Iyashikei: Japan’s Genre of “Healing Games” (2018) • Hacker News Board

Re: Iyashikei: Japan’s Genre of “Healing Games” (2018)

#41

Post by ver_ture » Tue, May 12, 2020, 4:15 PM UTC

jrochkind1 wrote: post #23

These pictures all make me want to play these games REALLY BAD. Anyone know the easiest way for a non-gamer without a console system in the USA to get any of em, that might be figure-out-able for a non-Japanese speaker?

a nintendo handheld can be cracked by following a guide, to then play any game released for it. this will require a $100-200 console.

for older consoles like the nintendo ds, you can emulate, like dolphin emulator for pc. i can even emulate a ps2 on my beefed up gaming pc. nevermind that though, any modern laptop or pc should be able to handle nintendo ds games on an emulator. i think that'd be a good start for you. in fact, even android phones can emulate it.

Re: Iyashikei: Japan’s Genre of “Healing Games” (2018)

#42

Post by ajmurmann » Tue, May 12, 2020, 4:17 PM UTC

ajmurmann wrote: post #8

a few pieces of media that fit the bill really well and are available easily in the West: Attack of the Friday Monsters - it's a short 3DS game about children's fantasy merging their small town reality with a TV show Barakamon - anime about a calligrapher who gets banished to a small island in the inland sea and comes to embrace rural life and playing with the local children. (Pictured but not mentioned in the articl…

A few more, in this case, games that fit the relaxing element really well:

A Short Hike - PC/Linux/Mac you hike up a mountain and, discover things and people along the way.

Journey - PS4 game in which you travel through a beautiful dessert landscape.

Re: Iyashikei: Japan’s Genre of “Healing Games” (2018)

#43

Post by klenwell » Tue, May 12, 2020, 4:41 PM UTC

dan_quixote wrote: post #31

Zelda: Breath of the Wild has strong elements of Iyashikei. I picked this up recently after years of no video games. And I find myself just wandering around marveling at the sights and sounds. I mostly avoid conflict while performing the more ancillary quests. It's just so much more relaxing than the platform/shooter games I grew up with.

This reminds of an online I loved called The Quest for the Rest. It was a Flash game featuring soundtrack by the Polyphonic Spree. Actually, I think it may have been designed to promote the release of one of their albums.

Such a sweet little game. I imagine you can still find it online and play it (if your browser supports Flash). Here's a Youtube run-through of it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g_0SAjfU3o

Re: Iyashikei: Japan’s Genre of “Healing Games” (2018)

#44

Post by munificent » Tue, May 12, 2020, 4:43 PM UTC

Minecraft is so open-ended that it can be molded into almost any genre. But the way I play fits entirely within this.

I play in survival mode mostly to make the world feel more grounded, but I sleep every night and rarely explore caverns. The game is mostly me building living spaces, mining for supplies, mapping the world, and collecting items. It's really satisfying.

Re: Iyashikei: Japan’s Genre of “Healing Games” (2018)

#45

Post by danbolt » Tue, May 12, 2020, 5:07 PM UTC

munificent wrote: post #44

Minecraft is so open-ended that it can be molded into almost any genre. But the way I play fits entirely within this. I play in survival mode mostly to make the world feel more grounded, but I sleep every night and rarely explore caverns. The game is mostly me building living spaces, mining for supplies, mapping the world, and collecting items. It's really satisfying.

I wish more AAA games industry designers recognized this about a lot of players.

Re: Iyashikei: Japan’s Genre of “Healing Games” (2018)

#46

Post by luckydata » Tue, May 12, 2020, 5:09 PM UTC

hmhrex wrote: post #28

I started playing this game called "It's literally just mowing"[1] and I would say it's in this genre. I've been playing it a little bit each day and have my found my stress level goes down when I do. [1] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/its-literally-just-mowing/id14...

it's very likely because you're experiencing a state of "flow". Those games are great at getting your mind in that state.

Re: Iyashikei: Japan’s Genre of “Healing Games” (2018)

#47

Post by numpad0 » Tue, May 12, 2020, 5:09 PM UTC

ginko wrote: post #13

SkyBelow wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Sure for Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon Does it even apply for those? In Animal Crossing there are two battles, wasp and tarantulas. Both have something at stake with both a win and loss condition. In Harvest Moon you also have a battle against limits. Most of them don't have any sort of enemy units, but you do have tasks and you are doing them in a time limit where there is a failure condition (either running out…

> Both have something at stake with both a win and loss condition. All that's at stake is you fainting and respawning in front of your house. The only thing that's lost is your opportunity to catch the tarantula that time.

In Pokémon the players and monsters only “faint” in a battle when lost

Re: Iyashikei: Japan’s Genre of “Healing Games” (2018)

#48

Post by zargon » Tue, May 12, 2020, 5:12 PM UTC

billfruit wrote: post #4

What might be western games of a similar bent, with a focus on soothing game play: -Stardew Valley -My time at Portia -Euro/American Truck Simulator -Anno series I personally find snooker/pool simulations very soothing.

Additionally, I think Farm Together is a good fit in this category.

Re: Iyashikei: Japan’s Genre of “Healing Games” (2018)

#49

Post by DaveSapien » Tue, May 12, 2020, 5:18 PM UTC

This is fantastic! I had no idea about Iyashikei as a genre, I knew it existed but had no idea that it had a name. I am particularly happy about this as I am just finishing my own Iyashikei game called Kanso. Does anyone know of any good resources for Iyashikei? I'd like to dig deeper.

Re: Iyashikei: Japan’s Genre of “Healing Games” (2018)

#50

Post by Wohlf » Tue, May 12, 2020, 5:20 PM UTC

hmhrex wrote: post #28

I started playing this game called "It's literally just mowing"[1] and I would say it's in this genre. I've been playing it a little bit each day and have my found my stress level goes down when I do. [1] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/its-literally-just-mowing/id14...

There are many similar games that I play, such as House Flipper and American/European Truck Simulator. Car Mechanic and Farming Simulator are similar.