Games To Play If You Love ASMR
People enjoy video games for all different kinds of reasons, and sometimes games can be a great way to relax and stimulate your brain. The rise of "cozy" games in the past few years has confirmed that, with titles like "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" and even indie hit "Stardew Valley" gaining massive attention. A lot of people enjoy ASMR for the same reason.
According to Vox, ASMR stands for "Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response," which essentially references the "tingly feeling" that goes through your body when you hear, read, or feel something. Many people find this feeling satisfying, and it was a trendy Twitch meta at one point, as content creators streamed things like crinkling paper and whispering into their mic.
However, video games can be a great way to get that "tingly feeling," too. It's not just something that can be found in relaxing games, either – some of the biggest titles from the past decade offer a surprising amount of satisfaction through ASMR. Here are some great options to try out if you enjoy both ASMR and video games.
Coffee Talk
When it comes to calm vibes, relaxing sounds, and a general ASMR-esque environment, "Coffee Talk" is one of the best games you can play. The two main things you do in the game are right in the title: make coffee and talk to patrons.
The game describes itself on its Steam page as a game about "listening to people's problems and helping them by serving up a warm drink out of the ingredients you have in stock." Between the ambiance of the game and the relaxing sounds that come with making coffee – which you can actually customize for each patron – several different YouTubers have done ASMR Let's Plays of the game. One website, Sprudge, even called it "the ASMR of Coffee Video Games."
"Coffee Talk" actually explains itself and ASMR video games as a whole pretty well: "An experience to make you think, feel, and rest both your body and your soul."
Dark Souls
Surprisingly, the "Dark Souls" franchise has been cited by several people online as an amazing ASMR game. The series — which is known for being difficult — has a lot of repetitive noises in them that many get satisfaction from, such as horse hooves and "clanking" armor. Some people are satisfied by the voice acting alone, which one Reddit user attributed to the "calm speech" and "accents" of the actors.
It's not just the three "Dark Souls" games that can give you ASMR vibes. It also includes other FromSoftware titles like "Demon Souls," "Bloodborne," and the massively successful 2022 hit "Elden Ring." While the games aren't technically all part of the same series, they're incredibly similar in gameplay and even have a character that connects all of them together. If you're gearing up to play a FromSoftware title, keep in mind that they're difficult games that really test your perseverance and patience. They're not the same kind of relaxing ASMR experience that you might find with other games, but they're great if you're someone who enjoys a bit more thrill while relaxing.
In Other Waters
If you enjoy exploration games and you're looking for some ASMR, check out "In Other Waters." The game is about Ellery, a biologist who discovers an underwater alien planet and decides to explore it (via Steam.) Not only is there interesting wildlife and flairs, but there's also history to discover about the alien ocean. While the game isn't anywhere near as difficult as the "Dark Souls" series, there is an aspect of danger in keeping Ellery safe while exploring.
According to Nintendo Life, a press release for the game actually called "In Other Waters" "the ASMR of video games." Steam reviews for the game explained that it has a near-perfect soundtrack, clean user interface, and a drawing power that created a "tranquil" and memorable game. Presumably, these things are what the developers had in mind when describing it as an ASMR experience.
If you want to pick up "In Other Waters," it's available on PC and Nintendo Switch.
Outcast
A lot of people on the internet point to open-world games as great ASMR options because of the various noises and freedoms the games allow. "Outcast" is another title that fits this description, but it's special because it claims to be the game that "sparked the open world, action-adventure genre" (via Steam). Essentially, players are able to explore alien worlds in order to save Earth.
One user on the /ASMR subreddit explained that "Outcast" is a "trigger fest" because of the sound design in the game. There are plenty of different environments and sounds in them that are satisfying, and the game's score and voice acting is top-tier as well, as the user further explained.
While "Outcast" was initially released in 1999, there's been a complete remake of the game called "Outcast – Second Contact." A sequel to the game is also in the works, "Outcast 2 – A New Beginning," but there's no information on when it will be released.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Users recommended "Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice" on Steam as a game to play for ASMR reasons, even if it makes the player a bit "uncomfortable." The game is known for having one of the best portrayals of mental illness in a video game, telling the story of Senua, a warrior who undergoes several trials that are meant to represent psychosis. The player plays as Senua and experiences all of these obstacles with her. The game pays close attention to accurate representation, and even had a mental health consultant working with developers.
Part of these trials, as one Reddit user explained, comes through sounds and voices that trigger a lot of players' ASMR. Another player said that it gave them "scalp tingles," a pretty solid description of the calming feelings ASMR can bring.
This game has changed the lives of players with its representation of mental struggles, and the ASMR part of it barely scratches the surface of what the game means to a lot of people. It's available on pretty much every major console, including the Nintendo Switch.