at all; no microtransactions, no crazy difficulty spikes, and no content locked in for a sequel. It's just an incredibly relaxing, incredibly satisfying video game that never stops giving you new things to strive for.

Main focus for Stardew Valley build up the farm your character inherits 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 full of memorable NPCs, each with an entire relationship arc to follow if you choose. There are romance options, gifts to give, and even narrative threads to follow. All the while, your progress will constantly unlock new regions to explore, revealing new NPCs, crops and collectibles. Stardew Valley is like the exact opposite of doom scrolling. It's a nice, rewarding way to spend your time that will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling when you put it down.

Unpacking

Everything in its place

About like Tetris, Unpacking is a game about placing things in a limited space. In this case, instead of fitting colored blocks into a column, you fit objects into a room. It's a game about moving into a new home, without the stress and strain of moving from the old place first. Instead, you just get to find spaces to put your stuff in a variety of new houses.

The other difference Unpacking from Tetris is its story. Through subtle bits of information—like things they did or didn't take with them 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 a perfect way to unwind instead of scrolling through endless updates on your feed.

Plants vs zombies

50 levels of cute little shambles

On the surface, Plants vs. Zombies maybe sounds a little intense. Your job is to build an army of plants that can fend off waves of attacking undead. But once you get the hang of it, you'll find the game actually quite charming. The zombies are very cute and often funny in their slow, awkward progress, and the plants you can unlock to fend them off are all very cool and provide interesting tactical options.

It might be a tower defense game, though Plants vs. Zombies is one of the best and easiest games in the genre. Sure, it will challenge you at times, but it never gets so hard that you can't move on, and usually a 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 that you can 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.