Animal Crossing: Stress Relief

[unspeakablehorror]

Been playing Animal Crossing: New Leaf a lot recently.  I hadn't played it for years though so when I turned it back on I was surprised by how little had changed since I last played (besides a completely full mailbox, lol).  I got this game due to my high stress levels, since it provides just enough challenge to be distracting but not enough to be frustrating or anxiety-inducing.  Normally videogames don't cause me significant anxiety, but sometimes when I am already experiencing high levels of that they're too much to deal with.  Basically it's my equivalent of a stress ball. 

Ever since I learned how to plant trees recently I've been planting fruit trees so much in my town that my villagers have started to comment on it.  I've also been adding more town improvements.  I've noticed the villager AI is a little more complicated than I used to think it was.  I used to not talk to the other villagers very much but I've started to talk to them more often recently.  I was really pleased when one of them gave me an orange after talking with them.

Comments

[chamerion]

I've never played Animal Crossing, but I'm totally with you on the videogame-as-stress-ball thing. The one that works for me is The Long Dark - which can be very difficult, but in a very simple way, if that makes sense? The variables are limited and straightforward (eat, drink, sleep, stay warm) in a way that's surprisingly similar to actual backcountry camping, and the art does a great job of evoking that hushed deep winter atmosphere that I find really soothing irl.

[unspeakablehorror]

I remember you talking about that game on your blog a while back. I've never played that, but I could imagine how it might be soothing.

I am currently enjoying my orange tree in Animal Crossing being full size now. My fruit forest project is underway.