In an attempt to try and ‘get down with the kids’ I’ll try and paint a picture for you as to what they mean when they say ‘brainrot.’
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When you watch The Office (US) on a loop despite having seen it tens of times, that’s brainrot. When you scroll mindlessly on Tiktok and suddenly three hours have gone by, that’s brainrot.
It’s a phenomenon that isn’t a new thing, but it’s one that the generation of today has taken ownership of. And if there’s one other thing that the generation of today loves, it’s video games.
So, to marry these two cultural phenomena together, we want to give those who actively seek the brainrot some games that are perfect for achieving that vegetative state, for better or worse.
10Powerwash Simulator
Scrub Until You Feel Something
PowerWash Simulator
Let’s kick off a game that is the textbook definition of a brainrot game. In fact, it’s designed with brainrot in mind to the point that you could argueit’s barely even a game at all.
This game is exactly what the name suggests. You play as the owner of a budding powerwashing service, and you’ll need to head out on jobs and use your trusty water squirter to clear grime from all manner of surfaces.
There is some whimsy to the game as the different locations are fun to clean, and there is a certain level of satisfaction that comes with clearing large sections of grime.
However, after that novelty wears off, this becomes a mindless second screen activity to fill the void, and when you think about it, that’s what brainrot is all about.
9Stardew Valley
Just One More Day
Stardew Valley
They say that familiarity breeds contempt, but in this case, it breeds brainrot in its purest form.
Seeing as Stardew Valley is one of the most accessible,popular and replayable cozy gamesaround, it means that time and time again, players will go back for another fix of that addictive gameplay loop.
But, in most cases, unless you’re one of the lucky few who still haven’t played SDV and have it all to look forward to, none of this will be new to you, and instead, you’ll play just for that cozy, comforting, and familiar feeling.
The mindlessness that comes from this ‘one more day’ loop is dangerously addictive, but we understand why so many give in and let the brainrot take over.
8Vampire Survivors
Hands-Off Action
Vampire Survivors
When it comes to brainrot games, it’s hard to beat a game that practically plays itself.
Serving as our bullet heaven representative, Vampire Survivors is a game where all of the stresses of combat are taken care of for you, so all you need to do is wander around the map to avoid enemies, and choose what items work best for your build.
It’s a game that is so simplistic and automated in its approach that you can play it one-handed with little issue, but equally, thanks to the constant rewards and nuggets of serotonin on offer, it makes for a very addictive process.
It can be a little more tactical and thoughtful, especially as you progress to end-game content, but even still, this is a game tailor-made for the brainrot community.
7Cat Quest 2
RPGs For Dummies
Cat Quest II
As someone who just recently 100% completed this one, I thought it would be a prime candidate for this list, as I felt the brainrot consume me as I went after this platinum trophy.
If you’re looking to drag someone down with you into the metaphorical brain-rotting pits, Cat Quest 2 is an ideal choice, as it offers seamless co-op, super accessible RPG systems and progression, as well as mindless hack-and-slash combat.
Quests rarely diverge from simple fetch quests and tasks involving killing waves of enemies, and even as the game ramps up to a crescendo, the game never feels any more evolved or mindful than gameplay experienced in the first five minutes.
The cat puns and cutesy visuals help keep things somewhat interesting, but all in all, this is about as mindless as an RPG gets.
6Katamari Damacy Reroll
Rollin, Rollin, Rollin
We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie
In the spirit of games like Hole.Io and Arar.Io which are the epitome of brainrot games, we have a Playstation classic that was offering a similar experience long before they were even a thing.
The saving grace that keeps Katamari from being a completely mindless experience is that there are loads of wacky moments, story beats, and vibrant colors to keep you engaged throughout.
However, at its core, this is a game where you roll a sticky ball around and absorb the world around you to make your Katamari bigger and bigger. There’s no real challenge to it, or much cerebral function needed to achieve your goal.
You simply roll your ball around the world until you’re bigger than the world itself. It’s deeply satisfying, but hardly the most involved gaming experience in the world.
5Genshin Impact
Will Work For Primogems
Genshin Impact
Brainrot and live service could practically be used interchangeably at this point, as live-service games are built to offer shallow but addictive gameplay loops that encourage grinding and long-term play.
Loads of games have mastered this design approach, but the one that stole the most of my free time would be Genshin Impact, hands down.
This Breath of the Wild adjacentopen-world gacha game, to its credit, is a stellar title with an interesting world, cool characters, a fun story, and great gameplay.
However, after the initial honeymoon period ends and time-gates start to appear, this game becomes all about grinding for resources, completing dailies you’ve done hundreds of times, and grinding for the chance of a rare drop.
But, as with any time sink, once you’re in, you’re in for good.
A Healthy Gambling Addiction
I would argue that just about any game that embraces the format of ‘procedural roguelike’ could be labeled a brainrot game, as you’ll constantly be doing the same thing over and over with just a few minor changes.
However, in the spirit of recency bias, we are going to gofor Indie GOTY 2024, Balatro.
This poker-based roguelike is addictive as all hell, offering easy-to-understand poker rules, but with the caveat of Joker cards that can help you achieve massive scores and beat huge blinds.
It’s a somewhat tactical process that soon becomes automatic after a few hundred rounds, and before long, you’ll be playing without a thought in your head, praying for a build that will make the numbers go ‘brr.’
3OSRS: Old School Runescape
The True OG MMO
Old School RuneScape
How about a blast from the past that has come back into fashion in a big way?
OSRS is one of the oldest and most-beloved MMO experiences, and as any MMO fan will know, the repetitiveness and shallowness of gameplay within the genre is absolute brainrot central.
However, OSRS, for me at least, has always taken the cake in this department, as the game really leans into repetitive tasks and mindless actions.
Heck, the game all but encourages players to engage in skill-grinding tasks where you’ll need to mindlessly click on rocks to train your mining stat, or even go AFK while certain actions take place for hours on end.
But, weirdly, this simplistic approach to gameplay is part of the charm, and perhaps why this old relic has made a triumphant return to the zeitgeist despite the presence of modern games of today
2Ghost of Tsushima
Open World Fatigue
Ghost of Tsushima
I just want to say that this is not an attack of Ghost of Tsushima specifically, asgames like Hogwarts Legacy, Days Gone, or Any Assassin’s Creed gamecould have been comfortably slotted in here.
The core experience of these games, and Ghost of Tsushima specifically, is a joyous one filled with action, awesome story beats, and eye-candy in abundance.
However, if you happen to be a completionist who wants to see everything the game has to offer, then you’ll need to get in touch with your inner brainrot consultant, as this one really becomes a war of attrition.
Due to the repetitive and predictable combat as you clear bases and the abundance of map markers to tick off in the world, everything becomes a box-ticking exercise, and only those with Samurai levels of patience and diligence will have the fortitude to see and do everything.
1Path of Exile 2
It’s All About Those Rare Drops
Path of Exile II
Then, to wrap things up, we have the new and exciting ARPG that is captivating fans despite only just launching in Early Access at the time of writing.
Path of Exile 2 is a wonderful continuation of the original, with deep RPG systems, a gritty and punishing world to explore, and so much more. However, we all know why ARPG fans flock to games such as this. The Loot.
After you complete what is available of the game’s core narrative, the end-game process becomes completely grind-focused as players refine their builds, farm for unique items, and add more passive notches to their skill tree.
It’s the ultimate looter shooter to simply kick back, turn your brain off, and cast fireballs with careless abandon.
If you want a tactical and mindful top-down shooter, you’re barking up the wrong tree. But, for a deeply addictive experiencetailor-made for loot goblins, this is the one for you.
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