9 Video Games That Are Absolutely Perfect Stress-Relievers

7. Geometry Wars

Before Sony's platforms became the home of indie and retro darlings, Microsoft's Xbox 360 initially was the port of call for arcade game lovers. Geometry Wars launched with Microsoft's new console in 2005 after initially making a brief appearance inside Project Gotham Racing 2 on the Xbox. It was so successful it has the record for most downloaded Xbox Live arcade game on the Xbox 360. Placing you in control of a small spaceship in the centre of your screen, Geometry Wars will take you back to classic arcade games like Asteroids. Using a unique two thumbstick control method the gamer is tasked with clearing the screen out of enemy ships that attack in waves. Though simple on paper, Geometry Wars offered a much deeper experience for those willing to stick with it. For the casual gamer though Geometry Wars offered pure pick up and play arcade fun. The graphics and sound design - though simple - often belied a level of ingenuity not noticed by gamers. Part of what made this game so fun was being mesmerised by the colourful explosions and rhythmic soundtrack. The on-screen fireworks became chaos, the sounds got more pulsating, yet something that should have been anything but stress relieving became the complete opposite. Geometry Wars wasn't so much a game as it was an interactive iTunes Visualiser perfect for zoning out to.