As much as I love painting, journaling, and making things with my hands, there are days when I just don’t feel like sitting down to make art. But that doesn’t mean I want to turn my brain off completely. On those days, I still crave something fun, light, and creative — just without the pressure of starting a big project or coming up with the “perfect” idea.

That’s where creative games come in.

I didn’t expect them to become such a big part of my downtime, but lately I’ve found myself reaching for a few favorites when I want to relax while still exercising those creative muscles. They’re fun, easy to pick up, and remind me that creativity doesn’t always have to look like paint on paper.

Here are three relaxing art activities in game form that I’ve been playing recently:

1. SuchArt! – Becoming a Virtual Artist

This game blew me away when I first tried it. SuchArt! is basically a digital artist’s studio that lets you experiment with realistic painting techniques, color mixing, and all sorts of art tools. You can customize your studio, complete little art challenges, or just go wild on a blank canvas.

What I love most is how low-pressure it feels — there’s no cleanup, no worrying about wasting supplies, and no “rules” unless you want them. It feels like play, but it still gives me that same spark as picking up a brush in real life. It’s a great example of how digital creativity can inspire real-world ideas.

2. House Flipper – Creativity in Interior Design

At first glance, House Flipper might not look like an art game. You’re buying, repairing, and remodeling houses to sell them for a profit. But once you get into it, you realize how much creativity is packed in.

You get to choose paint colors, flooring, furniture, and all the little details that bring a space to life. For me, it feels like dipping my toes into interior design — but without the stress of real budgets or renovation mistakes.

There’s also a House Flipper 2, which I haven’t tried yet, but if it’s anything like the first one, I know it’ll be a great creative escape. It’s one of those relaxing art activities where you get to design freely, but also watch your decisions come together into something functional and beautiful.

3. Pixel Art Coloring Book – Paint by Number, Digital Style

This one is my “cozy comfort game.” The Pixel Art Coloring Book is exactly what it sounds like: a digital paint-by-number with a huge selection of pixel images to color in.

It’s free (with optional DLC packs if you want more pictures), and it’s perfect when I just want something soothing and repetitive. There’s something satisfying about watching the colors fill in and the image slowly come to life. It feels a lot like traditional coloring books, but in a digital form that’s portable and easy.

Final Thoughts

These three creative games have been such a gift on days when I don’t have the energy for “real” art but still want to feel creative. They remind me that creativity doesn’t have to be serious or productive — sometimes it can just be playful, colorful, and fun.

I play all of these on my PC through a platform called Steam, which makes it super easy to discover and download new games. If you’re an artist looking for relaxing art activities or new ways to explore digital creativity, I definitely recommend checking them out. They might surprise you the way they did me — and you might just find yourself inspired to create something new when you least expect it.